[Q][Android] fooling roaming to think its @ home? - General Questions and Answers

hi i just moved networks and the company that i am using now are a virtual network operator (national roaming) so my phone thinks its alway roaming on my home network i have to turn on roaming data to use the net this is bad as i do go over the boarder to a diferant country every so often and this will drane my credit in seconds
so i am asking is there any way to make android think one network (my home network) isnt roaming but home?
running miui on a desire z

Would also like to know this, I would like to change the default carrier from ATT to my local carrier so I don't need to have data roaming enabled to use data.

no one can point me in any direction?
*BUMP*

Related

[REQ] Can I stop data when roaming?

Hi all,
I know this is probably a strange request and so I'll have to give a bit of background. Recently I changed my mobile provider to 3. 3 have their own telephone coverage in certain areas and if you are outside those areas you go on roaming with Telstra. The issue is 3 charges huge $$ when roaming on Telstras network for data (voice and SMS is fine).
My question is that my TP obviously knows when I'm roaming as it displays the service provider as 'Roaming'. Is there a program that will stop my data (and only data) use when I change over to the 'Roaming' service and activate again when I am in the 3 network?
Thanks for you help!
Trent
Hi, another aussie 3 user here...
I agree with the TS as this is one of the major problem we as 3mobile user face, is there any kind soul out there that could help us with this as my knowledge on PDA is limited.. Thanks for any1 who is willing to help in advance.
With the Sprint TP, I can go to
Settings>Phone>Services>Roaming
and set an option called "Data roam guard" that allows me to choose whether or not data connections will be allowed while roaming. I'm not sure if this option is available for you, but give it a try.
I myself would like to have an automated function for this. Until then I will have to manually switch to my dummy data connection.
Normally it doesn't connect on roaming.
and if it will, it asks first.
isn't this the case with you?
I have an app called NoData
Works really well and lets you enable/disable any data connections
raveenash said:
I have an app called NoData
Works really well and lets you enable/disable any data connections
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know about the NoData. However, you still have to enable/disable data connection manually. I'd like to have it automatically disabled when I am roaming.
For example my IM client (QIP) does not ask me whether it should connect or not. So it is very easy to have an "accident" with data connection :-(
I'm another Three user in Australia, looking for something like this as well. I often use my phone while on a tram and it might switch from 3G to Roaming while I'm browsing the web. I'd like for it to warn me so I don't download heaps while roaming (I think it's $1.65 per MB or something crazy like that).
Hi, another 3 Australia user here...and yes, I've been waiting on this sort of function for years now.
Part of the problem here is that 3's "roaming" is not actual roaming in the traditional sense. Normally, the phone detects a roaming signal when on a foreign network and displays a roaming indicator (looks like a little triangle) at the top of the screen. You'll find this is the case if you ever take your phone overseas and use International Roaming. Telstra's network does not give you this signal, and hence even the few roaming aware apps we have (e.g. pocket outlook) don't detect when you're on Telstra's network and turn off their automatic schedules.
The best way I could think of to do this automatically is with an app that detects either Telstra's network ID values (the phone detects these and translates them to the text "Roaming" at the top right of today, much as it translates the real value "3Telstra" to plain old "3" - 3 and Telstra share the 2100MHz network in a joint venture, much as Vodafone and Optus share theirs...you will see the real value if ever you use a non-3 rom) or the network connection type and then runs that NoData app (I haven't seen that before...credit to the guy who posted it).
I've often though some sort of even responder app would be useful. Something like Gyrator, except that read network status instead of physical hardware status. Anyone know of anything like this?
Then you could set up something like:
* On detect EDGE/GSM switch off data connections
* On detect HSDPA/3G switch on data connections
OR
* On detect network ID of Telstra's GSM network switch off data
* On detect network ID of 3's/Telstra's 2100MHz 3G network switch on data
Look at phoneAlarm.
caeci11ius said:
Part of the problem here is that 3's "roaming" is not actual roaming in the traditional sense. Normally, the phone detects a roaming signal when on a foreign network and displays a roaming indicator (looks like a little triangle) at the top of the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My HTC TP says 'H' up the top when I'm in 3 coverage and 'E' when I'm roaming. Just near the top it says '3' when I'm in a Three area or 'Roaming' when I'm not...
Don't you have the same phone? What does yours say?
Vanstra said:
Look at phoneAlarm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that perhaps paying 15+ pounds (around AU$40) just to switch off a data connection is a bit steep...any other suggestions around?
grandinferno said:
My HTC TP says 'H' up the top when I'm in 3 coverage and 'E' when I'm roaming. Just near the top it says '3' when I'm in a Three area or 'Roaming' when I'm not...
Don't you have the same phone? What does yours say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My point exactly. You will not see the real roaming indicator in Australia as you never actually roam here. While three call it "roaming" when your phone is on Telstra, the way they have set it up prevents the phone from knowing this is the case so the few roaming aware programs will not be able to adjust for it.
The phone shows G/E when on Telstra as Telstra provide a GSM/EDGE network. It shows 3G/H when on Three's network as Three are providing a 3G/HSDPA network. Hence, you can work out if you're roaming by looking at this even though it's not actually a roaming indicator.
If you look at your home screen though you will see either a "3" in the top right corner of the clock or "Roaming". That's what I was talking about before. It's not a roaming indicator either; it simply shows the network name (with a translation applied from the actual network ID in this case).
thanks caeci11ius, I'm glad you could explain this is better detail then my original statement. I am presuming that this form of roaming and charge to customers is quite rare.
caeci11ius said:
I think that perhaps paying 15+ pounds (around AU$40) just to switch off a data connection is a bit steep...any other suggestions around?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You wanted a program which can automatically switch band when roaming.
This is the only program I know which can do that.
Program to disable Data when E or G is shown on taskbar
caeci11ius said:
My point exactly. You will not see the real roaming indicator in Australia as you never actually roam here. While three call it "roaming" when your phone is on Telstra, the way they have set it up prevents the phone from knowing this is the case so the few roaming aware programs will not be able to adjust for it.
The phone shows G/E when on Telstra as Telstra provide a GSM/EDGE network. It shows 3G/H when on Three's network as Three are providing a 3G/HSDPA network. Hence, you can work out if you're roaming by looking at this even though it's not actually a roaming indicator.
If you look at your home screen though you will see either a "3" in the top right corner of the clock or "Roaming". That's what I was talking about before. It's not a roaming indicator either; it simply shows the network name (with a translation applied from the actual network ID in this case).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is Exactly What I need Also. I have looked everywhere? I Dont believe anyone else has come across this issue before and has written something to fix it.
Need a program to detect when the Phone is in 3 or H area (displayed at top) and disable DATA ONLY when G or E is displayed. My work around at the moment is to select HSDPA only connection but this makes the Voice Calls dropout whenever I cannot recieve Three's Network. Can anyone help. There is many people who would be in this same boat.
Wombat
Introducing WombatPhoneRoam
I just wrote a script to keep you connected to 3G or HSDPA networks only. Tryout
WombatPhoneRoam
I hope it is what your looking for
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3076932&postcount=1
Wombat

MVNO Issue (Virgin/TMob UK using Orange)

Hi Guys,
Basically my provider is Virgin Uk who is an MVNO. They use TMobiles network. TMobile has an agreement with Orange so that we can use their network when the TMob/Virgin signal is not good. Once I am on the Orange network, the network name changes to 'Virgin' from the normal 'virgin'.
Note, in the notification pull down tray where you can see the current network, when I am on my home network ('virgin'), it shows as 'no service'.
Whilst I am on the 'virgin' network (actually the TMob network), I can use data without any changes to the roaming settings. If I swap over onto the 'Virgin' network (actually the Orange network), Android tells me that I am roaming and thus I have lost data. At this stage I have to change the roaming settings to enable data.
In my CM9 rom, I have an option to enable 'National Data Roaming'. Should this option allow me to use data on the 'Virgin' network (actually the Orange network)?
This doesn't appear to be the case and I have to switch on the main 'Data Roaming' option which would then mean when travelling abroad where I am actually roaming, I would get charged for any data usage.
Does anyone have ideas on how to sort this out so I don't have to keep changing my Roaming options?
Thanks

[Q] Disable Roaming "R" icon in status bar.

I am using an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), so I have always had to activate "Data Roaming" in order to be able to establish a connection over the mobile data network.
Usually in my S3 which i was using before, I could see a sign next to the reception gauge which indicated me which mobile data standard my device was using at the moment (H+/E/G), even when I was roaming at these times.
Nowadays on my new Nexus 5 with stock Android 4.4 I am justing being shown the "R" sign next to the gauge, without any indicator for the standard it is using at the moment (LTE/H+/E/G).
Is there a way to disable the roaming indicator ? can anyone tell me or create a xposed module for the same if possible ?
thanks in advance. it is such a small issue but its annoying since i dont get full connection always and want to check whether i am getting 2g or 3g
Are u using Lycamobile?
Which country & network are you in?
My operator is a MVNO in the UK, but don't get the Roaming flag.
That said, when I was living in India if I travelled to a different state it would behave as you're saying - so wonder if it's more related to that than the fact it's an MVNO?
Yes am using Lycamobile and I live in Virginia, USA
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
premsurya said:
I am using an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator), so I have always had to activate "Data Roaming" in order to be able to establish a connection over the mobile data network.
Usually in my S3 which i was using before, I could see a sign next to the reception gauge which indicated me which mobile data standard my device was using at the moment (H+/E/G), even when I was roaming at these times.
Nowadays on my new Nexus 5 with stock Android 4.4 I am justing being shown the "R" sign next to the gauge, without any indicator for the standard it is using at the moment (LTE/H+/E/G).
Is there a way to disable the roaming indicator ? can anyone tell me or create a xposed module for the same if possible ?
thanks in advance. it is such a small issue but its annoying since i dont get full connection always and want to check whether i am getting 2g or 3g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I have the same problem in Spain, also using a VMNO and on stock ROM I also get the R.
When I was using customer made roms (Cyanogenmod or AOSP based) this did not happen as in the settings menu there was an option of setting National Roaming.
I am using another different device than yours (Xperia V), but it is a common problem. If anyone knows a solution, perhaps with an Xposed Module, or whatever it would be very helpful
Thanks
Same problem, I miss the data indicator while roaming
This app helped to solve my problem. It's a network monitor but it also indicates on which data network you're on.
It's called "2G 3G 4G LTE Network Monitor" available in Play Store
I have a similar problem. Not on an MVNO, but I'm using an unlimited Telmex plan in Mexico, which give lets me use my phone and data normally when roaming in Canada and US, so i really don't care to know that on roaming, but i would like to know what sort of data connection i have, if any.

[Q] How to force default network operator

Hello,
My network uses national roaming when there's no coverage. National roaming is free under my contract conditions for voice calls, but it has a limit on data transfers.
Now the phone do not automatically get back to the home network, but I know the areas where my home network has coverage. Under current conditions I have to go to Settings-Mobile Networks-Network operators ... there the phone will search for available networks, which take a lot of time.
Is there any method or app to bypass the searching and force the phone to choose the default network?
Regards,
cosminnn said:
Hello,
My network uses national roaming when there's no coverage. National roaming is free under my contract conditions for voice calls, but it has a limit on data transfers.
Now the phone do not automatically get back to the home network, but I know the areas where my home network has coverage. Under current conditions I have to go to Settings-Mobile Networks-Network operators ... there the phone will search for available networks, which take a lot of time.
Is there any method or app to bypass the searching and force the phone to choose the default network?
Regards,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like too no this please
Anyone
cosminnn said:
Hello,
My network uses national roaming when there's no coverage. National roaming is free under my contract conditions for voice calls, but it has a limit on data transfers.
Now the phone do not automatically get back to the home network, but I know the areas where my home network has coverage. Under current conditions I have to go to Settings-Mobile Networks-Network operators ... there the phone will search for available networks, which take a lot of time.
Is there any method or app to bypass the searching and force the phone to choose the default network?
Regards,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately the phone does what it is supposed to: stick to the network that has the best signal. The roaming network should "kick" the roamer out but that requires communication between Voda and Digi, something which most probably won't happen
PS: usually airplane mode on-off worked for me on my N5 with Digi Mobil.
Anyone any more input on this
Hit Thanks if I Helped
~Codename Android~

Question Force disconnection from mobile network on one SIM

I'd like to force my Pixel 7 to disconnect from any mobile network, without using airplane mode. Do you know a way to achieve this?
Reason for asking this: I will travel abroad and use a secondary SIM to provide me with data, while using my primary SIM with voWiFi (or Backup calling). That'd would keep me reachable on my phone number and allow me to make calls/SMS @home at local rates.
The reason for having my primary SIM disconnected from any mobile network is due to the fact that my primary carrier will charge me for calls/SMS depending on the latest place I got connected to a mobile network. They charge roaming fees even when you're using voWiFi in airplane mode! I have tested this already on a previous trip.
One way would be to select a network manually, or a network that I know it won't connect. However, if I turn on and off airplane mode (to take a flight), the phone will connect to the latest network it connected successfully to.
So my strategy is to connect manually to my home network at home, hoping the phone doesn't magically connect to a network. That's why, I'd like to really make sure that the phone can't connect to any mobile network, just to be sure it won't connect to a network while roaming. But only on the primary SIM. For the other SIM I do want to get connected.
For those wondering, my carrier is T-Mobile NL.
Try messing up the apn details on your sim when abroad. That will prevent connection
The issue is that messing with apn won't prevent the phone to register to a roaming network. That alone will tell my carrier where I am and charge roaming fees accordingly...
@jasalta387 Interesting problem for sure. Can you forward your calls to the secondary (travel) sim and use WhatsApp or Signal to call on wifi? Or leave an auto message giving your foreign number. Any time you connect to the primary network you will be charged, no two ways about it on an Android device. I do believe the iPhone has that capability however. Even if you receive a text on the primary you will trigger a roaming charge. Perhaps the only way to avoid that is turning off the sim entirely while traveling. See if they have an inexpensive international plan?
Indeed, iPhone can easily be disconnected from a cellular network by selecting one that doesn't register. That setting sticks even while cycling through airplane mode or a device reboot. On Pixel this is not the case. Pixel will register again, hence my issue.
I know I could rely on 3rd party apps or services or call forwarding. Problem is that I then need to redirect all people who could reach me to them somehow, while using wifi calling is just fine. Even SMS come and go through it. I just need to not make my carrier aware I'm overseas. Hence my question.
I could use a second device that provides me data and keep my phone all the time in airplane mode. This needs that I carry the two devices all the time with the logistics of charging two phones and all of that. I just want to do it all with my Pixel.
I was thinking one thing: I need to go to the US. Is 3G dead there for good? Because then I could tell my Pixel to use 3G and not allow 2G. That'd keep it away from any accidental network registration upon landing.
jasalta387 said:
Indeed, iPhone can easily be disconnected from a cellular network by selecting one that doesn't register. That setting sticks even while cycling through airplane mode or a device reboot. On Pixel this is not the case. Pixel will register again, hence my issue.
I know I could rely on 3rd party apps or services or call forwarding. Problem is that I then need to redirect all people who could reach me to them somehow, while using wifi calling is just fine. Even SMS come and go through it. I just need to not make my carrier aware I'm overseas. Hence my question.
I could use a second device that provides me data and keep my phone all the time in airplane mode. This needs that I carry the two devices all the time with the logistics of charging two phones and all of that. I just want to do it all with my Pixel.
I was thinking one thing: I need to go to the US. Is 3G dead there for good? Because then I could tell my Pixel to use 3G and not allow 2G. That'd keep it away from any accidental network registration upon landing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm intrigued by this and would love to find a solution for you. Oh yeah, 3G is dead across the US from all reports. So I'm trying to parse this scenario, let's see if I get this right. You want to have phone calls come into your primary phone line (Sim 1) but no network connectivity for data, right so far. Also you want SMS to the primary while roaming. The problem is that even if you don't get a phone call or text the connection to the network alone will trigger a billing instance, right so far again?
My daughter has an iPhone and turns off data on the sim but can get phone calls and text. As soon as she does though there is a daily billing charge of $10 because she's outside the US. I also think she can connect to wifi and make calls and text without a carrier network. But I'm not sure about. But that aside, how would you like it to work? Would you like it to connect to the network but not get charged unless you get a call or SMS? Because once a call comes in you're roaming charges will ensue. In airplane mode and strictly wifi there should be no charges but you say they bill you anyway right? Are you sure you didn't get a text or something to trigger the charge? I hope I'm reading this right.
My carrier bills calls and SMS based on the country of the latest connected cellular network. So if I don't connect to any network while I'm abroad my carrier will think I never left the country.
I don't want neither data nor calls/SMS on my primary SIM using cellular while abroad. I can get all calls and SMS via WiFi calling on that primary SIM. To get WiFi calling when I'm abroad I will use the data connection on my secondary SIM or any WiFi network.
Because of the need to get the secondary SIM on, airplane mode doesn't help me. So I need my primary SIM to never to any cellular network while I'm abroad.
jasalta387 said:
My carrier bills calls and SMS based on the country of the latest connected cellular network. So if I don't connect to any network while I'm abroad my carrier will think I never left the country.
I don't want neither data nor calls/SMS on my primary SIM using cellular while abroad. I can get all calls and SMS via WiFi calling on that primary SIM. To get WiFi calling when I'm abroad I will use the data connection on my secondary SIM or any WiFi network.
Because of the need to get the secondary SIM on, airplane mode doesn't help me. So I need my primary SIM to never to any cellular network while I'm abroad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And if you turn off the sim then even WiFi doesn't work on your primary number?
If the SIM is turned off, then you don't get WiFi calling
Try the 4636 menu
Choose the SIM you want from drop down
3 dot menu top right
Disable data connection
jasalta387 said:
If the SIM is turned off, then you don't get WiFi calling
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible to adjust the order of airplane mode / network /wifi on-off so as to not allow the sim to connect to the network but still allow wifi on the sim? So for instance, disable the sim, turn on airplane mode, turn on the sim and then enable wifi calling while in airplane mode, turn off airplane mode with data turned off on the sim. I can't believe with no data, calls, sms and only wifi the carrier will charge you roaming. That just doesn't seem right.
bobby janow said:
Is it possible to adjust the order of airplane mode / network /wifi on-off so as to not allow the sim to connect to the network but still allow wifi on the sim? So for instance, disable the sim, turn on airplane mode, turn on the sim and then enable wifi calling while in airplane mode, turn off airplane mode with data turned off on the sim. I can't believe with no data, calls, sms and only wifi the carrier will charge you roaming. That just doesn't seem right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@jasalta387
I don't know if you would follow this suggestion...
But in case you are interested in it, this sounds like something you could pull off automatically with something like MacroDroid or Tasker or some other automation app -- even without being rooted! But I concur, it doesn't make sense that a carrier charge roaming when there would be no data, calls, or sms but only wifi....I'm of the opinion (previously stated somewhere in the thread here) that you might've either misread the bill and/or accidentally "caught" a text or transferred a byte of data and it triggered...
Hey there, I know it sounds harsh that a carrier bills this way. It is verified and discussed in a local forum here (in Dutch) https://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_message/74880578#74880578
Of course, here there are a few things at play:
1- the carrier wants to have a clear way of communication and support. If you are abroad, those are the prices you pay for. That's it. You know it for sure. They don't want to have to explain how to turn on VoWIFI and explain how to make that working for every phone, or explain to you that you made a call thinking you were on VoWIFI while you weren't. Their approach is crystal clear.
2- the carrier makes some extra income this way. While travelling in the US: for every SMS sent they charge 0.51 EUR, calls placed 1.27 EUR, calls received 0.76 EUR and 2.50 EUR per MB of data. For data, they sell some passes that makes the price more reasonable. Note that unlimited plans for domestic data/calls here start at 25 EUR per month.
3- In The Netherlands (and for pretty much every country in EU) people rely quite a lot on 3rd party apps for calls and texting, especially when you are abroad. WhatsApp is the go-to service, even for domestic communication. People don't even bother using their home carrier when travelling outside of EU. They just remove (or disable) that SIM. So the high cost of roaming is usually left to business users for which companies pay or make better deals with the carriers.
One thing I didn't mention is that in NL, pretty much all carriers limit VoWIFI to Dutch IP addresses. To use VoWIFI you'd need to use a router that tunnels all IP traffic via a VPN that has an exit point in The Netherlands. That's how I conducted my test and verified that all activity using VoWIFI was billed using the same fares as if I was using a roaming cellular network.
I want to try this using a secondary SIM from a Dutch provider, which will give me the Dutch IP address. Backup Calling on my primary SIM will make that SIM to connect to VoWIFI. But to get my home fares, I really need to make sure that my primary SIM doesn't connect to any network while I'm travelling (hence my original request).

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