Data fail roaming in San Francisco

[PeterFairley]

My partner and I are down in SF for a few months and are having intermittent but recurring and serious difficulties connecting. We'll be connected, and then the phone will show the band flipping between 5G and LTE and the apps will detect that the phone is offline.

She has a new iPhone 13 and I have a pretty new Pixel 7, so this definitely isn't a hardware problem on our end. 

I think it tends to happen when we're on the go. 

Any suggestions? Is it perhaps because Public Mobile has a very low priority on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks? 

[will13am]

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@Winterpeg0 wrote:

I am in Southern California and get the best service with T-Mobile. I turned off the auto select and then choose T-Mobile. I get some 5G but when moving in a vehicle it is spotty, switching back and forth between 5G and 4G/LTE. I have one phone with Telus and the other with Public, the same service but my Telus one allows me to choose Verizon, which is much better, don't know why.

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@Winterpeg0 , I have never had service with Verizon before, directly or through roaming.  From what I have read, they run the best network in the US although T-Mobile is catching up.  AT&T is definitely bottom shelf.

[will13am]

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@PeterFairley wrote:

That's my conclusion, until proven wrong.

I never experience Wind Mobile @will13am, so I'm not sure what you're saying. From the context I'm guessing it's not good.

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@PeterFairley , sorry for confusing you.  Those who have used Wind Mobile in Canada would know what I mean.  They run a terrible network, similar to the AT&T experience you are having.  

[Winterpeg0]

I am in Southern California and get the best service with T-Mobile. I turned off the auto select and then choose T-Mobile. I get some 5G but when moving in a vehicle it is spotty, switching back and forth between 5G and 4G/LTE. I have one phone with Telus and the other with Public, the same service but my Telus one allows me to choose Verizon, which is much better, don't know why.

[PeterFairley]

That's my conclusion, until proven wrong.

I never experience Wind Mobile @will13am, so I'm not sure what you're saying. From the context I'm guessing it's not good.

[Flyboy725]

So if I understand correctly, we pay for a 5G can-us plan but 5G doesn’t work everywhere?

[will13am]

@PeterFairley , I have not been to San Francisco in a long while, T-Mobile coverage there was fine based on what I remember.  In the times I have used roaming in the west coast, AT&T was like the US version of Wind Mobile.  

[PeterFairley]

Thanks @Chalupa_Batman and @Phil_Adelphus. I'm pretty sure that I've tried both of those solutions — ie turning off 5G and forcing the phone to use either T-Mobile or AT&T.

At the moment I'm in Boston, on T-Mobile, and having no issues. But Erica is still in SF, having endless trouble. I will suggest for now that she select T-Mobile. 

I should note that SF is very hilly, and apparently that creates grief for many.

[Chalupa_Batman · Accepted solution]

Hey @PeterFairley 

Turn off 5G is the starting point. Pick 4G if possible. Also, make sure data roaming is turned on. Next, go to Network Settings and turn off automatic. Choose T-Mobile and then reboot. You should be just fine after that.

[Phil_Adelphus]

@PeterFairley   Set the phones to 4G/LTE because 5G doesn't work for roaming on AT&T.  It may work on T-Mobile but safest to stay on 4G/LTE.