Roaming

[janice123]

Anyone else having problems with Roaming from Canada to U.S.? The calls drop at least 50% of the time and the conversations phase in and out most of the time.

Some text messages do not come through. 

Very unreliable service. 

[janice123]

Thank you

[janice123]

thank you!

[softech]

@janice123 LTE is 4G

[janice123]

I don't have an option of 4g just lte/3g/2g. 

[Nezgar · Accepted solution]

@janice123As the 3G networks in the states are all shut down by now, your calls would have been running the only remaining available non-LTE network, with is 2G on T-Mobile. Even this network is old and only enough towers left to provide minimum service, and as such will have very limited coverage, which is why I suspect you have poor quality calls even when calls do connect.

You might want to consider signing up for and installing the free TextNow app, with which you can get a free Canadian number and place and received calls and texts over Wi-Fi or mobile data, and that can be LTE mobile data while you are roaming with Public Mobile in the USA.

[softech]

@janice123   Which US network are you using?

With 3G decommissioned in US, our Roaming voice relies on T-Mobile's 2G network.  It is not a very great network and hence voice could be an issue, quality wise or even connection

But with Text (and Data), it is using T-Mobile an AT&T's LTE network , so it should be fairly reliable.  

[darlicious]

@janice123 

Manually select T-Mobile. Make sure your network mode is set to 4G LTE/3G/2G (autoconnect) so that when you make or recieve calls your phone automatically drops to 2G for calls.

[Dunkman]

The issue with Public mobile US roaming at the present time is the decommissioning of 3G Networks in the USA.  Public mobile uses AT&T and T mobile as their US partner carriers.  AT&T already phased out 3G network earlier this year. T mobile 's date was July 1.  It may take time for the different areas in USA to decommissioned. 

According to Public mobile,

PM will have T mobile 2G network for US roaming.(for talk)

Voice and SMS text will still work. 

Data will work on LTE, but will switch over to 2G to make a call. 

However, the quality of service will vary depending on the different coverage areas when roaming in the USA.

Public mobile is working on a long term solution, but that will take time.

Here is some more info:

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

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/US-Roaming-Add-ons-Decommissioning-of-US-...

If you had a poor experience, you can contact customer service agent to see whether they can potentially refund the fee.  YMMV.