US calling

[Steve393]

Hi, does the $30 add on cover calls from the US back to Canada? My wife is in the US and I put this on her phone but her phone won’t send a text or receive calls. Frustrated!

[Steve393]

Much appreciated, thanks for the info!

[Steve393]

Ok got thanks!

[dust2dust]

When we used to have AT&T, I would often get the welcome text again as the phone switched back and forth between the two providers depending on reception. To shut it up I would just stick to one of them manually. Now with just one provider, manual isn't needed.

But then there's the border problem that some people experience while on automatic. They're close to the border and the phone connects to T-Mobile and you get the welcome text and no normal services. So then they need to manually set it to Public so that they're not always getting the welcome text and to have their services.

I last took two phones to the US. One was set to auto. One manual. The auto simply picked up T-Mobile and got the text. The manual scanned and found all the available providers and I connected to T-Mobile and got the text.

[computergeek541]

@BKNS27 

Your information about automatic network isn't correct. Phones know to switch over to a roaming network even in automatic network mode.

[BKNS27]

@Steve393 

Automatic works if you are in Canada and will automatically connect to Telus towers…no Telus towers in the USA so that is why she needs to connect manually.

[BKNS27]

@Steve393 

Great to hear that it is working for her.

It is spotty in certain areas but remember that she switch back to Automatic on the Cellular Network when she returns to Canada.

[Steve393]

Ok thanks for the info. Calls working but texts are spotty. In Florida.

[Meow]

Correct. US add-on is for calling FROM US. BUT do not expect much...

According to Public Mobile:

PM will have T-mobile 2G network for US talk. Try to manually connect to T-mobile.

Roaming is for Data only. 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.

[dust2dust]

My phone worked fine with automatic on. T-Mobile is the only provider we can connect to so I don't think it's necessary to set it to manual.

Coverage is a whole other problem. Maybe you're not in a T-Mobile coverage area. Data and text should work fine. Talk on 2G is also then more limited in coverage. Also, some devices are now removing the capability to drop down automatically or select 2G.

[Steve393]

Ok thanks she will try that.

[Handy1]

@Steve393  Should be a green toggle she taps to grey it out 

[Steve393]

Thank you, and yes it says automatic which is confusing her. How does she disable it?

[BKNS27]

@Steve393 

Ask her to go to Settings>Cellular>Network Selection>click on T-Mobile.

If it is on Automatic, she needs to disable it first.

[BKNS27]

@Steve393 

What is the make and model of her phone?

[Steve393]

iPhone 11- very helpful but where in settings does she start?

[Handy1]

@Steve393  In the phone setting go to network setting and manually select T-Mobile and reboot the device 

[Steve393]

Ok thanks but how does one connect to T mobile?

[BKNS27]

@Steve393 

Your wife need to connect manually to T-Mobile. 
What is the make and model of her phone if she needs help with the settings?

[Handy1]

@Steve393  Yes but the device has to be connected to T mobile and voice can be hit or miss depending on location in the US