Pixel 3xl drops calls after half hour

[Jengoddard]

My pixel 3xl drops every call (made or received) after exactly 29 minutes and 50 seconds. I don't know if this is related to phone settings, network or what so wondered if anyone had had similar issues or knew of a fix. It's a real pain in the backside as currently working from home and means I get cut off in every conference call!

[KayleighH]

It's absolutely absurd! 

I'm getting it all from the social media team now about it being handset specific. Have tried to give examples that it's not just my phone that is experiencing this but multiple brands and models. 

Although as we now have 3 Xiaomi phones that have the issue, perhaps it is something with the model (as you mentioned ours are basically the same just with different branding)

Have you had any contact with Xiaomi directly? 

[Stevenjfaulkner]

I had a Xperia xz2 that kept dropping, I now have an Xperia 5, no problems , same SIM and contract. 

[mdc1983uk]

@KayleighH  Only contact I had with Xiaomi was where they vehemently denied doing or being aware of any updates that would have broken VoLTE calling.  They told me the original out of box firmware version and where to look to find the tools needed to downgrade it and prove it wasn't their fault.  And it looks like they have been nothing more than honest and way more helpful than they needed to be.

Honestly how Vodafone can expect all these manufacturers to produce a patch update to fix something they themselves broke is beyond me? Thing is now even if they do manage to swindle the manus to actually produce some fix what's the betting they will make sure it only goes out to those handsets which were running the Voda software?? I'll be OK because i've copied the update and am able to flash that to my other phone - but that is way beyond the technical ability of most people.  Fact is it worked on CPW handset now doesn't and still doesn't work with their own version which is 3 months behind with normal security updates so it should be rolled to everyone.

[KayleighH]

Yes it would appear the person I am speaking to on social media is also adamant it is a handset problem not a network issue.

Sorry I can't remember if you have said this, but have you tried an alternative network provider on the CPW handset? 

[mdc1983uk]

@Stevenjfaulkner  It's nice that you got it sorted honestly it is but myself i'm stuck 4 months into a 24 month contract and a good part of my bill is based on having this more expensive phone rather than taking a cheaper one and paying less. So 1 if I get another phone it will be at my expense and i'll still be paying monthly for the dodgy one. 2 I'm at that point in the contract where I can really only get it sent off for repair - and as everyone has established it isn't actually faulty.  So it will come back as no fault found and I may either get charged or potentially it comes back with a fault from them taking it apart.  Had a Sony myself years ago that was waterproof, like you could literally wash it clean! It went back for repair, got splashed and put a mark halfway down the screen and one of the speakers packed in 😂

[mdc1983uk]

@KayleighH  Yep at various times i've had my friends Voda SIM in the 2nd SIM slot (without the 30min problem) and I usually run a EE one in their anyway just cos why not have a 2nd SIM in a dual SIM phone.  I've even swapped them around and tried running solo SIM but no change. Only actual difference is the EE one comes up with a VoLTE icon all the time next to the clock but the Voda one only comes up with VoWifi if I do the airplane mode trick. The same thing happens on the Huawei phone though so Voda probably just hid the icon so when they turn 4G calling off on people accounts they don't notice anything!

Interesting to note the Voda handset comes with a sticker on the box over the 2nd IMEI number, I actually thought it might not be dual SIM but it is.  And upon checking the 4G calling site both of those IMEI's come up as non-compatible 🤔

[KayleighH]

It's just so strange. How can it be not compatible. We know they are compatible for at least 29 mins and 50 seconds on 4g.

I must say, I am not able to make a Vowifi call. If I try putting my phone on aeroplane mode and turn WiFi back on, I am not able to make a call.

I have done the *#*#869434#*#* code to disable the carrier check but this does not appear to do anything at all and gives me no additional options. Where as when I did the disable carrier check for the 4g calling this did produce a toggle button in the settings. 

I am now contemplating leaving Voxi for another network but I am worried that 4g may not work on these either. Especially as the firmware will not be network specific as it was bought directly from the Poco website in the UK. 

[Lord_Snooty]

Afternoon all

Thought I would wait a few days and put some mileage on my phone before reporting back to ensure its repeatability

As mentioned earlier (August 7th  post) since the July Android update, my phone (Oppo Find X5) now can make phone calls and not get cut off at 29m50s

I made 11 calls and reported as such

@mdc1983uk  asked it if I had turned Wi-Fi off  -thought I had but wanted to be sure so have been running/logging calls again

I’ve since made 8 calls to

• Landline
• 3
• Vodafone
• Giff gaff
• EE
• Tesco

All have sailed past 29m50s

I double checked in each case it was showing 4g as the signal -it was

Wi-Fi definitely off

To reiterate , I have simply downloaded the Oppo July update

I’ve turned nothing off or done anything else to the phone

Pre this every call cut-out at 29m50s

I hope some of the other Oppo users can report their finding since the July update

[KayleighH]

Good news for you @Lord_Snooty and hopefully some other Oppo users will be able to resolve their issues with an update!

Now if only Xiaomi and Poco phones could follow suit! 

[mdc1983uk]

@Lord_Snooty  Thanks. Looks like Oppo have been one of the manufacturers to be kind enough to work around a Vodafone problem though. If you are on 4G and making the calls longer then it's a fix for you! Lord help the rest of us (no pun intended).  Just to clarify, you brought phone from Voda or from CPW? Will be interesting to know, did you see any icon like VoLTE icon show up in status bar after that update? If you do the airplane mode trick and force Wifi calls does it still last past 30 mins? I won't blame you if you don't fancy doing any further testing to be honest....

Still leaves many of us in the lurch though. How these idiots are still selling handsets, that aren't compatible but maybe are but only for 29:50 is beyond me. @KayleighH  Is totally correct, if it doesn't support 4G calling it will drop back to 3G (even on a incoming call).  There is no other way to do it!  Imagine you have a 4G handset on a 4G signal and someone calls you but it's not supported for VoLTE, what does it do goto voicemail? No it drops back to 3G and then rings. Even my trash Alcatel does that! I've watched it on 4G then rang it, the signal drops to 3G and then it rings it takes maybe 2 seconds more to connect. That is the expected behaviour of a non-VoLTE handset!!! Not it accepts incoming calls of unlimited length on VoLTE (stays on 4G) but only makes outgoing calls of 29:50 on VoLTE.  Supported or not?!?!

My burner phone is going straight back to store tomorrow and i'll have a chat with them and do a demonstration if they care and want a really good laugh. I won't be laughing! Really they can just take it back and get stuffed at this point!