eSIM is unreliable, loses connectivity every few minutes

Silverdude

First I apologize if this has been discussed elsewhere, as my searching didn't show any results. I'm running the latest release of GOS on my Fold, but the issue has persisted across many updates. I have a physical SIM that I use for voice and messaging, and an eSIM that I occasionally use when I'm not using home WiFi. I also turn the phone off each night.

Each time I enable the eSIM, the data service seems fine for 5-10 minutes, then just loses all connection. The physical SIM's signal remains strong. I think all settings are correct, but I guess I can't be sure. Does anyone have any suggestions?

de0u

Silverdude Do the eSIM drop-outs happen everywhere, or only in certain locations?

Silverdude

de0u Everywhere

de0u

Silverdude Is the eSIM carrier's network solid in your area? Does disabling 5G help?

Silverdude

de0u Yeah the signal is solid, 5G disabled, etc. I think this may be an issue with how eSIM works on the phone, but don't know how to test it. Something keeps on dropping the network connection, and enabling Automatically Select Network does not help.

de0u

Silverdude I think this may be an issue with how eSIM works on the phone, but don't know how to test it.

In terms of factor isolation, could you try getting another eSIM from a different carrier? I think a bunch of people use eSIMs on GrapheneOS, so I don't think there is a widespread problem with eSIM network drops in general.

Silverdude

I did compare the APN settings to the carrier's website, and there was a minor difference.... so I made that change and rebooted. Time will tell if that works or not.

Silverdude

I suppose so, I'll have to research that.

The minor APN change didn't fix the issue.

Blastician

Silverdude

I'm about to purchase a new eSIM / phone number. Have any other Fold users had this issue? From what I read I should be able to activate it natively on GOS.

Silverdude

Blastician Let me know how your new eSIM works for sustained data connectivity. I haven't changed my setup yet.

andrej567

I am having something similar, people telling me they get "number unreachable" when calling me.
turning on airplane mode on and off helps. I do this in the morning.
Not sure when this behavior started but it used to work better. (pixel 7a, latest os)

Silverdude

andrej567 Ok so it happens for non-Fold devices also it seems... I was hoping it wasn't just me with a bad Fold.

GrapheneOS

SIMs don't function the way you seem to believe they do. The SIM does not have a signal and is not involved in that.

This is a carrier issue. It's not caused by using an eSIM, Pixel Fold, Pixels in general or GrapheneOS. These are incorrect assumptions.

chock-a-block

I am having this issue as well on a Pixel 6a, using Nomad eSim for data. It drops probably every 10 minutes for a minute which is driving me insane.

Hoping when I return home and use my regular sim that this problem won't persist.

chock-a-block

chock-a-block I was completely wrong about this. Apparently this is just how cell service functions in Greece. Everyone I was with was experiencing the same thing. My apologies for assuming it had something to do with the esim function.

de0u

chock-a-block Thanks for reporting back!