Dual-SIM (1phys./1eSIM) issues, no reliable availability

companero

Dear Forum and Users,

needed to open this thread not finding similar problems stated or solved anywhere.

I am using gOS on my Pixel 8 Pro for like 8 months, first with 1 physical SIM without any issues. 2 months ago i added an eSIM, both SIM with 5G contract from Germanys Telekom. The setup of the eSIM worked first try without issues and i could use it for calls and sms.

The problem was discovered some days later when i started to get sms from my mailbox stating i missed calls/got mailbox messages. To test this i tried calling both numbers several times on different days and almost every time one of the numbers or both were not available for calling, the caller gets no beep or sometimes reaches the mailbox, when i didn't even hear or see the call itself when it was tried.

This is a critical issue since i am regularly missing important business calls (the eSIM) or private calls, i could not find any information on issues like that. I will add screenshots of my config and SIM information and would love to get some hints on how to solve this issue, thanks in advance.

Greetings from Germany

companero

Screenshots

MichaelJohn

I am having the exact same issue. In my case it started manifesting today, and I came to the forum to see if someone else has reported it, and eerily enough I came across your post.

Like you, I've been using GrapheneOS for a few months and all has been working flawlessly. Some days ago I got my first eSIM installed, next to the physical SIM I've had for a few months. Today I tried to make a few calls and none of them connect, even though I called different people, at different times, and have restarted my phone a few times. Nothing solves the issue. I have also tried to turn off the eSIM and placing a call from the physical SIM, but the problem still persists.

I'm using a Pixel 7a, so I can report the issue is also happening on these phones.

[deleted]

I have roughly a similar problem that I fixed by creating a new APN for each of my eSim using the data from the respective supplier web sites. I presently have two eSims installed, both from virtual network suppliers.
I assumed incorrectly as it turned out that the default APN populated when the eSim was installed was correct. Both were incorrect and after manually installing some APN details, they seem to work as expected, about 5 weeks at the moment.
The details were, name of the APN, the username and password, everything else was left. One automatically populated password was just one digit, an asterix, and when changed and saved, a strong 5G signal was obtained and the inability to call or receive calls and the inability to text and receive texts was removed. I had, during this inability to call and text, a data connection so signal worked as normal. It was by missing a regular bi-weekly phone call that I realised something was wrong. I don't get huge volumes of calls so it took a while to realise the calls were not getting through.
Oh and by the way, two eSims only means one active at a time, you cannot have both active, in a Pixel 6a. Activate one the other deactivates.
I even had the same problem with one of the big four UK networks eSim, its not limited to virtual networks!

MichaelJohn

I think I found a fix (at least for me). there was another discussion here on the forum where turning 2G on was proposed, and that's what I did. immediately fixed the problem. Apparently this could be an AOSP upstream issue, but I'm not an expert at all so I'll abstain from assuming anything. See if that works for you.

companero

MichaelJohn Sounds great, will try that and report if it helps in my case, but i'm up for other solutions to reliably use 4G/5G.

de0u

companero Official advice: https://grapheneos.org/usage#carrier-functionality

companero

Update: i reset the SIM/network settings and followed these steps from [https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/11866-pixel-8-dual-sim-physical-sim-no-calls/11] for both cards

Disable Wifi (do not connect to any wifi) and stay connected to Mobile Network
Enable Mobile Data
Enable Roaming
Enable VoLTE
Preferred Network Type - LTE only
Disable Wifi Calling(I'm sure folks have already done that)
Allow 2G

Issues persists, i tried calling both of my numbers many times from yesterday to now. More than half of the calls were not successful, i get directly to mailbox or there is silence for _10s and then mailbox, sometimes not even mailbox.

de0u This seems to be focussed on getting the cards to work and be able to make calls/sms, but this doesn't help me either.
When i connect my physical SIM, it is recognized and setup directly and works flawless. Did never try the eSIM on a different device, it's a new contract from some months ago. But when i reset the network settings, it was immediately and automagically configured again and working.

To clarify my issue: both numbers do work, but i can't be called on the first/second or both of the numbers like half of the day. Sometimes when i want to start a call from either physical or eSIM it also doesn't work, i just hear silence and then the call (attempt) ends. I also think that my issue has nothing to do with the signal strength or station.

companero

Telekom technical support couldn't help me either, nothing wrong on their side they say.

Everything is working fine with out-/ingoing calls, but half of the day not. Friends also told me they tried to call me when i didn't even get any notification or sms informing me of a missed call, and this is very critical. If i would at least get a notification any time i miss a call that didn't reach my device i could then call back, but unfortunately even that is not the case.

The only thing i could possibly do is to switch my physical to an eSIM to have 2 eSIM and not 1 phys/1 eSIM, which i would like to avoid... and i doubt that it will work then.

companero

Looking for someone who is successfully using 1 physical + 1 eSIM, their settings may be helpful?

Telekom support responded with a solution, which is to use two devices with 1 SIM each... -facepalm-

Sirut

I am currently using only one physical SIM in my Pixel 7a, and I was tempted to convert it to an eSIM to have 1 eSIM + 1 physical SIM. However, after reading this post, I immediately gave up. I am following the discussion, waiting for updates.