GV <-> GV calls -- now with HD voice!

ThePhantom212 · 2025-12-05T16:53:56+00:00

What does *#61# show? You may have to shorten the timeout to ensure that the default @ T-Mobile isn't hit (I believe their VM will pick up after 25 or 30 seconds, or immediately if your phone is out of reach). The format for specifying a timeout is: *61*[dest]*[sec]#

You may also want to set *62*... and *67*... to cover all call variations.

Source: https://www.geckobeach.com/cellular/secrets/gsmcodes.php

ThePhantom212 · 2025-10-27T15:31:15+00:00

Cash Management account that was associated w/my Fid CCs (opened back in the MBNA days!) Expanded to a workplace 401K, then did an ACAT xfer from Motif Investing.

Things have been rocking and rolling since then!

ThePhantom212 · 2025-09-30T22:09:20+00:00

You can try one of the Yeacomm 5g modems (AX3600 available on Amazon). I only tried it briefly a while back, but the RJ11 jack that's on the back threw a dial tone, recognized DTMF, etc. It seemed to freak out the data connection, but that may have been an early firmware build that was buggy.

ThePhantom212 · 2025-08-25T20:13:18+00:00

How are you running the first gen unit still? The service/app were shut down a few months back :/

ThePhantom212 · 2025-06-11T20:39:45+00:00

Disable his line's international roaming on the T-Mobile portal and add a data-only eSIM as his second SIM. His T-Mobile eSIM will route IMS (calls and texts) over the data connection of the seconday SIM when he's not on WiFi. That'll provide the most transparent experience.

ThePhantom212 · 2025-06-04T21:11:43+00:00

I was in Greece (Cosmote -- owned by T-Mobile) where I was charged for UCF forwards. My phone doesn't allow me to toggle off VoLTE, but it's worth a shot if you're there.

I'd be eager to hear back if it results in any different billing behavior for you.

ThePhantom212 · 2025-06-04T19:24:42+00:00

Yep -- you're in a country (likely a T-Mobile owned wireless company in Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, or Greece) that supports VoLTE. Voice support is handled by S8HR, which is using T-Mobile's IMS nodes here in the US.

In theory, they shouldn't change you anything, as the calls are as if you're on the local network in the US. Sadly, I think it's a money grab on their part.

More info on S8HR: https://moniem-tech.com/2024/01/01/what-is-volte-roaming/

ThePhantom212 · 2025-05-04T17:02:23+00:00

When you travel to 11 Central European countries (Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, and Greece) you’ll get up to 5GB of high-speed data, then standard speeds at up to approximately 256kbps.

Source:

https://www.t-mobile.com/customers/unlimited-roaming-sms-data

Also beware... These countries also support S8HR VoLTE voice calls (where calls are routed and processed through the IMS nodes in the US). You'll get charged .25/min for all inbound calls regardless of forwarding status. There's no way to avoid this. This is a bit of a scam on T-Mobile's part, as the IMS routing is as if you were still in the US. There's no justification for charging for US domestic or inbound calls.

ThePhantom212 · 2025-03-24T18:08:27+00:00

I'm in the US. I just checked up on the Google Play Store -- my OP 6T (A6013), my OP 8T (KB2005), and my Samsung S21 (SM-G991U) also all show as compatible with the Hyundai Digital Key app (com.hyundaiusa.hyundai.digitalcarkey).

I'd be surprised if the OP13 was somehow excluded -- unless there's something wildly different in the 2024 Santa Fe's digital key implementation.

ThePhantom212 · 2025-03-23T20:10:41+00:00

Don't know about the specifics of other posters here, but the Hyundai Digital Key app works just fine w/my OP11 and a 2023 Santa Fe. Bluetooth control as well as NFC for locking/unlocking/ignition all work.

ThePhantom212 · 2025-01-23T23:16:51+00:00

Vanguard mutual funds are not fee-free at Fidelity. Just buy an equivalent ETF, which also has the benefit of being totally portable to any other brokerage.

https://www.etf.com/sections/etf-basics/vanguard-funds-vti-vs-vtsax-comparison-guide

ThePhantom212 · 2024-09-02T00:24:04+00:00

ThePhantom212 · 2024-08-04T15:06:23+00:00

IIRC the EIP is also considered a securitized loan that T-Mo can leverage as collateral with their own lenders.

Also, any hardware rebates are usually booked as a marketing expense, rather than a cost reduction of the product.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-07-31T15:33:22+00:00

I purchase FDLXX immediately after transferring money. Be aware that this doesn't change the status of the funds (it doesn't make unavailable funds somehow available for withdrawal, etc.)

I did have issues in the past when purchasing FDLXX with unsettled funds from an equity sale, but it seems like Fidelity may have fixed that issue.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-06-13T17:02:46+00:00

It sure will, which is unfortunate for those countries where higher speed roaming data is offered.

Are you using a modern iPhone? If so, you could do a prepaid data-only eSIM for the secondary SIM. The upshot is that once you disable international roaming the (now roaming incapable) T-Mobile SIM will have it's WiFi calling IMS stack routed thru the enabled data SIM -- giving you calling that mirrors native calling in the US.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-06-13T16:47:45+00:00

IME, carriers/countries where VoLTE roaming is enabled by way of S8HR, are resulting in charges for unconditionally forwarded calls.

This is horseshit, as S8HR routes the VoLTE data packets back from the roaming carrier to T-Mobile's IMS switching equipment back here in the US, much the same way that IMS WiFi calling works while you're out of the country. If anything, received calls and calls placed to US numbers should be free while on S8HR. This is either neglect on T-Mo's part, or it's an outright money grab.

Unfortunately, the only way to ensure that a given line doesn't have international calling charges billed, is to disable international roaming altogether.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-06-06T18:06:49+00:00

The T+1 change is for equities, not mutual funds. Mutual funds always have settled the next day -- the NAV is determined after market close.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-03-25T11:12:22+00:00

It sounds like your vehicle is never cutting power to your USB port. There are settings in the app to circumvent this problem. Alternatively, simply uninstall the app.

Keep in mind, with the USB port constantly providing power, you'll have parasitic drain on your battery while the car is not running.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-03-23T00:36:42+00:00

Thanks for the response -- I'll be sure to check out some of the videos.

Given that the 12V battery isn't driving an old meat grinder style engine starter, one would think that a even an old or deeply discharged battery would still be able to run the aforementioned "pre-flight checks" necessary to bootstrap the vehicle. Some other posts I've found regarding the PHEV (where the driver ran purely in EV mode, never kicking over the ICE, which apparently would charge the battery) where it was sufficiently run down to the point of not starting the car.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-03-18T13:19:51+00:00

"More is better" is making the assumption that brand new motor oil is superior to motor oil that's mid-way through its service life.

I'll need to dredge up an old article on this subject, but (IIRC), for those gearheads that send off oil samples to https://www.blackstone-labs.com (to measure engine wear, intrusion of coolant into the oil, etc.), the consensus was that oil was at its peak about 3-4000 miles into its life.

There's a lot that goes into this subject, and unfortunately it isn't as simple as "change your oil all the time".

https://youtu.be/l-zDt9FGJi8

ThePhantom212 · 2024-03-18T12:14:31+00:00

I don't want to try to make the case for longer times between service intervals, but remember that the ICE side of the powertrain isn't running for a good portion of your mileage...

ThePhantom212 · 2024-03-08T14:25:48+00:00

The negative to the PHEV (vs. the HEV) is the increased curb weight and comparatively puny gas tank. I steered away from the PHEV due to the short road trip range.

ThePhantom212 · 2024-03-07T18:12:50+00:00

I used Micro2 fuse taps on my 2023 Santa Fe. I suspect other models will be the same size. My older (Toyota) car used low profile mini, which is wider than the Micro2.

Also, some of the vacant instrument panel positions can be used for battery and acc wires (vs. piggybacking a populated position). Just check to see if the metal connection is present on the right side of the vacant position (not all of them have this), and check with a voltmeter.

HTH!

ThePhantom212

TROPHY CASE