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?
Oct 22, 2016, 5:08 pm
#361
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,926
(It was ridiculously crowded, yes, it was like a forest of extended rollaboard handles 
)
Oct 27, 2016, 12:38 am
#362
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Just signed up for Project Fi today. All worked quite well (port took less than 5 minutes) and calls/texts are coming in straight away.
Only poor issue is Google considers the newly ported number as a Google Voice # and since they only allow one Google Voice # per account/phone I can no longer use the Google Voice app to check messages on my older/other Google Voice #. I must now use the web to do so. Further, and even worse for me, I cannot forward the old Google Voice # to my new Pixel Project Fi phone (which I was able to do with my old Nexus 5 and T-Mo). Still - aside from this domestically working fine in the first few hours.
Only poor issue is Google considers the newly ported number as a Google Voice # and since they only allow one Google Voice # per account/phone I can no longer use the Google Voice app to check messages on my older/other Google Voice #. I must now use the web to do so. Further, and even worse for me, I cannot forward the old Google Voice # to my new Pixel Project Fi phone (which I was able to do with my old Nexus 5 and T-Mo). Still - aside from this domestically working fine in the first few hours.
Oct 27, 2016, 3:52 am
#363
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,433
Oct 27, 2016, 6:47 am
#364
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
It's only one google voice number per account, but you can use more than one number per phone so long as you sign into each with the relevant account. https://productforums.google.com/for...fi/f7FN9BpfCk0
Oct 27, 2016, 7:12 am
#365
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Not for that price there isn't any reason to stay with T-Mo.
Fi allegedly has the same priority as postpaid on all three of its carriers. It definitely has better coverage than T-Mobile alone when you get out of town. The only issue I had is that it would occasionally sit on a crappy Sprint signal when there was perfectly good, fast T-Mobile LTE available. Using an app like Signal Spy, you can kick it over to whichever network manually when necessary.
Fi allegedly has the same priority as postpaid on all three of its carriers. It definitely has better coverage than T-Mobile alone when you get out of town. The only issue I had is that it would occasionally sit on a crappy Sprint signal when there was perfectly good, fast T-Mobile LTE available. Using an app like Signal Spy, you can kick it over to whichever network manually when necessary.
Oct 27, 2016, 7:59 am
#366
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
So I downloaded Signal Spy and it shows me connected to Tmobile and Wifi. But it doesn't show the corresponding Sprint signal strength - so how does one know when to force a switch? Do you only force when you have poor connectivity? (without knowing whether the other also has poor connectivity)? Wouldn't it be better if the apps showed both signal strengths so we could make an informed decision? Or is that not technically viable?
Fi will typically hang onto a carrier as long as their is good signal... the quality of the data connection seems irrelevant to that. In general I don't even need to use Signal Spy because FI "learns" over time and seems to improve as you go on, making switching irrelevant.
Nov 1, 2016, 8:03 pm
#367
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 12
I'm going to be oversea for about 3 weeks. I was thinking of getting Fi for just one month since I'm on a family plan with AT&T.
From Google site, looks like Fi will use my Google Voice number, what will happen to that number when I cancel Fi?
From Google site, looks like Fi will use my Google Voice number, what will happen to that number when I cancel Fi?
Nov 2, 2016, 6:49 am
#368
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,057
Nov 2, 2016, 6:56 am
#369
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
So I've had Fi now for a week.
Experience with Fi has been decent but not great. When connected to T-mobile it is generally fast - but when it switches to Sprint it has been quite slow data speeds for me. There are also occasions when it doesn't seem to connect to either network which was truly annoying.
As for the Pixel phone it is not much of an improvement over my old Nexus 5. Speeds actually feel slower. I do love the fingerprint logon (no more swiping every time I want access to my phone). Just a little touch of the finger which is perfectly mounted on the backside (where my finger already is). The camera is also much better than my older phone. Still - those seem to be the only two noticeable improvements.
The real test will be when I'm abroad which is why I got the phone. If I got Fi and my Pixel solely for the States, I'd be highly disappointed. However if it works well abroad (as other posters describe), I'll be happy.
Experience with Fi has been decent but not great. When connected to T-mobile it is generally fast - but when it switches to Sprint it has been quite slow data speeds for me. There are also occasions when it doesn't seem to connect to either network which was truly annoying.
As for the Pixel phone it is not much of an improvement over my old Nexus 5. Speeds actually feel slower. I do love the fingerprint logon (no more swiping every time I want access to my phone). Just a little touch of the finger which is perfectly mounted on the backside (where my finger already is). The camera is also much better than my older phone. Still - those seem to be the only two noticeable improvements.
The real test will be when I'm abroad which is why I got the phone. If I got Fi and my Pixel solely for the States, I'd be highly disappointed. However if it works well abroad (as other posters describe), I'll be happy.
Nov 2, 2016, 8:37 am
#370
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
So I've had Fi now for a week.
Experience with Fi has been decent but not great. When connected to T-mobile it is generally fast - but when it switches to Sprint it has been quite slow data speeds for me. There are also occasions when it doesn't seem to connect to either network which was truly annoying.
As for the Pixel phone it is not much of an improvement over my old Nexus 5. Speeds actually feel slower. I do love the fingerprint logon (no more swiping every time I want access to my phone). Just a little touch of the finger which is perfectly mounted on the backside (where my finger already is). The camera is also much better than my older phone. Still - those seem to be the only two noticeable improvements.
The real test will be when I'm abroad which is why I got the phone. If I got Fi and my Pixel solely for the States, I'd be highly disappointed. However if it works well abroad (as other posters describe), I'll be happy.
Experience with Fi has been decent but not great. When connected to T-mobile it is generally fast - but when it switches to Sprint it has been quite slow data speeds for me. There are also occasions when it doesn't seem to connect to either network which was truly annoying.
As for the Pixel phone it is not much of an improvement over my old Nexus 5. Speeds actually feel slower. I do love the fingerprint logon (no more swiping every time I want access to my phone). Just a little touch of the finger which is perfectly mounted on the backside (where my finger already is). The camera is also much better than my older phone. Still - those seem to be the only two noticeable improvements.
The real test will be when I'm abroad which is why I got the phone. If I got Fi and my Pixel solely for the States, I'd be highly disappointed. However if it works well abroad (as other posters describe), I'll be happy.
For international, make sure that you have turned on the International settings in your FI account... and more importantly on your pixel's cellular settings turn on data roaming!
Nov 2, 2016, 9:38 am
#371
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Your experience with the quality of Sprint is like mine. Sprint sucks in this area... not really a Fi issue though. I came from T-mobile so I'd be fine with just sticking to t-mo domestically. This is also where Signalspy comes in. Signalspy will let you Switch the carriers on demand. So if you are locked onto sprint, just switch to T-Mo or USC. Over time your FI APP will learn and will get on the correct network on its own.
For international, make sure that you have turned on the International settings in your FI account... and more importantly on your pixel's cellular settings turn on data roaming!
For international, make sure that you have turned on the International settings in your FI account... and more importantly on your pixel's cellular settings turn on data roaming!
Re International - I understand to turn on data roaming when traveling. What do you mean about turning on International Settings in Fi? Where are they? Why are they not always and automatically on?
Nov 2, 2016, 12:08 pm
#372
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
I had signalspy downloaded but (i)I feared it was draining my battery and (ii) I couldn't easily switch networks without some sort of convoluted process. So I uninstalled it.
Re International - I understand to turn on data roaming when traveling. What do you mean about turning on International Settings in Fi? Where are they? Why are they not always and automatically on?
Re International - I understand to turn on data roaming when traveling. What do you mean about turning on International Settings in Fi? Where are they? Why are they not always and automatically on?
As for the international settings, go to fi.google.com -> Manage Plan. You should see a section for International settings. You want to toggle on "Service Outside the US" and "Call to non-US numbers". They should be on by default, but it is worth checking before you travel.
Nov 20, 2016, 6:21 am
#373
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
Thumbs Up for Fi in Argentina!
Greetings from Buenos Aires. My ATT global unlimited only pulls HSPA but my tablet on Project Fi is pulling LTE.
Fi rocks but admittedly my ATT SIM has been pretty peppy. A VOIP call over HSPA on ATT was perfect.
Fi rocks but admittedly my ATT SIM has been pretty peppy. A VOIP call over HSPA on ATT was perfect.
Last edited by Dubai Stu; Nov 20, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Nov 27, 2016, 2:10 am
#374
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: UA 1MM, AA Plat, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob, IHG ♢ Amb, Hilton ♢, Hertz Pres
Posts: 6,016
Quick question about wifi calls... I'm currently traveling outside the USA. I'm in a hotel and both wifi and LTE are connected. If I make a call, will the Pixel phone automatically choose VOIP/Wifi calling so the call is free? Or do I need to do something in order to have it do that?
Nov 27, 2016, 8:33 am
#375
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: LAX, SAN, ORD, MAA & COK
Programs: AA EXP 6+ MM, AC, DL (MM) & LT SC; All Airlines 10+MM, Hilton LT Diamond, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 749
Quick question about wifi calls... I'm currently traveling outside the USA. I'm in a hotel and both wifi and LTE are connected. If I make a call, will the Pixel phone automatically choose VOIP/Wifi calling so the call is free? Or do I need to do something in order to have it do that?