Sep 3, 2017, 5:37 am
Last edit by: Zorak
Which countries are supported?
https://support.google.com/fi/answer...intl_countries
Note that in some locations Hangouts (and Gmail) are not available (e.g., China, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and more: see link below for full list of excluded countries), so you will need a VPN to access them (or to make VOIP calls via Hangouts Dialer)
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205646
Exceptions:
Listed, but no/spotty service:
Not listed, *did* have service
1- Reboot phone
2- Toggle "airplane mode" on/off. Wait five seconds after toggling off (it resets phone modem).
3- Try manually connecting to each available network (rather than using the auto select feature).
4- Toggle down from 4g to 3g (removing the recommended 4g option) and then try manually connecting to each available network.
5- Toggle down from 3g to 2g and then try manually connecting to each available network.
https://support.google.com/fi/answer...intl_countries
Note that in some locations Hangouts (and Gmail) are not available (e.g., China, Russia, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and more: see link below for full list of excluded countries), so you will need a VPN to access them (or to make VOIP calls via Hangouts Dialer)
https://support.google.com/hangouts/answer/3205646
Exceptions:
Listed, but no/spotty service:
- Ukraine (Aug 2018) - no service, all providers listed as "forbidden". Post #660
- Alaska (Jul 2018) -- had voice service, but inconsistent/spotty data (try forcing Sprint)
- Peru (Sep 2016) post 341, 360
- Grand Cayman Island (Jan 2018) post 547
Not listed, *did* have service
Belize (Jan 2018) post 547Belize now appears on the "supported" international list
1- Reboot phone
2- Toggle "airplane mode" on/off. Wait five seconds after toggling off (it resets phone modem).
3- Try manually connecting to each available network (rather than using the auto select feature).
4- Toggle down from 4g to 3g (removing the recommended 4g option) and then try manually connecting to each available network.
5- Toggle down from 3g to 2g and then try manually connecting to each available network.
Google Fi: Anyone care to post their experience?
May 14, 2016, 11:15 am
#166
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: DAB
Programs: DL PM UA PSilver Marriott Lifetime Plat, AMEX Platinum, Avis PC, UA MPPPlus
Posts: 961
In any supported international roaming situation, it is different from T-Mobile's 128 kbps capped service in that with FI the data service is still metered, and you still are charged $10 per GB of data use even though it's capped at 256 kbps. That's the same cost per GB rate as when I'm home in the USA with 4G LTE speeds. T-Mobile's offering includes the slow speed data at no cost if I recall correctly.
From a user prospective it means I was more selective about only uploading photos when I had a WiFi connection some where to control costs. Since the connection was using a slower network, it pretty much masked any benefit of the higher FI speed and the usability for maps and email was not much different from what I recall with TMo. Unlike the week prior in Amsterdam, I noticed no speed benefit using FI in Jamaica.
From a user prospective it means I was more selective about only uploading photos when I had a WiFi connection some where to control costs. Since the connection was using a slower network, it pretty much masked any benefit of the higher FI speed and the usability for maps and email was not much different from what I recall with TMo. Unlike the week prior in Amsterdam, I noticed no speed benefit using FI in Jamaica.
May 27, 2016, 1:53 pm
#167
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, *wood Gold
Posts: 39
Did a quick trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico this past weekend and Project Fi worked great! Strong signal between CUN and Playa with fast speeds on the network. Never had a problem with the connections for voice or data and seemed like it was moving faster than the 256K.
May 30, 2016, 7:16 pm
#168
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LGA - JFK
Programs: UA, AA, DL, B6, CX, KE, Latitude, VIFP, Crown & Anchor, etc.
Posts: 2,589
Update - Fi Network in Bermuda (as Jamaica) 5/25 - 27/2016
Just back from a week of Bermuda cruising out of NYC on the Norweign Breakaway.
No services onboard the ship while at sea, no voice or data roaming and no SMS/texting over cellular - with ship's WiFi data enabled, checking Gmails, MSN & Hangouts, etc. was fine, worked nicely on our Nexus 6 and Nexus 5X. We reached Dockyard's Heritage Wharf on the morning of day 4, and soon as I disabled Airplane Mode & switched things back on - got a 3G/HSPA signal, and "Welcome to Jamaica" from Fi Network ... cellular calls at 20 cents a minute and int'l data at $10/GB - services from Digicel (338050), apparently.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...ca21a271a7.jpg
On the SeaExpress, fast CAT ferry going to St. George's on the far opposite end of the islands - great signal as I was uploading to FB & Tapatalk
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...2556ceeb10.jpg
On my T-Mobile prepaid/backup line, it's "Welcome to the Caribbean Islands" - calls are $2.39/min. and text $0.50 each
STATS - Latency @ 197 ms, download 294 kbps and upload 388 kbps but usable. Signal was solid on deck 15 of our ship in the open vs. unusable paid WiFi Hotspot from below and even stronger on deck 8, ship's "Waterfront" - with paid WiFi somewhat usable, by those with the services - $15 for a 3 days unlimited pass.
Our Fi Network charges in Bermuda came to a total of about $3 USD for 3 days, 5 minutes worth of call @ 20 cents/min for $1 and 197 MB of data used or $1.97 - pretty good deal for usage. Also, had the data only Fi Sim in the iPad Mini and moved it to iPhone 5S for 2 days, no problems whatsoever once I rebooted it after changing APN settings, etc.
No services onboard the ship while at sea, no voice or data roaming and no SMS/texting over cellular - with ship's WiFi data enabled, checking Gmails, MSN & Hangouts, etc. was fine, worked nicely on our Nexus 6 and Nexus 5X. We reached Dockyard's Heritage Wharf on the morning of day 4, and soon as I disabled Airplane Mode & switched things back on - got a 3G/HSPA signal, and "Welcome to Jamaica" from Fi Network ... cellular calls at 20 cents a minute and int'l data at $10/GB - services from Digicel (338050), apparently.
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...ca21a271a7.jpg
On the SeaExpress, fast CAT ferry going to St. George's on the far opposite end of the islands - great signal as I was uploading to FB & Tapatalk
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...2556ceeb10.jpg
On my T-Mobile prepaid/backup line, it's "Welcome to the Caribbean Islands" - calls are $2.39/min. and text $0.50 each
STATS - Latency @ 197 ms, download 294 kbps and upload 388 kbps but usable. Signal was solid on deck 15 of our ship in the open vs. unusable paid WiFi Hotspot from below and even stronger on deck 8, ship's "Waterfront" - with paid WiFi somewhat usable, by those with the services - $15 for a 3 days unlimited pass.
Our Fi Network charges in Bermuda came to a total of about $3 USD for 3 days, 5 minutes worth of call @ 20 cents/min for $1 and 197 MB of data used or $1.97 - pretty good deal for usage. Also, had the data only Fi Sim in the iPad Mini and moved it to iPhone 5S for 2 days, no problems whatsoever once I rebooted it after changing APN settings, etc.
Jun 5, 2016, 4:51 pm
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
Jun 5, 2016, 4:58 pm
#171
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 8,460
Jun 5, 2016, 5:22 pm
#172
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bahamas
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 958
I have it, it is good for me. Twenty dollars a month plus ten dollars a gig. works in more than 100 countries. Try to google it. Extra data only sims are free. Still 10. a gig
Last edited by bruceba; Jun 5, 2016 at 5:23 pm Reason: change
Jun 5, 2016, 5:55 pm
#174
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,013
Jun 5, 2016, 5:59 pm
#176
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist, *A Silver
Posts: 4,896
Jun 5, 2016, 6:07 pm
#177
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Jun 6, 2016, 9:39 am
#179
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Southern California
Programs: DL: 3.8 MM, Marriott: Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 24,575
Moving this to Travel Tech where there is an existing discussion on the topic.
_________________________________
Cholula
OMNI Co-Moderator
_________________________________
Cholula
OMNI Co-Moderator
Jun 6, 2016, 3:01 pm
#180
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
Google's Project Fi isn't marketed as a casual travel replacement sim like KeepGo or FreedomPop.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Fi
If you have a friend who is a Fi subscriber and they are willing to order a data sim + share their account, the sim can be activated via web portal and is good for data only (no # for sms) . Fi Support has signed off on some devices though more may be possible.
https://fi.google.com/about/rates/
https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6330195?hl=en
Any international data will be billed separately from the prepaid domestic bucket and unused data will be credited towards the next Fi bill.
You can't have Google Fi Data sim without it being tied to a Google Fi voice + sms + data account.
https://productforums.google.com/for...fi/RQPOse21Aa8
Notes on becoming a Fi Subscriber:
1. Requires a North America Nexus 6, 6P, 5X to activate - Using a friend's Nexus with Google Fi may result in the Sprint portion of your activation to fail
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectFi/c...with_me_is_it/
This means that the barrier to entry is the cost of a phone (unless you already own a US Nexus 6/6P/5X) + 1 month's service.
2. Prepaid monthly charge, though you can put a pause on service
3. If you use more data than estimated during prepay, you will be billed in the next cycle
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Fi
If you have a friend who is a Fi subscriber and they are willing to order a data sim + share their account, the sim can be activated via web portal and is good for data only (no # for sms) . Fi Support has signed off on some devices though more may be possible.
https://fi.google.com/about/rates/
https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6330195?hl=en
Any international data will be billed separately from the prepaid domestic bucket and unused data will be credited towards the next Fi bill.
You can't have Google Fi Data sim without it being tied to a Google Fi voice + sms + data account.
https://productforums.google.com/for...fi/RQPOse21Aa8
Notes on becoming a Fi Subscriber:
1. Requires a North America Nexus 6, 6P, 5X to activate - Using a friend's Nexus with Google Fi may result in the Sprint portion of your activation to fail
https://www.reddit.com/r/ProjectFi/c...with_me_is_it/
This means that the barrier to entry is the cost of a phone (unless you already own a US Nexus 6/6P/5X) + 1 month's service.
2. Prepaid monthly charge, though you can put a pause on service
3. If you use more data than estimated during prepay, you will be billed in the next cycle
Last edited by freecia; Jun 6, 2016 at 3:23 pm