I bought my N5 thu amazon and a soon to be returned Moto X thru Motorola. I am sending the Moto X back and want to try the N6. Any reason not to get it thru T-mobile?
Wifi calling, tethering, anything I will be left out of?
The main plus for me is from my recent issue with the Moto X. I had no roaming on the Moto X in Canada. T-Mobile tried to help me out but took them 3 days to verify nothing was wrong. Found out I needed to create a new APN. After doing so and confirming it was correct with Moto cust. support it still did not work. Had I not been within my 14 days I wouldn't be able to return, if same happens thru T-Mobile they would replace.
Wifi calling is said to be here hopefully before Q1 ends. Thats a month or so left. I got my 32 variant in store so im not sure how tmobile is dealing with the N6 shimpments. In short, i dont see why you would have a problem getting it thru Tmo.
i bought mine over the phone, and got it shipped next day, back in november. im paying $27 a month for it, and am very happy with the n6 and tmobile
So the only benefit Amazon has is a 30 day return vs a 14 day.
simms22 said:
i bought mine over the phone, and got it shipped next day, back in november. im paying $27 a month for it, and am very happy with the n6 and tmobile
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pootown said:
So the only benefit Amazon has is a 30 day return vs a 14 day.
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Click to collapse
i guess?
pootown said:
I bought my N5 thu amazon and a soon to be returned Moto X thru Motorola. I am sending the Moto X back and want to try the N6. Any reason not to get it thru T-mobile?
Wifi calling, tethering, anything I will be left out of?
The main plus for me is from my recent issue with the Moto X. I had no roaming on the Moto X in Canada. T-Mobile tried to help me out but took them 3 days to verify nothing was wrong. Found out I needed to create a new APN. After doing so and confirming it was correct with Moto cust. support it still did not work. Had I not been within my 14 days I wouldn't be able to return, if same happens thru T-Mobile they would replace.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APN's won't help make roaming work, unless you are only having problems obtaining data service. The APN settings are ONLY responsible for the DATA portion of the connection, and can't even be tried until after the phone is already connected to a network.
In Canada, a tmobile sim will roam on either Wind (same AWS spectrum as tmobile US) or Rogers (different frequencies from tmobile, but same as ATT). It is *unlikely* that you would be able to obtain any LTE service in Canada, Wind doesn't have any, and Rogers has everything completely screwed up. As a Wind customer, I am *supposed* to be able to roam on Rogers LTE when outside of my area, but it just does not work.
So to obtain service in Canada, you would need to make sure that your phone isn't forced/restricted to LTE. To obtain data service, you would have to make sure that you have selected TMO's UMTS APN, not their LTE APN.
Yeah, I was on both Rogers and Telus but needed to roam on the 2G network. I was in country just a couple days and didn't need the LTE, plus it they don't have it way up north where I was at. I am with T-mo specifically because of the free 2G roaming they offer. The new APN was supposed to resolve the problem specifically for 2G roaming. I think now I'll exchange the MotoX and ask for an extended trial since I will leave the country again in a couple weeks. If that doesn't work I'll give the Moto a try. It's the same as the Moto but if I buy N6 thru T-Mobile they will be responsible for assuring the 2G roaming features work.
doitright said:
APN's won't help make roaming work, unless you are only having problems obtaining data service. The APN settings are ONLY responsible for the DATA portion of the connection, and can't even be tried until after the phone is already connected to a network.
In Canada, a tmobile sim will roam on either Wind (same AWS spectrum as tmobile US) or Rogers (different frequencies from tmobile, but same as ATT). It is *unlikely* that you would be able to obtain any LTE service in Canada, Wind doesn't have any, and Rogers has everything completely screwed up. As a Wind customer, I am *supposed* to be able to roam on Rogers LTE when outside of my area, but it just does not work.
So to obtain service in Canada, you would need to make sure that your phone isn't forced/restricted to LTE. To obtain data service, you would have to make sure that you have selected TMO's UMTS APN, not their LTE APN.
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I purchased a Nexus 6 off eBay new in box and used it with T-mobile without a problem for a while with no issues. After I received the Project Fi invite I ported my number but the phone is always on T-mobile. I called Fi team and they say the phone is still being used on Sprint network and attached to another number, I called Sprint and they won't release the phone as it's attached to another account. I tried to force it to Sprint and says it can't be activated.
Just wondering if is there is a way around this, so phone gets fully activated to on Fi to use both networks.
Appreciate any help.
remo74tg said:
I purchased a Nexus 6 off eBay new in box and used it with T-mobile without a problem for a while with no issues. After I received the Project Fi invite I ported my number but the phone is always on T-mobile. I called Fi team and they say the phone is still being used on Sprint network and attached to another number, I called Sprint and they won't release the phone as it's attached to another account. I tried to force it to Sprint and says it can't be activated.
Just wondering if is there is a way around this, so phone gets fully activated to on Fi to use both networks.
Appreciate any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on your description, it sounds like it was under Sprint contract to the previous owner and he never paid off the device. I would suggest starting with the person you purchased it from, and ask him that question. If he doesn't respond, isn't helpful, or confirms that hypothesis, then file a claim with Paypal. Device "significantly not as described". You will get your money back, but it could take several weeks.
This would not have happened with a purchase from Swappa.com. They vet the IMEI number to verify that the phone is unencumbered with any carrier.
You are probably better off than if you could connect to Sprint. A lot of Fi users report that the N6 prefers a weak Sprint signal to a strong T-Mobile signal or even strong WiFi.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Hi,
I'll be vacationing in British Columbia soon and wanted to know if anyone had a good advice for using our AT&T devices (2 Note5s) while there. One can almost see the US from where we are going but AT&T has no options that include enough data to actually use the phones in anything near the way we do in the US. Data plans are as high as $120 for 800mb. When I bought this for a trip to Mexico in the past that allowance was gone in days from mistakenly using Maps on cellular when I thought it was set to wifi only mode. AT&T customer service says no other plans exist that allow data usage.
Both phones are stock, unrooted, and locked as far as I know.
I can't find any realistic option to use these devices without large bills. I can use my google voice # to call /message over wifi if I need to but my wife is less into Google's services and thoroughly addicted to her phone.
Anyone have any advice/info?
Drew
Tbh, realistically you only have the expensive passport options that AT&T offers. If your phones were unlocked, I'd say get a prepaid sim from somewhere and pop those in.
AT&T lacks free Canadian roaming, something I despise since T-Mobile and Cricket (an AT&T company) provide. I'd say, if you're planning to stay for a long period, consider an attempt of getting your phone unlocked. Otherwise, stay close to wifi
Thanks for the reply. I spent most of today trying to find a reasonable option and that does seem to be the only choice. I'll just do whatever I need to do on WiFi and try to enjoy being disconnected.
The chat agents at AT&T initially said they had a plan that included Canada and Mexico data, talk and text but when I read the fine print that was not the case. It would have been nice because I'll be in Mexico soon too. I'm thinking I should buy a older unlocked phone and use local SIMs as I hope to be spending time in both places next year.
Hi everyone. After a big blowout I had with AT&T leading me to finally leave them after our family being customers for 20 years, it led me to porting out all 5 of my family's numbers to Xfinity Mobile. Good riddance.
I'm happy to report that, unlike with AT&T, advanced calling features work with the Google Store / Unlocked Pixel 4 XL (and regular Pixel 4, which my wife is now using). VoLTE and WiFi calling both work perfectly. Both phones were immediately bootloader unlocked and heavily modified as soon as I got them. Like usual, none of the advanced calling features worked while on AT&T (for our last 2-3 days with them before I got the Xfinity Mobile SIM cards in the mail and peaced out, lol). I was worried that advanced calling might not work on Xfinity Mobile either unless you bought the phone from them, and considering they're closely related to Verizon, I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to unlock the bootloader if purchased from them. Well, you don't need to worry if you buy the factory unlocked variant.
They also extended their BYOD promo, so doing BYOD and porting out your number from your carrier will get you a $50 "rebate" so to speak per number ported out ($250 for me, wooo! My brother and parents all had iPhones that were also BYOD'd). I'll be honest, I friggin hate Comcast as a cable company, but seeing as how they're my only option for ISP for the foreseeable future, why the hell not reduce my cell phone bill by ~60-70% and be on a better network than AT&T's crap?
Oh, and also, for the last month of service with AT&T, knowing it wouldn't be a full month of service, I dropped our 35GB family plan to 3GB, expecting to save a few bucks. According to them, the total month cost was supposed to go down by ~$40. Instead, it went UP by $10. Yup, I dropped our data allotment by 90%, and our bill went UP. They didn't tell us that instead of $15 per line access charge we've been paying for years, it would become $20, and charge the primary line $45 access fee, just because. Goodbye you f"king scam artists.
PS: I'm not a Comcast shill. This is more of a PSA, and if I could convince anyone else to leave AT&T and stop giving them your hard earned money, this is all worth it.
edit for more info/thoughts: Part of the BYOD process involved entering the device IMEI numbers, before being able to order the sim cards - I suspect to check that, A) they're compatible BYOD devices, B) whether it corresponds to certain carriers, and C) for iPhones, that they are indeed carrier unlocked. I would also suspect that this process registers these devices' IMEI numbers into their database to allow VoLTE and WiFi Calling on their network. So I really don't see any reason they would suddenly pull these features away for eligible BYOD devices, done the right way. I did notice when I tried to drop the new SIM into my wife's old HTC U11, data and advanced calling wouldn't work. Like some MVNO's, this may make switching phones a little more annoying in the future, but probably easily taken care of as long as you use a compatible phone and a quick call. Ultimately still well worth it if you ask me. Oh, and my brother, mom, and stepdad use iPhone 6s, 7, and 7 Plus - advanced calling features worked on them too. 2 of them were unlocked AT&T phones, and the other was Verizon (which at the time were all SIM unlocked).
Curious if anyone is using the unlocked Pixel 5 with T-Mobile? I bought the unlocked Pixel 5 from Best Buy today and went to activate it with T-Mobile and they are telling me it doesn't support VoLTE or LTE Extended Range so they can't activate the device?? This is the model I bought: GA01316-US
I have T-Mobile and dropped my sim card from my og Pixel XL into my new phone (same model # as you provided). Works well, no issues at all.
I'm waiting on the arrival of my phone, but there was a message from TMobile a while back about needing a new sim card to use the 5G SA Network. Does anyone know if this applies to Pixel 5?
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
I'm no expert on 5g, but the sim card I dropped in my new phone has been around since at least 2014, and I'm getting 5g in Phx.
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/devices/latest-sim-for-great-network-experience
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
I also picked up my pixel 5 at a Best Buy in the Chicago area. Getting 5G on T-mobile just fine with a 5 year old sim.
From what I'm reading, Stand Alone is supposed to be better. You need a new Sim card for that. I have 5G everywhere with my old Sim. Probably going to get a new Sim soon
I should mention I'm a Sprint customer but I'm using a T-Mobile SIM in my current iPhone 11. I don't think that should matter though?
I'm curious if you all put your IMEI in T-Mobiles IMEI checker what does it say? When I put mine in for model: GD1YQ it tells me that it's not supported on T-Mobile. I did the same IMEI check for Verizon and AT&T and it checked out fine. This is so weird...
Newerabs said:
Curious if anyone is using the unlocked Pixel 5 with T-Mobile? I bought the unlocked Pixel 5 from Best Buy today and went to activate it with T-Mobile and they are telling me it doesn't support VoLTE or LTE Extended Range so they can't activate the device?? This is the model I bought: GA01316-US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am.
It's a long story, I won't bore everyone with it. I have replaced (tried to) my Pixel 4 XL on Thursday the 29th, which was running on an eSIM.
I called T-Mobile after work to get a new eSIM downloaded. I wasted six hours of my life with getting an eSIM with absolutely clueless technicians. I was really pissed off, T-Mobile has always been number one in customer service from my experience. They gave up and told me to visit a store to get a physical SIM. Bull****. After I told them no way I was visiting a store they wanted $25.00 US to mail me a SIM. As far as I know, it's still coming, but Customer Service in the US has removed the charges from my upcoming bill, especially after I told them I'm talking to them on a SIM-less device. If do receive the SIM, I will be depositing it in a strong metal container. My trash can.
I called back the next day during normal business hours and the eSIM deal took exactly five minutes to get done, as was my experience with my Pixel 4 XL.
Lesson learned? Hang up and call back during normal business hours to find someone with a clue. Everything you are stating that T-Mobile told you is incorrect.
After speaking with the network engineer, I learned that currently T-Mobile is both 5G SA and NSA, that's how he was seeing my connection and provisioning profile for my account, but should change soon. in some areas and they are migrating to complete SA, I am good to go with my account on with both versions of 5G. Right now NSA isn't quite as fast as SA, in theory, but not reality at this time. If I understood him correctly I was on NSA, which could simply be due to my physical location. Pulling 100Mb/s but the potential is there for 300Mb/s or better.
You can find the distinctions on:
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/devices/latest-sim-for-great-network-experience
Your mileage will vary depending on your area I live and tower proximity, I live in a major city in the US, and I understand they are working with the city's downtown area as priority. He was unfamiliar with which bands the Pixel covers, but it does have the antennae to handle the higher frequencies AT&T and Sprint uses, T-Mobile is using the 600Ghz for the majority of its customers:
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network
I put my ~4 year old T-Mobile SIM card in my Pixel 5 and it's working just fine on 5G. The sim was previously in my Pixel 4, Pixel 3 before that, and Pixel 2XL, prior to that.
I didn't know you could buy an unlocked Pixel 5 from BestBuy that wasn't meant to work with Verizon or Sprint. I'm wondering if your "unlocked" phone is really meant for one of those two carriers.
bleez99 said:
I am.
It's a long story, I won't bore everyone with it. I have replaced (tried to) my Pixel 4 XL on Thursday the 29th, which was running on an eSIM.
I called T-Mobile after work to get a new eSIM downloaded. I wasted six hours of my life with getting an eSIM with absolutely clueless technicians. I was really pissed off, T-Mobile has always been number one in customer service from my experience. They gave up and told me to visit a store to get a physical SIM. Bull****. After I told them no way I was visiting a store they wanted $25.00 US to mail me a SIM. As far as I know, it's still coming, but Customer Service in the US has removed the charges from my upcoming bill, especially after I told them I'm talking to them on a SIM-less device. If do receive the SIM, I will be depositing it in a strong metal container. My trash can.
I called back the next day during normal business hours and the eSIM deal took exactly five minutes to get done, as was my experience with my Pixel 4 XL.
Lesson learned? Hang up and call back during normal business hours to find someone with a clue. Everything you are stating that T-Mobile told you is incorrect.
After speaking with the network engineer, I learned that currently T-Mobile is both 5G SA and NSA, that's how he was seeing my connection and provisioning profile for my account, but should change soon. in some areas and they are migrating to complete SA, I am good to go with my account on with both versions of 5G. Right now NSA isn't quite as fast as SA, in theory, but not reality at this time. If I understood him correctly I was on NSA, which could simply be due to my physical location. Pulling 100Mb/s but the potential is there for 300Mb/s or better.
You can find the distinctions on:
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/devices/latest-sim-for-great-network-experience
Your mileage will vary depending on your area I live and tower proximity, I live in a major city in the US, and I understand they are working with the city's downtown area as priority. He was unfamiliar with which bands the Pixel covers, but it does have the antennae to handle the higher frequencies AT&T and Sprint uses, T-Mobile is using the 600Ghz for the majority of its customers:
https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So maybe try with an esim? If you put your IMEI in T-Mobile IMEI checker does it say it's compatible? This is just so mind boggling to me. I can activate it with Sprint but not with T-Mobile. It's so weird.
Newerabs said:
So maybe try with an esim? If you put your IMEI in T-Mobile IMEI checker does it say it's compatible? This is just so mind boggling to me. I can activate it with Sprint but not with T-Mobile. It's so weird.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try getting an eSIM. Eventually, SIM cards will go away as bothersome. Do yourself a favor though, I don't know what your location is, but call T-Mobile during their normal 9-5 business hours. If your call is routed overseas, hang up and call again, or ask to speak to a US based engineer. Please don't take that the wrong way, I found that the outsourced call centers are poorly trained, and cannot perform the simplest of technical tasks. I actually had an argument with an "engineer" when he told me to scan the QR code without activating the EID in their system. Moron. He refused to listen to someone who has some understanding of cellular operations. Then he accused me of not knowing what a QR code is. This is not magic, you cannot just scan the QR code on their website and expect registration without prior entry into the system by EID.
Don't expect the reps at the stores to understand how to set up an eSIM either.
IMEI doesn't matter to T-Mobile at all. When it comes to an eSIM, they do ask you for an EID. The IMEI is either whitelisted after activation or rejected because it's on a "questionable or stolen list" The fact, as far as I understand it, report you phone stolen and the IMEI will become blacklisted. They have the IMEI and the phone is dead to the world. If someone is asking for an IMEI for an eSIM, hang up. Rest assured your IMEI will show up on their systems and your account once your phone is up and running on their network AFTER successful EID based registration.
This is why I find it incredible that people steal phones, when in reality they are stealing a paperweight.
As far as companies like AT&T, they refuse to activate phones if not on their supported list EMEI list, I told them where they can stick their IMEI and walked across the street to T-Mobile after being with AT&T forever. The last straw was refusing to let me use HD voice because didn't purchase the phone from them (IMEI related). Petty, idiotic, they lost a customer. I don't know why I didn't leave AT&T earlier, they refused to activate Nexus and Play Edition phones without a lot of drama.
Here it is, T-Mobile is bring your own device friendly, always has been, that's why IMEI is not relevant to them. AT&T can burn in hell.
Their polices may have changed since then, I wouldn't know, and I don't plan on ever finding out.
sn0warmy said:
I put my ~4 year old T-Mobile SIM card in my Pixel 5 and it's working just fine on 5G. The sim was previously in my Pixel 4, Pixel 3 before that, and Pixel 2XL, prior to that.
I didn't know you could buy an unlocked Pixel 5 from BestBuy that wasn't meant to work with Verizon or Sprint. I'm wondering if your "unlocked" phone is really meant for one of those two carriers.
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I think they have Verizon, ATT, Sprint/TM, Unlocked.
On their web site, Best Buy shows two options. Verizon and Unlocked.
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk
sn0warmy said:
I put my ~4 year old T-Mobile SIM card in my Pixel 5 and it's working just fine on 5G. The sim was previously in my Pixel 4, Pixel 3 before that, and Pixel 2XL, prior to that.
I didn't know you could buy an unlocked Pixel 5 from BestBuy that wasn't meant to work with Verizon or Sprint. I'm wondering if your "unlocked" phone is really meant for one of those two carriers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the unlocked one from Best Buy works with all carriers. It's no different than the unlocked version you can buy from Google.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
xRogerxC said:
Actually, the unlocked one from Best Buy works with all carriers. It's no different than the unlocked version you can buy from Google.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
That's what's so weird. I don't understand why when I put in the IMEI on T-Mobiles website it says it's not supported. It's just so strange to me. Even when I call T-Mobile and try and activate they tell me it won't work. I think I'm going to go and return and try another one. Maybe I got a dud or something... I don't know how but you never know.
Newerabs said:
That's what's so weird. I don't understand why when I put in the IMEI on T-Mobiles website it says it's not supported. It's just so strange to me. Even when I call T-Mobile and try and activate they tell me it won't work. I think I'm going to go and return and try another one. Maybe I got a dud or something... I don't know how but you never know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works just fine. Those guys don't know what their talking about.
My carrier, Spectrum, sells the P5 but won't activate an unlocked P5. At least not now they won't, they said in future they would, no time line.
Multiple ppl I talked all bought it unlocked and just used their old SIM and it works fine, even gets 5G in the areas where its available.
My P5 comes tomorrow and I'm just gonna pop my old SIM in and call it a day.
TokedUp said:
My carrier, Spectrum, sells the P5 but won't activate an unlocked P5. At least not now they won't, they said in future they would, no time line.
Multiple ppl I talked all bought it unlocked and just used their old SIM and it works fine, even gets 5G in the areas where its available.
My P5 comes tomorrow and I'm just gonna pop my old SIM in and call it a day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could not get the IMEI to check with Spectrum. I called them and they are sending me a new SIM. I was told I need a new one for 5G. I will verify I can activate it when I get it. I was able to verify the IMEI with the Verizon check site.