I've got a grandfathered Unlimited Data Plan on Verizon (which they can pry from my cold dead hands!) but I also have a T-Mobile SIM I use for my overseas trips (love the free, but slow, 2G roaming!). My Project Fi invite should be arriving in 1-2 weeks, and my plan was to cancel my T-Mobile account and use the Fi SIM for overseas roaming. My question is, if I upgrade the phone to the Project Fi-only LVY48C build, will I be able to switch between my Fi and Verizon SIMs at will, without any loss of functionality? Has anyone on Verizon tried this yet?
Thanks for any help y'all can provide!
What are the benefits of the Project Fi build over the regular build?
I should be getting my Project Fi sim the next week or so also. I also plan on doing the same (US usage with VZ UDP, Int'l usage with Fi instead of T-Mo). I can attempt the LVY48C on my N6 as soon as VZ resolves some network issues associated with my line. I don't wont to complicate things right now...
Subscribed to this thread in case anyone can give a definitive answer in the mean-while.
@black7, what ROM did you settle on? Also, out of curiosity, do you have the Google Wi-Fi Assistant available to you? Check in "Google Settings" app-->Network-->"Use open Wi-Fi automatically".
I'm trying to figure out if this feature is triggered by the presence of a Fi SIM or specific Google accounts or the Fi ROM.
DA6030 said:
@black7, what ROM did you settle on? Also, out of curiosity, do you have the Google Wi-Fi Assistant available to you? Check in "Google Settings" app-->Network-->"Use open Wi-Fi automatically".
I'm trying to figure out if this feature is triggered by the presence of a Fi SIM or specific Google accounts or the Fi ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's Fi sim specific
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
david279 said:
It's Fi sim specific
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! So, just to confirm, when you re-insert your non-Fi SIM from another carrier, you lose the Wi-Fi Assistant feature?
DA6030 said:
Great! So, just to confirm, when you re-insert your old SIM, you lose the feature, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haven't gone back. But I was on the LMY47I build and it wasn't there then put in the fi sim and it was there.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
david279 said:
Haven't gone back. But I was on the LMY47I build and it wasn't there then put in the fi sim and it was there.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, that's helpful. I think this is a really cool feature, that I'd love to find a way to enable for everyone, but right now there's so many places this access bit could be stored (server-side vs. client-side; triggered by a handset having ever seen a Fi SIM vs. Google account with an active Fi subscription vs. phone with a Fi SIM currently inserted) that anything would help narrow down at this point. At the very least, you've helped me rule out the ROM as a factor!
I got my invite yesterday, so after I ordered my SIM I chatted with Fi support and asked about switching between my Fi and Verizon SIMs once my phone is on the Fi-specific build. She told me that I would have issues trying to use a non-Fi SIM and that I should only use the Fi build for Fi. I'm still going to try both once my SIM arrives, but that was not promising news. Guess I'll have to get a Moto X Style Pure Edition to use with Verizon....or a new Nexus in a few months.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
MadManMoon said:
I got my invite yesterday, so after I ordered my SIM I chatted with Fi support and asked about switching between my Fi and Verizon SIMs once my phone is on the Fi-specific build. She told me that I would have issues trying to use a non-Fi SIM and that I should only use the Fi build for Fi. I'm still going to try both once my SIM arrives, but that was not promising news. Guess I'll have to get a Moto X Style Pure Edition to use with Verizon....or a new Nexus in a few months.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've switched back and forth a bunch of times, even while hot (while powered on) and it works most of the time. Takes about a minute for the radio to do its thing and get synced up.
One time I lost the ability to dial out with my Verizon sim (lost all APNs), but reflashing the radio got it working again.
Definitely worth trying.
I probably won't keep FI. The reality is Verizon works great for me and the new pricing structure brings it a little closer to that of FI.
You certainly don't want to use the "Fi specific" build on Verizon. But you also don't need the "Fi specific" build to join Fi. Any current build will work. By design, says Google.
If your Nexus 6 is already on Verizon, update your it to the current stock build, which I believe is would be LMY48I. Then join Fi and follow the instructions for BYOD devices here.
If you have any problems swapping SIMs between Fi and Verizon, it likely will be from Verizon's business rules that have nothing to do with device or build compatibility. Reportedly they often don't play nice with using the same IMEI that has been used on other carriers. (I have no experience with this. Verizon has never had its hooks into me.) And it is not clear to me if you also would be porting your phone number back and forth.
Interesting info, thanks! I will not be swapping numbers - I'm keeping my Verizon number, and using my existing Google Voice number for Fi. I'll keep the latest Verizon build, download the Fi app, and see what happens.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
MadManMoon said:
Interesting info, thanks! I will not be swapping numbers - I'm keeping my Verizon number, and using my existing Google Voice number for Fi. I'll keep the latest Verizon build, download the Fi app, and see what happens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be aware that there are issues porting your Google Voice number to Fi. As I understand it, you basically are abandoning it for Google Voice forever. See this Google Fi Help page.
All I want to keep doing with my existing Google Voice number is use it for my Verizon number's voicemail, and that will apparently still work. I don't use any of the Google Voice features that will be removed once I switch to Fi.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
boomerbubba said:
Be aware that there are issues porting your Google Voice number to Fi. As I understand it, you basically are abandoning it for Google Voice forever. See this Google Fi Help page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ported my GV number over to Fi to give it a spin.
When I wasn't able to get the reception I needed I was able to port my GV number back to GV when I cancelled Fi.
Steve
@MadManMoon:
You might be interested in this thread at Reddit.
prbpci0 said:
I've switched back and forth a bunch of times, even while hot (while powered on) and it works most of the time. Takes about a minute for the radio to do its thing and get synced up.
One time I lost the ability to dial out with my Verizon sim (lost all APNs), but reflashing the radio got it working again.
Definitely worth trying.
I probably won't keep FI. The reality is Verizon works great for me and the new pricing structure brings it a little closer to that of FI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which Radio did you use? I never flashed mine, bought it unlocked from Google a little more than a year ago, but now, after using Fi for a couple of weeks, it looks like it might have updated the radio itself. Not sure how to force it back to the Verizon Radio...
prbpci0 said:
One time I lost the ability to dial out with my Verizon sim (lost all APNs), but reflashing the radio got it working again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The solution is to go into the calls section of the dialer and disable the call assistant settings.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectFi/...ing_between_verizon_and_project_fi_sim_cards/
I come from Verizon(Glad to be off due to price of service). Over all how do you guys feel about the Network in comparison to big red? I paid more due to the fact that where I lived that's the only provider that had service. Now in Phoenix its not such a big deal but I go all over the state.... How do you all feel about Project Fi?
I have been on Project Fi since early December and so far like it. The pricing is great and very straightforward, $20.00 for unlimited talk and text plus $10 per gig of data. Simple as that. You are only charged a portion of the $10/data. For example, I initially started with a $40.00 plan ($20.00 + $20.00/2 GB data). My first bill was about $33.00 because I only used about 1.3 GB of data. You also get mobile hotspot with no issues with Project Fi.
When I drove to Chicago from Florida during Christmas I always had a signal and data speeds were great. Now, where I work my data speeds are poor but I can still make and receive calls with no issue. Otherwise, it’s not too bad where I live and I just rely on my WiFi at home. It uses Sprint and T-Mobile towers along with WiFi.
I am still on Verizon and use my LG G2 for that service. Mainly because Verizon gives me great coverage for data at work and I have an unlimited data plan. However, I’m thinking of ditching my unlimited if I start using Project Fi more and more.
Give it a try, it’s easy to setup and you can easily cancel if it doesn’t work out.
I'm already on it and I enjoy it so far. Just looking into others opinions of Project Fi on the Nexus 6.
I've been on it for a little less than a month so don't have much experience, but I havent had any signal issues data speeds are steady but Iive near a metro city so Sprint and TMO are both pretty good as far as coverage goes. Ive pretty got Wi-Fi wherever I go so data is not really an issue. Overall I'm really enjoying it and the added features with Hangouts is pretty cool.
a few threads on this about this forum. are you a member of the google plus forum for google fi op?
ive been on it since the first invites. i have a launch day nexus6 and two ipads, so 3 devices in total all under the fi program.
i have coverage everywhere i have gone. prior to fi, i had sprint since 1998 and fi has saved me tons of dough.
i have lte inside the workspace ( i work in a film /television studio), despite all the tungsten lamps, led lamps,miles and miles of wires, shielding, etc.
So I'm currently on T-Mobile, but their service at my work and home make my phone almost unusable (unless I use wifi). So my question is has anyone switch to fi and seen a lot better results?
Probably the best way to find out is if you know anyone using Sprint or US Cellular. Ask them to check their coverage in your trouble areas. If it's better than T-Mobile, then Fi would be a good option. I live in an area bordered by small hills so no carrier works great for me. Using Project Fi, I find that some days I get a better signal from Sprint, other days T-Mobile. Fi does work well on wi-fi when all signals suck. Also it's inexpensive and I love the simple billing. I just wish I could talk my wife out of her iphone so I could enroll her too!
Just wondering if ANYONE has had any luck with H811 being able to activate on Project Fi. I've tried both the most current Tmob stock Rom along with LineageOS 14.1 with no luck. With the stock Rom I at least got a T077 error code which mean the H811 is not an approved phone... duh! The LineageOS rom wouldn't even get that far. The activation process just kept circling back to the message that my gmail account was not associated with Project Fi which of course it has to be to get a Project Fi sim card.
Imho, Project Fi is a game changer, allowing it's subscribers to potentially save $30 to $50 a month cell phone service charges.
BTW, the G4 is loose second cousin of the Nexus 5x which is an approved Fi phone. Both are LG phones and supposedly share many of the same chips.
I wana save money!
Decided to take a chance on a internet rumor that an already activated Project Fi sim card would work in my H811. Bought a busted up (cracked screen) Nexus 6 which was good enough for my test. Slipped in my Project Fi card to activate the service which worked like a charm. Took the out the activated Fi sim and put it into my rooted G4 running LineageOS 14.1 and it worked like a champ. Will be testing it more in real life condition's but so far running perfect at home using Tmob network and of course WiFi. As of right now it looks like I'll be paying Google $32 a month instead of $70 to the Tmob gang!
I was having issues with activation Fi on the Sprint network so I contacted Google and they told me that my device was unsupported. I think they're wrong but the rep insisted that I couldn't use it. Does anyone on here know if I can use it?
https://fi.google.com/about/phones/
This page shows, toward the bottom, that you can 'bring your own' Moto X4 or the Android One Moto X4 . One would think this is enough evidence to show that ANY X4 will work.
Project fi uses Sprint towers... I'm currently connected to the fi network on 4g+ on Sprint tower... X4 Android One edition.
Poke01 said:
Project fi uses Sprint towers... I'm currently connected to the fi network on 4g+ on Sprint tower... X4 Android One edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was having a lot of issues with the network switching so I've switched to using my FI sim in an Honor 7x and just using the T-Mobile towers. It's actually working a lot better.
My understanding from the reddit/r/projectfi is it will work but you do not get network switching and wifi calling working. so it will run only on t-mobile.
Activated mine no problem. Got a sim from Fi and bought a Moto x4 unlocked from best buy. Unsure why others are saying that the phone won't work, or will only work on T-mobile. I've had both Sprint and Tmo signal working perfectly fine.
Just curious, but do you have the Project Fi app installed? Have you done anything to the phone (unlock bootloader/root/etc)?
got mine today from best buy. I asked them to price match and they did. so I got it for 249. went home and pulled out Fi sim card from nexus 6 and into the moto x4. let Fi app optimize the network and after that, I am connected with Sprint towers. All stock here. it just got the last update to android O 8.0. from 7.1.1
have not tested MMS , wifi calling, and tmobile towers but I am in Abilene TX and I don't know if there is any tmobile here. I move a lot for work so soon I should be able to test tmo or uscellular.
Can anyone verify that the moto x4 fi version wifi calling works on tmobile. Was going to get the special they have then switch back to tmobile.
mattyb132 said:
I was having a lot of issues with the network switching so I've switched to using my FI sim in an Honor 7x and just using the T-Mobile towers. It's actually working a lot better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Project fi switches between Sprint, TMobile, US Cellular, and Next networks all which use various different methods. Gsm,cdma, etc. Your phone does not have the ability to do that. So while it may work on one of the networks that Google fi uses, it will not switch carriers like a Google fi phone should. You might be fine with that, but if you travel, that's where Google fi comes in really handy. Google fi is not for everyone. But I can tell you my bill went from 135$ a month for 2 people to 58$ a month, with better service and faster connection than at&t.