topic Re: Cell Phone Service in the US in Get Support

Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 22:50:36 GMT

Hello,

I have the old basic $15/month plan which does not include coverage in the states. If I have to cross the border on any random day, and I would like cell service for that day, how do I go about getting it? Am I able to use Google Maps as well as make phone call? How about texting?

Thanksfor your help.

Griffyn

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

hairbag1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:37:23 GMT

@Griffyn1

on the day you wanna go...log in to your account on a laptop. Click Subscriptions and Add-ons...then Purchase Add-on. Look through the menue to select the 15 Day US Roaming option you want.

Make sure to enabled Roaming Data on your cell. Do you know if you have volte enabled on the phone. Without volte enabled, the talk portion is terrible...you're call will need to be able to connect to 2G and be fairly close to a cell tower. Otherwise text and data should be fine.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

hTideGnow — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:37:40 GMT

HI @Griffyn1

There is no choice of one day only US roaming. All US roaming add-ons are 15 days long

But if you just need to make one phone call or couples on any day, you can use the free solution with VoIP app TextNow. Download the app, they will assign you another 10 digits number. Use it to make calls and receive calls. It will work with Wifi

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

mojorising — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 14:39:36 GMT

You would have to purchase a US addon, but they come in 15-day use periods, there are no single days available.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

DennyCrane — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:00:54 GMT

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

dust2dust — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:12:58 GMT

The only thing that works (and if you connect to either T-Mobile or AT&T and get the welcome to US text) is inbound real sms texts. But you can't send out, or make and receive calls or use your Public cell data.
Adding - I guess I should have refreshed before adding this - There is a talk/text add-on and a talk/text/data add-on and several data bucket size add-ons.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:44:15 GMT

Thank you all very much for your quick responses!

hTideGnow, I chose yours to respond to because it seems a better solution to my problem. I did look at the add-ons and I might have to go that way but my problem is I will be doing one day visits across the border, but not all within the 15 day time frame. I really don’t want to do multiple 15 day add-ons when I only need one or maybe two of those 15 days. I will need phone service above the texting and data services so I can be reached at a moment’s notice. I will be driving around in my van so I won’t have WiFi. Will TextNow still work?

Thanks again.

Griffyn

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

dust2dust — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:50:43 GMT

The TextNow voip app requires an internet connection.
There are some very inexpensive cell services available in the states unlike the rip-offs here. I have been using one from Red Pocket sim service for $2.50US average per month. I'm going to try out the TextNow sim service that is unlimited talk and text. This is only available in the states. It would then work like the app in Canada. But both of those are US numbers.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

DennyCrane — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:55:33 GMT

@Griffyn1 Before you get too deep into the roaming options, if phone calls are your primary concern you need to first make sure your phone is VoLTE compatible for Public Mobile's network. Without VoLTE you phone needs to fallback to the 3G network to make phone calls, which the US no longer has.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/on/get-help/articles/volte

What phone are you using? To confirm VoLTE you can perform this quick test at home:

1) Temporarily disable wifi

2) Ensure you're connected to either the 4G or 5G network (yes you can do this on a 3G plan)

3) Make a phone call

4) Watch the connection at the top of your screen. If after the call connects you stay connected to 4G/LTE/5G, you have VoLTE. If you fallback to 3G, you don't.

5) Turn wifi back on

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:19:16 GMT

Hi DennyCrane…where does it tell me if I’m connected to the 4G or 5G network? It doesn’t say anything at the top of my phone (it’s a Samsung A14). When I google what Samsung phones are compatible with voLTE, my phone is listed but when I go into my Mobile Networks screen, it’s not there to enable.

Griffyn

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

dust2dust — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:31:33 GMT

Make a call, stay on the call - go to settings, about phone, status information, sim card status and look at the Mobile voice network type line. Does it say UMTS? If so then you don't have volte. Stay on the call. When not on a call then it will say LTE.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:38:05 GMT

Hi dust2dust…I turned off my WiFi, made a call to my landline and Mobile Voice Network Type did not change from LTE.

Griffyn

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:39:57 GMT

PS…although Google says my Samsung A14 5G is compatible, it’s not in PM’s list at the bottom of the link that DennyCrane sent me.

Griffyn

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

dust2dust — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:42:49 GMT

While you were on the call? You weren't looking at Mobile data network type? Next thing to look for is any mention of IMS in that screen and if there then is it registered?

Adding - the list is hit and miss. Some devices not on the list can work. So I prefer to look for the actual evidence as we all know that messaging from the company around here is poorly updated. Some people also had volte working for a brief period and then it was snatched away.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:44:08 GMT

Yes, while I was on the call. Both MVNT and MDNT say LTE and stay that way when I make the call. I just tried it again, no change.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:47:06 GMT

IMS is registered

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

dust2dust — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:49:19 GMT

Well that sounds promising. ~~How about that IMS too?~~
So with volte, you'll have a much better experience using roaming talk. Text and data will be fine either way. When you go next time and you bought the add-on then set the phone to 4G LTE if it's on 5G. It should connect to either T-Mobile or AT&T on its own. But you might need to connect manually.
If you wish to buy the add-on again around the 15 days then there's a glitch to that but maybe you won't be re-buying so soon after having one. And if you do then you might want to pick up the roaming plan instead.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

DennyCrane — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:55:28 GMT

Glad you have VoLTE, as that could have been a big hurdle. I'll repeat what @dust2dust said because it can't be said enough, make sure to set your Preferred Network to 4G when in the US, because AT&T 5G does not work at the moment. And ensure Data Roaming is on.

As for roaming options, will you be going down for sporadic day trips on an ongoing basis, or just for a specific window of time? The roaming add-on's are still good value, even if you only use them for a couple days. The tier 1 providers charge between $12-$15 per day.

Your other option is to switch (even if temporarily) to a Canada/US plan. Right now the cheapest option is $65, but until a few weeks ago there was a $50 version. My suspicion is that a cheaper version [than $65] will come back for Black Friday. These plans are great because your whole data bucket, as well as calls and texts work in the US.

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

Griffyn1 — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:59:40 GMT

Sorry dust2dust…I’m not very tech savvy. How do I change the phone from 5G to 4G? When I look under Mobile Networks and tap network modes, these are the options presented to me:

5G/LTE/WCDMA/GSM

LTE/WCDMA/GSM (this is the one it’s currently on)

WCDMA/GSM

WCDMA only

GSM only

Griffyn

Re: Cell Phone Service in the US

DennyCrane — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:03:16 GMT

@Griffyn1 This one is 4G

LTE/WCDMA/GSM (this is the one it’s currently on)

It's basically saying 1st priority is LTE (aka 4G), next is 3G, then 2G.