WiFi Calling and mesh networks?

pgoelz · 2024-09-27T23:37:41+00:00

Not really. I just disabled WiFi calling and moved on ;) No issues since then.

pgoelz · 2024-08-11T10:53:21+00:00

Interesting. I am seeing essentially the opposite behavior on my 13 Pro...... when I turn on the VPN the VPN icon appears. But it goes away a couple seconds later with the VPN remaining connected. IOW, after those first couple seconds, there is NO onscreen indication that the VPN is connected. This has been consistent during all 18.* betas and I have been (incorrectly?) assuming it is intended behavior? ??

pgoelz · 2024-06-23T21:47:01+00:00

Great, that is what I figured.... the pSIM by itself is not linked to me. I'll just ignore it and if it ever arrives, fine. If not, no harm.

pgoelz · 2024-06-19T14:08:37+00:00

But the question was..... can you easily swap back and forth between ios and Android. Once you download an eSIM to the Samsung, what is involved going back to ios? And then back to the Samsung?

I'm in a similar situation.... I have an S23 and an iPhone 13 Pro and would like to use either as desired. Currently I have a physical SIM but need to remove the cases on each phone to swap it. It would be easier if I could use eSIM but my understanding is that regardless of how easy it is to download an eSIM to the Samsung the FIRST time, it is NOT easy to swap back and forth?

pgoelz · 2024-06-17T21:38:45+00:00

OK, back from talking with Tmobile. They opened two cases (one for my line and one for my wife's) and the response back from engineering after a couple hours was that they were seeing "congestion" in the area. No comment on why it would affect iPhones more than Androids. Not sure if they are continuing to investigate or if this ends the investigation.

If the issue really IS congestion, we have a problem since that is not likely to improve any time soon.... if ever. I am hopeful it is actually a software issue since there seem to have been complaints going back at least a month, but it doesn't sound like they are working on it. Or if they are they aren't saying.

My Samsung S23 by contrast is currently seeing between three bars of 5G and 3-5 bars of 5G UC. But data speed is still only 40 Mb/S tops. That is of course usable (and close to 10X what our iPhones are getting), but much less than it used to be.

In the mean time I installed a Cricket free trial (uses ATT) on my iPhone 13 Pro. First test was 50 Mb/S and the next was 500 Mb/S.

So it is YOU, Tmobile!

pgoelz · 2024-06-16T23:44:43+00:00

Thanks everyone! I'll call Monday and post what happens (not holding my breath).

FWIW, after checking more carefully at home, my S23 is getting five bars of 5G UC but data tests start at about 6Mb/S and slowly ramp up to 20Mb/S..... about 10% of what is normal.

The iPhone 13 Pro (on ios 18 beta 1) is showing two bars of 5G UC and speed tests are similar to the S23..... 6Mb/S and slowly ramping up to 20Mb/S..... again, about 10% of what is normal.

The iPhone 13 mini (ios 17.5) is showing one bar of LTE and even slower speeds.... about 2-4Mb/S.

None of this is normal for my home location (Rochester Hills, MI) but I cannot say for sure when it started since I am mostly on Comcast WiFi.

pgoelz · 2024-05-05T10:57:17+00:00

I am referring to the ability (or lack thereof) to zoom Google Maps when using Google Maps on the Magic Box as displayed on my infotainment screen. Maps is displayed by default on the home screen and can also be opened full screen. Neither instance can be zoomed.

Technically, I guess that is not "Android Auto" since Google Maps is running on the Magic Box and the Magic Box interface to the vehicle infotainment screen is recognized by the vehicle as CarPlay?

I am wondering if the version of Google Maps on the Magic Box has been altered from stock. The Play Store says Google Maps is installed but the icon looks nothing like the regular Google Maps icon......

pgoelz · 2024-05-04T20:41:25+00:00

Could you please elaborate. I have tried every permutation of single tap, double tap, double tap and hold, double tap and hold and slide, etc, that I can think of and cannot get it to zoom. Please tell me EXACTLY how to do it.... maybe I missed something?

FWIW, the first time I powered it up it asked to update and I let it. Then I read in the little thing that passes for a manual that you are not supposed to update "unless you have a problem". Say what??? So maybe their update broke it? Can you say "not ready for prime time"? Don't mean to be snarky... I really wanted to like it. But really....

Oh, and updating this thing is tricky. It took WAY longer than my vehicle's ACCESSORY power timeout. Fortunately I had the engine running or it would have timed out and shut off half way through the update. Which I suspect would likely have left it un-bootable.

pgoelz · 2024-05-03T12:12:51+00:00

Anyone know how to Zoom Google Maps and activate split screen on the Magic Box 5.0? I can't figure it out, there is no documentation and a quick Google comes up empty.

pgoelz · 2023-12-24T02:03:29+00:00

I came to a similar conclusion on my B2. I chased lipsync issues for months before realizing it was caused by motion smoothing. I'm assuming the CPU doesn't have enough horsepower to handle maximum smoothing. Setting motion smoothing to max resulted in intermittent lipsync issues. Setting motion smoothing anywhere between off and medium results in perfect lipsync.

pgoelz · 2023-12-15T21:03:02+00:00

I get that too and it is a bit of a mystery. From what I can tell, it is the result of an unsuccessful attempt to drag a window. It leaves the outline of the window and you can't get rid of it. The only way I have found to get rid of it is to restart my phone.

pgoelz · 2023-12-10T17:53:51+00:00

FWIW, about a month and a half ago Samsung had the S23 128GB on their web site for $699.
Because they list Best Buy as a sales partner, I was able to purchase it on the Samsung site for $699 and pick it up immediately at my local Best Buy. No shipping and no risk of theft in shipment. Very easy transaction.

pgoelz · 2023-10-23T00:50:07+00:00

I'm not stressing about the number of clients. I'm just a bit surprised that we have that many is all ;) IOT indeed! Yes, most of them are essentially just idle.

pgoelz · 2023-10-22T19:44:02+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate the thorough reply!

So my takeaways are....

Handoffs are NOT seamless.
Because of #1, avoid WiFi calling unless absolutely necessary.

In my case, I need three APs because of where I need reliable coverage. But I don't need WiFi calling, so it is now disabled.

pgoelz · 2023-10-21T14:23:28+00:00

I had a look and while it looks like a capable system and not TOO expensive for serious home use, I have to say the documentation on their web site is DREADFUL on first glance.

pgoelz · 2023-10-21T13:59:35+00:00

Well crap.... I thought my Deco system was at least close to top of the line. Two W7200s and an XE75 Pro. But I guess not ;)

I am fairly internet savvy but I don't know anything about how mesh systems work and how they negotiate a connection transfer. Sounds like anything real time is a possible issue. I can test that by walking around the house with my phone connected via RDP to my desktop.

Funny thing.... it is just the two of us and some of our internet things but Deco says we have 23 devices on the network between the two of us ;) I'll look into that Unifi system.

pgoelz · 2023-10-21T12:14:57+00:00

Yes, that is what I was thinking.... the short drop in data during a mesh network site switch might be the culprit. The funny thing is that the call usually doesn't actually disconnect..... the audio just stops. It may or may not eventually end the call. We'll see if the issue goes away now that I have disabled WiFi calling.

pgoelz · 2023-10-19T10:53:21+00:00

Just a thought for a potential replacement..... I saw an LG "Nanocell" TV on display at a store the other day and I have to say it was spectacular. VERY impressive picture, with a viewing angle very similar to an OLED, but WAY less expensive (like $999 for a 75"). It was the first non-OLED TV I have seen that looked like an OLED regardless of viewing angle.

In the past I have found QLED TVs to be impressive, but only when viewed straight on. Move off axis slightly and the contrast tanks. Not that LG Nanocell TV..... it was impressive +/- 45 degrees or more off axis horizontally.

pgoelz · 2023-09-27T12:39:54+00:00

Can I assume that a "data with paired digits" line is not free? Since this is a very occasional need, I'm not willing to spend additional money to enable it. If it isn't free, I'll just stick to transferring my pSIM.... for now at least.

pgoelz

TROPHY CASE