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Hey guys.
My co-worker has a G2X has well. He'll be traveling to Spain at the end of this month. Would there be a way to use Wifi calling without incurring charges?
From the T-Mobile Cust. Service rep told us we'd need to have the phone on airplane mode ON & Data Roaming Off. If we have the airplane mode ON the Wifi Calling app doesn't let us turn on Wifi Calling. So what can he do not to get any sort of bill increase while he's over there?
Having airplane mode ON obviously will disable wifi calling since it disables EVERYTHING (radio, bt, wifi, etc.).
Log onto wifi, enable wifi calling, place your call. It works overseas like it does here domestically.
GideonX said:
Having airplane mode ON obviously will disable wifi calling since it disables EVERYTHING (radio, bt, wifi, etc.).
Log onto wifi, enable wifi calling, place your call. It works overseas like it does here domestically.
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Well, if I enable Airplane Mode ON, then I can still go right after and enable Wifi and surf the web with Wifi. It even still shows Airplane Mode as being ON. The thing is that Wifi Calling doesn't like airplane mode on. Err. So What do I need to disable in order not to see any insane charges of the phone roaming onto cell towers, 2G, 3G, 4G, etc?
flexnix said:
Well, if I enable Airplane Mode ON, then I can still go right after and enable Wifi and surf the web with Wifi. It even still shows Airplane Mode as being ON. The thing is that Wifi Calling doesn't like airplane mode on. Err. So What do I need to disable in order not to see any insane charges of the phone roaming onto cell towers, 2G, 3G, 4G, etc?
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Turn data roaming off. I use the wifi calling feature from China quite a bit and to avoid crazy bills make sure data roaming stays off and only use the phone when connected to wifi.
jlevy73 said:
Turn data roaming off. I use the wifi calling feature from China quite a bit and to avoid crazy bills make sure data roaming stays off and only use the phone when connected to wifi.
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Follow this ^^^ and you are golden.
If Data Roaming is turned off, and I go to Canada, will I get an extra charge for incoming text messages?
I used to use Wi-Fi Calling internationally all the time on my G2. In order for it to activate, it has to register on a cell network first. So if you're roaming, you still need to allow the phone to pick up and show connected to the foreign cell network. Then when you activate Wi-Fi calling it disables the cell connection. Make sure you turn Wi-Fi Calling off before disconnecting from Wi-Fi. Otherwise it gets stuck and you won't be able to turn it off and get your cell signal back until you connect to a Wi-Fi signal again.
Some warnings. When first connecting to the foreign carrier's network, make sure the data connections on the phone are disabled. Otherwise the phone will automatically start syncing and T-Mobile's data roaming fees are outlandish. My G2 always disabled the cell signal when Wi-Fi Calling was enabled. I used the G2X once overseas and, because the cell signal indicator still showed active, I wasn't sure that everything I was doing was over Wi-Fi. Have your friend watch for this.
Not entirely true regarding cell network connection.
I've used wifi calling in datacenters with zero cell reception. It registers and enables without needing to connect to anything first.
Very helpful, I'll just disable mobile data all together once I am out of the US!
So data roaming being turned off will solved that. Ok. How about text messages? Will they not come in until he enables Wifi calling or if they come in he'll be charged an insane amount.
flexnix said:
So data roaming being turned off will solved that. Ok. How about text messages? Will they not come in until he enables Wifi calling or if they come in he'll be charged an insane amount.
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If you have a messaging bundle or plan, international messages you receive will be pulled from your bundle. (quote from T-Mobile's website)
So basically, if I have unlimited international texting, and I receive texts while in Canada, I'm good?
Problem is that wifi calling is sensitive to having good wifi signal and it is easy to drop wifi calling without noticing it. And you could be making texts or calls on international roaming rates and not know it.
So, can you turn off cell service some how? Not just data, but voice too? And not airplane mode, because that disables wifi calling. So is there a way to turn off just cell service?
wildcard said:
Problem is that wifi calling is sensitive to having good wifi signal and it is easy to drop wifi calling without noticing it. And you could be making texts or calls on international roaming rates and not know it.
So, can you turn off cell service some how? Not just data, but voice too? And not airplane mode, because that disables wifi calling. So is there a way to turn off just cell service?
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Just completely uncheck roaming and International roaming. Was in the carribean and I never connected to a network.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app
redmonke255 said:
Just completely uncheck roaming and International roaming. Was in the carribean and I never connected to a network.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app
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However, that only works for data roaming? You will still connect to a voice network no matter what. Is there a way to not connect to a roaming voice network?
wildcard said:
However, that only works for data roaming? You will still connect to a voice network no matter what. Is there a way to not connect to a roaming voice network?
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I didn't connect to one. Under network providers, select only yours. Don't let it choose automatically.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app
Is there a way to disable the mobile radio without going into airplane mode?
I'll be traveling to the UK and don't want to use the cell minutes but would like to use WiFi and WiFi calling if possible (right now if airplane mode is enabled WiFi Calling cannot work). I tried searching and one of the suggestions was to use Tasker to do this, however it can't disable the mobile radio on the G2x.
did123 said:
Is there a way to disable the mobile radio without going into airplane mode?
I'll be traveling to the UK and don't want to use the cell minutes but would like to use WiFi and WiFi calling if possible (right now if airplane mode is enabled WiFi Calling cannot work). I tried searching and one of the suggestions was to use Tasker to do this, however it can't disable the mobile radio on the G2x.
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I'm also curious about this. I suppose you could call T-Mobile and remove international roaming from your account, but that solution isn't the best.
Wifi calling disables the radio. And you can set the preferences to just use wifi only in the wifi calling app. But you still use your minutes using wifi calling, I don't know if they will be international or not.
Yes, this seems to do what I want to achieve. My only concern would be if a call (either outgoing or incoming) would still go through the mobile network since the radio is still enabled but I guess I'd need to try it out in order to see if it would work.
Go into the settings of the wifi calling app and you can set it to use wifi only
Thanks.
Yes, I figured out how to do this. My only concern was if somehow the WiFi Calling application crashed and a call made it through the cellular network instead.
I just got a confirmation from T-Mobile that overseas calls are not charged if they are made through WiFi. Below is a log of my chat:
D : If I use WiFi Calling while abroad, how are the calls charged?
_Lindsay T: Hi D , welcome to T-Mobile live Chat. I’m _Lindsay and I will be happy to assist you. Please give me a moment to review your question.
D : OK.
_Lindsay T: Thank you.
_Lindsay T: I can definitely understand how important this is to you.
_Lindsay T: When you are abroad and use wifi calling your calls are deducted from your plan minutes.
_Lindsay T: If you are not properly connected to wifi though, you are subject to roaming charges.
D : This is Ok. I'm more interested if I'm charged per minute roaming rates or not?
_Lindsay T: If you're properly connected to wifi you will not be charged extra, it comes out of your minute plan.
D : So if I'm connected to a WiFi access point and use WiFi calling, then there is no other charge, other than deducting the minutes from the plan minutes?
_Lindsay T: Correct.
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Go to Settings > Wireless & networks > Mobile networks and then uncheck the box that says Data Enabled. You won't have any data over any mobile networks that way, only over wifi when wifi is turned on.
I have had a crazy time both with wifi calling remaining connected (suffered sudden drops), and further SMS over wifi seemed spotty at best.
Part of this was caused by either a bad SIM card, or deletions of stock apps and/or services...which now have been fixed.
At the moment everything is working fine. Don't know if this will affect anyone, but I thought I would just add to the library of knowledge.
First, once I got wifi-calling working (meaning the status bar icon was no longer red), I started to read the log files and realized that every time the wifi was reset, wifi calling would not consistently restart.
What I have realized is that wifi-calling and SMS are dependent on TMOs mobile network via wifi. However, any internet connection is simply that...and any apps you have like FB or Google Voice will work with that wifi internet connection. Conversely,the TMO wifi-calling service/app either connects on a different layer (such as the IP layer) or uses some unusual node-based connection to traverse the 802.11 frequency, over your ISP's and other networks to arrive at the TMO servers which then are linked into the mobile network. You can see this by downloading an app that triangulates and provides tower locations nearby or gives you other mobile network data (i.e., CID, etc)... That data is either not decipherable by the app trying to get this data, or one gets unusual info when compared to non-wifi calling. Bottom line is that there are two separate signals being carried by the wifi: "data" and "mobile wifi calling" and they are completely different.
Another example of proof: if you are having difficulty with SMS using your wifi internet connection, try sending the SMS via Google Voice. If you have an internet connection, it will go through immediately. But regular SMS has problems if wifi-calling is not working correctly.
And one of the biggest culprits of this is wifi fixer or other similar wifi connection apps. Although it's only a guess, the "scan" these apps do are likely a simple ping to determine status of the DATA connection.
I shut off wifi fixer (but left it as a widget to use as needed), and I have perfect wifi calling and SMS.
Whatever criteria wifi fixer apps use when deciding to reset or reassociate the wifi connection is not reflective of the integrity of your connection using wifi calling. In fact wifi calling may partially interfere with your data connection which will typically trigger a reset by wifi fixer.
From now on, if I am planning on simply surfing the web and my wifi signal is less than optimum, I will turn on wifi fixer. Otherwise it just tears down wifi calling connection.
Hope this is of use.
Syntropic
Sent from my HTC One-S (rooted), stock ROM
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have an issue where over time Wifi calling disconnects even though wifi is still working. I have to re-toggle wifi to get Wifi calling back. It's very annoying.
Talk to NRGZ28... I think Energy ROM had a fix for that I'm the Amaze 4G Energy ROM
Sent from my HTC VLE_U using xda premium
syntropic said:
I have had a crazy time both with wifi calling remaining connected (suffered sudden drops), and further SMS over wifi seemed spotty at best.
Part of this was caused by either a bad SIM card, or deletions of stock apps and/or services...which now have been fixed.
Sent from my HTC One-S (rooted), stock ROM
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Although there have been occasional exceptions, it's unusual for a wifi call on my H1s to last longer than about a minute before dropping off/disconnecting. When this happens, the call time counter changes back to say "Dialing." Of course, there is no dialing, just dead silence. There are no other signs of a problem, no error messages, no indicator icons, etc. On the same wifi network I can make long uninterrupted calls with our older MyTouch 4G - no issues at all with wifi calling.
I'm running unrooted, locked, stock ROM (for now). I don't think I've removed any apps and I think the only wifi-related app I've used is Wifi Analyzer. Could you offer suggests on how to debug this? The firmware update didn't give any improvements. Should I ask Tmo to provide a new SIM card?
Thanks -
esnittle said:
Although there have been occasional exceptions, it's unusual for a wifi call on my H1s to last longer than about a minute before dropping off/disconnecting. When this happens, the call time counter changes back to say "Dialing." Of course, there is no dialing, just dead silence. There are no other signs of a problem, no error messages, no indicator icons, etc. On the same wifi network I can make long uninterrupted calls with our older MyTouch 4G - no issues at all with wifi calling.
I'm running unrooted, locked, stock ROM (for now). I don't think I've removed any apps and I think the only wifi-related app I've used is Wifi Analyzer. Could you offer suggests on how to debug this? The firmware update didn't give any improvements. Should I ask Tmo to provide a new SIM card?
Thanks -
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Well the first thing I would suggest is a factory reset. This being the most simple option given your phone is not rooted and on stock. The strange part of this is the "Dialing" instead of the normal keypad (which typically reverts when a call is disconnected).
As far as a SIM card, do you ever get any SIM card errors? Like "ER05" or "REV99"?
These are typically the errors of faulty cards or a bad wifi signal. Check out an app called Network Signal Info....it will tell you the strength of the wifi signal compared to the mobile network (although its not always reliable).
Let me know what a factory reset does. All of your apps will be restored by google (and their are apps to modify this restore as well).
Sent from my HTC One-S (rooted), stock ROM
syntropic said:
Well the first thing I would suggest is a factory reset. This being the most simple option given your phone is not rooted and on stock. The strange part of this is the "Dialing" instead of the normal keypad (which typically reverts when a call is disconnected).
As far as a SIM card, do you ever get any SIM card errors? Like "ER05" or "REV99"?
These are typically the errors of faulty cards or a bad wifi signal. Check out an app called Network Signal Info....it will tell you the strength of the wifi signal compared to the mobile network (although its not always reliable).
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Didn't reset yet, want to test a little more.
I've never gotten a SIM card error. The unexpected "Dialing" with the End Call button still showing is the only indication something is off.
Tonight I ran a few tests calling between our 2 Android phones in the same room, same wifi. 3 calls 1S to MT4G: 2 were perfect and lasted several minutes, while the middle call disconnected after less than a minute. 3 calls MT4G to 1S: all 3 went directly to voicemail, the 1S didn't even ring. Now I recall that's been a complaint before - that calls to me go straight to voicemail when I've been on wifi calling.
esnittle said:
Didn't reset yet, want to test a little more.
I've never gotten a SIM card error. The unexpected "Dialing" with the End Call button still showing is the only indication something is off.
Tonight I ran a few tests calling between our 2 Android phones in the same room, same wifi. 3 calls 1S to MT4G: 2 were perfect and lasted several minutes, while the middle call disconnected after less than a minute. 3 calls MT4G to 1S: all 3 went directly to voicemail, the 1S didn't even ring. Now I recall that's been a complaint before - that calls to me go straight to voicemail when I've been on wifi calling.
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Are you sure wifi-calling is on? Do you have the blue icon in the status bar?
Sometimes this isn't on, even though wifi is on and you are making a call.. Not sure if that is intentional or not.
Just in case... The switch is in settings> more (under wireless and network buttons)
Sent from my HTC One-S (rooted), stock ROM
syntropic said:
Are you sure wifi-calling is on? Do you have the blue icon in the status bar?
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Yep, it's on.
Just to be clear, the H1S has received calls when wifi calling is on, it's just sometimes that they go directly to vm. For example, as I'm typing the phone just received a wifi call and is handling it fine, hasn't dropped after 3 minutes.
NO CONSISTENCY, BUT USUALLY DOESN'T WORK.
A factory reset did not fix the problem.
So, whenever I made a call on my N5, the Wifi gets turned off and it switches into 3G/HSPA+ mode (no LTE). When I end the call, it will connect to LTE and then enable Wireless again and connect like normal. This is on T-Mobile if that means anything.
Is this suppose to happen? Is there a way to prevent it from disabling Wifi during a call?
EDIT: The issue was with Tasker, since I use Cell Towers to tigger Wifi, and I guess calls uses different towers.
Anything? Even when receiving a call, before the call actually "comes through" the Wifi will be turned off; THEN the call comes through.
I just tried calling my ATT phone in a good LTE area with good WIFI. It did not drop wifi. I'm stock non-rooted 4.4.2.
There is a setting in the wifi page which prevents the phone from connecting to poor wifi. Is it possible that you're in a borderline poor wifi area and when a call is received your wifi drops just below that threshold and phone then falls back on 3G/LTE ? I noticed my phone at home when I go far from my AP I get 1 bar on the wifi but the phone says it is connected. But then wehn I try to access a web page, the phone would drop wifi and connect to 3G. I don't have LTE at home so I can't say if it would've connected to LTE straight away after wifi drop off
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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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@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).