Sim cards and carriers, discussion

[Angle]

Okay, update on Verizon on my pinephone. So, calling out seems to work fine, but I don't think I can receive calls or texts - do I need to manually activate VOLTE, or something? :/

Also, how bad is the pinephone about using mobile data? Can I trust it to not blow my data budget, or should I be careful about that?

[calinb]

Okay, update on Verizon on my pinephone. So, calling out seems to work fine, but I don't think I can receive calls or texts - do I need to manually activate VOLTE, or something? :/

Also, how bad is the pinephone about using mobile data? Can I trust it to not blow my data budget, or should I be careful about that?

The Pinephone requires VoLTE to be working to make outbound calls on Verizon (Pinephone has no CDMA capability and Verizon is probably all LTE these days anyway) so that's not your problem. Hopefully someone with Pinephone Verizon experiences will come along with some suggestions.

I have 1GB / 30 days on my US Mobile plan. It's enough data for me, but YMMV. I'm very careful to not visit sites that launch video on my browser and, when I'm bored and want to surf via 4G, I surf non-fancy sites that are mostly text, like this forum.

I also download maps to OSM Scout server via wifi and use Puremaps so I don't need to use my cellular data for generating maps. My Pinephone GPS rarely works, but I still like having a street map on my phone when I travel.

[Angle]

Okay, update on Verizon on my pinephone. So, calling out seems to work fine, but I don't think I can receive calls or texts - do I need to manually activate VOLTE, or something? :/

Also, how bad is the pinephone about using mobile data? Can I trust it to not blow my data budget, or should I be careful about that?

The Pinephone requires VoLTE to be working to make outbound calls on Verizon (Pinephone has no CDMA capability and Verizon is probably all LTE these days anyway) so that's not your problem. Hopefully someone with Pinephone Verizon experiences will come along with some suggestions.

I have 1GB / 30 days on my US Mobile plan. It's enough data for me, but YMMV. I'm very careful to not visit sites that launch video on my browser and, when I'm bored and want to surf via 4G, I surf non-fancy sites that are mostly text, like this forum.

I also download maps to OSM Scout server via wifi and use Puremaps so I don't need to use my cellular data for generating maps. My Pinephone GPS rarely works, but I still like having a street map on my phone when I travel.

Okay, that seems like good advice on the maps. I just got a spam call for 'car insurance' or something, so apparently that works - maybe it just took a day or two to get set up, or something? Not sure.

[Humgrrl]

Update on my Pinephone: I'm using Tracfone and everything works fantastic, even better than on my Moto e6.

I talked to the Lifeline (Obamaphone) people while I am in a major city (by Humboldt standards, lol) and they said that if it works on Tracfone, it will work on their network too. You just need to show them a food stamp card or your ID if you're on disability.

It looks a lot more durable than the Moto e6 and will probably be my daily driver before too long.

[bcnaz]

TracFone is a reseller, they resell TMobile, AT&T, and Verizon services, do you know which carrier your are actually on ?

[Humgrrl]

Is there some way I can find out? I was very pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get service. I had to say I live in the city instead of in town, but I can still make calls and use data in town.

I believe it might be TMobile, since the lifeline people were mentioning that was essentially what they are using in my rural county. Lifeline is free for qualifying low income folks.

[Zebulon Walton]

Lifeline is not free, someone is paying for it. TANSTAAFL.

Using your SIM number, this site may be able to identify the actual carrier:

https://www.numberingplans.com/?page=analysis&sub=simnr

[Angle]

So, it seems calling out usually works fine with Verizon, and sometimes I think I can get calls in, but text messages don't seem to work at all, either way. :/

[bcnaz]

So, it seems calling out usually works fine with Verizon, and sometimes I think I can get calls in, but text messages don't seem to work at all, either way. :/

Have you tried other carriers ?

[bcnaz]

@Angle
You seem to have had better Luck with verizon than most...

Note: Verizon bought TracFone just a few years back, and I suppose that includes Net-10, as they were a subsidy of TracFone.
** TracFone resells  AT&T, T-mobile, and Verizon carrier services.