Wi fi calling

[#1]

I've attached a picture of the page with the Wi-Fi Preferred option.

This is key to forcing our mobiles to use Wi-Fi when mobile coverage is possible but patchy. 

[#2]

Normally now, when at home, I like to turn Aeroplane mode on, to turn off the mobile network - even though it normally seems perfectly useable at home. But this is why this Wi-Fi Calling business has become an irritation.

With Wi-Fi Calling working, Mobile data off, this is what Device details --> SIM status (SIM slot 1) shows:

SIM status (SIM slot 1)

Network
WiFiCall

Phone number on SIM
+44 xxxx xxxx

Mobile network status
Disconnected

Service status
In service

Signal strength [Presumably of mobile network]
0 dBm 0 asu

Mobile voice network type
Unknown

Mobile data network type
IWLAN

Roaming
Not roaming

IMS Registration state
Registered

With reference to IWLAN: Mobile data offloading - Wikipedia

[#3]

Try asking Gemini AI how to set your make & model of mobile to Prefer Wi-Fi calling.

[#4]

...Gemini suggests two methods. Neither available. i.e. Network carrier doesn't allow such an option. Don't see it really matters, AFAIK not needed in the past - need to find out exactly what kind of 'nudge' phone (or network?) needs to get it going now. 

This idea of turning the phone's network access off (Aeroplane mode) and using it simply as a cordless Wi-Fi handset when at home is fairly recent. Maybe it was always like this and I didn't notice it before now? (Unlikely?) Some of the above seems to suggest it has something to do with actual telephone calls. Trouble is, there are so many variables.

[#5]

Aeroplane mode and Wi-Fi (therefore Wi-Fi Calling) is a whole 'thing' by itself!

From Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airplane_mode

"Airplane mode (also known as aeroplane mode, flight mode, offline mode, flight safe mode or standalone mode) is a setting available on portable devices. When activated, the mode suspends the device's radio-frequency (RF) signal transmission technologies (i.e., Bluetooth, telephony and Wi-Fi), effectively disabling all analog voice, and digital data services, when implemented correctly by the electronic device software author."

United States
"In a revised review in October 2013, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a recommendation on the use of electronic devices in airplane mode –cellular telephony must be disabled, whilst Wi-Fi may be used if the carrier offers it."

How?

From my phone's Help pages and online User Manual:

Use Airplane mode
"Airplane mode turns off all wireless connections on your phone..."

Turn it on
..."If your airline permits it, you can then turn Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth back on during the flight."

How?

Seems to me to suggest there is some kind of operational sequence involved here.

I am starting to realise why smart phones are called 'smart phones'. You need to be pretty smart to work out how to use them! It only took me about 3 weeks originally to find out how to reliably answer an incoming phone call. Not to mention getting the FM radio to work. 😣

[#6]

The phone needed recharging last night and so, after being off for a couple of hours, on power up it was yet again not connected to Wi-Fi Calling, despite being connected before powered off. So this says one thing: it is just time powered down that causes loss of connection to Wi-Fi Calling.

After another hour or so powered on it again mysteriously reconnected to Wi-Fi Calling, for no apparent reason. Yet, if it goes from an OFF state to an ON state, something must have caused the transition. But what? I still have not the slightest idea.

The phone has been switched to non MAC adress randomization and I deleted old IP/MAC address registrations in the Hub 2 Router. Turned off phone and router and went to bed. In the morning I turned on router, but not immediately the phone. A little while after Hub 2 fully operational I turned on phone. With Aeroplane mode on, Wi-Fi on and Wi-Fi Calling was there immediately! But I've seen this before now, so did any of the above make a difference?

[#7]

Is this it?

I think(!) it may be Aeroplane mode, this being a recent innovation for me - having it on when at home.

With Wi-Fi calling working, I can turn it off at the phone by turning Wi-Fi calling OFF (obviously). But what happens when I turn Wi-Fi calling back ON again at the phone seems(?) to depend on whether Aeroplane mode is ON or OFF. If Aeroplane mode is OFF, Wi-Fi calling is simply shown working again after a brief pause. But, if Aeroplane mode is ON, this seems not to happen. Wi-Fi calling stays OFF until, at some upredicatable later time, it mysteriously comes ON again - seemingly all by itself.

It's almost as if, with Aeroplane mode ON, permission has first to be given - after some while - to allow Wi-Fi calling via the phone. Curiously, this would align with previous post wrt airlines allowing passengers to use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, even with the required Aeroplane mode being on. ("How?")

This does need more checking out to be certain.

---------

Turn it on [Aeroplane mode]
..."If your airline permits it, you can then turn Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth back on during the flight."

How?

[#8]

Moderator's note:
Thread moved from Full Fibre to Everything Else

[#9]

@Baldrick1 

Yes...

I don't really mind where it goes (I didn't start the thread!) and I have recently been wondering where it naturally 'belongs'. Possibly 'Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc'?

I'm not sure it really belongs here in 'Everything Else' as this is 'Help with my Plusnet services/Everything Else' - and the topic isn't actually anything to do with Plusnet services, AFAIK.