Motorola Moto E2 - network type, choices, 4G/3G/2G

[RedDwarfPlanet]

Vodafone SIM only.  Open SIM Moto E 2 ( Android 6.0 )

On my ( rather battered now, but still functional ) Moto E2, preferred network type seems to be restricted to a single choice,

Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> More -> Mobile networks ->

                                         Preferred network type -> 4G (recommended)

                                                                                         3G

                                                                                  2G

As I understand it, during an incoming ( or outgoing ) call , the mobile drops from 4G, thus killing any data connection.  Possible to at least maintain it temporarily, and automatically, under 3G, during the call? 

Any suggestions?

Cheers,

Chris.

[BandOfBrothers]

Hi @RedDwarfPlanet

As 4G calling aka voLTE is just in its infancy with Vodafone and only certain areas and phones being brought on board a phone will drop from 4G to 3G Yes or whichever data connection is the strongest. 

My Samsung Galaxy s8 drops from 4G to 3G but I can still surf albeit it as a slower pace. 

[hrym]

I'm not quite sure what your question is.   The "preferred network" option is simply the highest type of signal the phone will try for.   There's really no need to change it from 4G as it will drop back depending on what's available.  4G is indeed a data-only network and calls will be made on 3 or 2G.   I haven't tried using a data connection will on a call, so I don't know what happens to the data connection when you're on one.   If it does indeed drop, then temporarily switching to 3G should allow voice and data.

VoLTE (which I don't think you were asking about) is indeed in its infancy and the functionality is burned into the Vodafone version of the firmware on a device-specific basis.   To use it you need Vodafone firmware and a supported device.  I doubt it'll be added retrospctively.

[RedDwarfPlanet]

Thanks for the response.

Yes, when a call is received ( or made ), the data connection does indeed drop out.

Apologies if I was unclear. Try again..

I was seeking to ascertain, when such an event takes place, whether the data connection could be temporarly maintained when the drop down to 3G occurs.  In effect the data connection  re-establishing itself, automatically, under 3G,  until the incoming or outgoing call terminates - and 4G kicks back naturally.

Since you bring up the topic of Voice over LTE,  as I understand it, it is present in nearly all Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, including the 410 which runs the Moto E 2.   This poses the question, is a Moto E 2nd gen a supported device with the Vodafone firmware of whch you speak? 

Chris.

[hrym]

As I've never tried to use voice and data at the same time, I'm not (as I said) sure what happens.  In theory, the connection should (afaik) continue - after all, it would if the network switched between 2/3 & 4G on data only.  Why it wouldn't when voice comes into the equation I'm not sure.

VoLTE is very new and implementations will vary.  My original reply, I now realise, was actually referring to the implementation of wifi calling.   How this works varies from network to network, but I believe the Vodafone method, being part of the firmware, makes it seamless so that you can go from network to wifi and back again without dropping the call.   I'd assume that the intention would be for VoLTE to be the same.