TIPS Cellular.everything

[krzykat]

I haven't actively used it in a while but iirc the manual usage is for own edification. The real power of OS is that it runs in background and monitors all. Also, it is crowd sourced open humint info and so they report (in aggregate) real coverage.

So short answer, pretty sure it runs in background and you don't have to push go unless you wanna see instant at-the-moment result.

EDIT -
I can only comment for android as Idk if it's even avail on ios

Thank You. They do have IOS version, and this sounds about as close as I've seen so far. I'll make sure to install and have running on both T-Mobile on my S10, and Visible on an Iphone 12 and if I can get a nice graph of comparison, I'll be sure to report back with the case study.

I'm actually thinking hard about moving off from T-Mobile for wife and my phones, but want to just make certain that I'm not missing anything by jumping over to Visible. If daughter is always up and me or wife has issues, then I think I'll have my answer. That and any detailed info from OpenSignal will give me a clear direction.

 

[kenn10]

There is also this crowdsourced app: https://www.opensignal.com/networks/usa/t-mobile-coverage

It looks like AT&T and Verizon have solid service along most of I-75 to Ohio. T-mobile does along the highway but if you get off the highway, not so much. Verizon still shows best coverage of all. Load the app on a phone and play with it. I think this will give you what you want all the way down to historical signal strength and visual signal maps.

 

[hawk#1]

Too bad you don't have 2 of the same phones so that you can get a real and accurate comparison. Even phones from the same manufacturer but different models frequently reflect different signal strength from the same carrier. Never mind comparing one using brand X phone and the other using brand Z phone.

 

[krzykat]

Too bad you don't have 2 of the same phones so that you can get a real and accurate comparison. Even phones from the same manufacturer but different models frequently reflect different signal strength from the same carrier. Never mind comparing one using brand X phone and the other using brand Z phone.

Agreed, but we must go within our constraints. ... But since the Wife has a S10, the same as mine, I wonder if I could just swap SIMs between wife and daughter for the ride by itself. ... That would give me more accurate testing, but could lead to some strife that probably won't make it worthwhile - LOL.

 

[tycho]

Agreed, but we must go within our constraints. ... But since the Wife has a S10, the same as mine, I wonder if I could just swap SIMs between wife and daughter for the ride by itself. ... That would give me more accurate testing, but could lead to some strife that probably won't make it worthwhile - LOL.

You might end up having to suffer not only WAF but also DAF

 

[KNERD]

I ended up letting my Visible account go. I was not very happy with the performance in my area. I was thinking it was me, but just the other day, I saw someone post a video about Verizon in Bay Area where he has been for the past week. Best he has been able to download is 2.5Mbs, and oddly 8.5Mbs up.

 

[kenn10]

I ended up letting my Visible account go. I was not very happy with the performance in my area. I was thinking it was me, but just the other day, I saw someone post a video about Verizon in Bay Area where he has been for the past week. Best he has been able to download is 2.5Mbs, and oddly 8.5Mbs up.

Verizon seems to be over-subscribed in many areas and doesn't appear to be doing anything about it. We have deplorable service where I am with download speeds of about 0.5Mbs and upload usually around 1Mbs. When I come off the mountain into other areas, I get very fast 5G speeds. So on a tower by tower basis, service will vary. Of course, I have had the same experience with T-Mobile. Its good to check different providers in your region and go with the best for you. I'm most concerned with having dependable voice service when I need it so VZW is still my best bet here.

 

[wardmundy]

Good advice, @kenn10. Looks like we're up to 64 users in our Party Plan, but it's not for everybody. In the places we frequent, T-Mobile gives Verizon a run for their money on almost every tower but not at $25/month. Gotta say it's nice having both coupled with AT&T in many cars. Adding your car WiFi in setting up your cellphone gives you automatic failover to Visible or T-Mobile when AT&T drops the ball while traveling.

 

[TeeDog]

Good advice, @kenn10. Looks like we're up to 64 users in our Party Plan, but it's not for everybody. In the places we frequent, T-Mobile gives Verizon a run for their money on almost every tower but not at $25/month. Gotta say it's nice having both coupled with AT&T in many cars. Adding your car WiFi in setting up your cellphone gives you automatic failover to Visible or T-Mobile when AT&T drops the ball while traveling.

I just picked up my 2nd visible and will be getting discount thru them until Feb. I form a party just for my 2 phones, but figured I'd join a bigger one for a greater chance of keeping the low fee. Can anyone join your party?

Thanks.

 

[kenn10]

Anyone can join with us. See this article: https://nerdvittles.com/verizon-5g-service-for-25-month-with-unlimited-everything/

 

[TeeDog]

Thanks, might jump early then!

 

[JFrost]

On the flip side Visible working pretty well here, esp at home. Just had a 3 day FIOS outage and was able to tether my whole network off the phone.
Some of my inbound ports didn't all work (probably because double NAT) but otherwise worked well and kept most of the ship afloat.

 

[TeeDog]

I just jumped to this party! I too am using one of my visible lines as a fail over for an unreliable Wisp.

I dumped my CenturyLink landline and added a the 2nd GV number to my OBI200 for a house phone.

I ordered an Obi202 On Dec 17th and then check the website for a firmware update only to see they were dropping them and decided to cancel the order. Googling for options brought me here.

 

[wardmundy]

@TeeDog: Might want to check these OBi phones out.

 

[TeeDog]

Yeah, I've been considering one, Ward.
Do any have a POTS out like the OBI200 or are they stand alone?

 

[wardmundy]

Yeah, I've been considering one, Ward.
Do any have a POTS out like the OBI200 or are they stand alone?

They are pure SIP phones with Google Voice.

 

[TeeDog]

Thanks Ward.

 

[kenn10]

Thanks Ward.

If you're in need of an analog adapter, the Grandstream product line is quite good. See https://www.grandstream.com/products/gateways-and-atas/analog-telephone-adaptors/product/ht812 or https://www.grandstream.com/products/gateways-and-atas/analog-telephone-adaptors/product/ht802 but does not handle Google Voice.

I'm still using an ancient Sipura PAP2T ATA for my fax machine and it keeps on going.

 

[hawk#1]

I just jumped to this party! I too am using one of my visible lines as a fail over for an unreliable Wisp.

I dumped my CenturyLink landline and added a the 2nd GV number to my OBI200 for a house phone.

I ordered an Obi202 On Dec 17th and then check the website for a firmware update only to see they were dropping them and decided to cancel the order. Googling for options brought me here.

I'm not sure where you ordered yours from, but they are still available to order from many sites if you need one that can work on google voice.

 

[krzykat]

Just a follow-up on our Florida to Ohio travel (95-I77) and back to Florida (75- FL Turnpike) routes. I never did install the apps, but instead relied upon people bitching in the car about can't work - works now, etc. Both Visible and T-Mobile worked pretty well. There was one time in the hills of northern Georgia where my daughter's Visible said she had issues, so by the time I did a speedtest and confirmed working, I had her check again and then her's worked as well. Assume we both would have had issues at same time. Other than that, I know when we were in Amish countryside and I went to make a phone call from a furniture shop, my T-Mobile failed to work, while my daughter's Visible worked perfect. I really feel they're very comparable and as people have said ... TRY IT. If it works for you - great, if not, I think they have a 30 day return clause. That being said, at my own Home, the Visible does work better than my T-Mobile, so mileage will Vary.