EE Wifi Calling

Synthetic42 · 08-01-2016, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacMan2000

Thanks.

My broadband is currently faster than the phone so it connects to wifi automatically so wondered if there was any drawback to having wifi calling turned on even though I don't have bad network coverage?

No drawback, unless your wifi / internet connection drops during a call, then your call will drop too as there's no VoWiFi to VoLTE hand off yet.

d123 · 08-01-2016, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacMan2000

Just moved from Three to EE so have this as an option now.

Can anyone tell me if the on/off toggle for Wifi calling is local to the phone, i.e. does it just switch on and off instantly or does it have to update EE back office systems or such like?

Just wondering if I want it on and automatically on every time I connect to any wifi anywhere. Not sure if there are any drawbacks to it at the moment

It's local to the phone, if you want to toggle off and back on it comes back on almost instantly. Having said that, there isn't much reason not to just leave it on permanently, I haven't had any issues doing so since it launched.

philt74 · 08-01-2016, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synthetic42

No drawback, unless your wifi / internet connection drops during a call, then your call will drop too as there's no VoWiFi to VoLTE hand off yet.

Also if you start a call when you have wifi (e.g. in your house) then walk away from the hotspot/router then it'll drop when you lose the wifi connection.

PacMan2000 · 08-01-2016, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by philt74

Also if you start a call when you have wifi (e.g. in your house) then walk away from the hotspot/router then it'll drop when you lose the wifi connection.

Much like the three signal box then.

PacMan2000 · 08-01-2016, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by d123

It's local to the phone, if you want to toggle off and back on it comes back on almost instantly. Having said that, there isn't much reason not to just leave it on permanently, I haven't had any issues doing so since it launched.

Thanks. Didn't want to have to wait 24hours or whatever to toggle.

biggy7 · 08-01-2016, 17:39

Once you toggle it on for the first time it sends a request to EE to have activated, this takes up to 24 hours (usually a lot quicker), your meant to get a text saying it's active, i never did

Sometimes your home router may block the traffic if firewall is on and too strict

I assume you have an iPhone it or another EE wifi calling compatible handset?

PacMan2000 · 08-01-2016, 18:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggy7

Once you toggle it on for the first time it sends a request to EE to have activated, this takes up to 24 hours (usually a lot quicker), your meant to get a text saying it's active, i never did

Sometimes your home router may block the traffic if firewall is on and too strict

I assume you have an iPhone it or another EE wifi calling compatible handset?

Yeah iPhone 6

DevonBloke · 08-01-2016, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by philt74

Also if you start a call when you have wifi (e.g. in your house) then walk away from the hotspot/router then it'll drop when you lose the wifi connection.

But it's important to point out (for anyone who doesn't know) that this will be fixed once we get VoLTE (Voice over 4G) as calls will then hand over to and from 4G.
Which will be pretty bloody cool actually!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PacMan2000

Yeah iPhone 6

Aside from there being no issues with leaving it on for yourself it is really hoped that you do by EE. This is because they want to offload as much voice traffic as they can to local WiFi.
The 800Mhz band will be under enough strain as it is when it launches as it's main two purposes are remote areas and indoor coverage so you can help with the congestion by using WiFi whenever possible. The more users that do this when indoors the better experience everyone will have on 800Mhz when they really need it including yourself obviously.
If that makes sense!

jchamier · 08-01-2016, 19:34

EE need to work with Apple and get some of the annoyances fixed with WiFi calling. (maybe Android does this already?)

I don't want to use WiFi calling on hotel or public WiFi (e.g. Starbucks, Costa etc) as these WiFi's are generally congested and the phone calls are awful. I don't mind using at home, or at friends house. So we need more detail control - which is why I think its an Apple issue.

Also when you make calls on WiFi Calling (and I assume on VoLTE today??) there are some landline networks that show the incoming call as 'international' or 'unknown' instead of showing normal UK caller ID. This can freak out elderly relatives who don't then answer the phone.

DevonBloke · 08-01-2016, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchamier

EE need to work with Apple and get some of the annoyances fixed with WiFi calling. (maybe Android does this already?)

I don't want to use WiFi calling on hotel or public WiFi (e.g. Starbucks, Costa etc) as these WiFi's are generally congested and the phone calls are awful. I don't mind using at home, or at friends house. So we need more detail control - which is why I think its an Apple issue.

Also when you make calls on WiFi Calling (and I assume on VoLTE today??) there are some landline networks that show the incoming call as 'international' or 'unknown' instead of showing normal UK caller ID. This can freak out elderly relatives who don't then answer the phone.

Yeah, this would just need a WiFi calling toggle in the control centre for easy on/off operation.
I think EE want us to leave it on though.
I assume some of these congested WiFi networks will get better once their WANs are on fibre as I suspect a lot aren't.

The international thing is an issue I believe EE are working on. Initially it did it on all calls. I know it used to when I was testing it on my landline. Doesn't do it now.

sparky93 · 08-01-2016, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchamier

Also when you make calls on WiFi Calling (and I assume on VoLTE today??) there are some landline networks that show the incoming call as 'international' or 'unknown' instead of showing normal UK caller ID. This can freak out elderly relatives who don't then answer the phone.

yea noticed that via my dad. he is on vm..

d123 · 08-01-2016, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by sparky93

yea noticed that via my dad. he is on vm..

Doesn't happen on my VM line, just shows the number or saved name as normal.

jchamier · 08-01-2016, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by d123

Doesn't happen on my VM line, just shows the number or saved name as normal.

Well VM has at least 3 separate 'head end' areas using different technology

jchamier · 08-01-2016, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevonBloke

Yeah, this would just need a WiFi calling toggle in the control centre for easy on/off operation.
I think EE want us to leave it on though.
I assume some of these congested WiFi networks will get better once their WANs are on fibre as I suspect a lot aren't.

Agreed, a setting in control centre would be good. More options on the android equivalent than on the iOS version. Or a list of WiFi networks the phone knows and the ability to say "don't use WiFi calling on this one". Probably too complex for Apple users, given we can't see the networks we have connected to before as that's apparently too complex. :-/

Quote:

The international thing is an issue I believe EE are working on. Initially it did it on all calls. I know it used to when I was testing it on my landline. Doesn't do it now.

That is good to know.

moox · 08-01-2016, 20:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchamier

Well VM has at least 3 separate 'head end' areas using different technology

I believe the phone side is even more fragmented - just about every 90s telephone switch model is represented on the VM network, depending on the purchase decisions of the original cable companies - from the two types that BT use, to more esoteric types from the US and Canada. I think even Nokia may be involved?

Virgin's phone documentation even has to tell you the same thing in 6 or 7 different ways depending on which "zone" you're in

This is why caller ID on Virgin is so highly variable in availability and phone compatibility. The BT network uses British standard caller ID whereas some of Virgin's network uses the American standard, some of it doesn't have caller ID at all (Virgin/NTL-Telewest probably didn't pay for the upgrade) and some of it uses the British standard, and works just as well as it does on BT.

DevonBloke · 08-01-2016, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchamier

Or a list of WiFi networks the phone knows and the ability to say "don't use WiFi calling on this one".

That is a nice idea and would be an excellent feature.
Perhaps send it to Apple feedback.
I'm going to. http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
Might be to "complex" for us humans to understand though, I agree!

Denco1 · 08-01-2016, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevonBloke

That is a nice idea and would be an excellent feature.
Perhaps send it to Apple feedback.
I'm going to. http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html
Might be to "complex" for us humans to understand though, I agree!

Probably one of the few things Three in Touch does well

DevonBloke · 08-01-2016, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denco1

Probably one of the few things Three in Touch does well

Yeah, yeah, yeah..... very funny.
God, there's always one isn't there!
Hahahahahahaha

DevonBloke · 08-01-2016, 21:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by moox

I believe the phone side is even more fragmented - just about every 90s telephone switch model is represented on the VM network, depending on the purchase decisions of the original cable companies - from the two types that BT use, to more esoteric types from the US and Canada. I think even Nokia may be involved?

Virgin's phone documentation even has to tell you the same thing in 6 or 7 different ways depending on which "zone" you're in

This is why caller ID on Virgin is so highly variable in availability and phone compatibility. The BT network uses British standard caller ID whereas some of Virgin's network uses the American standard, some of it doesn't have caller ID at all (Virgin/NTL-Telewest probably didn't pay for the upgrade) and some of it uses the British standard, and works just as well as it does on BT.

Since WiFi calling I do seem to have about 3 different types of ringing tone as well.
I think you may have explained something there!!

paulker · 14-01-2016, 20:38

I have had feedback from several friends and have heard it myself n calls from them. EE wifi calling is very flaky. Call quality can be awful even on wifi networks with fibre. Vodafone wifi calling has been flawless on the other hand.

jchamier · 14-01-2016, 21:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulker

I have had feedback from several friends and have heard it myself n calls from them. EE wifi calling is very flaky. Call quality can be awful even on wifi networks with fibre. Vodafone wifi calling has been flawless on the other hand.

Its not the 'fibre' but how consistent the WiFi network is that affects call quality.

Vodafone has how many users on their platform? Given the very limited handset range that supports it and the lack of SMS, I would suspect hardly any. Lots of people have SureSignal devices and have quality issues with these due to overloading broadband.

EE has a lot more end users on WiFi calling, and yes its useless in a hotel which has average speeds of 6 Mbps but occasionally drops to 0.1 Mbps. EE doesn't sell SureSignal.

Synthetic42 · 15-01-2016, 08:11

Seems hit and miss. Depends on the device and the network.

My S6 didn't work that well on any wifi network*, my home FTTC, work EFM circuit or a mate's virgin connection, yet he reckons it worked flawlessly all the time on his iPhone, so who knows....

*Calls were fine but SMS failed on a regular basis when going through WC

Broken Hope · 15-01-2016, 08:35

Definitely seems to be a phone issue, wifi calling on iPhones is pretty much flawless.

Never has a problem sending texts.

Synthetic42 · 15-01-2016, 08:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broken Hope

Definitely seems to be a phone issue, wifi calling on iPhones is pretty much flawless.

Never has a problem sending texts.

I'm confident it is, I popped my EE sim into my work 5S and used that for a few hours and had no issues.

paulker · 15-01-2016, 09:13

All these people I mentioned have iPhone 6

08-01-2016, 16:31	#2501
Synthetic42 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Newcastle Posts: 1,510	Quote: Originally Posted by PacMan2000 Thanks. My broadband is currently faster than the phone so it connects to wifi automatically so wondered if there was any drawback to having wifi calling turned on even though I don't have bad network coverage? No drawback, unless your wifi / internet connection drops during a call, then your call will drop too as there's no VoWiFi to VoLTE hand off yet.

08-01-2016, 16:48	#2502
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by PacMan2000 Just moved from Three to EE so have this as an option now. Can anyone tell me if the on/off toggle for Wifi calling is local to the phone, i.e. does it just switch on and off instantly or does it have to update EE back office systems or such like? Just wondering if I want it on and automatically on every time I connect to any wifi anywhere. Not sure if there are any drawbacks to it at the moment It's local to the phone, if you want to toggle off and back on it comes back on almost instantly. Having said that, there isn't much reason not to just leave it on permanently, I haven't had any issues doing so since it launched.

08-01-2016, 17:03	#2503
philt74 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 102	Quote: Originally Posted by Synthetic42 No drawback, unless your wifi / internet connection drops during a call, then your call will drop too as there's no VoWiFi to VoLTE hand off yet. Also if you start a call when you have wifi (e.g. in your house) then walk away from the hotspot/router then it'll drop when you lose the wifi connection.

08-01-2016, 17:19	#2504
PacMan2000 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 34	Quote: Originally Posted by philt74 Also if you start a call when you have wifi (e.g. in your house) then walk away from the hotspot/router then it'll drop when you lose the wifi connection. Much like the three signal box then.

08-01-2016, 17:20	#2505
PacMan2000 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 34	Quote: Originally Posted by d123 It's local to the phone, if you want to toggle off and back on it comes back on almost instantly. Having said that, there isn't much reason not to just leave it on permanently, I haven't had any issues doing so since it launched. Thanks. Didn't want to have to wait 24hours or whatever to toggle.

08-01-2016, 17:39	#2506
biggy7 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 96	Once you toggle it on for the first time it sends a request to EE to have activated, this takes up to 24 hours (usually a lot quicker), your meant to get a text saying it's active, i never did Sometimes your home router may block the traffic if firewall is on and too strict I assume you have an iPhone it or another EE wifi calling compatible handset?

08-01-2016, 18:19	#2507
PacMan2000 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 34	Quote: Originally Posted by biggy7 Once you toggle it on for the first time it sends a request to EE to have activated, this takes up to 24 hours (usually a lot quicker), your meant to get a text saying it's active, i never did Sometimes your home router may block the traffic if firewall is on and too strict I assume you have an iPhone it or another EE wifi calling compatible handset? Yeah iPhone 6

08-01-2016, 18:44	#2508
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Quote: Originally Posted by philt74 Also if you start a call when you have wifi (e.g. in your house) then walk away from the hotspot/router then it'll drop when you lose the wifi connection. But it's important to point out (for anyone who doesn't know) that this will be fixed once we get VoLTE (Voice over 4G) as calls will then hand over to and from 4G. Which will be pretty bloody cool actually! Quote: Originally Posted by PacMan2000 Yeah iPhone 6 Aside from there being no issues with leaving it on for yourself it is really hoped that you do by EE. This is because they want to offload as much voice traffic as they can to local WiFi. The 800Mhz band will be under enough strain as it is when it launches as it's main two purposes are remote areas and indoor coverage so you can help with the congestion by using WiFi whenever possible. The more users that do this when indoors the better experience everyone will have on 800Mhz when they really need it including yourself obviously. If that makes sense!

08-01-2016, 19:34	#2509
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	EE need to work with Apple and get some of the annoyances fixed with WiFi calling. (maybe Android does this already?) I don't want to use WiFi calling on hotel or public WiFi (e.g. Starbucks, Costa etc) as these WiFi's are generally congested and the phone calls are awful. I don't mind using at home, or at friends house. So we need more detail control - which is why I think its an Apple issue. Also when you make calls on WiFi Calling (and I assume on VoLTE today??) there are some landline networks that show the incoming call as 'international' or 'unknown' instead of showing normal UK caller ID. This can freak out elderly relatives who don't then answer the phone.

08-01-2016, 19:54	#2510
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Quote: Originally Posted by jchamier EE need to work with Apple and get some of the annoyances fixed with WiFi calling. (maybe Android does this already?) I don't want to use WiFi calling on hotel or public WiFi (e.g. Starbucks, Costa etc) as these WiFi's are generally congested and the phone calls are awful. I don't mind using at home, or at friends house. So we need more detail control - which is why I think its an Apple issue. Also when you make calls on WiFi Calling (and I assume on VoLTE today??) there are some landline networks that show the incoming call as 'international' or 'unknown' instead of showing normal UK caller ID. This can freak out elderly relatives who don't then answer the phone. Yeah, this would just need a WiFi calling toggle in the control centre for easy on/off operation. I think EE want us to leave it on though. I assume some of these congested WiFi networks will get better once their WANs are on fibre as I suspect a lot aren't. The international thing is an issue I believe EE are working on. Initially it did it on all calls. I know it used to when I was testing it on my landline. Doesn't do it now.

08-01-2016, 20:01	#2511
sparky93 Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bromsgrove Posts: 395	Quote: Originally Posted by jchamier Also when you make calls on WiFi Calling (and I assume on VoLTE today??) there are some landline networks that show the incoming call as 'international' or 'unknown' instead of showing normal UK caller ID. This can freak out elderly relatives who don't then answer the phone. yea noticed that via my dad. he is on vm..

08-01-2016, 20:04	#2512
d123 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3,993	Quote: Originally Posted by sparky93 yea noticed that via my dad. he is on vm.. Doesn't happen on my VM line, just shows the number or saved name as normal.

08-01-2016, 20:05	#2513
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by d123 Doesn't happen on my VM line, just shows the number or saved name as normal. Well VM has at least 3 separate 'head end' areas using different technology

08-01-2016, 20:06	#2514
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by DevonBloke Yeah, this would just need a WiFi calling toggle in the control centre for easy on/off operation. I think EE want us to leave it on though. I assume some of these congested WiFi networks will get better once their WANs are on fibre as I suspect a lot aren't. Agreed, a setting in control centre would be good. More options on the android equivalent than on the iOS version. Or a list of WiFi networks the phone knows and the ability to say "don't use WiFi calling on this one". Probably too complex for Apple users, given we can't see the networks we have connected to before as that's apparently too complex. :-/ Quote: The international thing is an issue I believe EE are working on. Initially it did it on all calls. I know it used to when I was testing it on my landline. Doesn't do it now. That is good to know.

08-01-2016, 20:12	#2515
moox Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 14,645	Quote: Originally Posted by jchamier Well VM has at least 3 separate 'head end' areas using different technology I believe the phone side is even more fragmented - just about every 90s telephone switch model is represented on the VM network, depending on the purchase decisions of the original cable companies - from the two types that BT use, to more esoteric types from the US and Canada. I think even Nokia may be involved? Virgin's phone documentation even has to tell you the same thing in 6 or 7 different ways depending on which "zone" you're in This is why caller ID on Virgin is so highly variable in availability and phone compatibility. The BT network uses British standard caller ID whereas some of Virgin's network uses the American standard, some of it doesn't have caller ID at all (Virgin/NTL-Telewest probably didn't pay for the upgrade) and some of it uses the British standard, and works just as well as it does on BT.

08-01-2016, 20:56	#2516
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Quote: Originally Posted by jchamier Or a list of WiFi networks the phone knows and the ability to say "don't use WiFi calling on this one". That is a nice idea and would be an excellent feature. Perhaps send it to Apple feedback. I'm going to. http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html Might be to "complex" for us humans to understand though, I agree!

08-01-2016, 20:59	#2517
Denco1 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 983	Quote: Originally Posted by DevonBloke That is a nice idea and would be an excellent feature. Perhaps send it to Apple feedback. I'm going to. http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html Might be to "complex" for us humans to understand though, I agree! Probably one of the few things Three in Touch does well

08-01-2016, 21:02	#2518
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Quote: Originally Posted by Denco1 Probably one of the few things Three in Touch does well Yeah, yeah, yeah..... very funny. God, there's always one isn't there! Hahahahahahaha

08-01-2016, 21:05	#2519
DevonBloke Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Totnes, Devon Posts: 6,694	Quote: Originally Posted by moox I believe the phone side is even more fragmented - just about every 90s telephone switch model is represented on the VM network, depending on the purchase decisions of the original cable companies - from the two types that BT use, to more esoteric types from the US and Canada. I think even Nokia may be involved? Virgin's phone documentation even has to tell you the same thing in 6 or 7 different ways depending on which "zone" you're in This is why caller ID on Virgin is so highly variable in availability and phone compatibility. The BT network uses British standard caller ID whereas some of Virgin's network uses the American standard, some of it doesn't have caller ID at all (Virgin/NTL-Telewest probably didn't pay for the upgrade) and some of it uses the British standard, and works just as well as it does on BT. Since WiFi calling I do seem to have about 3 different types of ringing tone as well. I think you may have explained something there!!

14-01-2016, 20:38	#2520
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	I have had feedback from several friends and have heard it myself n calls from them. EE wifi calling is very flaky. Call quality can be awful even on wifi networks with fibre. Vodafone wifi calling has been flawless on the other hand.

DS Forums

EE Wifi Calling

14-01-2016, 21:35	#2521
jchamier Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: This forum Posts: 3,392	Quote: Originally Posted by paulker I have had feedback from several friends and have heard it myself n calls from them. EE wifi calling is very flaky. Call quality can be awful even on wifi networks with fibre. Vodafone wifi calling has been flawless on the other hand. Its not the 'fibre' but how consistent the WiFi network is that affects call quality. Vodafone has how many users on their platform? Given the very limited handset range that supports it and the lack of SMS, I would suspect hardly any. Lots of people have SureSignal devices and have quality issues with these due to overloading broadband. EE has a lot more end users on WiFi calling, and yes its useless in a hotel which has average speeds of 6 Mbps but occasionally drops to 0.1 Mbps. EE doesn't sell SureSignal.

15-01-2016, 08:11	#2522
Synthetic42 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Newcastle Posts: 1,510	Seems hit and miss. Depends on the device and the network. My S6 didn't work that well on any wifi network, my home FTTC, work EFM circuit or a mate's virgin connection, yet he reckons it worked flawlessly all the time on his iPhone, so who knows.... Calls were fine but SMS failed on a regular basis when going through WC

15-01-2016, 08:35	#2523
Broken Hope Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Nottingham Posts: 314	Definitely seems to be a phone issue, wifi calling on iPhones is pretty much flawless. Never has a problem sending texts.

15-01-2016, 08:41	#2524
Synthetic42 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Newcastle Posts: 1,510	Quote: Originally Posted by Broken Hope Definitely seems to be a phone issue, wifi calling on iPhones is pretty much flawless. Never has a problem sending texts. I'm confident it is, I popped my EE sim into my work 5S and used that for a few hours and had no issues.

15-01-2016, 09:13	#2525
paulker Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 901	All these people I mentioned have iPhone 6