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?
Apr 11, 2019, 4:44 am
#976
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
It works fine on any phone within the U.S., and it works fine overseas on any Android phone (whether 'designed for Fi' or not). But you cannot tether or hotspot with iPhones overseas.
Apr 11, 2019, 7:01 am
#977
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Due to some limitation somewhere between iOS and Fi, you can't hotspot an iPhone on Fi outside the United States.
It works fine on any phone within the U.S., and it works fine overseas on any Android phone (whether 'designed for Fi' or not). But you cannot tether or hotspot with iPhones overseas.
It works fine on any phone within the U.S., and it works fine overseas on any Android phone (whether 'designed for Fi' or not). But you cannot tether or hotspot with iPhones overseas.
Apr 11, 2019, 9:11 am
#978
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
If my data SIM worked outside the US, I could test that. Sadly, it does not. If I ever get around to having Fi replace it, I'll test it
When I tested it with my 'real' SIM in an iPhone a couple months ago, tethering/hotspot appeared to activate but wouldn't work.
Apr 11, 2019, 10:56 am
#979
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 392
We've definitely had many different experiences with international use of regular and data-only SIMs and tethering, especially with iOS devices.
My understanding was that no iOS device can tether with either type of SIM, but that many Android devices, and more likely Fi-specific devices should be able to tether with either.
But I'd love some clarity on all of this.
The only device I have been able to make worth as a hotspot is a Moto X4 (Android, and Fi-specific). My iPhone and iPad won't do it - the option just never becomes active.
My understanding was that no iOS device can tether with either type of SIM, but that many Android devices, and more likely Fi-specific devices should be able to tether with either.
But I'd love some clarity on all of this.
The only device I have been able to make worth as a hotspot is a Moto X4 (Android, and Fi-specific). My iPhone and iPad won't do it - the option just never becomes active.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:45 am
#980
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Fi uses T-Mobile’s US domestic network and their international roaming partners to provide the global service. It’s 10am here and service is still not restored. Just spoke with a rather inept rep at Fi. Had trouble with my Pixel 3 XL connecting to WiFi for a few hours also. Was no problem for my iPad but now at least I have WiFi on my phone to download offline maps.
Update: Service is back.
Update: Service is back.
Apr 11, 2019, 11:47 am
#981
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
yes, twice on Tuesday and once Wednesday morning as they told me things would be fixed Wednesday am. Wednesday afternoon I received a follow up email at 3:03 central time saying things were fixed and they were. I will say that this am my phone worked fine in wifi but didn't outside of it and that is why I called again. This is my second travel phone and I am glad it is not my main one.
How were u able to reach customer service while paused?
Apr 11, 2019, 1:29 pm
#982
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,082
I didn't mean that my phone worked on wifi (which of course it did) but that I was able to turn pause off while on wifi but not if I was not connected to wifi (I'm not sure if that is normal - since I've never done it before and was in Japan)
How were u able to reach customer service while paused?
How were u able to reach customer service while paused?
Apr 11, 2019, 1:53 pm
#983
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
We've definitely had many different experiences with international use of regular and data-only SIMs and tethering, especially with iOS devices.
My understanding was that no iOS device can tether with either type of SIM, but that many Android devices, and more likely Fi-specific devices should be able to tether with either.
But I'd love some clarity on all of this.
The only device I have been able to make worth as a hotspot is a Moto X4 (Android, and Fi-specific). My iPhone and iPad won't do it - the option just never becomes active.
My understanding was that no iOS device can tether with either type of SIM, but that many Android devices, and more likely Fi-specific devices should be able to tether with either.
But I'd love some clarity on all of this.
The only device I have been able to make worth as a hotspot is a Moto X4 (Android, and Fi-specific). My iPhone and iPad won't do it - the option just never becomes active.
Apr 11, 2019, 2:24 pm
#984
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 392
I had no problem tethering outside the US with either of the crappy beater Android phones (Nokia 3.1 and a Moto G5, neither of which are Fi-specific) that I've had in my kitchen drawer to lend to guests. I used my 'real' SIM but the data SIM should be the same assuming yours actually works overseas unlike mine.
- Tethering: Tethering from a device with a data-only SIM isn’t supported.
Apr 11, 2019, 2:44 pm
#985
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Not being supported is not the same as not possible when it comes to Fi.
People have been using iPhone, with some limits, for years even though IOS only recently become supported, still with some limits.
People have been using iPhone, with some limits, for years even though IOS only recently become supported, still with some limits.
Apr 11, 2019, 5:44 pm
#986
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
sorry, I misunderstood your question. When I first resumed service I did it on my laptop from my house. I then went to use the phone outside of wifi and when I dialed it told me there was a problem with my account and sent me directly to customer service. Later when I was back in wifi I could make calls over the internet but when I turned wifi off and tried I went directly to customer service. Sometime mid afternoon yesterday everything started working fine on both my phone and my data sim in my ipad.
Is it usual to be able to resume outside the country without having a wifi connection?
Apr 11, 2019, 6:25 pm
#987
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: stl
Programs: AA LT Plat/8.1mm now with 1350 miles left in my account and proud of it.. SPG LT Titanium.
Posts: 3,082
Thanks - were u in the US? I wouldn't have had any way to contact cs or correspond with Fi from Japan unless I had a wifi connection -hence my question. When I tried to resume service I just got either nothing or an error message (can't remember), but when I connected to the airport wifi I resumed without problem - I think this was during the time people were reporting outages.
Is it usual to be able to resume outside the country without having a wifi connection?
Is it usual to be able to resume outside the country without having a wifi connection?
Apr 11, 2019, 11:02 pm
#988
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Good to know since I don't always have wifi 24/7 when out of the country
Apr 12, 2019, 6:50 am
#989
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
My data SIM works fine in the US, and I have definitely used it for tethering with no trouble.
Apr 12, 2019, 2:26 pm
#990
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Welp, after a brief stint with T-Mobile, I'm back on Google FI with my iPhone. This time officially "supported."
T-Mobile sending me threatening text messages when I dared to use the Global Plus roaming I paid $50 a month for on top of my $70 bill was the final straw.
PS. I can confirm that the Data Only sim allows tethering overseas. Works fine in my iPad Pro as hotspot. That said, in the iPhone my primary voice/data sim (when I last tried) tethering doesn't work internationally. Anyway, glad to be back.
T-Mobile sending me threatening text messages when I dared to use the Global Plus roaming I paid $50 a month for on top of my $70 bill was the final straw.
PS. I can confirm that the Data Only sim allows tethering overseas. Works fine in my iPad Pro as hotspot. That said, in the iPhone my primary voice/data sim (when I last tried) tethering doesn't work internationally. Anyway, glad to be back.