WiFi calling with AT&T will favor cell signal over WiFi signal until it hits the low end of the threshold and switches over.
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Carrier AT&T M-Cell v. AT&T WiFi
- Thread starter George Knighton
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Yes, if you are in Airplane mode and then have Wi-Fi enabled then Wi-Fi calling is available if you have set it up and have already registered 911 address in the system. This works for voice calls and also SMS and as would be expected iMessages are transmitted via your Wi-Fi. Please note Wi-Fi calling can be impacted by the configuration settings of the Wi-Fi access point.
Sorry forgot to add Visual Voicemail is also supported via Wi-Fi calling.
Enjoy Wi-Fi Calling on these models**:
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone 6s Plus
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6 Plus
**iOS 9 must be installed.
Dave
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This is why I said there shouldn't be a difference. I don't know for absolute certain but I've had four bars (or bubbles now) LTE where wifi calling was still active. Folks on Howard forums (a forum more geared toward cellular carriers than this forum, for sure) have reported similar things, and not limited to iPhones or iOS.
Apparently from what I read this shouldn't always be the case. Don't really know what to make of that. For what it's worth I've seen wifi calling drop off at seamingly poor signal times (one or two bubbles) as well, so I think there are more factors at play.
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I'm keeping the microcell since I have several other family members and Friends and PIL who have AT&T phones but no iphones or wifi calling devices. I haven't really had any problems with the device in the past oh 3-4 years. For those who talk about "difficult to configure", I'm not really sure what they are referring to. I just had to plug it into my router (no DMZ required) and type the 1-2 device codes into my online account. At this point, one can do it with an iphone app I believe (that is what I use to quickly add friends that come by and need access - takes about a minute).
So, keeping it for now.
As far as WIFI calling, if an iphone sees the microcell it won't switch to WIFI. In places where I have good cell signal (even though WIFI is setup) like at work, it won't switch to WIFI until I get say in the elevator or sometimes in the parking garage. Places where the wifi is clearly stronger than the Cell signal
So, keeping it for now.
As far as WIFI calling, if an iphone sees the microcell it won't switch to WIFI. In places where I have good cell signal (even though WIFI is setup) like at work, it won't switch to WIFI until I get say in the elevator or sometimes in the parking garage. Places where the wifi is clearly stronger than the Cell signal
Same here, leaving my microcell on and that's all we use. Without it, our phones will not connect to wifi, even with only two bars which just drains our batteries down.
At home I keep my phone in airplane mode with wifi on. Every call is therefore a wifi call. Works perfectly and I don't have to let my weak cell signal drain my battery.
In my case M-cell has much greater range than WiFI, both work well but for now I will keep the M-cell.
Same here, yesterday I was able to get wifi working by shutting of the mcell and then toggling airplane mode. It did come on but it kept going in and out, for us there's no comparison, the mcell is far better at our house.
I have been spoiled by HD Voice now.
I wouldn't want to go back to the Microcell. I would if I had to but WiFi Calling + HD Voice is excellent.
I had a conversation with someone out walking his dog this morning. He was using his speakerphone outside with about four bars LTE.
I was on WiFi Calling.
The noise reduction and quality was excellent. I had no idea he was out of doors or on his speakerphone until he told me.
I wouldn't want to go back to the Microcell. I would if I had to but WiFi Calling + HD Voice is excellent.
I had a conversation with someone out walking his dog this morning. He was using his speakerphone outside with about four bars LTE.
I was on WiFi Calling.
The noise reduction and quality was excellent. I had no idea he was out of doors or on his speakerphone until he told me.
Totally not true for me. Never a single issue. I suspect you're in a bad area for everything.
I noticed that if I turn off cellular then Wi-Fi calling comes on for sure. I don't leave it to phone deciding based on signal strength. Of course I do have to remember to turn cellular back on when I leave home. Added benefit is battery lasts longer as cellular radio is not running. Still make and get calls and texts over my Wi-Fi AirPort Extreme router and cable modem. Plus by turning cellular off instead of using airplane mode I still get gps signals. Which I believe are turned off in airplane mode.
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This is my experience as well, set it up over a year ago and never looked back. However, I would not mind switching over to wifi but at the time, it cannot compete with it, at least where I live and I think it's because the wifi drop limit hovers right at the threshold, causing it to jump in and out. Mcell gives a consistent 5 bars and never has a problem.
I'm not... but isn't "being in a bad area for everything," whatever that means, supposed to be the type of scenario that M-Cells are supposed to fix?
Wi-Fi calling setup is just plain easier. There's no way around it. There's less to install (actually, nothing if you already have the WiFi) and less to configure. Implemented correctly by the carrier, it just works. This is simply not true of M-Cell, no matter how ideal you try to set the conditions or stack the deck.
While this may be your experience with wifi (and congrats that it does work for you) it is absolutely not mine. Not only does it not "just work" it cannot maintain the signal, as I've mentioned several times in this thread and others have as well. So while it works for you, there seems to be little reason to belittle those of us who it will not work for.
Funny how it's okay to "belittle" people who have bad M-Cell experiences in an attempt to shut such posts down as invalid, but when someone posts a contrary positive WiFi experience, that's "belittling" and not okay.
Not at all, in fact I'm envious of your situation, I would definitely prefer wifi and to do away with Mcell. Unfortunately, I do not have that option.
I'm surprised the thread generated such strong feelings.
:-(
If I had bad WiFi, I'd get a new router. The newest Apple routers do very well, although you could probably get a better range for a little less money if you look at CNN's ratings for the best Linksys router that's out there now.
If I were using something less than the current a/c standard, I'd consider moving to that as well.
But, anyway, if the Microcell is a particular person's best solution, then that's just the way it is.
I have an overall stronger signal (meaning dB) with the Microcell, but I am addicted to HD Voice now that I've been experiencing it for a while. And we all know that HD Voice is only on good, solid LTE or WiFi Calling.
Again, though, if the Microcell's your best choice...that's your choice and that's just the way it is, right?
:-(
If I had bad WiFi, I'd get a new router. The newest Apple routers do very well, although you could probably get a better range for a little less money if you look at CNN's ratings for the best Linksys router that's out there now.
If I were using something less than the current a/c standard, I'd consider moving to that as well.
But, anyway, if the Microcell is a particular person's best solution, then that's just the way it is.
I have an overall stronger signal (meaning dB) with the Microcell, but I am addicted to HD Voice now that I've been experiencing it for a while. And we all know that HD Voice is only on good, solid LTE or WiFi Calling.
Again, though, if the Microcell's your best choice...that's your choice and that's just the way it is, right?
Actually, it's not the router or wifi signal, it's the iPhone's inability to switch over to wifi based on whatever the threshold of a "low signal" is, it jumps in and out. I'm sure that if my signal was 1 or 0 bars it would be on consistently, but it hovers between 2 and 3 on LTE and that's not enough to maintain the wifi switch so it hops off and on which is frustrating. With the Mcell, it stays on with 5 bars matter what, maybe not the ideal solution but it's the only one that works.
Love my m cell. I had 0-2 bars, and wouldn't make calls half the time because I fade to no signal due to living in a tree farm. We have no towers near, now I have 5 bars, crystal clear calls and my phone battery last 10x longer by having strong signal
If internet is affected I haven't seen it. I have 45mbps though
If internet is affected I haven't seen it. I have 45mbps though