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?
Jun 21, 2019, 7:11 pm
#1021
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,157
Jun 24, 2019, 10:30 am
#1022
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,785
Is a data-only eSIM a thing? I have Pixel 3's that now have a physical T-Mobile SIM in them. But if I wanted to, could I sign up for data-only via Fi just for my international trips? T-Mobile includes free 2G data almost everywhere in the world, but even their buy-up speeds aren't that great. I'd pay $10/gig to get LTE as long as I can turn it on and off when I want.
Jul 13, 2019, 8:11 am
#1023
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 392
Just got back from a multi-country trip.
For some reason, Google Fi really choked in Denmark. Fortunately, it's my international roaming program, and I use T-Mo normally, so I just went back to that (free, slow roaming). On to the next country, and Google Fi was fine again.
For some reason, Google Fi really choked in Denmark. Fortunately, it's my international roaming program, and I use T-Mo normally, so I just went back to that (free, slow roaming). On to the next country, and Google Fi was fine again.
Aug 20, 2019, 6:16 pm
#1024
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Just back from AMS, KGL, rural rwanda (gorillas), Tanzania, and Kenya, here are the FI report, mostly data
Rwanda- H or H+, but not really, more like 2g. phone calls ok. Even in Volcanos national park
Tanzania- H+ at Singita Sasakwa and Ngorongoro crater. True H+. Decent
Angama Mara Kenya- H+, Decent
All of these on the T MO network
Learned one other thing. My wifes chromebook would not connect to a hotel wifi because the certificate was not current. However, I learned that from the Pixel 3 forward, that device can share a hotel wifi connection with a few other devices at the hotel wifi speed. Apparently it requires 2 radios to do this, and since the Pixel 3 has an esim slot and a regular slot, (I use the esim for Fi) I was able to do this, which saves a bunch of $10 USD/gb data costs. Apparently there are other devices that can do this too. See link. Glad I got it at half off on the anniversary sale.
https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/1...aring-devices/
Rwanda- H or H+, but not really, more like 2g. phone calls ok. Even in Volcanos national park
Tanzania- H+ at Singita Sasakwa and Ngorongoro crater. True H+. Decent
Angama Mara Kenya- H+, Decent
All of these on the T MO network
Learned one other thing. My wifes chromebook would not connect to a hotel wifi because the certificate was not current. However, I learned that from the Pixel 3 forward, that device can share a hotel wifi connection with a few other devices at the hotel wifi speed. Apparently it requires 2 radios to do this, and since the Pixel 3 has an esim slot and a regular slot, (I use the esim for Fi) I was able to do this, which saves a bunch of $10 USD/gb data costs. Apparently there are other devices that can do this too. See link. Glad I got it at half off on the anniversary sale.
https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/1...aring-devices/
Last edited by boerne; Aug 20, 2019 at 6:28 pm
Aug 21, 2019, 12:00 am
#1025
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,018
If I add a person to my account, their monthly fee would be 15 dollars. Can I pause the 20 dollar per month main account and have theirs continue to work?
Aug 21, 2019, 1:22 am
#1026
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Berlin
Programs: BA Gold; Accor Plat; IHG Diamond-Amb; Meliá & HH & Marriott Gold
Posts: 5,450
Fi was not working well for me in Singapore last week. This was with a Pixel 2 that has been to Singapore with me three times before.
Despite trying all the steps listed in the wiki, and repeating most of them once or twice a day, it wasn't until day 4 that Fi would connect me to a mobile network. Once it started working, it was great, with LTE indicated and good speeds.
The outage wasn't a major problem for us in this location, but it was a surprise and disappointment not to be able to rely upon Fi.
Despite trying all the steps listed in the wiki, and repeating most of them once or twice a day, it wasn't until day 4 that Fi would connect me to a mobile network. Once it started working, it was great, with LTE indicated and good speeds.
The outage wasn't a major problem for us in this location, but it was a surprise and disappointment not to be able to rely upon Fi.
Aug 21, 2019, 1:47 am
#1027
Moderator, El Al and Marriott Bonvoy, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ*G, Mar LTT, Hyatt Glb, AA LTG, LY, HH, IC, BA, DL, UA SLV
Posts: 12,018
I had a problem in Vietnam with Fi not working. I found a blog where someone mentioned moving to 3G and restarting and that got things going again, albeit slowly.
Aug 21, 2019, 2:16 am
#1028
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,867
That's where I ran into lots of issues re-activating the service after shutting off the Fi service, such as after swapping active SIMs in a dual-SIM phone
Aug 21, 2019, 2:35 pm
#1029
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 392
Just back from AMS, KGL, rural rwanda (gorillas), Tanzania, and Kenya, here are the FI report, mostly data
Rwanda- H or H+, but not really, more like 2g. phone calls ok. Even in Volcanos national park
Tanzania- H+ at Singita Sasakwa and Ngorongoro crater. True H+. Decent
Angama Mara Kenya- H+, Decent
All of these on the T MO network
Learned one other thing. My wifes chromebook would not connect to a hotel wifi because the certificate was not current. However, I learned that from the Pixel 3 forward, that device can share a hotel wifi connection with a few other devices at the hotel wifi speed. Apparently it requires 2 radios to do this, and since the Pixel 3 has an esim slot and a regular slot, (I use the esim for Fi) I was able to do this, which saves a bunch of $10 USD/gb data costs. Apparently there are other devices that can do this too. See link. Glad I got it at half off on the anniversary sale.
https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/1...aring-devices/
Rwanda- H or H+, but not really, more like 2g. phone calls ok. Even in Volcanos national park
Tanzania- H+ at Singita Sasakwa and Ngorongoro crater. True H+. Decent
Angama Mara Kenya- H+, Decent
All of these on the T MO network
Learned one other thing. My wifes chromebook would not connect to a hotel wifi because the certificate was not current. However, I learned that from the Pixel 3 forward, that device can share a hotel wifi connection with a few other devices at the hotel wifi speed. Apparently it requires 2 radios to do this, and since the Pixel 3 has an esim slot and a regular slot, (I use the esim for Fi) I was able to do this, which saves a bunch of $10 USD/gb data costs. Apparently there are other devices that can do this too. See link. Glad I got it at half off on the anniversary sale.
https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/1...aring-devices/
I wish the dual-SIM iPhones would do this.
So the LTE radio is in the same chip as the WiFi radio, and there are just two of them in there?
Aug 22, 2019, 7:48 pm
#1030
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit; Formerly Dubai
Posts: 3,652
I carry an iPhone XS on a daily basis, but have a Pixel 3 and use it to split hotel and airline airplane connections. It is a great wifi splitter. I am waiting for the Pixel to roll out official dual SIM support to evaluate which will be my daily phone.
Aug 22, 2019, 8:50 pm
#1031
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite/Lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum Medallion, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 722
How are you doing the WiFi sharing on the pixel 3?
Aug 23, 2019, 1:40 pm
#1032
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 392
boerne posted a link above, and there's more info and discussion about that here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/com...fi_sharing_to/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/com...fi_sharing_to/
Aug 27, 2019, 6:58 pm
#1033
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Aug 27, 2019, 7:03 pm
#1034
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: I 35 south bound, finally stopped
Programs: LT Plt, 4mm, *A GLD, burned out medical provider, executing our estate plan
Posts: 1,665
Sorry missed this. You get your Pixel 3 on the hotel/airplane wifi. Then simply fire up the hotspot. Nothing special. I checked data usage when I did this with Mrs. boerne in Kigali and I didn't use Fi data. So, cemented my relationship with Fi. I also have an iPhone X for work, on Sprint 
. But use the Pixel when international. Below is a discussion on XDA on the Q software.
https://www.xda-developers.com/andro...pport-pixel-3/
. But use the Pixel when international. Below is a discussion on XDA on the Q software.https://www.xda-developers.com/andro...pport-pixel-3/
Last edited by boerne; Aug 27, 2019 at 7:04 pm Reason: Added data
Aug 28, 2019, 4:10 am
#1035
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
So if I understand correctly you can do this with a pixel but I can't with my samsung s8 b/c when I try it says I have to turn wifi off in order to use hotspot (in other words forcing me to use cellular data)?
Sorry missed this. You get your Pixel 3 on the hotel/airplane wifi. Then simply fire up the hotspot. Nothing special. I checked data usage when I did this with Mrs. boerne in Kigali and I didn't use Fi data. So, cemented my relationship with Fi. I also have an iPhone X for work, on Sprint . But use the Pixel when international. Below is a discussion on XDA on the Q software.
https://www.xda-developers.com/andro...pport-pixel-3/
. But use the Pixel when international. Below is a discussion on XDA on the Q software.https://www.xda-developers.com/andro...pport-pixel-3/