[deleted]
Network handover in Google Fi
31–40 of 54 posts
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#32Interesting; "Data does not handover between networks" seems to contradict other reports I've seen that the data connection seamlessly hands off.
He's testing with manual switch codes :)
Expecting the manual switch codes to work exactly the same way as the software is .... strange.
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#33Interesting; "Data does not handover between networks" seems to contradict other reports I've seen that the data connection seamlessly hands off.
He's testing with manual switch codes :) Expecting the manual switch codes to work exactly the same way as the software is .... strange.
Technically UNDOCUMENTED manual switch codes! ;)
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#34Very interesting. This contradicts how Google advertises the service though. They say the transition is seamless. Unless they are playing fast and loose with the definition of seamless, this does not seem to qualify. According to their website it is expecting signals to slowly get worse and have time to start transitioning before it drops out. A sudden loss of wifi for whatever reason probably confuses it. I would ex…
Driving between dead zones of opposite carriers is surprisingly difficult to do - would have been a great test, though! I did test walking down the street away from Wi-Fi - the transition is much smoother, but I was only able to get it down to about 2 seconds or so. And that was when I turned around and ran back toward Wi-Fi when it started to switch, so that the call remained good on Wi-Fi until it actually cut over…
Yeah, finding the right dead zones would be pretty hard. Especially if you are somewhere with relatively good signal. Would be a very interested in the results.
Disappointed with that 2 seconds though. I was really hoping for smoother. Though I guess that is why they are still invite only. They are still working on the technology. I was leaning towards getting Fi when the new Nexus comes out, but this makes me think it might not be ready yet.
Thanks for all the info.
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#35"but that doesn’t change the fact that Google has produced a service that works, is easy to use, switches quickly between networks,"
I've had what can only be described as a hellish experience with Google's Fi service since I got it. My bugs include but are not limited to:
- SIM cards randomly not being associate with both networks, the fix for which is clearing the Fi app data, restarting the phone, and then re-running the app. With wifi, which is tricky when your car breaks down on highway 1.
- Interment and VERY poor data performance, but no interruption in voice service.
- Data service working fine, but all incoming and outgoing calls failing.
In the support category, Project Fi has also been a nightmare. None of the support staff know what to do when you encounter a problem. They don't know why my account (or my friend's account) are broken. They've suggested (just to me) and had me do the following things:
- Reboot the phone.
- Reseat the sim card while the phone is on.
- Factory reset the phone
- Factory reset the phone again without the sim card in.
- Buy a new SIM card. They gave me free shipping, at least?
- Flash the phone to a version of Shamu that is not compatible with other carriers.
- Remove all other user accounts from the phone.
I've been repeatedly asking to cancel my service and get my number ported back to google voice, and I've actually had service reps ignore me claiming they want to explain "[their] side of the story." I have a chat transcript explaining that.
And of course, let's not forget the weird callback system bugs. Like last night 4 hours after I scheduled a call they called me 2 times at 1am, and when I asked them not to call me I was told, "If you don't want us calling then don't schedule a service call!" When I said I didn't, they said, "Well that's odd because I see it right here" then hung up on me.
I still have not successfully cancelled my Fi service. The web form version 500s.
I do not think it is very easy to use, or ready. It seems pretty terrible to me.
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#36When Fi was announced they mentioned that public wifi traffic would go through a VPN to google's datacenters. At the time I assumed that they'd just run ALL traffic through the VPN, since that'd make for some very seamless switching. As bad as that would be from a privacy perspective, I trust Google more than T-Mobile or Sprint. By running everything through the VPN, you'd be able to have TCP connections that didn't…
It should be noted that the VPN only turns on when it automatically connects to pre-approved APs. Google didn't disclose to me what those APs are.
It's not pre-approved APs as far as I'm aware, it's any public AP that has no password or landing page, and isn't manually set by you. If you have wifi assistant enabled, it will automatically try to connect to anything that's open from what I've seen.
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
It should be noted that the VPN only turns on when it automatically connects to pre-approved APs. Google didn't disclose to me what those APs are.
It's not pre-approved APs as far as I'm aware, it's any public AP that has no password or landing page, and isn't manually set by you. If you have wifi assistant enabled, it will automatically try to connect to anything that's open from what I've seen.
That's not what Google Fi support told me:
> Thank you for contacting Project Fi Support! My name is Sydney and I will be glad to assist with your issue regarding WiFi services today. First, your phone should connect automatically to open WiFi networks. They have to be Google verified networks to automatically connect. Here is an article regarding our feature known as WiFi assistant and how it works.
And I did try connecting to an open wifi - no VPN automatically activated (but that isn't the only thing that doesn't work...).
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#38"but that doesn’t change the fact that Google has produced a service that works, is easy to use, switches quickly between networks," I've had what can only be described as a hellish experience with Google's Fi service since I got it. My bugs include but are not limited to: - SIM cards randomly not being associate with both networks, the fix for which is clearing the Fi app data, restarting the phone, and then re-runn…
This does not match my experience. I've had Fi for a few months now and I have 0 complaints. I'm in NYC and switched from AT&T, but even when visiting New Hampshire I haven't been affected by dropped calls or bad service.
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#39"but that doesn’t change the fact that Google has produced a service that works, is easy to use, switches quickly between networks," I've had what can only be described as a hellish experience with Google's Fi service since I got it. My bugs include but are not limited to: - SIM cards randomly not being associate with both networks, the fix for which is clearing the Fi app data, restarting the phone, and then re-runn…
I had a similar experience, getting my GV back was a nightmare.
Re: Network handover in Google Fi
#40When Fi was announced they mentioned that public wifi traffic would go through a VPN to google's datacenters. At the time I assumed that they'd just run ALL traffic through the VPN, since that'd make for some very seamless switching. As bad as that would be from a privacy perspective, I trust Google more than T-Mobile or Sprint. By running everything through the VPN, you'd be able to have TCP connections that didn't…
> Also with a VPN you'd be able to send voice traffic over both a carrier connection and the wifi connection at the same time to avoid dropouts. Does this double the bandwidth you're using when MPTCP is in effect?
It would obviously send the data out twice; but once would be over the cell network and the other time over WiFi. Doing so would also help with the far more common CellWiFi transition cases. However as the phone still only has once Cell radio set it would not help with transition between communication bands or carriers.
Since the accounting that actually matters (to Google) is at the data center and based on the way that peering agreements work, I suspect Google would actually find /incoming/ data to be either unimportant or even a benefit to their overall cost operations based on bringing their usage closer to equal. The consumer would only normally care about the cell min used; unless their local ISPs have zero competition (see 90%+ of America).