Forum Discussion
Still no VoWifi for some realme devices?
Upgraded from iphone SE to Realme GT Master Edition a few months ago, had to switch over to TMobile to get it to work since it's a GSM only device (TMobile has better plan prices than Verizon anyway) but it's still not an "officially supported device", as the TMobile IMEI check said it wasn't compatible with the network but has clearly been proven wrong. Haven't had a single issue with it until now, I'm on a trip visiting family and I'm sitting in the living room with 3 or 4 bars of 5g, but as soon as I make a phone call it drops down to 1 bar of E (basically the worst connection possible) and either doesn't ring at all or when the call connects its constantly cutting in and out. When I hang up the call it instantly jumps back up to 5g. Tried looking for VoWifi settings since I know this model supports that functionality, but it's missing from the usual spot so I guess it's a carrier specific thing based on information I've found while googling. Does TMobile not support VoWifi on any devices that aren't in their system whitelist?
syaoran wrote:
IMS can only provision for compatible.devices. If your device was compatible it would have been provisioned automatically.
I went to the local TMobile store and the calling worked fine there and after we left I tried it on the other side of town and it worked fine so I think we're all wrong, they said it was most likely due to a dead spot, we're right next to an overpass with the tower being on the other side and down the street so I guess that would do it. They recommended getting a booster by calling 611 so we'll try that. Still a little weird considering I'm getting full bars of 5g here with full access to everything with it, but it's just the calling that's being wonky. The booster should be overnighted so I guess we'll get our answer in a day or two. Could it be that it's falling back to non LTE 4g networks rather than 3g and it's just spotty due to a dead spot? I wouldn't mind that, especially with a booster set up
syaoran wrote:
LavenderFawn wrote:
syaoran wrote:
Those things with an unlocked bootloader, rooting, and even using Qualcomm's tools to select the carrier pefile all illustrate that VoLTE, VoWiFi, and VoNR were never implemented by RealMe for the US market. This is actually fairly common with Chinese phones. There is a lot more to how a cellphone works and interacts with a carrier's network than just the band(s) it uses for connectivity.
So it's on Realme, not TMobile? Interesting
Yes. T-Mobile USA does not block device manufacturers or device features on devices not sold by them. I used to use a Xiaomi MI Mix 3 on T-Mobile. It worked fine with WiFi Calling, VoLTE, and was a great phone for it's time. You really have to know what you are buying though. Flossy Carter on YouTube tests a lot of non-North American devices on T-Mobile USA and Verizon.
Also do you happen to know if TMobile 3g networks are completely shutdown, or is it still "in progress"? Like I said im able to make and receive calls just fine back home, so there must be a TMobile 3g network still on there but not here right?
syaoran wrote:
LavenderFawn wrote:
syaoran wrote:
Those things with an unlocked bootloader, rooting, and even using Qualcomm's tools to select the carrier pefile all illustrate that VoLTE, VoWiFi, and VoNR were never implemented by RealMe for the US market. This is actually fairly common with Chinese phones. There is a lot more to how a cellphone works and interacts with a carrier's network than just the band(s) it uses for connectivity.
So it's on Realme, not TMobile? Interesting
Yes. T-Mobile USA does not block device manufacturers or device features on devices not sold by them. I used to use a Xiaomi MI Mix 3 on T-Mobile. It worked fine with WiFi Calling, VoLTE, and was a great phone for it's time. You really have to know what you are buying though. Flossy Carter on YouTube tests a lot of non-North American devices on T-Mobile USA and Verizon.
I did take a peek at a similar creator whose name I can't recall right now, he was using the gt Master edition with TMobile and had no issues with using VoLTE so this is just weird. It's a slightly older model too so I guess they might not even bother trying to implement it for future compatibility in the US. I sent them an email asking about it, but hopefully they decide at some point to put in that effort. I find Realme phones in particular to be amazing, especially for their cost since it's not inflated like Samsung or iPhone because you're not longer paying for the brand name rather than the phone itself
LavenderFawn wrote:
syaoran wrote:
Those things with an unlocked bootloader, rooting, and even using Qualcomm's tools to select the carrier pefile all illustrate that VoLTE, VoWiFi, and VoNR were never implemented by RealMe for the US market. This is actually fairly common with Chinese phones. There is a lot more to how a cellphone works and interacts with a carrier's network than just the band(s) it uses for connectivity.
So it's on Realme, not TMobile? Interesting
Yes. T-Mobile USA does not block device manufacturers or device features on devices not sold by them. I used to use a Xiaomi MI Mix 3 on T-Mobile. It worked fine with WiFi Calling, VoLTE, and was a great phone for it's time. You really have to know what you are buying though. Flossy Carter on YouTube tests a lot of non-North American devices on T-Mobile USA and Verizon.
syaoran wrote:
Those things with an unlocked bootloader, rooting, and even using Qualcomm's tools to select the carrier pefile all illustrate that VoLTE, VoWiFi, and VoNR were never implemented by RealMe for the US market. This is actually fairly common with Chinese phones. There is a lot more to how a cellphone works and interacts with a carrier's network than just the band(s) it uses for connectivity.
So it's on Realme, not TMobile? Interesting
gramps28 wrote:
Czech Tmobile and Tmobile USA operate differently and phones are probably not compatible because of the bands. Also the USA has more regulations than the Czech Republic.
Makes sense
Czech Tmobile and Tmobile USA operate differently and phones are probably not compatible because of the bands. Also the USA has more regulations than the Czech Republic.
Those things with an unlocked bootloader, rooting, and even using Qualcomm's tools to select the carrier pefile all illustrate that VoLTE, VoWiFi, and VoNR were never implemented by RealMe for the US market. This is actually fairly common with Chinese phones. There is a lot more to how a cellphone works and interacts with a carrier's network than just the band(s) it uses for connectivity.
gramps28 wrote:
That's a generic imei check for the bands the phone has and if it has a couple of bands you will get that message. It doesn't check VoLte, if it's compatible it will not be greyed out in the settings.
You may want to check the XDA forums to see if there's any answers there.
From what I see, the only way to get it to work involves doing things with your bootloader which I'm not comfortable with, as it sounds like stuff that I could get in some deep trouble if I get caught doing. It's a shame, this phone clearly supports the functionality so I honestly feel a little scammed by T-Mobile, seems they're just purposefully blocking it to be greedy and get you to buy a device from them directly. Hopefully it's just an issue here and when I head back home it'll start working again, but like you said maybe it's falling back onto a still-active 3g network, I never really looked because I'd just dial whatever number I wanted to call and it would start ringing immediately so I didn't pay much mind to it. Maybe I'll head down to the local TMobile store and have them take a crack at it or at least try to get an explanation from them or even a deal on a different device since this has to be some form of false advertising right? Maybe the IMEI check changing to say it's compatible means there's still hope that they're making progress on getting Realme devices fully compatible. Funny thing is that TMobile Czechoslovakia I think it was, they were offering a deal where you could get this exact model with a plan when it first came out. That's what got me to finally say "alright I'm getting this phone". But I'm not sure if Czech TMobile and US TMobile networks work the same or if they're managed by the same person at the very top considering my research showed that US TMobile is deliberately trying to block it. Either way thanks for the help 👍
gramps28 wrote:
That's a generic imei check for the bands the phone has and if it has a couple of bands you will get that message. It doesn't check VoLte, if it's compatible it will not be greyed out in the settings.
You may want to check the XDA forums to see if there's any answers there.
I'll give it a go, thanks 👍
That's a generic imei check for the bands the phone has and if it has a couple of bands you will get that message. It doesn't check VoLte, if it's compatible it will not be greyed out in the settings.
You may want to check the XDA forums to see if there's any answers there.
