New Pixel 6a Phone, No Wi-Fi Calls

[rolandh]

Hi @Thoreau,

It appears there is something going on with cell data involving Pixels and T-Mobile network SIMs. It is not limited to RW My Choice SIMs. I’ve seen it referenced online with Mint Mobile, Tello and Ting (all of whom use T-Mobile’s network) also. Speculation is the issue is related to a Pixel update of some sort. My Pixel 6a had not been previously impacted. That changed this morning. As it turns out, a variation of @mwgardiner’s prescription offered earlier in this topic seems to be the cure for my Pixel. Let’s hope the same is true for your Pixel.

1. Open Settings
2. Type Access Point Names into the search box
3. Tap Access Point Names
4. Tap Access Point Names again
5. Tap + to the upper right
6. Enter or verify the following values on the Edit access point screen
   a. Name: Republic
   b. APN: wholesale
   c. MMSC: http://wholesale.mmsmvno.com/mms/wapenc
   d. MMS Port: 8080
   e. MCC: 310
   f. MNC: 260
   g. APN type: default,supl,mms,ia
   h. APN protocol: IPv4/IPv6
   i. APN roaming protocol: IPv4
   j. MVNO Type: GID
   k. MVNO value: 6134
7. Leave everything else as is
8. Tap three stacked dots to the upper right
9. Tap Save
10. Select the newly created Republic APN leaving T-Mobile US unselected
11. Restart the phone
12. Do you now have working cell data?

We understand you originally asked for help with WiFi calling. It’s best we attempt solving one problem at a time and counterintuitive as it may sound a stable cellular connection is needed to properly set up WiFi calling. Presuming we solve the cellular connectivity issue, we’ll address WiFi calling.

[Thoreau]

Thanks for the help. can’t test it tonight, will try tomorrow.

[Thoreau]

Thank you for continuing to help. Should I be somewhere with either a cell signal or wifi when I’m making the changes as suggested above?

[rolandh]

No, the suggested APN modifications are local and saved on the phone. You will, of course, need to be somewhere with cell signal to test whether they work.
For the sake of clarity, the suggested changes will not directly address WiFi calling issues. They are intended to restore cell data where cell signal exists.

[Thoreau]

I tested my phone today and i still don’t have cell data. what is your thought about a hard reset? thanks

[cbwahlstrom]

In looking at the provided screenshots, it appears that you’ve used 1.01 GB of cellular data. If you’re on a plan with 1 GB of purchased data allowance, it would appear that you may have used all of the cellular data allotted for this billing cycle.

[rolandh]

Hi @Thoreau,

You may confirm @cbwahlstrom’s astute observation you may have exhausted your monthly cell data allotment by signing into your Republic account here: https://account.republicwireless.com/accountmgt/.

In the example shown, roughly half of the month’s cell data allotment has been used. What do you see when looking at your account online?

I’ll note one of the screenshots you provided earlier suggests WiFi calling is already enabled but the calling preference is set to prefer the mobile network. If the phone so much as sniffs cellular coverage, it will send the call over cell rather than WiFi. Carrier provided WiFi calling is not WiFi first.

I’ll also note the selection seems grayed out. Would you be able to describe what happens when you attempt calls over WiFi? Are there error messages?

[Thoreau]

the data was added on the 15th, and I checked my phone yesterday, still no data service. I made sure I had a signal, no go. Yesterday i went to best buy to try and get some help, they don’t support republic but they briefly checked my settings, said they looked ok, but they didn’t look very much. They did ask if I had a new sim card, i said no, then they said my phone didn’t work with the old cards. I went to best buy because they do sell my phone so i figured they know more than me. I am guessing you know more than them. thanks

[rolandh]

They did ask if I had a new sim card, i said no, then they said my phone didn’t work with the old cards.

With all due respect to Best Buy, I’m using the very same RW My Choice (T-Mobile network) SIM with my Pixel 6a you are. There is nothing newer about the SIM I’m using than the one you’re using. I cannot explain why what works with my Pixel 6a is not working with your Pixel 6a. The only new SIM RW is able to offer you will put you on a different network (AT&T rather than T-Mobile) and will change your plan. RW’s new plans are detailed here: Cell Phone Plans – Republic Wireless.

Do you know if AT&T’s network is any better in your area than T-Mobile’s? If uncertain, are you willing to share a zip code (nothing more).

At this point, as much as I admire your tenacity in wanting to solve the problem and keep your existing plan and coverage, perhaps, it’s time to consider alternatives? This Community was founded by a group of past and present RW members but is not affiliated with the RW by DISH brand or any other provider’s brand.

Are you open to considering moving to Republic 5.0 (if you wish to stay with RW by DISH)? Or, are you willing to consider service providers other than RW by DISH?

[southpaw]

Hi @Thoreau,

I think the folks at Best Buy do a great job of supporting customers who walk in with such a variety of issues, but in this case they have provided a great answer in the wrong situation.

It’s true that at some point in time some of the AT&T MVNOs switched SIM card types and some phones require the “new” card. That’s the context of the answer they’ve given you, because they are aware that Republic by Dish now uses AT&T. However, Republic by Dish partnered with AT&T just after this switch, so all of the Republic by Dish SIM cards are the “new” type. There were never any “old” Republic by Dish/AT&T SIM cards to worry about.

What’s more, your My Choice SIM card is not with AT&T, it’s with T-Mobile, and there’s no old/new to worry about there.

If you haven’t already done so, would you be able to try swapping SIM cards with your wife? It might be helpful to see if the issue then moves to your wife’s phone (suggesting something about your SIM card or service is not properly configured) or stays with your phone (suggesting something about the phone is either broken or not configured correctly.)

[Thoreau]

rolandh,
My zip is 27511. Could the time when I got my new phone have anything to do with the issues I’m having, being more recent.

southpaw,
If I switch sims with my wife is there any potential that I would cause her phone to malfunction once they are switched back. Also, I am wondering if the problems I’m having could be something I did or didn’t do when I set up my phone initially? If so can I redo it.

Could my issues be due to a virus? How would I know and how would I resolve it.

Thank you both for all your help.

[rolandh]

My zip is 27511.

Thank you! As far as I’m able to tell T-Mobile’s coverage looks reasonably robust there.

Could the time when I got my new phone have anything to do with the issues I’m having, being more recent.

I don’t believe so.

If I switch sims with my wife is there any potential that I would cause her phone to malfunction once they are switched back.

The idea behind swapping SIMs with your wife’s phone is to determine if the problems follow the SIM or stay with the phone. Doing so shouldn’t cause any permanent issues for your wife’s phone, once her SIM is restored. If, however, you prefer not to involve your wife’s phone; earlier in the thread you mentioned your old phone is still working. If you move the SIM from the Pixel 6a back to your old phone, does cell data work on the old phone?

Also, I am wondering if the problems I’m having could be something I did or didn’t do when I set up my phone initially? If so can I redo it.

It’s unlikely the experience is related to how the phone was set up. On the other hand, if you’re willing to tolerate the disruption, a factory reset won’t hurt but may not resolve the issue either.

[southpaw]

Hi @Thoreau,

If I switch sims with my wife is there any potential that I would cause her phone to malfunction once they are switched back.

If you switch SIMs, try it out, and switch them back, no.
If you switch SIMs and start fiddling around with APN settings and various other things, you could change something and forget how/where/what to change back.
I’m suggesting just a simple switch.
If she’s not willing to have your SIM card in her phone, then moving her SIM card to your phone for a test would pose no risk to her phone or her SIM card. If her SIM card works in your phone, then you would know that it’s something about your SIM card or service configuration, something only a technician (not to be confused with a support agent) at RW by Dish can fix.
If her SIM card does not work in your phone, it’s something about how your phone is configured. Resetting as your have in mind would be one way to have a fresh start.

A virus is very unlikely.

Did you ever make sure the RW app was uninstalled from your phone?

[Thoreau]

This is his wife, back from taking care of a grandchild in another state for many months. I switched the SIM cards. Doesn’t seem to be a SIM card issue.

I’m confused about what’s happening; I’ll convey what I can. Apologies in advance for the length and lack of understanding.

-with his card in my phone I didn’t notice any changes. However, I think I discovered that I am also not able to make wifi calls. Since we first got cell phones we have not been able to receive cell signal for any carrier at our home (friends and family with various carriers were not able to), even though the maps for all carriers say we have a signal in our area. We’re a little down a hill and thought maybe that is why. I assumed I was still making calls on wifi when I am able to make calls from home. However, today I turned off our modem and router and was able to make calls so I assume that means I have a call signal? When I turned the modem and router back on and put phone on airplane mode and wifi was on I got a message to turn off airplane mode or connect to a wireless network. Does that mean my phone is also not able to make wifi calls? I have a pixel 4a.

• trying to make calls from his phone was not possible with my SIM card or his. There were a variety of messages- “cellular network not available”, “mobile network not available”, “selected network (Republic) not available”. Once in a while it would look like it was trying to connect but after a time there would be one of the previous messages.

• His phone doesn’t seem to be connecting to the Republic network regardless of which SIM is used. Under SIMs it says republic, but under Network/Choose network, it will either say disconnected or can’t connect. Under preferred network type I’ve tried 5G(recommended) and LTE and same result.

I did not test his phone away from our home yet to see if that makes a difference.

The RW app is not installed on his phone.

I’ve attached some screenshots from his phone.

Thank all VERY much for your help.

[rolandh]

The topic title focuses on WiFi calling, however, your husband has also mentioned throughout the topic cellular data is not working. Further; carrier WiFi calling as opposed to RW’s former proprietary technology, if not already properly set up will require available cellular signal to get it set up. Once set up, carrier WiFi calling works in the absence of cell signal. It is not going to be possible to get WiFi calling properly setup if we don’t first solve the cellular connectivity issue, at least, away from your house.

Since we first got cell phones we have not been able to receive cell signal for any carrier at our home (friends and family with various carriers were not able to), even though the maps for all carriers say we have a signal in our area.

If there is genuinely no cell signal available at your home, then that in and of itself would explain cellular data not working at home.

I assumed I was still making calls on wifi when I am able to make calls from home. However, today I turned off our modem and router and was able to make calls so I assume that means I have a call signal?

If the phone is not connected to your (or another) WiFi network and you’re still able to make calls, then, yes, that suggests you actually have cell signal. It is not necessary to power down your WiFi network. The better test would be to temporarily turn WiFi on the phone off. With WiFi turned off you should see an approximation of how strong your cellular signal is on the phone.

• With WiFi on the phone turned off, how full does the cellular triangle appear to be?
• And, are there any letters such as 5G, LTE, H, E, R, X or an ! next to the cellular triangle?

When I turned the modem and router back on and put phone on airplane mode and wifi was on I got a message to turn off airplane mode or connect to a wireless network. Does that mean my phone is also not able to make wifi calls? I have a pixel 4a.

Though you turned your modem and router back on, the phone may not have automatically reconnected to the WiFi network.

• Do you see the WiFi fan at the top of the phone and is it full?

Thank you for the screenshots. In one of them, I see you are attempting to manually select the network. Please stop trying that. Generally, it’s best to let the phone handle it by leaving “Automatically select network” toggled on.

It looks like you’ve tried so many network settings tweaks, I think we need to get the phone back to a baseline. The best way to do so is a network settings reset as follows:

1. Open Settings
2. Type “reset options” into the search box, then tap Reset options
3. Tap Reset options again
4. Tap Reset Wi-Fi, mobile & Bluetooth
5. Tap Reset settings
6. Enter the device password
7. Tap Reset settings
8. Restart the phone

The above will delete any saved Wi-Fi networks and Bluetooth pairings. It will also disconnect the phone from your Wi-Fi network. You will need the password for your Wi-Fi network to reconnect the phone to the Wi-Fi network but hold off doing so for now.

Once the phone has restarted, please check to see if it’s connected to the cellular network. Once again:

• How full does the cellular triangle appear to be?
• Are there any letters such as 5G, LTE, H, E, R, X or an ! next to the cellular triangle?

If you see anything other than 5G or LTE next to the cell signal strength triangle, stop and let us know. Otherwise, proceed to set up WiFi calling as follows:

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Network & internet
3. Tap Internet
4. Toggle Wi-Fi on
5. Select your WiFi network
6. Enter the network password, then tap Connect
7. Exit Settings

Once the phone has reconnected to your Wi-Fi network:

1. Open Settings
2. Type “Wi-Fi calling” into the search box
3. Toggle Wi-Fi calling on
4. Tap Wi-Fi calling, then tap Wi-Fi calling again
5. Tap Calling preference
6. Tap Call over Wi-Fi
7. Exit Settings

If you do not select the calling preference as described above the phone will attempt to make calls over the cellular network even with minimal cellular signal.

[Thoreau]

rolandh
This is thoreau. I performed the reset as instructed. the strength of my signal was erratic, going in and out. at times i did not have any letters by the cell other times i either had the letter e or 5g besides it. cell service was however improved from before but not great.

[rolandh]

Hi @Thoreau,

The experience you relate suggests overall cellular coverage using T-Mobile’s network (T-Mobile provides the cellular coverage for your legacy My Choice plan). just isn’t great. There is no settings magic that makes lousy coverage better. With WiFi temporarily turned off on the phone, you want to see 5G or LTE near the cellular strength triangle. E is EDGE (2G) coverage. As you’ve found, it’s typically unusable. Hopefully, we can get rid of the EDGE (2G) coverage as follows:

1. Open Settings
2. Type “Allow 2G” into the search box
3. Toggle Allow 2G off
4. Does toggling off 2G provide a stable (even if weak) 5G or LTE connection?

If the 5G or LTE connection is sufficiently stable, please reconnect the phone to your WiFi network and try enabling WiFi calling:

1. Open Settings
2. Type “Wi-Fi calling” into the search box
3. Toggle Wi-Fi calling on
4. Tap Wi-Fi calling, then tap Wi-Fi calling again
5. Tap Calling preference
6. Tap Call over Wi-Fi
7. Exit Settings

If you do not select the calling preference as described above the phone will attempt to make calls over the cellular network even with minimal cellular signal.

[Thoreau]

thanks for the info, do i need to do the above steps when I have a cell signal?

[Thoreau]

I drove around until I found a cell signal and then performed the steps you suggested. once done my signal went away, no bars, only an empty triangle with no leterrs. I drove around for a while and did not find even a hint of a signal. then I thought that maybe i didn’t restart my phone, so i did. As soon as i did a full 5g signal came up on my phone but after just a few seconds it went away again and did not come back until I restarted the phone again and the same thing happened, I got a full 5g signal that lasted a few seconds and was gone. I did not try to reconnect wifi, wasn’t sure if I needed to do it when I had a cell signal . thanks

update, I just went to turn on wifi and in the internet window- I have republic connected /5g but no bars in the triangle and no letters next to it. then the internet window changed to connected/LTE. once i connected to the internet the phone read republic no connection.

[rolandh]

Hi @Thoreau,

Is this what you refer to as the “Internet window”?

If yes and if it’s showing you as connected to 5G or LTE with little to nothing filling the cell signal strength triangle, it means the strength of the cellular connection is weak.

once i connected to the internet the phone read republic no connection.

I’m uncertain what you mean here. Do you mean you turned WiFi on and see this:

When connected to WiFi, the word “Connected” will no longer show under the cellular connection, however, it’s referring only to the Internet data connection. All smartphones prefer Wi-Fi for data. There was never anything special about Republic’s service in that regard. What made Republic’s proprietary technology different is it was also WiFi-first for talk & text.

In any event, RW by DISH no longer uses Republic’s proprietary technology. As a result, in general, the quality of one’s cellular signal is more important. Republic’s Wi-Fi-first for talk & text proprietary technology was independent of the cellular network partner. It could be set up and would work in the complete absence of cellular signal.

Carrier Wi-Fi calling can work in the absence of cellular signal but one does need to be connected to the cellular network to get it properly set up. You may certainly try the steps to enable Wi-Fi preferred calling with your apparently weak cellular signal, however, it won’t be a surprise if they don’t work. For what it’s worth, once again, here are those steps:

1. Open Settings
2. Type “Wi-Fi calling” into the search box
3. Toggle Wi-Fi calling on
4. Tap Wi-Fi calling, then tap Wi-Fi calling again
5. Tap Calling preference
6. Tap Call over Wi-Fi
7. Exit Settings

As much as we would like to get this working for you, it simply may not be possible to overcome the weak T-Mobile cellular coverage your legacy My Choice plan is dependent upon. We’ve been at this for two or so weeks now. It may be time to consider alternatives. Do you know if either AT&T or Verizon offer better cellular coverage than T-Mobile in your area?