What are /r/StraightTalk's favorite Products & Services?

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Your speed might depend on so many various factors: - whether your signal is strong and how close is the place from where you get your signal. Weaker signal means slower speeds

• how much data you're sending and how busy your phone is, are you only watching YouTube or are there tons of other processes happening that involve you using bandwidth

• I honestly doubt your speed will ever be 2 GB, max 20-100 MB though

• a VPN cuts off up to 30% of speed (if you're low on money, I suggest getting NordVPN because Express is pricier, not to mention that there are discount coupons that can be found on reddit. If you want to, you can also test out other VPN providers to find the one that suits you the best)

From what you've described, I somewhat think you're already being throttled and I don't think switching plans would impact the speed as much. If you can test it out - go ahead. Try browsing with a VPN and without it, check what is happening with your speed and bandwidth. If with the unlimited plan you get same speeds - ask your provider what the hell. Though I'm pretty sure you are being throttled by ST

Get one of these.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fosmon-Nano-Sim-Card-Cutter-w-Nano-Micro-Nano-Standard-Micro-Standard-Sim-Adapters-for-iPhone-5-5c-5s-SE-Silver/187546093?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=1426&adid=22222222228047043008&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&a...

My Oneplus 3 is the best phone that I've had so far. I highly recommend it. Also, there is this moto E plus on amazon for only $200

Is it a red with a tape like icon? Then it sounds like you might have a Verizon VVM app. I don't know if about that one tho. I know with the branded phones has this VVM app installed: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.vvm.tfn&hl=en_US

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There is some that come with Voicemail app, and others does not have it. I don't know if you can use this on the J3 Sky since it has Android 6.0.1: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.vvm.tfn&hl=en_US

As other people have mentioned you need to figure out what charging port is your phone using first, if your phone is a model that was released within the last 5 years then it is likely a USB type C port (symmetric oval shape), anything older will have a micro USB port (asymmetric D like port).

USB chargers usually come in two styles, with the USB cable attached or one that has a port that you can plug in the USB cable (Type A or Type C), I would recommend getting a good one with the USB port as you don't have to worry too much about the cable since you can easily replace it.

This is one of the USB chargers I usually get from amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YCFTDY7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 this one uses a type A USB cable port and you can choose the other end of the cable to match whatever port is on your phone.

I was able to figure it out on my Moto One Action after going through hours and hours of "technical support", which led to nothing. New sim, restarted the phone god knows how many times and still wasn't able to make calls. I also have an unlocked AT&T sim. Anyways, here's what I ended up doing:

1. On YouTube, someone suggested downloading an app called "QuickShortcutMaker" (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sika524.android.quickshortcut&hl=en_US&gl=US)
2. The only reason I downloaded this app is to be able to see an option not visible when going to "Mobile Network" under "Settings". This new option is called: "Preferred network type". Not sure of any other way to access this option.
3. Launch the QuickShortcutMaker app, and select "Phone Services" from the list.
4. Under the Phone Services list, select the option "Phone Services mobile network (the name should be below "Phone Services").
5. On the next screen, select "Try" to launch the new Mobile Network screen.
6. On the new Mobile Network screen, expand "advanced" and you'll see the option called "Preferred Network type". Select it.
7. A new window will prompt you to choose from 3 options: LTE (recommended), 3G, and 2G.
8. Select 3G.
9. Test Phone. You should be able to make calls now.

Now, this may be a temporary fix since I know 3G will eventually go away. Not sure if ST will by then send out an update to these phones to allow us to select the VoLTE option we all need, but for now, you should be able to make calls.

I just made a call to my dad with straight talk and had HD icon show up and have VoLTE toggled on however if I talk to one of my contacts in KY I don't get the HD icon.

From what I understand they are dropping it at the end of the year

Its a SM-G781U1/DS

I have a unlocked phone on straight talk with att sim and I have used the hotspot past the limit ,but on the safe side I use pda net + or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microdimen.android.netbridge

I found this, seems it might be true. Sucks, but you can get free shipping if you get the sim with a month of service.

http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php/1842444-SIM-Expired

They occasionally have some good deals here. not currently though. http://www.retailmenot.com/view/straighttalk.com

I'm not sure I'd trust it--maybe try following some of the online guides to see if your phone is really locked. I know nothing about iOS, so here is the first one that popped up. But it sounds really strange that they could lock an unlocked phone.

https://www.wikihow.com/Check-if-Your-iPhone-Is-Unlocked

check on opensignal.com or cellmapper.net in your area of work, home, and play and see where the best coverage is...

Is this new? I've never heard of people able to "choose" your carrier via SIM.....but then again I'm on Walmart Family Mobile.....

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microdimen.android.netbridge&hl=en_US&gl=US&referrer=utm_source%3Dgoogle%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_term%3Dnetbridge&pcampaignid=APPU_1_6Kt-YcjzHYe1tAa9z4KwAw

This app bypass hotspot via wifi direct , but it only works on devices where you can enter in a proxy on the wifi settings , and when other device is connected it has same ip address as phone , so cairrer don't know it a different device

Just get a SIM kit like this: https://www.amazon.com/iSYFIX-Card-Adapter-Nano-Micro/dp/B00R25GJJW/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=sim+kit&qid=1634708325&sr=8-4 to use a non SIM in a sim tray that expects a larger SIM.

Get this app it changes data network settings

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kliksob.forgswitch

When your in the app change set preferred network type to

LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA

And see if that fixes your problem !

Thank you! Beats what I did last time, just moved my SIM card and crossed my fingers, because I didn't want to deal with trying to port.

For transferring data, there's also this app, which is just about the best part of ST. (I only use Android phones, idk if it's on the App Store as well.)

I had to write this five different times because Reddit wouldn't post this due to some error and I lost everything I wrote. it took about an hour and a half to finally post this!

I get around 10mbps on Visible although people have reported much more. The hotspot only gets 5mbps because of the speed cap on hotspot as stated in the terms and conditions. You can only connect 1 hotspot device at a time on visible, However there are ways around this. You can get a device that is compatible with Visible, is carrier unlocked and that is not from Visible. Then you can connect as many devices as you want. Many people have reported this. The $19 phone is unlocked too so you can go to any carrier that is on the Verizon network. You can also get the Visible R2 (the $19 phone) and a travel router that supports tethering on ebay for $20 and tether to that to get multiple devices to connect. You still spend much more on your iPhones or Samsung Galaxies than this. You can get a more spendy travel router with a battery and hotspot anywhere with Visible service with multiple devices.

What I did required more technical know how, hardware and software but I get more security and privacy features and better range and speed. What I did was I tethered the R2 to my PC (with PdaNet or Easytether) connected to a ExpressVPN server, and bridged the connection to my Netgear Router with custom DD-WRT firmware (with Connectify). You can run the connection through anti malware software for virus and hacking protection (I use Eset Smart Security) , a VPN, adblockers, and proxy servers to get maximum privacy and security on the internet. I can also broadcast the signal throughout the house to get better range (I live in a big house). It also has very little, if any impact on speed.

If you can live with one device at a time on hotspot, then you can totally do that too. Their support is really great too, they will answer all your questions and troubleshoot any problems you may have!

Thank you for responding!

Where I live my signal is strong. I have full bars. I’m mostly dealing with the throttle and deprioritization with Verizon towers.

Obviously the initial 10Gb was super fast, lol, but I used that up getting apps I planned on using for both fun and slowing making extra cash; which was a lot of apps. I admit to watching no more than 5 YouTube videos during the 10Gb timeframe. (1) roughly 20 mins long. (2) 5 mins long. (3) no longer than 30 mins. (4) less than 5 mins. (5) probably 10 mins long. I kept track of how long they were and what quality I was watching them at, 480p.

I don’t ever watch other videos in my phone. I prefer to watch movies and series on my PC or TV. I just like watching YouTube at random times of the day and if I’m not home, it’s obviously on the phone.

I can’t remember the previous VPN service I used when I had the internet and damn good cell service. I think it was ZenMate or CyberGhost. But this was when I could use free service since I wasn’t worried with data or internet speeds.

I’ll probably stick with NordVPN as you suggested. It’s the best VPN I’ve tested so far. And you’re right, Express is more costly (just rechecked after two attempts upon reading your reply, lol). With NordVPN, my speeds are the same with or without it on.

My main problem is the fact I’m not even getting 1mb of data speed. After painfully long research - waiting for pages to load - I figured my main problem for such low speeds was the fact that I’m in a city surrounded by other cities. Which would cause all day high traffic likely.

I guess I was just hoping that with the $55 plan my speed would go up to what you suggested, at least 20mb. And not 0.02mb on average.

I’d upload screencaps of my speeds with and without the VPN on, but that seems futile given that it would take so long to upload and then post.

Again, thank you for the reply and I’m sticking with NordVPN as you suggested.

Yes, that pleasantly surprised me. USB tethering works as well. However, be sure to use a VPN if you tether to anything except another phone because tethering is against ST ToS and they will throttle your data until you buy a new service plan.

I use ProtonVPN from the play store. It's 'free', which probably means the VPN itself is logging my data, but it keeps the prying eyes of straight talk away, so it is what it is.

Its verizon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y14T5YW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 and this is the one I'm looking at. Changed from Best Buy to Amazon due to a price spike lol

Have you tried a different SMS app, with the same results?

I don't know what that model has on it by default, but I use Android Messages on my Pixel.

I looked at all the phones on their website, and they're pretty much all crap except the Galaxy phones which you said you can't afford. My recommendation would be to buy an unlocked Moto G from Amazon and then get a SIM card from ST. If you MUST get something off their website for <$100, the best choice is the Moto E.