Prologue (added 10/27/20): I bought a Google Pixel 3a XL phone to replace my Motorola RAZR (not the new one), but hadn't activated it yet. I wanted to make sure that all the photos and messages were transferred over to my computer (the only way I could see to do this would be to email them to myself). So I was just using like a mini-tablet over wi-fi, to watch videos and play games, not to make phone calls and texts.
Once this was done, I wanted to switch my carrier from T-Mobile (which I had for a long time, I originally had VoiceStream and it became T-Mobile in 2002, so it's been a while.) I might have stayed with T-Mobile, but their reception is terrible at home with the calls often cutting in and out. More often than not, I would have the caller call me back on my landline. The reception is usually much better when I'm not at home.
The question was what I would switch to. After doing some research, the choices narrowed to Mint Mobile (Ryan Reynolds' company) and Visible. I had been paying about $24/mo (including tax -- not bad) for T-Mobile. Mint Mobile's plan starts at $15.00 (with 3 GB of data). Visible's plan started at $40, but you can get it down to $25 if you join a Visible Party (see below). Mint Mobile uses the T-Mobile network, so I would probably get poor reception like before. Visible uses the Verizon network, which is the higher rated network as far coverage. The other main difference is that Visible gives you unlimited data. Truly unlimited data which is not throttled after using so many GB. That would be cool to have when I'm out of range of a wifi network and still would be able to stream video without worrying about a data cap.
[Huh. Just noticed that my laptop has a USB 3.1 port with a USB-C connector. So I really didn't need to buy those USB-C to USB cables to charge the phone from my laptop. I could have been using the USB-C to USB-C cable that came with the phone all this time. But I guess I can use both cables. I can charge the phone with one and the tablet with the other.]
Another reason I went with Visible is because they use Verizon's network, while Mint Mobile uses T-Mobile's network. I currently use T-Mobile and I have to say their service is terrible at my home location. A lot of times I can't hear what the other person is saying as the connection keeps cutting in and out. It's mostly just at home and the service seems OK if I'm not at home. I can't really say if Verizon is better at my location since I haven't used it. Plus I'm using T-Mobile with an ancient Motorola RAZR. So it could be that too. I now have a Google Pixel 3a XL. So hopefully the connection will be better at home with the Google Pixel / Visible combination.
I was going to activate the Google Pixel months earlier, but I wanted to make sure I got all the pictures out of the RAZR. The only way I could figure to do that was by emailing the pictures, so I had to check my email to make sure all the pictures were transferred.
So I created an account on Visible, got up to entering the payment method. Then got the message "An error occurred. Please try again later."
I went to chat (in the lower right of the website, there's a tab that says "Chat with an Expert". The Expert asked me what browser I was using. I said Chrome. Then the Expert said to try it in Private mode. I asked how to do that. The Expert directed me to go to Incognito mode and I tried it and it worked. Thank you Expert.
I think the website needs work. To check your account, you first sign in (of course). Then if you put the cursor on your login name, the options Account and Sign Out appear under the box. Then if you arrow down to Account, the options disappear (sometimes). You have to click on your name, then click on Account.
Once you click on Account, the status of your account is supposed to appear in the "overview" screen. But often it doesn't. I've had to go to incognito mode or try Edge. The sometimes even that doesn't work. Then I tried Firefox and it worked. But I didn't try again. As I'm writing this, I'm trying again in Chrome and this time it worked.
I opened the account on October 20 and usually they try to ship the order by the next day. The screen is currently saying "Your order is on it's way" [it should say its not it's -- another red flag]. The expected delivery is Thu, Oct 22 (which is today). Clicking the Track Order button shows that it's being sent by FedEx and that it arrived in Honolulu at 11:11 am. Which is odd since it's 10:42 am as I'm writing this. Maybe it's PST?.
The order status says Ordered Tue, October 20, Shipped Wed Oct 21, not yet out for delivery.
Next steps are to Validate email -- is verified!
Then Hang tight -- transferring number over. It may take up to 48 hours. Checking my email, they sent me an email thanking me for my order which was received 10/20/20 at 5:39 p.m. It's now 10:47 a.m., so it's been about 41 hours so far.
The next steps are to download the app and finally to install the SIM.
My next question is whether this can be done in time before my next T-Mobile bill which I think is either today or tomorrow. If the Visible activation isn't done by today, I might wait a few days before activating it because I'll be getting billed T-Mobile for non-existent service.
Checking my account on T-Mobile, it says Due Oct 25, 2020 $24.21. And Autopay scheduled for October 23, 2020 from Visa *******8. I think I'll cancel the Auto-Pay to give me a couple more days.
OK, we'll see. Looks like you have to call support to cancel the service. I wonder if I cancel service now, the number will still be ported? I think I'll just wait for now.
Now checking my Visible status again. The drop down options don't appear when I mouse over my name. Have to click my name to get the options to appear. Then when I click Account nothing happens.
Now restarted a new browser window in Chrome. My name doesn't appear, just a down arrow. When I arrow over, the Account and Sign out options appear. Clicking on Account gets me to a new page, but no status. But now I see my name again. But arrowing over my name doesn't give me the options. Have to click on my name, then click on Account. And get nothing again.
Let me switch to Edge.
I'm still signed in. No drop down when mousing to my name. Click then click Account. Nope that didn't work. Sign out.
Sign back in. Now mousing over bring the drop-down options. Promising. But bring the mouse down to Account makes the options disappear. Not promising. But if you bring the arrow down fast, then it won't disappear. Let's try that. There you go. Still says to Hang tight. Looks like the trick is to arrow down fast before the Account option disappears.
Let's try on Chrome. Once again, no name. But let's try arrow down fast to Account then click. Didn't work, but now got my name again. But no drop-down options appear when mouse over.
Let me sign out on Chrome. Create new incognito window. Sign in. Name appears. Drop-down options appear. Arrow down fast before the options disappear and lock on Account. OK that worked. Figuring it out.
[10/22/20] In the don't hold your breath department, I now read this.
"Why is it taking so long to transfer my number to Visible?
Your previous carrier must release your number so we can use it for Visible. We looked into it, and the average time for a complete porting process is 4.9 days, although many of our members have seen much shorter times. Stay tuned to your email, as we'll let you know when your port is complete and you're ready to go and thanks in advance for your patience."
OK, we'll see. Could be another month of paying T-Mobile :(
***
So I have four more steps to go. Receive the SIM via FedEx. Wait for the phone number to transfer from T-Mobile. Download the app. Install the SIM.
I wonder if I can download the app before receiving the SIM and waiting for the number to transfer? I don't have to wait to receive the SIM since I'm installing after the app is installed. How about waiting for the number to transfer? Well, according to these instructions for inserting the SIM and activating Visible:
3.) If you haven't already, download the Visible app.
4.) Open the Visible app and log into your account.
Heads up: Transferring your number? The app will tell you status of the transfer, including when it's time to insert your Visible SIM.
(note: your number will still work until you tap Activate in the Visible App)
So apparently you can. In fact, the app should tell me when the transfer is completed, so it's just like the website in that regard. Plus I believe they're going to email me too.
OK, let's download the app then.
Install and log in.
The first question is asks Would you like to set up Fingerprint Authentication? What? I wants my fingerprints to log into the app? Maybe later
Allow Visible to make and manage phone calls? I guess so. Allow.
Now it says Your order is out for delivery. OK I'll wait.
I see in settings, there's an option to Enable Biometrics. I guess that's where the Fingerprint Authentication is.
I'm looking further down the home page. It says Service is ready. Activate your service. Does that mean the number has been transferred?
I don't see anything in my email. And the website still says Hang Tight. Transferring Number Over. Then again the website still says to download our app.
Well I'll wait until the SIM is delivered.
***
FedEx delivered the the package. Left it on my steps while I was napping.
Website now says delivered, but still says transferring number over.
App looks like it's hung up at the opening screen with the letters T3DUF rotating.
Exited out and went back in. Had to sign back in.
Still says Service is ready.
I guess I'll go on chat.
Chat had me verify my email [to verify that they were talking to the right person] and said it's ready to go, despite what the website says. OK, let me end chat and figure out how to insert it (since I've never done it before).
Here's the instructions from the web.
5.) Open the SIM kit then remove the tool (the metal piece) and the SIM card.
OK, it's in a little clear plastic envelope. Removed the tool which was taped to the card. The SIM was attached to the card to the card by little cardboard attachments and I had to pop it out with my finger. And it went flying up and onto the carpet.
Where'd it go? :(
There it is! It flew up on the table, not on the floor (where I was looking)
Next I need to remove the phone from the protective case.
Look for the little hole.
Push the SIM tool into the hole.
OK, the tray popped out a bit.
OK, pull out the tray and put the SIM in the tray. It's label side up since that's the way the notch is oriented.
Shove the tray back into the phone.
Now it says
10.) Turn your phone off, then back on. If you get any notification about updating carrier settings go ahead and do it.
But I already turned the phone off before took off the case. So I'll just turn the phone on.
I now see a little triangle between the wifi icon and the battery icon. No notifications came up.
11.) Return to the Visible app and follow the instructions to complete activation.
Open the Visible app.
Said "something went wrong, we are working hard to fix it". Then the message disappeared.
When I go to account payment has a series of three horizontal dots.
Exit the app.
Try dialing my home phone. Says mobile network not available.
Go back into the app. Have to sign in again.
Now it says Go to Activation
Tap that.
Then gets to the Activate service page
Please confirm the information below before activating your service.
Payment method
Option to autopay my monthly service fee
Turn on
I agree
You'll be charged $40 for your first month of service. Your next payment will be due one month from today. [even though I had the $20 off for the first month]
Activate
You did it! (briefly flashed)
Last step: Restart your phone
After you restart your device, the SIM will be recognized, service will activate, and you'll be Visible. Easy right? Oh, we're just getting started.
See you soon.
Got it
OK, looking at my payment history I got charged $20 on October 23, 2020. Well it says -$20 on Oct. 23 2020 (Payment Service) followed by $20 on October 23, 2020 (Charge Visa ...6038). So I guess it charged me $20.
I wonder if it works without restarting the phone? Call ended.
OK restart the phone.
Well I noticed the letters LTE popped briefly to the left of the triangle.
Try dialing my landline.
Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and try again.
Hmm. Had to add the area code. Then it rang.
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-have-to-dial-the-area-code-when-making-local-calls
Also was able to receive a phone call from my home phone.
Let me turn off wi-fi and see how well the data works.
The signal doesn't look that strong.
Let me try YTTV. Well it plays.
Let me see if my T-Mobile RAZR still works. Try calling home. Call failed and now says unregistered.
Let me run a speed test. Wow, got 23.5 down and 7.24 up. Like more than 3 times faster than my wifi.
Later I want to test the hot spot.
Let me see if I can still log into the T-Mobile website.
First let me check the Visible website. No longer has the steps I need to activate.
Says balance is $40.00 and total due is $40 on Nov. 22, 2020. Visible credit is $0.00.
I could still log in and says balance due on [10/25/20 I believe]
Your Team of Experts is typically available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, due to recent COVID-19 guidelines, we’re temporarily adjusting hours to help keep your team safe. You can still contact T-Mobile Customer Care by dialing 1-800-937-8997 or 611 from your T-Mobile phone during the hours listed below. Thank you for your understanding.
T-Mobile Customer Care is available from
7 am - 12 am ET, Monday - Sunday
I guess I'll call tomorrow.
Let my try log in incognito mode.
It says to Link your phone number to your My T-Mobile account.
So maybe it's inactive now? But I'll call to confirm anyway.
After you’re up and running, we suggest that you call your old cell phone company to confirm the cancellation.
Got an email that said
T-Mobile Confirmation: Plan Cancelled
Thanks for using T-Mobile!
You recently deleted your Mobile Internet account. If you would like to create a new account at a later point in time, you can use the T-Mobile ID username and password that you've already set up. Just click, 'Already have a user ID' when you set up a new account.
On Speedtest.net got 28.5 download. Then 27.22. Then 26.55. Then 26.61. Good enough.
Requested to join walton123.
Got a message saying walton123 has approved you to join the party -- and you're $5/mo richer.
Checking my account is says Party Pay Discount (3 members) -10.00. So total due is down to $30.00. Need one more.
Got one more. $25.00 8)
***
OK, I tried calling my cell phone from my landline without the area code and it worked. So I guess people can call in without the area code.
*** [10/23/20]
Called T-Mobile to verify that my service was cancelled and that I won't get billed any more. The friendly guy answered after about 10 minutes and said yes my service has been cancelled and that I will get one last charge on the 25th. So I guess I didn't cancel in time? Or I'm paying for the service that I already had been using this month (so it's not prepaid). Not sure how I'll be paying because I cancelled by credit card autopayment. Maybe they'll take it out automatically or send me the bill in the mail. They'll figure it out I guess.
*** [10/23/20]
Let me try the hotspot. Turn on the hotspot. Disconnect this computer from my regular WiFi and connect to the hotspot. It's now connected as I'm writing this.
Let me try a speedtest.
Got 5.67 down and 1.32 up. Very similar to my regular WiFi.
Now let's see if I can connect another device. Supposedly it only allows one device to connect at a time, but I've heard/seen others connect multiple devices.
I'll turn of my router so I know that it's running on the hotspot.
Well, the Fire Stick connected. Running Netflix and the connection speed is only 1.81 mbps. Let me run Netflix on this computer.
Well they're both running. I think they might be at 480p but still it doesn't look that bad.
Let me run speedtest on my computer while Killing Gunther is running on the Fire TV.
Oddly I got 1.20 down and 5.01 up. Kind of reverse of the first time.
Let me turn off Killing Gunther.
Ran speedtest on Silk on the Fire TV. Got 2.88.
Run speedtest again on this computer with the phone on the coffee table.
Got 7.19 down and 10.36 up.
So I can connect more than one device, but the speed takes a hit.
Let me check how much data I've now used.
Going to Settings, Network & internet, Mobile network, it says I've now used 607 MB.
Now I want to see if I can live with just this phone on without my regular wifi for like an hour...
You know what might be cool. See if I can monitor the data usage in real time. OK, it's now 608 MB at 10:46 AM.
Let me put on YTTV. Well, the phone screen blacked out. Let me run it for a couple minutes.
Unblacked the screen. Now up to 635 MB at 10:48 AM.
Apparently doesn't update the screen in real time. I'll press the back arrow and go back in. 669 MB at 10:50 AM.
Connected my iPad Mini. Phone says Wi-Fi hotspot 3 devices connected. Apparently it only supports the 2.4 GHz Band.
... OK playing Pluto TV on the phone while working on Google Docs on my laptop. Now up to 1.20 GB at 11:30 AM.
... Tried running YTTV off the hotspot with the phone on the dining table. Started out under 2 mbps, then went under 1 mbps running 480@30. Then after a number of minutes it ramped up to 720@60 all the way up to 15 mpbs. So it varied a lot with the peak speed higher than my throttled fiber optic internet connection.
My data is up to 1.53 GB at 12:26 PM.
OK that's enough. I'll switch back to my regular internet. Don't want Visible to throttle me.
*** 10/24/20
I wonder how this USB tethering works? / I think it means I can connect the computer to the internet via the Visible service on the phone. Normally you can do this by using the phone as a hotspot. But I think you can also connect via the USB cable instead by using USB tethering.
OK, let me test. Turn off the mobile hotspot. Disconnect the computer from my wifi. My phone is already connected to the computer with a USB-C to USB cable.
Going to Settings, Network & internet, Mobile network. I have the Mobile data on.
Then exit out of Mobile network, then go to Hotspot & tethering.
I have my Wi-Fi hotspot off. And my USB tethering off.
Let me turn UBS tethering on and see if anything happens.
My computer made a sound and got a notification asking if I wanted to make it discoverable on this network
The notification panel disappeared and I now see a Network interface access icon in my task bar, where usually the wifi icon appears.
It looks like I'm connected to the internet now?
Let me run speedtest.net
6.96/1.44. Just about the same speed as the hotspot mode. Ping 7, Download 6.70, Upload 1.46
OK, let me turn off USB tethering and connect the computer using the phone as a hotspot instead
Ping 8, Download 6.68, Upload 1.42. Just about the same. 8, 6.67, 1.42
And now I see there's two options for AP Band: 2.4 GHz, 5.0 GHz Band preferred
OK, back to my regular wifi connection
Wait a minute, I see the W-Fi was turned on for the phone, so it was actually using my regular Wi-Fi connection, not the mobile data
OK, turn off Wi-Fi on the phone, turn back on USB tethering
Ping 275, Download 4.77, Upload 1.33 / so Ping not so great, but the others comparable / 278, 1.73, 1.02 a big drop / 338, 2.98, 0.42 not very consistent
ok let's connect using mobile hotspot now
280, 24.75, 10.42 wow / 282, 17.43, 8.19 / 275, 17.69, 10.67
so no real upside to using USB tethering as far as speed is concerned
connect the computer back to my wifi
7, 6.27, 1.44
*** 10/25/20
Visible supports Wi-Fi Calling. You have to turn it on from the Phone app (or doing a search in Settings or Settings, Network & internet, Mobile network, Calling Advance). Wi-Fi calling uses your Wi-Fi instead of your mobile connection. Phone calls when I'm at home usually haven't been clear with the voice breaking up. So much so that I would direct them to call my landline.
It was pretty bad with T-Mobile on my Motorola flip phone. It was better on the last (and only) call to my Google Pixel 3a XL on Visible (from a Samsung phone on T-Mobile). Now that I turned on Wi-Fi Calling, I'm curious to see if the call quality will be any better.
*** 10/25/20
Got this email from Facebook this morning.
The mobile number (808) 389-xxxx has been deactivated for Facebook text messages due to the following reason: the mobile service provider this number was registered with no longer recognizes this number as valid. If you changed your mobile number or switched mobile service providers, please visit Facebook to add your number again.
I never even knew you could use a phone number for text messages. Well, since I don't think I've ever used it, I'll just ignore this for now.
Actually it might be notifications that Facebook might send to you. And they had the option to send the notification as a text message to your phone.
If I go to settings, then to General, then to Contact, I see there's an option to "Add another email or mobile number". I'll leave it alone for now.
*** 10/26/20
Got a call from an unknown number.
Then after that got his message
New! Stop robocalls
Turn on automatic Call Screen for unknown calls to let your Google Assistant decline robocalls without interrupting you
[let's try it]
Turn on
*** 10/28/20
Added a couple Google accounts to the phone for YouTube TV. Then got a notification from one the accounts. Turned off synchronization. We'll see if I still get notifications.
***
Tried to send a text and it failed. Couldn't figure out why. Then couldn't call out or in. Turned off wifi calling and it worked. Turned wifi calling back on and it still worked. I dunno.
*** 11/12/20
[a few days ago] Removed the Google account (my sisters) that I was getting notifications from. So that solved that. I just had added her account so I could watch YouTube TV on her family account.
But when I get a text from my sister, just the number shows up, not the number. I think it got confused from when I her account on my phone and it was using her contact list. Her name does show up for phone calls, but not for texts.
***
For some reason, the audio wasn't working when I was trying to watch YouTube TV (or any other videos). It worked when I plugged in my earbuds.
I played around, fiddling around with the settings, but no luck.
I finally able to hear audio when I adjusted the ringtone. So I knew the speaker was working.
It also worked when I played back voice messages.
Then the sound came back again mysteriously.
The only thing I can think of is that the phone was in my bag when we played pickleball last night. And it rained. I think my bag was open and the phone got wet from the rain. So maybe that did something. Anyway, the audio seems to be working OK now. Hopefully nothing else will go wrong. Got to remember to zip close my bag next time.
***
Noticed that Google Photos is ending unlimited storage for high quality photos next year. But Pixel phones will still get that unlimited storage. That's a bonus. Now I have to remember to upload the photos that have not been already uploaded to Google Photos. I think all of my photos from my iPad are on there, but not the photos taken with my Kodak before that.
Either that or I will upload to Amazon Photos which has true unlimited storage (though only 5 GB for videos). I'm not planning to end my Amazon Prime subscription any time soon. (I could always sell 1 share of AMZN stock to pay for 25 years of Prime 8) I'll probably be checking out the Amazon Photos app.
