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.
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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
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!
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.
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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.
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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.
Hello,
I have been emailing, messaging, and calling ASUS regarding this issue. Today, I spoke with a supervisor over the phone regarding my work ticket for VoLTE.
His words not mine, ASUS is not currently attempting to get VoLTE functioning on this phone in the US. No future plans are being made for this. He was unable to give him specifics regarding a memorandum ASUS put out regarding concern over connectivity in the US, but stated that they (ASUS) are aware of the issue and will not be seeking further solutions.
I did my best to express how Verizon 3G doesnt function, ATT 3G will shortly stop working, and that TMobile is only offering a brief window before their 3G shutdown. I further explained that TMobile 3G is really only good for a small percentage of the US and that the vast majority of US cities will not be able to properly utilize it for voice calling. We went further into details on how those 3 companies are the only options in the US as smaller companies just "rent and borrow" tower bandwidth.
With all this said, it appears they are very aware that this phone will not have functional voice calling in the US very soon and for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to fix it.
Edward
waynewarrior78 said:
Hello,
I have been emailing, messaging, and calling ASUS regarding this issue. Today, I spoke with a supervisor over the phone regarding my work ticket for VoLTE.
His words not mine, ASUS is not currently attempting to get VoLTE functioning on this phone in the US. No future plans are being made for this. He was unable to give him specifics regarding a memorandum ASUS put out regarding concern over connectivity in the US, but stated that they (ASUS) are aware of the issue and will not be seeking further solutions.
I did my best to express how Verizon 3G doesnt function, ATT 3G will shortly stop working, and that TMobile is only offering a brief window before their 3G shutdown. I further explained that TMobile 3G is really only good for a small percentage of the US and that the vast majority of US cities will not be able to properly utilize it for voice calling. We went further into details on how those 3 companies are the only options in the US as smaller companies just "rent and borrow" tower bandwidth.
With all this said, it appears they are very aware that this phone will not have functional voice calling in the US very soon and for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to fix it.
Edward
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is essentially the same response I received when I contacted them. In my communications, they seemed to blame the North American carriers for the issue since VoLTE works in other countries.
Admittedly I know very little about Band X 123 but Asus's argument is a good point from my laymen's perspective. When I pushed on T-Mobile, they informed me they do not disable features that it's the vendors control (this was my take-away from the FaceBook chat I had with a T-Mobile agent). So now I don't know who to believe.
At this point, I'd just like to know why a particular feature (not necessarily VoLTE) is disabled/enabled to begin with. Is it politics, money, something else?
SavageCat-TX said:
This is essentially the same response I received when I contacted them. In my communications, they seemed to blame the North American carriers for the issue since VoLTE works in other countries.
Admittedly I know very little about Band X 123 but Asus's argument is a good point from my laymen's perspective. When I pushed on T-Mobile, they informed me they do not disable features that it's the vendors control (this was my take-away from the FaceBook chat I had with a T-Mobile agent). So now I don't know who to believe.
At this point, I'd just like to know why a particular feature (not necessarily VoLTE) is disabled/enabled to begin with. Is it politics, money, something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not TMobile, it's Asus. Volte works on redmagic 3, all xiaomi phones have volte too. Asus are a bunch of dbags. Don't buy the phone.
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
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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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Click to collapse
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.