Develop Bugs

wifi calling issues

does anyone else that came to this phone from another t-mobile phone find that the wifi calling is just awful? i had perfect wifi calling on my g2 and mytouch4gslide but now, and although this phone as far as regular performance goes is a million times better in every other department, wifi calling (which i need because i get terrible signal in my house) is SO hit or miss. sometimes i'll get a call and answer it and its just blank silence. the other person will claim to be able to hear me when we finally disconnect and call each other back, but i hear absolutely nothing, like as if the phone was turned off, not even any dead air. sometimes i'll go to dial someone and the dial button just won't even work. it depresses and nothing happens. then a minute later it starts dialing. sometimes people say they call me and it goes straight to voicemail. i'd say its roughly 50/50 whether or not i get a good wifi calling experience or not. is there something with my router that maybe would help to make the experience better? certain settings i should have? i'm not really very experienced with setting up routers. i pretty much just go default down the line and then setup a password and thats it. i've tried clearing data on the wifi calling a couple times but it really hasn't helped. would appreciate any input because at this point its getting to where if i'm expecting calls i'll just have to turn wifi off and hope my fluctuating regular signal is good enough to get the call (usually is fine in my house for calls just practically unusable for data).
thanks

Try to get a range extender from tmo. WiFi calling is unreliable and from what I've seen on their forums they've done nothing to remedy it.

psykhotic said:
Try to get a range extender from tmo. WiFi calling is unreliable and from what I've seen on their forums they've done nothing to remedy it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea but it worked so good on my last 2 tmobile phones. thats why i was hoping maybe there was some router settings that would work better with wifi calling on the s3 specifically. i'd much rather still use wifi calling if i could. in the past it was so much more reliable than my crappy regular signal here in my house...

polarbearmc said:
yea but it worked so good on my last 2 tmobile phones. thats why i was hoping maybe there was some router settings that would work better with wifi calling on the s3 specifically. i'd much rather still use wifi calling if i could. in the past it was so much more reliable than my crappy regular signal here in my house...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It worked better on your other phones because those phones WiFi calling utilized the kinecto servers. Since now they've switched to IMS, WIFI calling has been kinda crappy.
I'm just sayin!

I've had the exact opposite reaction from going from kineto to ims. For me the quality is far superior and less lag and echo.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

nikol4s said:
I've had the exact opposite reaction from going from kineto to ims. For me the quality is far superior and less lag and echo.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the quality is slightly better but it's not as dependable as it was with the kinecto servers. I get the same exact identical issues as the OP.
I'm just sayin!

I also have the same issue as OP.
I was thinking that probably my network, but it is the phone.
Becuase my S2 works fine with wifi calling, only problem with s3.

byteless said:
I also have the same issue as OP.
I was thinking that probably my network, but it is the phone.
Becuase my S2 works fine with wifi calling, only problem with s3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My S2 has the same identical problem as well. With the s2 I thought maybe it was the phone, but after the problem manifesting on my s3, I knew it's either the WiFi calling software or the network.
I'm just sayin!

well at least i know i'm not alone haha. sucks though. maybe i'll complain to t-mobile, see what they have to say.

Can someone explain why wifi calling is so popular!

I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?

trevor7428 said:
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree!
★ Sent by an Idiot with a phablet ★

For me its the fact that reception is horrible in my apartment, if you go outside its fine. I dont like going outside just to make a call every time so the wifi calling gives me reception inside.

Reception is the issue
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

I guessing it's free and reception issues. I'm not a big fan though

I live out in the boonies absolutely no signal within a few miles from the house. Wish I didn't have to have it esp since I love that All Star so much.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

I live in a townhouse within viewing distance from a cell tower and yet in my house I can get maybe 1 signal at one of the house (sometimes none at all). If I wanted to make a call I had to go to the garage. So wifi calling is important to me.
I'd be willing to sacrifice wifi calling for a multi-window rom if (and only if) I found a reliable option for wifi calling that's free, because t-mobile's wifi calling works very well for me.

It ABSOLUTELY is reception for many people. T-Mobile's fantastic when you get a good signal, but step inside any building made of concrete, or a brick house, or a house with other signal attenuating characteristics and you're screwed, dead zone. It's why I dumped TMo a couple of years ago, though I came back to try their Note II and newer HSPA+42 data service.
My office building is still a data dead zone, but voice calls come in if I'm near a window. My house, though, TMo's gone from a dead zone two years ago to a full-bars signal.

I went to south dakota a few weeks ago to visit my brother and his family.. t mobile, Verizon, Sprint and att reception there is abysmal.. if it wasn't for Wi-Fi calling i would've been screwed.. it's so bad there i asked my brother, "how do u deal with this reception?" Seriously i had zero bars from Irene sd to sioux falls sd if it wasn't for Wi-Fi i wasn't gonna be talking to anyone...
Sent from my SGH-T889

trevor7428 said:
I don't understand why wifi calling is so important to people. Especially if it means you can have multi window without it. Anyways doesn't everyone have unlimited minutes these days?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
minutes aren't free. still eats into your monthly rate plan for minutes, but providers better reception. my house has horrible to no signal so I use wi-fi calling not necessarily so people can call me, but so my phone doesn't eat up battery looking for network all the time.

Jinra321 said:
minutes aren't free. still eats into your monthly rate plan for minutes, but providers better reception. my house has horrible to no signal so I use wi-fi calling not necessarily so people can call me, but so my phone doesn't eat up battery looking for network all the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on an eligible plan you can add the free wifi calling as a additional service. My grandfathered preferred plan won't allow the free wifi calling service... It deducts minutes from my allotment. There are parts on my house that get poor reception so I use it for that purpose.
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

As most have mentioned, reception is the main reason. I appreciate wifi for vocal quality. Typically, wifi calling is higher quality, though can be plagued with volume issues on some phones
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

samklee said:
As most have mentioned, reception is the main reason. I appreciate wifi for vocal quality. Typically, wifi calling is higher quality, though can be plagued with volume issues on some phones
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You guys do know that if you put wifi calling on you plan it doesn't use your minutes

deeznutz1977 said:
You guys do know that if you put wifi calling on you plan it doesn't use your minutes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your plan allows it...
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement

Coug76 said:
If your plan allows it...
Hastily spouted for your befuddlement
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have it on my dads add a line line 500 minutes unlimited messages 2 gigs. can you not add to prepay??

deeznutz1977 said:
i have it on my dads add a line line 500 minutes unlimited messages 2 gigs. can you not add to prepay??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can add the feature but it will use your minutes. Prepaids "do not" qualify for this plan. The only benefit for prepay to activate this feature is if you have poor reception this will allow you to still make a phone call.
As others have said, it is free and won't use up your allotted minutes only if you are on a qualifying plan.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

I will give you a more detailed run down.
Actually under a corp plan all wifi calls are free if you add it to that account. Also it doesnt always take mins away. Its more like 70 no 30 yes. From my testing over the last two years.
I work in network security which means I'm in a lot of "heavy secure "wink wink" data centers etc that have zero cell signal for a reason. They use to even bar camera phones. These days they just put a really thin tape over your cameras front & back. So if you even tried removing partly before seeing the "SO" at the exit it will tear and then you got big issues. That being said voip coms are allowed as long as their tied to your imei number like T's.
So wifi calling is needed when I and my guys are at those locations. Other uses as many have said is reception from a poor signal. Tmobile has a great network in the city, its when u get out in the boonies where there's nothing alot of the time. Those times I just click on my VZW MiFi and make call that way or pull over at a McDonalds. Kinda of a end around but being with T allows us alot of flexibility where the other carriers relies on there massively fake reception maps.
Tmobile is great in that it also allows me personally to swap phones easy.
There kinda like a rich man's garage with a dozen super cars, I wake up and pick at will what phone to fly with that day. Doing that on VZW is a pain. Plus the cost for corp plans with Tmobile is about one third of that of VZW or the Death-Star. The only option the other providers have is a wifi extender which requires and hard line and a GPS signal. Try getting that through x amount or so feet of concrete.
As a side note with reception where in the middle of nowhere Ky the only cell and data service was Tmobile.
Typically for me what phone I use depends on what Rom its on. I love cm9/10 but as everyone knows it doesnt support T's wifi calling features. So if im going to be in a secure environment I will have to grab one thats on a samsung kernel with wifi calling. Sometimes I can get away with wifi/google voice or my corp voip pbx but nothing compares to T's 93kb voice codec period.
We never get the excuse that "I couldn't call in cause there wasn't signal" from my guys. So productive has gone up a fare amount due to this tech it also allows better live tracking cause T's employee finder works over any data connection even when outside gps isnt available. So there's more security that my guys feel as we always know where they are if something like a "misunderstanding" comes up.
Does that help? Lol.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

casperi said:
I will give you a more detailed run down.
Actually under a corp plan all wifi calls are free if you add it to that account. Also it doesnt always take mins away. Its more like 70 no 30 yes. From my testing over the last two years.
I work in network security which means I'm in a lot of "heavy secure "wink wink" data centers etc that have zero cell signal for a reason. They use to even bar camera phones. These days they just put a really thin tape over your cameras front & back. So if you even tried removing partly before seeing the "SO" at the exit it will tear and then you got big issues. That being said voip coms are allowed as long as their tied to your imei number like T's.
So wifi calling is needed when I and my guys are at those locations. Other uses as many have said is reception from a poor signal. Tmobile has a great network in the city, its when u get out in the boonies where there's nothing alot of the time. Those times I just click on my VZW MiFi and make call that way or pull over at a McDonalds. Kinda of a end around but being with T allows us alot of flexibility where the other carriers relies on there massively fake reception maps.
Tmobile is great in that it also allows me personally to swap phones easy.
There kinda like a rich man's garage with a dozen super cars, I wake up and pick at will what phone to fly with that day. Doing that on VZW is a pain. Plus the cost for corp plans with Tmobile is about one third of that of VZW or the Death-Star. The only option the other providers have is a wifi extender which requires and hard line and a GPS signal. Try getting that through x amount or so feet of concrete.
As a side note with reception where in the middle of nowhere Ky the only cell and data service was Tmobile.
Typically for me what phone I use depends on what Rom its on. I love cm9/10 but as everyone knows it doesnt support T's wifi calling features. So if im going to be in a secure environment I will have to grab one thats on a samsung kernel with wifi calling. Sometimes I can get away with wifi/google voice or my corp voip pbx but nothing compares to T's 93kb voice codec period.
We never get the excuse that "I couldn't call in cause there wasn't signal" from my guys. So productive has gone up a fare amount due to this tech it also allows better live tracking cause T's employee finder works over any data connection even when outside gps isnt available. So there's more security that my guys feel as we always know where they are if something like a "misunderstanding" comes up.
Does that help? Lol.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol ya that explains it a lil. I live in Las Vegas and I never lose signal anywhere. I guess that why I never understood. But when people are saying no reception is that mean no data either? Cause even if you have no reception but have data. Can't you use a 3rd party app that makes calls over data (not wifi)

Cell and data are basically the same as voice runs over the data lines pulled to the towers. It will be even more so as carriers upgrade to LTE-rev14 I think which is from my understanding is pure carrier level voice IP network vs switched network now.
Basically now voice is segmented out to a Nortel, Lucent, Alcatel gear to handle the phone side and then data is routed to their respective network gear. In a pure IP network both voice and data are run data only. Voice will be filtered out with QoS rules with along with virtual pbx box vs the circuit switched like we have now. The advantages of going pure IP are
1) Carriers are no longer tied to large circuit switched gear that runs into the millions and is proprietary to each manufacturer's specs. So the carriers try to buy just one type of pbx so not to run into compatibility issues. Just replacing a line card which typically hosts 129 lines at the "CO" known as central office is always same day aired if they don't have a replacement handy and those cards run 5 or so grand a piece. So downtime is a problem and cost vs ROI is as well.
2) In a pure voice IP setup the carriers can run a virtual PBX that is software bound vs hardware that the call is then routed via data to CO or datacenter to the last leg to terminate the call with say level 3 being your terminating host that then routes the call from there. If that call is cell phone to cell phone then it can stay data the entire way. This cost the carriers fare less as the hardware is agnostics, think vmware etc. Also audio codec on the BOX and towers can be adjusted in learning mode and then into dynamic mode as to give the callers the best overall call experience and if the tower gets loaded down with calls that gear can downgrade to a lower codec to handle more call volume. Think rush hour traffic where your stuck and everyone is on their cell. I could go into more details but you would fail asleep but this killer feature alone.
Bottom line is this cost the carriers far less, the audio codec used has much better call quality and can be setup to be dynamic to the load of individual towers vs switched which is hard coded. Downtime is dramatically reduced as there's no actual phone/linecards to go bad.
Many T-Mobile users "use" the Wi-Fi calling feature because it just sounds better. The reason that is because the audio codec "your call" runs around 96kbs. With voice over LTE "depending on tower config and load" can provide the same call quality. For example vzw cell call is 4.7kbs "data" which means that call is heavily compressed. You can tell if you listen, the bass and highs are gone. It's like talking to someone that speaks monotone. The reverse, GSM to GSM call uses a audio codec in the 14.8kbs range and sounds awesome. Even better is two T-Mobile callers using Wi-Fi calling. The problem the carriers have is CDMA to GSM or the other way around, all those calls sound like crap cause the voice gear has to downgrade or upscale to meet the setting of caller and vzw doesn't scale higher than 9.2kbs so the convo sounds mutilated with call echo, drop data packets which sounds like garbage like distorted audio. Think Sat radio when you go under a long bridge. Voice over LTE "voice over data" will allow all carriers gear to talk correctly and adjust audio codecs correctly on the fly giving the callers the best call possible.
I know I went WAY beyond and in depth but I love this stuff and its fun to share it with others.
Casperi
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Reception is one thing, but there is another reason..
For people that travel frequently outside the Tmobile coverage area (ie: International).. Wi-Fi calling is important and critical.. Even with a Corp plan, international minutes when you need to call back to the US is expensive and without having to deal with call forwarding, or grabbing a local SIM.. (though I usually get one for data)

how's T-mobile connection in Chicago Area?

Thinking about switching to T-mobile in the SW Suburbs of Chicago; I'm on wifi most of the time, so data speed isnt important to me, but, we MUST have good phone call quality in our house.
Is this an issue for anyone in chicago land, or, if we get a phone that is "wifi capable", and we have a fast,strong, wifi network in our house, does this become a non issue?
We had ATT, which was no problem in the house, and recently switched to Sprint, with the hopes of a stong "Spark Network" here; well, one of our phones in Spark compatible, and works fine, but the other 2 phones are HTC One's, not spark "compatible", and have poor phone call quality and reception in the house. We are waiting on an AirRave front Sprint, but, if that doesnt work, we're ready to go to T-Mobile..
Sorry for this weird question here, but, I trust my buds on XDA to give a real report on stuff like this, NOT the people from T-Mobile
Thanks! :good:

What town are you in? I have excellent call quality in Posen/Oak Forest/Orland Park/Crestwood area. And LTE when available is super solid. Seen a best of 39MBPS in Ookla App. I also had ATT until recently. I really can say, that I'm happy I made the switch. I also know many ppl who are on sprint and constantly suffer from dropped calls and data connection issues, my house is a sprint problem area as well btw.
Sent from my SM-N900T using XDA Premium HD app

I'm next to burr ridge/willowbrook, in an area called Timberlake.
My Sprint Airrave is supposed to be here tomorrow, and if it doesnt fix the problem, its tmobile and wifi calling for us!
We had Sprint for many years here, using an AirRave, and it was fine, but, a couple of years ago, their network went completely to hell, so we switched to ATT; after awhile, they were just bad to deal with, and Sprint announced this new Spark Network, in Chicago, so we thought, why not, its cheaper than ATT, and with this new network, it will be fine.
Problem is, if you dont have one of their 3 tri band phones,(which I have, but my wife/son do NOT), then making calls in some areas is horrible.
My wife works from home alot, and making calls for her is bad news, especially conference calls on Global Crossing, so if the Airrave, which uses wifi/internet to make calls, doesnt work, its t-mobile for us.
I understand that using wifi to make calls from you house with Tmobile is fantastic, and I have a great, Asus ac1900 wifi router in the house, which gives super fast and strong wifi, so I am sure that t-mobile wifi calls would be clear as a bell here!
thanks for the info :good:

wase4711 said:
I'm next to burr ridge/willowbrook, in an area called Timberlake.
My Sprint Airrave is supposed to be here tomorrow, and if it doesnt fix the problem, its tmobile and wifi calling for us!
We had Sprint for many years here, using an AirRave, and it was fine, but, a couple of years ago, their network went completely to hell, so we switched to ATT; after awhile, they were just bad to deal with, and Sprint announced this new Spark Network, in Chicago, so we thought, why not, its cheaper than ATT, and with this new network, it will be fine.
Problem is, if you dont have one of their 3 tri band phones,(which I have, but my wife/son do NOT), then making calls in some areas is horrible.
My wife works from home alot, and making calls for her is bad news, especially conference calls on Global Crossing, so if the Airrave, which uses wifi/internet to make calls, doesnt work, its t-mobile for us.
I understand that using wifi to make calls from you house with Tmobile is fantastic, and I have a great, Asus ac1900 wifi router in the house, which gives super fast and strong wifi, so I am sure that t-mobile wifi calls would be clear as a bell here!
thanks for the info :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Joliet, and I get great service. Always connected to LTE, and never lose signal. I get spotty service in my apartment, but that may be because I'm on the bottom floor of a 3 story building. It doesn't bother me though because wifi calling works like a charm!

how's T-mobile connection in Chicago Area?

Thinking about switching to T-mobile in the SW Suburbs of Chicago; I'm on wifi most of the time, so data speed isnt important to me, but, we MUST have good phone call quality in our house.
Is this an issue for anyone in chicago land, or, if we get a phone that is "wifi capable", and we have a fast,strong, wifi network in our house, does this become a non issue?
We had ATT, which was no problem in the house, and recently switched to Sprint, with the hopes of a stong "Spark Network" here; well, one of our phones in Spark compatible, and works fine, but the other 2 phones are HTC One's, not spark "compatible", and have poor phone call quality and reception in the house. We are waiting on an AirRave front Sprint, but, if that doesnt work, we're ready to go to T-Mobile..
Sorry for this weird question here, but, I trust my buds on XDA to give a real report on stuff like this, NOT the people from T-Mobile
Thanks!:good:

wase4711 said:
Thinking about switching to T-mobile in the SW Suburbs of Chicago; I'm on wifi most of the time, so data speed isnt important to me, but, we MUST have good phone call quality in our house.
Is this an issue for anyone in chicago land, or, if we get a phone that is "wifi capable", and we have a fast,strong, wifi network in our house, does this become a non issue?
We had ATT, which was no problem in the house, and recently switched to Sprint, with the hopes of a stong "Spark Network" here; well, one of our phones in Spark compatible, and works fine, but the other 2 phones are HTC One's, not spark "compatible", and have poor phone call quality and reception in the house. We are waiting on an AirRave front Sprint, but, if that doesnt work, we're ready to go to T-Mobile..
Sorry for this weird question here, but, I trust my buds on XDA to give a real report on stuff like this, NOT the people from T-Mobile
Thanks!:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mobie has pretty solid service in chicago but if you are in the suburbs go with a wifi capable phone if you have prepaid as you cant roam on prepaid. With a wifi capable phone it wont be an issue.

that's what I thought; it looks like most of their high end phones are wifi capable, so that means perfect calls in a strong wifi house, right?
thanks again!

wase4711 said:
that's what I thought; it looks like most of their high end phones are wifi capable, so that means perfect calls in a strong wifi house, right?
thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All T-Mobile smartphones have WiFi calling, so yeah as long as you're in good WiFi coverage you should be ok.. Just keep in mind it cannot switch out of WiFi calling while you are in a call, so if you get out of range during a call in WiFi, it will drop
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

thanks, thats understandable..

Wifi Calling With AT&T on N900-T Unlocked...Possible or not?

As I have experienced first hand, T-Mobile's wifi calling feature works amazing on my Note 3. The problem is, where I live, work and play we do not get any T-Mobile service above 2g, and mostly nothing at all. I'm actually confused as to why local stores are even selling the service. It simply doesn't work here. Anyhow, I had purchased a month of prepaid service with them because I don't get ANY service from any provider at my home (except Verizon, who comes in at 5 bars in my basement). The wifi calling feature was amazing for this one reason. I never missed a call, or text and life was good. Of course, the moment I left the house my $800.00 Note 3 turned into a very expensive makeup mirror for my wife because, like I mentioned, we don't get T-Mobile here, at all. I still have 2 weeks of the service active, and put the sim into my i-747 S3 for testing.
I'm currently running Hyperdrive RLS3.1 (NB4) on AT&T Go-Service on my Note 3.
What I'm asking is simple, or maybe it isn't -
I would like to know where I could find info on a REAL wifi calling service. Not these 3rd party apps that give you a new free #, etc. I'd like something that integrates into the phone, like TM Wifi calling does. After searching this topic on XDA, I found a few threads on SIP VoIP. I'd even be willing to give that a shot. If I have to invest a few dollars, that is also ok. Has anyone else successfully done this? Any better idea's or suggestions? I'm tired of not being able to make calls from my cell phone at home. I have looked into repeaters, extenders, etc, but that is for another thread, I suppose.
I know that the native wifi calling on my Note 3 will not work with AT&T, but there must be something that can work....
Thanks for any info or help anyone can provide.

Real WiFi calling has to be supported on the back end by the carrier.
You are going to be limited to a 3rd party solution.

That's what I use. I have to use magic jack.
sent from a Galaxy Note 3 Far far away

Pajar0913 said:
That's what I use. I have to use magic jack.
sent from a Galaxy Note 3 Far far away
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also started using magicjack on my phone. After trying out several voip SIP services with the native android app, I realized that it would never have the sound quality I needed.
This is all null and void now though. I retired my N900T and bought the Verizon Note 3 and never drop signal or lose LTE, even in my basement.

100% not possible. It relies on servers at T-Mobile's end. Plus the settings in the Wifi Calling app are set to T-Mobile's servers on top of that.