Hi.
I get wifi calling working fine on my phone, but it just disappears and stops working after a few hours. Rebooting makes it work again.
Anyone else have this problem?
trainfire said:
Hi.
I get wifi calling working fine on my phone, but it just disappears and stops working after a few hours. Rebooting makes it work again.
Anyone else have this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure it's failing and what do you mean 'stops working'?
Do you try to place a call and it fails because WiFi calling is broken?
Or are you just watching the carrier name change off of WiFi calling? Because your phone will move off of WiFi calling if the signal strength is low enough and the strength of the cellular signal is higher.
The preference switch just dictates which to favor first over the other, it doesn't lock you to WiFi calling only.
Try walking closer to an access point and checking if WiFi calling comes back, that's what it does for me I move from outside with a weak WiFi signal to inside with a strong signal.
If that's the case then you'll need more access points in your house.
Namelesswonder said:
Are you sure it's failing and what do you mean 'stops working'?
Do you try to place a call and it fails because WiFi calling is broken?
Or are you just watching the carrier name change off of WiFi calling? Because your phone will move off of WiFi calling if the signal strength is low enough and the strength of the cellular signal is higher.
The preference switch just dictates which to favor first over the other, it doesn't lock you to WiFi calling only.
Try walking closer to an access point and checking if WiFi calling comes back, that's what it does for me I move from outside with a weak WiFi signal to inside with a strong signal.
If that's the case then you'll need more access points in your house.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where I am right now there is no cellular (offshore). I can also recreate the problem if I turn flight mode on and off. After I do that I can't do wifi call (the icon/text is gone and calls and texts are not working anymore). Kinda weird behavior tbh. It might be the wifi, but it was stable on my last phone. I can wait till I get home and try that wifi, but it's only here at work I need it
trainfire said:
Where I am right now there is no cellular (offshore). I can also recreate the problem if I turn flight mode on and off. After I do that I can't do wifi call (the icon/text is gone and calls and texts are not working anymore). Kinda weird behavior tbh. It might be the wifi, but it was stable on my last phone. I can wait till I get home and try that wifi, but it's only here at work I need it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try disabling MAC address randomization for the access point you are on, it defaults to enabled. It can cause issues if the DHCP lease time is low and your phone gets on and off the network, making it show up as a new device each time.
If it still is having issues then it might just be the network, a grocery store near me has filters and when you get on their guest WiFi you can place a call for a couple seconds before it kills the connection.
Namelesswonder said:
Try disabling MAC address randomization for the access point you are on, it defaults to enabled. It can cause issues if the DHCP lease time is low and your phone gets on and off the network, making it show up as a new device each time.
If it still is having issues then it might just be the network, a grocery store near me has filters and when you get on their guest WiFi you can place a call for a couple seconds before it kills the connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll give that a go. Thanks
Namelesswonder said:
Try disabling MAC address randomization for the access point you are on, it defaults to enabled. It can cause issues if the DHCP lease time is low and your phone gets on and off the network, making it show up as a new device each time.
If it still is having issues then it might just be the network, a grocery store near me has filters and when you get on their guest WiFi you can place a call for a couple seconds before it kills the connection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disabling the MAC address randomization did the trick. Been on and stable since I turned it off. Thanks again
A new problem have emerged in this same topic.
Using the same phone, same sim, same wifi, same settings (disabled mac address randomization) the wifi calling won't activate at all now. Any idea what I can do to trouble shoot? Wifi calling is turned on and set to preffered.
Related
So...I am at an office today that I have zero cell coverage since I am in the basement sitting in a network closet. I enabled WiFi calling and I am able to place and receive calls. However, when the screen goes off and the phone locks I do not get any inbound calls. When I call from a land line the call just rings and rings and rings and never gets VM and my cell phone does not ring.
Has anyone else played around with WiFi calling and seen this behavior? I am assuming that WiFi goes into some type of power save mode and disables the WiFi radio when the phone locks.
-CMYLXGO
cmylxgo said:
I am assuming that WiFi goes into some type of power save mode and disables the WiFi radio when the phone locks.
-CMYLXGO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds right. I don't have my Sensation yet, and have never had an HTC (gotta switch from my Vibrant this week due to GPS issues), but it looks like this may solve your problem.
Menu > Settings > Wireless and Networks > Wi-Fi Settings
On the Wifi Settings screen, press the Menu button and choose Advanced.
howetechnical said:
Sounds right. I don't have my Sensation yet, and have never had an HTC (gotta switch from my Vibrant this week due to GPS issues), but it looks like this may solve your problem.
Menu > Settings > Wireless and Networks > Wi-Fi Settings
On the Wifi Settings screen, press the Menu button and choose Advanced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yah...I already tried that. I checked Best Wi-Fi performance and adjusted my Sleep policy to never. Still no dice. I have even noticed that it doesn't always ring right away when unlocked. This is a very poor performing app IMO. It seems to work well if you need to make a call...but inbound is unreliable.
-CMY
cmylxgo said:
Yah...I already tried that. I checked Best Wi-Fi performance and adjusted my Sleep policy to never. Still no dice. I have even noticed that it doesn't always ring right away when unlocked. This is a very poor performing app IMO. It seems to work well if you need to make a call...but inbound is unreliable.
-CMY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
older issue but may help
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/T-Mob...o-Incoming-Calls-while-in-Standby/td-p/835771
userguide incase you don't have it
page 46 of User Manual
Changing Wi-Fi Calling settings
1. On the Wi-Fi Calling screen, press and tap Settings > Connection
preferences.
2. Select a connection option, and then tap OK.
[Wi-Fi Preferred] When you make calls, the Wi-Fi network is preferred over the
cellular network. You must stay in the Wi-Fi range when
calling.
[Cellular Preferred]
When you make calls, the cellular network is preferred over
the Wi-Fi network.
[Wi-Fi Only] HTC Sensation 4G will always use the Wi-Fi network when
you make a call. You must stay in the Wi-Fi range when
calling.
http://pocketpccentral.net/pdfs/HTC_Sensation_4G_UG.pdf
I see you have one thing to do on your list when you unlock your phone LOL
I use WiFi calling at home and I have WiFi set at the default setting, not Best WiFi. I also have WiFi preferred set on my phone. My phone has been sitting for > 1hr with the screen locked/dark and it rang when I called it from my home line. Doesn't seem to be an issue here at all with it not ringing.
carl1961 said:
older issue but may help
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/T-Mob...o-Incoming-Calls-while-in-Standby/td-p/835771
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems to be the same issue I had. I'll try and do some testing on my home network tonight.
-CMY
If you use any app like juice defender to control your WiFi make sure it will not disconnect you while your screen is off. May not be your issue but it was mine untill I changed settings. I make and recieve calls just fine now and no missed calls.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
One interesting thing I just noticed...I can send and receive SMS while using WiFi Calling
-CMYLXGO
cmylxgo said:
One interesting thing I just noticed...I can send and receive SMS while using WiFi Calling
-CMYLXGO
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wifi calling shuts off your phone radio & routes everything over wifi
xnifex said:
wifi calling shuts off your phone radio & routes everything over wifi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still see my phone connect or at least check the connection over the network not using WiFi though. My WiFi signal is strong and I'll see the 2G signal pop up for a second and then go dormant again. So something is definitely checking but yeah pretty much everything goes out over your WiFi connection but the radios do turn on from time to time from what I can see.
Seems to be working on my home network fine CMY ..
Can receive and make calls ok ..
I have mine set to ..
1. WIFI Sleep - Never ( However I changed it to 15 minutes then back )
2. Best WIFI Performance
I did notice you have to press the menu key and pick SAVE
to save the settings ..
Seems to work at my other office today. I have it set to WiFi Perfered. The only differnce here is that I actully get GSM signal in most of the building. Anyways...I'll do more testing when time permits and report back my findings. Thanks for all those that chimed in.
Now just need to get GPS to lock in a resonable time frame.
-CMY
carl1961 said:
older issue but may help
http://forums.t-mobile.com/t5/T-Mob...o-Incoming-Calls-while-in-Standby/td-p/835771
userguide incase you don't have it
page 46 of User Manual
Changing Wi-Fi Calling settings
1. On the Wi-Fi Calling screen, press and tap Settings > Connection
preferences.
2. Select a connection option, and then tap OK.
[Wi-Fi Preferred] When you make calls, the Wi-Fi network is preferred over the
cellular network. You must stay in the Wi-Fi range when
calling.
[Cellular Preferred]
When you make calls, the cellular network is preferred over
the Wi-Fi network.
[Wi-Fi Only] HTC Sensation 4G will always use the Wi-Fi network when
you make a call. You must stay in the Wi-Fi range when
calling.
http://pocketpccentral.net/pdfs/HTC_Sensation_4G_UG.pdf
I see you have one thing to do on your list when you unlock your phone LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
still helping out and dont have the sensation?! ur the man CARL like seeing the familiar faces from the old thread....CMY/CARL/WARLOCK
cmylxgo said:
Seems to work at my other office today. I have it set to WiFi Perfered. The only differnce here is that I actully get GSM signal in most of the building. Anyways...I'll do more testing when time permits and report back my findings. Thanks for all those that chimed in.
Now just need to get GPS to lock in a resonable time frame.
-CMY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cmy,
Have you had any luck solving the wifi calling or GPS lock? My Sensation takes forever to get a GPS lock (if at all sometimes) - way slower than a friend's G2. I've had luck setting the wifi calling to cellular preferred. That seems to have helped me, based on what testing I can do. In your case you need wifi preferred and I'd like to be able to use that option too. Is it possible your office (and mine) is blocking something on the wifi network that is preventing it? At home, I haven't heard of anybody calling me and it not ringing - just at work.
yyzfan
Wifi calling = FAIL unless with google/voice.
Tell your provider to suck less and reinvest.
Wifi calling is working great for me...I have no reception at my house wifi calling has been a savior. I use the same settings that warlock mentioned earlier
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA Premium App
Thanks. I'm going to write it off as my office blocking a port that wifi calling needs, or something like that. I have mine set to prefer cellular and that seems to make it function at work. At home, where I live in a T-mobile deadzone, it seems to switch over to wifi properly.
This just started happening within the last week.
My phone is rooted.
It seems that when I have WiFi turned on I have a complete loss of 4G/3G/2G/G RF. If I turn WiFi off, then the phone signal comes back. This wouldn't bother me that much if I could send texts over WiFi with no normal phone signal, but everytime I try to send a text over WiFi it fails to send. Anyone else experience this issue?
Thanks
With wifi calling it purposefully turns off your mobile data so it doesn't use any of your minutes/data. You can go into wifi calling and select preferences and turn it to cellular connection preferred - that way your phone will still use your signal whenever it can, but keep in mind you'll use a lot more data and your battery won't last as long. I do have texts fail from time to time on wifi calling but it hasn't been too bad recently. If you don't have a good wifi signal then just turn off wifi calling.
Thanks for the info!
So why would the texts keep failing? I will even try to keep re-sending the text and still they will fail. Is there a specific port on the router that needs to be open for better optimization?
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 -
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 have a google Pixel on Android 7.1.2 on Verizon. I've had wifi calling activated the whole time that I've had the Pixel, on various cell providers, until yesterday. Decided to root my phone to be able to use "Radio Control", an app that will put the phone into Airplane mode when connected to wifi. Did that yesterday, and since then I've not been able to activate wifi calling. My phone is stock other than being rooted...I tried the Radio Control app, and it worked as it should. I've just removed it again, until I can get wifi calling activated. Oh, by the way, rooted by unlocking the bootloader, putting TWRP recovery on the phone, and then installing SuperSu via TWRP.
I've tried:
-Flushing app caches in "Storage", and flushing the phone app cache.
-Having "My Verizon" app on the phone.
-Resetting network settings.
-Activating with and without being in Airplane mode, always with wifi connected, though.
-Removing and restoring "Advanced Calling" setting.
The only thing I haven't tried is that one with the live chicken, a pentagram, and incense. That's my next thing to try.
Any suggestions? I'm really amazed that I can't activate wifi, since Verizon suggests this to stabilize wifi calling for their customers. I guess that they've never actually tried it themselves. Does anyone have wifi calling activated on a rooted Pixel? Do you remember doing anything in particular to get wifi activated, other than trying repeatedly to turn it on in the phone's settings?
By the way, the reason that wifi calling doesn't seem to work well on Verizon isn't wifi calling functionality, wifi calling itself works fine. It's because Verizon only allows the setting "Cellular preferred" for wifi calling. You cannot set "Wifi preferred" for wifi calling. This means that the cell radio is busy nearly all the time in a low cell signal area (like my house), working to make the cell signal usable. I noticed that there was much less battery drain while I was testing "Radio Control" since the phone was in Airplane mode, but I didn't have wifi calling activated at that point. Wifi was connected (of course), but wifi calling was not activated.
I hope that this is all clear, and that someone out there might remember something helpful for me. Or at least be able to tell me that wifi calling can or can't be activated on a rooted phone. If I can't root and get wifi calling activated, I'm going to sell the Pixel, as it doesn't meet my needs. I also have an iPhone that works perfectly with wifi calling on Verizon, but I'd much rather be using the Pixel.
Thanks!
I'm on Verizon and had that happen and found it was because of the theme i was using. Just had to reapply the theme to settings and all fixed. Also, I just checked the settings and you can set it to WiFi preferred.
Droid1019 said:
I'm on Verizon and had that happen and found it was because of the theme i was using. Just had to reapply the theme to settings and all fixed. Also, I just checked the settings and you can set it to WiFi preferred.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good, just a couple of questions. First, which theme? Where do you access the particular theme in settings that you're referring to? The only theme that I've changed from default is the keyboard theme.
The other question is how can you change the wifi calling setting to WiFi preferred? Do you click on the wifi calling setting that has "Cellular preferred", and a menu comes up that includes "WiFi preferred"? I don't get that menu when I click on that setting, all I get is a setting for "roaming", and for 911 address, nothing else.
Also, which Android build are you on? I'm on Android 7.1.2, build NHG47K. Are you on that build? Or maybe N2G47E? I was wondering about that.
I'm on the 7.1.2 K build with a downloaded theme-not in settings. I think you have to set up the emergency address for wifi calling to work. And yes it's roaming preferences where you can change to WiFi preferred.
Just did a factory reset to try removing root and then activating wifi calling unrooted. Then add root again and see if wifi calling sticks or goes away....
So I'm currently unrooted and am not able to activate wifi calling. Sounds like time for a call to Verizon...Should be able to activate wifi calling with stock ROM. Have done this one before *smile*.
Things are not going well...looks like the Pixel may be heading out the door, too much time spent for no results.
RogerSC said:
Just did a factory reset to try removing root and then activating wifi calling unrooted. Then add root again and see if wifi calling sticks or goes away....
So I'm currently unrooted and am not able to activate wifi calling. Sounds like time for a call to Verizon...Should be able to activate wifi calling with stock ROM. Have done this one before *smile*.
Things are not going well...looks like the Pixel may be heading out the door, too much time spent for no results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you update emergency address? That's has to be set up for wifi calling to work. https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/knowledge-base-208085/
Any other tips to get wifi calling enable? Whenever I click enable, it just goes to a generic error message and then nothing. So I can't even get to the screen to enter an emergency address. I have a ticket open with Verizon, but since I have an unlocked bootloader, I don't want to do a warranty exchange.
The rest of the story, used iPhone 6S Plus for a couple of months so that I could use wifi calling at home, and sold the Pixel. I did get very tired of the iPhone, even though wifi calling works perfectly on the iPhone on Verizon. So I got the new Verizon 4G/LTE Network Extender so I wouldn't need wifi calling here at home. That's allowed me to get another Pixel phone and use it at home without relying on wifi calling, now have 4/5 bars of cellular signal strength throughout my house. The Network Extender is a really nice piece of hardware, a great upgrade for the old 3G model that had no way to tell what was going on. The new 4G/LTE model has a web admin GUI page that has all kinds of useful status information on it. As well as a one-line display that shows each step in the startup sequence as it comes up.
The new Pixel works just as the old one with wifi calling on Verizon. "Cellular preferred" is the only setting available for wifi calling. Which means that if there's a low cell signal it will generally be used in preference to a strong wifi signal. Don't know why Verizon insists on this setting, I guess that they really don't want to support reliable wifi calling on the Pixel. I've thought about rooting my phone again to see if can get wifi calling working reliably, but now that the Pixel is able to use wifi calling and I don't need wifi calling at home, I'm inclined to leave it alone. In other words, getting wifi calling working perfectly isn't a good enough reason for me to root my phone *smile*. I can root it in the future if I have a good enough reason.
So the bottom line is that I'm pretty happy with the Pixel now, works as I need it to...just tried the Android O Beta, and liked what I saw there. Really glad that I'm back on Android.
Update: found an article here about how to change calling setting to "Wi-Fi preferred" for Pixel on Verizon...tried it and worked for me:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/verizon-want-wifi-preferred-wifi-calling-t3622700