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US Roaming Bunkde Only partially working

CliffEndicott
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

I purchased a $30 US bundle - roaming talk, text and data.  My texting and data works, but i can't make or receive calls.  What can I do?  I am in the USA and I can't do my business because calling doesn't work.  I have restarted, confirmed I am on the right network, and I don't have DoNotDisturb or Airplane mode on.  What can I do?

22 REPLIES 22


@will13am wrote:

whitelist or should I say blacklist.


Fully politically correct/racially neutral terminology I've been seeing take hold lately is allow list / block list... 😉

@DennyCrane- And my experience pre-volte was that in some areas my phone would drop down but then another area I had to do it manually. But yes at least the phone let me.

A phone has to play nice with VoLTE on both the roaming network and the Public Mobile network in order for a phone call to complete on VoLTE protocol.  All roaming traffic routes back to Public Mobile.  I think the cork in the bottle is the infamous VoLTE whitelist or should I say blacklist.

@dust2dust I was specifically referring to VoLTE, yes. Not 2G. My phone at the time didn't have the ability to try forcing it into 2G anyway.

dust2dust
Mayor / Maire

Part of the above is correct. If you go to some other area then you might be able to connect to GSM with T-Mobile. But it just seems like you're outside of a coverage area. So put things back to LTE and use data and text until you go to some other area. The fact that you can use LTE for data but not talk means your phone is simply not on volte. Whether connected to T-Mobile or AT&T.

@CliffEndicott 

Please use VoIP app TextNow as a workaround to make and receive calls for now

Please try again with GSM on T-Mobile and LTE on both T-Mobile and AT&T in different area. BTW, which state and city you are at?

@dust2dust Yeah no way. At the end of the day it's still being routed through PM/Telus' backend systems.

Also I have first hand experience (prior to the VoLTE implementation at PM) where my phone did not work for calls in the US (Nov 2022). This was on 3 phones in my family (2 Pixels and 1 iPhone 12).

You have a left arrow next to Mobile networks up top. My phone would show volte in the list of things like wifi, bluetooth, nfc - volte one screen up.

It would seem then that where you are has no GSM coverage from T-Mobile. It would also seem that your phone has not been enabled for volte here.

CliffEndicott
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Agreed.  And I seem to be no closer to a solution.  Going to bed - will check this thread again in the morning.  But having paid for the calling, and since I really need to make and receive calls, this is frustrating beyond belief.

CliffEndicott
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

There is no "one screen up".  Those are the only options.

I went into the status info, and there was no mention of IMS.  SIM card status shows Network: T-Mobile, Mobile Voice Network Type LTE.  If I change it to GSm, it can't find a network for me to connect to.

@DennyCrane- This possibility has been mentioned frequently and I've never believed it. We'll see what this customer comes back with.

Adding - as always, I'm willing to be corrected.

@dust2dust I agree, and I think we're saying the same thing. I'm just explaining the background as they didn't understand what VoLTE was or why it was important. If it doesn't work at home, you're right that it won't start working when roaming. 

@DennyCrane- That user said for T-Mobile, not here. I still don't believe that T-Mobile or AT&T will magically make volte appear and use it. And this thread is so far proving that.


@CliffEndicott wrote:

I don't know what Volpe is, and it doesn't appear in my mobile network page.  This is what I see.


VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is the ability to make phone calls while connected to the 4G or 5G networks. Until earlier this year Public Mobile did not have VoLTE, which meant that even if we were connected to the 4G/LTE network for data, it would automatically drop us back to the 3G network when placing or receiving phone calls. You can verify this at home by turning off WiFi while connected to the 4G/LTE network and trying to make a phone call; if it drops to 3G, you likely don't have VoLTE.

Why this is important is because the US no longer has any 3G networks, so if your phone is still trying to fallback to 3G to make phone calls, it simply won't connect because that network is non-existent. All Public Mobile accounts are now setup for VoLTE, although the device itself does have to be on the approved list. @softech has confirmed that your device should be on the list (assuming it's not an international version), so in all likelihood this isn't your issue. Regardless, when you get home you should try the test I suggested to verify for certain.

If volte were to show itself then it would be one screen up. So check that again.
Another thing you could do is go to settings, about phone, status information, sim card status - and look for any mention of IMS and if it's registered.

Adding - If it's not - then come back to the screen you showed here and tap that network mode and select GSM. That should give you talk (and text). 2G GSM has lesser coverage than LTE though.

CliffEndicott
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

Screenshot_20230920-214212_Call settings.jpg

I don't know what Volpe is, and it doesn't appear in my mobile network page.  This is what I see.

@CliffEndicott Galaxy S10 is compatible with T-Mobile's VoLTE, try connecting it on LTE.  if it does not work, bring it down to GSM only and see if calls work

If still does not work, change the network back to LTE and try AT&T

CliffEndicott
Good Citizen / Bon Citoyen

I have a Galaxy S10 and I've never had this issue in the US before.  I selected T-Mobile and tried all the variations(LTE/WCDMA/GSM, and all the other options).  Rebooted after every change.  Nothing works.  I don't know what Volte is, and I looked  up a Youtubevideo on turning it on, but it says it shouldappear in the Mobile Networks in Connections, and it doesn't.  Still no ability to call or receive calls.

DennyCrane
Mayor / Maire

What phone are you using? This will help us rule out or confirm VoLTE being the issue. And as has been noted, if AT&T is causing issues, try to connect to T-Mobile manually. 

dust2dust
Mayor / Maire

Manually connect to T-Mobile and see if it will drop down to 2G GSM. Or manually switch down to 2G GSM while on T-Mobile. It looks like you might not have volte enabled on your phone. Also, set your network mode to 4G LTE if you're on 5G.

Adding - if you do see any volte options then turn them on and please let us know if talk then works.

softech
Oracle
Oracle

@CliffEndicott 

With your voice issue, make sure VoLTE is enabled on the device setting.  And if it does not work, try to change the Network to T-Mobile ONLY  Preferred Network Type or Network Mode to 2G and see if the calls go through
Also, you can download VoIP app TextNow as a workaround to make calls and text if you have Wifi or if your roaming has data component and data  is working

JRod
Deputy Mayor / Adjoint au Maire

@CliffEndicott 

Which carrier are you automatically connecting to? I’d go to network selection, turn off automatic and then manually select T-Mobile if you connected to AT&T previously and then reboot. 

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