Wi-Fi calling problem on Pixel 4a & Xfinity Mobile

Ronko

I can't make wifi calls. I'm using Xfinity Mobile, a Verizon MVNO.
Using stock Android and the Xfinity Mobile sim card I enabled Wi-Fi calling and registered an e911 address, then verified Wi-Fi calling worked.
Installed Graphene OS
Ensured Wi-Fi calling was enabled in Graphene settings and phone app.
When placing a call while connected to Wi-Fi I never see the wi-fi call icon, even with very bad cellular service.
If I enable airplane mode and turn Wi-Fi on and attempt a call I get the error "Turn off airplane mode or connect to a wireless network to make a call"
dialing ##4636## and tapping "Phone Information" shows "wifi calling provisioned" toggle is grey and on. IMS Service Status shows Voice over WiFi: unavailable (I have another pixel 4a on stock Android and GoogleFi, Wifi calling is not provisioned and IMS Status shows Voice over WiFi: unavailable, but it still works, FWIW)
In "Network & Internet" settings under "Calls & SMS" under Wi-Fi calling it says "Xfinity Mobile Make and receive calls over Wi-Fi" but under "SIMs" under "Wi-Fi calling" it says "Call over mobile network" If I tap this "Use Wi-Fi Calling" is toggled on.
In the Phone app in "Call Settings" under "Wi-Fi calling" it says "call over mobile network" but if I tap this "Use Wi-Fi calling" is toggled on.

I've tried restarting my device, toggling the various Wi-Fi calling toggles on and off, and resetting the network and internet settings. I also noticed the 3 toggles are all connected, IE switching one switches all 3, but only the one under "Calls & SMS" ever says "Make and receive calls over Wi-Fi"

Is this an issue with Graphene, my device, or with my carrier?
Are there any US carriers where Wi-Fi calling is known to work?

unwat

Ronko

Hi, there's information about that on the website:

GrapheneOS aims to work with all carriers that are officially supported by Google on the stock operating system on Pixel devices. Wi-Fi Calling, VoLTE, Visual Voicemail, MMS, SMS, Calling and 5G (SA and NSA) all are supported, however some functionality may not be usable due to Google not supporting carriers on the stock OS officially or due to GrapheneOS not shipping proprietary apps required in order for this functionality to work on some carriers. GrapheneOS extracts CarrierConfigs, APNs, modem configurations, Visual Voicemail configurations and MMS configurations from the stock operating system to ensure users get easy carrier support that "just works".

Generally 5G, SMS, MMS, Calls and VoLTE will work fine on GrapheneOS with officially supported carriers by Google. Wi-Fi calling may vary due to a reliance on proprietary Google apps which GrapheneOS does not ship.

In short, based on what this says, it might not work at all if it doesn't work out of the box with GrapheneOS. Although the site doesn't say try this with wifi calling, you can try the Google Phone app as a last resort to see if it works for you.

Ronko

I've also noticed on the stock phone on GoogleFi, in "SIMs" settings in the "Wi-Fi calling" section under the on/off toggle it says "You can make and receive calls over Wi-Fi." On the Graphene phone it doesn't say that but I see a setting to choose the Roaming preference instead. (WiFi or mobile)
If this isn't a known issue with Graphene I may try to port that phone over to Google Fi to test it out but I'd rather move away from Google if anyone can recommend another carrier.

Ronko

unwat
Thanks for the response. I did take a look at the website and saw that Wi-Fi calling may vary due to reliance on proprietary Google apps. I tried it with the 3 sandboxed apps and the carrier's app installed on the Owner profile but that didn't work.
I also tried using the Google Phone app and unfortunately that didn't solve the problem either.
I understand Graphene OS is built by a very small team and I don't really expect much support on this, but I hope by making a post about this topic we can help fill in the gaps in the documentation about this issue.

d9780

Ronko
It states in the manual that Graphene OS distrusts the network and provides for wifi calling w airplane mode turned on.
If it doesn't, I'm not sure I want to use my Graphene phone to use the phone, no pun intended. I'd be better off using My sudo on my every day phone and keeping my G OS phone off the grid from a cell tower/ carrier perspective. Any thoughts?

custodianofrecords

Ronko

Same story here on Pixel 7 Pro with US Mobile's VZW eSIM.

Symptom 1: Wi-Fi Calling menu can be toggled on but then mentions ROAMING preference. As if it will only try to Wi-Fi call when I am roaming.

Symptom 2: Can't Wi-Fi call. Airplane mode or not. It won't do it.

Tried:

Install Google Carrier Services
Install Google dialler
Leave privileged eSIM management on
Reinstall eSIM and reboot
Reset network settings and reboot

It is showing that it is using Carrier Settings Version "verizon_us-400000000011.9".

I will test it with a physical SIM later on and report back.

EDIT: Not much help here but a physcial SIM from a TMO MVNO works fine. I will now try swap my VZW MVNO eSIM into a pSIM and see if that makes any diff.

Ronko

d9780
I'm not sure I understand your question.
You said
"It states in the manual that Graphene OS distrusts the network and provides for wifi calling w airplane mode turned on.
If it doesn't, I'm not sure I want to use my Graphene phone to use the phone, no pun intended."

"Wi-Fi Calling" is a feature provided by most carriers to enable calls when a cellular connection is unavailable but Wi-Fi is available. For example in a basement with crappy cell reception but you have internet and wifi. When someone dials your number your phone would still ring, and you could make outgoing calls. From what I understand this is intended to work but it's not working for me on a Pixel 4a and there are a lot of reports from people with Pixel 7s having the same issue. I haven't seen any official announcements about this problem so I think you just have to test it for yourself.

I don't personally know about mysudo. I assume it's a VOIP app. You could still use that if you want. Wifi is working fine in Graphene.

Ronko

I tested an ATT prepaid SIM using the same methods and it's not working either. On stock android when you enable wi-fi calling a menu pops up to enter your 911 emergency address, once you fill it out you can make wifi calls. This happened with both carriers. On Graphene OS this menu never appears. Maybe when this step is completed on stock Android it makes a change on the device which isn't carried over when you install Graphene. Dialing ##4636## reveals that wifi calling is provisioned but under IMS Status it says Voice Over Wifi: Unavailable. Is there a way for the user to enable it?

MetropleX

Ronko Reading this linked post suggests that US carriers may depend on you registering a E911 Registered Address:

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/1756-has-anyone-with-a-pixel-77p-got-wifi-calling-working/30

We require that you register a physical address to ensure that emergency services can reach you if you call 911 with WiFi calling.If you call 911 while using WiFi calling and the cellular network cannot be used to determine your location, your call will be directed to emergency responders near the emergency 911 address you register. You should update your emergency 911 address before using WiFi calling in a new location.

Source: https://www.xfinity.com/mobile/support/article/wifi-calling-on-android-device

Ronko

MetropleX Yeah, that's what I was trying to say in my post. In other words I registered the E911 address when prompted, that is, after enabling wi-fi calling under stock Android. This prompt never appears in Graphene.
I had an address registered with both carriers and had working Wi-Fi calls before installing Graphene.

I think someone posted that you can register the E911 address online with TMobile, I may try them next, although based on the fact that Wi-Fi calling stopped working the moment I installed Graphene that's probably a waste of time. The message " "Turn off airplane mode or connect to a wireless network to make a call" suggests there is another issue.

f13a-6c3a

Would probably best to keep this under one thread:

Has anyone with a Pixel 7/7P got Wifi Calling working?

custodianofrecords

f13a-6c3a Thank you! I see they have a Github issue referenced in there. I will jump in there.