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

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Try changing to lte/3g/2g under mobile network -> network mode settings. Also download theb Samsung band selection app. It helps you get to these settings faster https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ray.samsungbandselection

I think you miss-dialed the code inadvertently. It should be splat-hash-splat-hash-4636-hash-splat-hash-splat. You miss-dialed the last 4 characters. They are an inversion of the first 4 characters. I now just use the following app rather than have to deal with dial codes: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.mangelow.network

Red Pocket wouldn't be a solution for you, since it does not offer international roaming (you wouldn't be able to use the number in Mexico).

The only solution would be to sign up with a mobile carrier that does offer international roaming. I don't want to list competitors here, but you should be able to easily find one that meets your needs, after some Googling.

If Bank of America is your only problematic business, you can authenticate with them using a hardware security key (FIDO U2F) instead of using SMS. Go to the security section on BofA's website to set it up.

You can buy a key on Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Yubico-Security-USB-Factor-Authentication/dp/B07M8YBWQZ

These keys are the gold standard in authentication.

And, before someone suggests it, NO, Google Voice won't work for this.

The question is whether your phone supports eSIMs. Do you know the model number? Not just the generic name like "Samsung Galaxy S21+" or "Sony Xperia 1 iv", but if you have it also the model number, like SM-G991U1 or XQ-CT62?

The idea is that you would install a separate eSIM (as your 2nd line) and choose this one for data. Your Voice + SMS would still use your RedPocket (physical/primary) SIM, and you would enable WiFi calling on this so that it can make calls over data (provided by the other line, the eSIM).

Note that I haven't actually tried this; even if your phone supports WiFi calling on AT&T, I'm not certain if it's able to make use of mobile data provided by the "active" data SIM. (Sticking with a provider that supports native roaming, like AT&T, Verizon, or Google Fi, is definitely the "safer" choice).

Finally, another option would be to sign up for Google Voice. With the Voice app installed on your phone, you have the option to send/receive all calls over data, and this would definitely work with an eSIM package like the above. The downside, of course, is that you'll be calling from your Voice number and not your mobile number.

An update. I rooted one of my spare phones and installed Network Signal Guru in order to read QoS levels.

Turns out my existing GSMA SIM (last renewed on August 3) still has QCI 8.

I'll keep monitoring this once it renews again on Sept 2.

Does the OP come with the Google Phone App factory-installed? If not, install & launch this (accept it as the default phone app, if only temporary), then open the dial pad and try from there.

> Data can sometimes be slow,

You mean as affected by signal strength? Or even with strong signal?

Another factor is what LTE band you're on, and how much bandwidth is allocated. (One way to see this is in the CellMapper app). If you have a 20 MHz band, good signal strength, and still see slow speeds it's probably due to congestion, and this is where it gets interesting. In this case RP will have lower priority than AT&T postpaid customers. If this is a common occurrence then I'll definitely consider other alternatives.

Thanks for your reply!

You can get the A53 5G for $350. I know it's a little over your budget but it's a big upgrade over the A13 (much better gorilla glass AMOLED screen vs LCD, more storage, waterproof, faster chip, similar battery runtime but much faster charging).

Thanks, I don't have eSIM so I bought this one here
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KL4GJ32/
that is basically a T-mobile SIM that can be used in USA/Canada/Mexico for a limited period of time. I seem to can't buy them directly from T-mobile for just a few days validity but somehow these guys are able to obtain them.

Well, you could buy a $5 7 Day Ultra Mobile Trial SIM. It runs on T-Mobile too. If it works, you'll know the issue is with Red Pocket and there's nothing you can do on your end.

Ultra Mobile Trial Kit | Verify Compatibility with Our International Talk, Text & Data Plans

Hi,

I currently have this app installed on my lg velvet 5g (Model # LMG900UM) , but at least so far it hasn't been able to help me solve my issue of not being able to make & receive phone calls.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.santodev.force4glteonly&hl=en

No it's an android thing. If it's to much of a hassle just do what the rest of the world does and use instant messaging apps like Signal which works on android and iPhone.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.messaging

Not the answer I was hoping for. Maybe you can try this app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.mroczis.netmonster

Once installed and open, hit the apps lower left hamburger menu button and select "live" then hit the lower right 3 dot menu and select "phone info" from there you can check if you're "volte provisioned" on the network or not. There should be a toggle switch to trigger provisioning if need be and some other buttons to hit to update and trigger carrier provisioning. I don't know if this will help anything or not or if you'll even be able to see this "phone info" menu as it's the same menu you're supposed to see by using the dialer code provided. I'm looking to see if volte provisioning is turned off here

Here's a link for the $5
7-Day trial.

Ultra Mobile Trial Kit | Verify Compatibility with Our International Talk, Text & Data Plans

I had an experience yesterday that reminded me of your question. I purchased this $5 Ultra Mobile 7 day Trial SIM because I wanted to try T-Mobile's network cheaply in my cellular black hole neighborhood.

Ultra Mobile offers WiFi Calling, but it wouldn't work after I activated the SIM. Nothing I tried would make it work and I got multiple error messages if I tried to use it in airplane mode.

I eventually realized it never asked me for my E911 info, so I called Ultra Mobile tech support, explained the situation, gave them my E911 address, and within about 15 minutes, they had WiFi Calling up and running on my phone.

If Ultra Mobile can do it, I would assume Red Pocket can too. That said, with Red Pocket being totally swamped with AT&T's 3G shutdown, this isn't the best time to call them.

I asked a similar question recently, but didn't get a lot of answers. I haven't used an old phone to hotspot, so I don't know how it would work. I've been able to borrow a dedicated hot spot for a couple of trips I've taken recently and it's worked great. Personally I think it would be worth investing in dedicated hardware.

The hotspot I borrowed was not through Redpocket.

BTW, if you buy your own hotspot, it seems to be half the price of buying the same model from Redpocket or Mint. But then I assume you would have a little more hassle getting it set up on one of the networks.

I think is the same model Redpocket sells for $60:

https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Wireless-R717-LTE-Hotspot/dp/B08DP3PY67/

You could look something like EasyTether. ~~I've~~ A "friend" has tethered on a hotspot-disallowed carrier and hotspot-disabled android phone both by BT and by USB cable to a linux-based travel router.

It was relatively immediate. I don't recall. Grab hangouts dialer to replace your text message and dialer apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.hangoutsdialer

I've never looked back.

I actually also piggy back off a Wi-Fi hot spot on my work phone, so I pay $0 for a phone number (other than the one time parting fee from Google voice), which is nice.

While porting your old.phone will still ring.

Most phones from the last few years use Nano SIM cards-- the smallest option-- so they're likely to fit in a new phone.

You can look at your existing SIM card to see the size, or post the make/model here and maybe someone could look it up for you.

Most SIM cards from providers are 3-way SIM cards that can be punched out for either mini, micro, or nano, sizes. If your new phone needs a smaller size, you can punch out the smaller size from a 3-way SIM card.

If your new phone needs a larger SIM card, I've had good experience using these adapters: https://www.amazon.com/Noosy-Card-Adapter-Kits-Micro/dp/B01N3Z4IM9 . I keep a set on hand for 'just in case'.

If that all seems to complicated, follow justarandomkitten's advice and talk to customer support to make sure you get a new SIM card without jeopardizing your plan.

Wow! I used Mobile Network (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ather.networkmode) to modify the preferred network type. It appears that TD-SCDMA/UMTS puts me in LTE. The following leave me in HSPA+: LTE/TD-SCDMA/WCDMA, LTE/TD-SCDMA/UMTS, TD-SCDMA/CDMA/UMTS, GLOBAL/TD-SCDMA. This is great! Thank you for sharing!