HT203032: Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling

Learn about Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling
ElisabethR

Q: Wifi calling in airplane mode

Hi, I usually have my phone in airplane mode when I'm at home because I get little to no reception at my house, and when I do, it's usually on a Canadian carrier, Rogers (I live in the USA), which I don't want to use because it's expensive as ****.

 

About 80% of the time I can use calling over wifi in airplane mode which works great.... except sometimes it seems to get out of the wifi calling mode and insists that I turn off airplane mode to make a call. This seems somewhat random. This can really be a pain in the you know what if I need to make a call immediately or I'm expected on a work call, etc.

 

Is there a way to more easily tell the phone to use calling over wifi while in airplane mode?

 

Thank you

 

Elisabeth

iPhone 6, iOS 9.2, Calling over wifi

Posted on May 6, 2016 1:50 PM

Close

Q: Wifi calling in airplane mode

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman May 6, 2016 1:54 PM in response to ElisabethR
    Level 8 (39,612 points)
    May 6, 2016 1:54 PM in response to ElisabethR

    This is a good question to ask your cellular carrier.  I know Wi-Fi signal strength is one factor to determine whether Wi-Fi calling is used.  Your cellular carrier may suggest other factors.

  • by ManSinha,

    ManSinha ManSinha May 6, 2016 2:02 PM in response to ElisabethR
    Level 6 (10,250 points)
    iPhone
    May 6, 2016 2:02 PM in response to ElisabethR

    I would support sberman

     

    As a person who uses WiFi Calling all the time - you may be able to ask your carrier for a range extender to enable better connection via the WiFi calling

    I have T Mo WiFi calling since it was first introduced - and I have to admit - I have never run into this issue before where I have had to switch out of airplane mode to make a call

     

    2016-05-06_08-56-19.jpg

  • by ElisabethR,

    ElisabethR ElisabethR May 11, 2016 9:35 AM in response to ElisabethR
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2016 9:35 AM in response to ElisabethR

    Thank you both. When I'm home my phone is usually sitting on my desk within 5 feet of my wifi modem with full strength reception, so I don't think it's that.

     

    I'll give AT&T a call and see what they say.

     

    thanks!

  • by Peizoandme,

    Peizoandme Peizoandme May 11, 2016 9:41 AM in response to ElisabethR
    Level 3 (727 points)
    iPhone
    May 11, 2016 9:41 AM in response to ElisabethR

    As per Use Airplane Mode on your iOS device - Apple Support  using airplane mode disables all wireless communication. So in theory wifi should be disabled when airplane mode is on. It sounds to me as if there may be an issue with the OS. Perhaps backing up and restoring might be in order.

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman May 11, 2016 10:26 AM in response to Peizoandme
    Level 8 (39,612 points)
    May 11, 2016 10:26 AM in response to Peizoandme

    The idea is to turn on Airplane Mode and then turn on Wi-Fi.  That forbids cellular communication but permits Wi-Fi.

  • by KiltedTim,

    KiltedTim KiltedTim May 11, 2016 10:30 AM in response to ElisabethR
    Level 9 (55,443 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 11, 2016 10:30 AM in response to ElisabethR

    If you're using AT&T, you would probably be well served to invest in an AT&T Micro-Cell given the problems you're having. It's a small cellular antenna about the size of a wireless router that puts out a cellular signal that you can allow your phones to access (you have control over what phones are permitted to use it) and routes the calls to AT&T's network via your Internet connection.

  • by Al Gordon,

    Al Gordon Al Gordon Aug 22, 2016 6:39 AM in response to ElisabethR
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Aug 22, 2016 6:39 AM in response to ElisabethR

    First, I have an unlocked GSM iPhone 6 which was using the Sim card from my iPhone 5 AT&T. To enable Wi-Fi calling required me to go to the AT&T store in order to get a newer Sim card.  I am currently in Canada, and in the Airbnb

    apartment I'm using I have a Wi-Fi signal and AT&T Wi-Fi calling is enabled Automatically. I am in airplane mode with Wi-Fi turned on. (And Bluetooth for mr Apple Watch connection) I'm dialing 611 to get AT&T and according to them  I have incurred no international roaming fees or data charges. Apparently you can call or receive phone calls from the United States to anywhere in the world that allows Wi-Fi calling without incurring international rates. If I were to call  a number in Canada using Wi-Fi calling in Canada then I would be charged international data rates.  Without a doubt, little confusing, but I'm beginning to understand and appreciate the feature very much. I may not even bother to get a GSM Sim card in Canada because of this feature. The only other strange thing happened on the trip  is that Apple Maps continue to function and get directions even while in airplane mode while we were traveling past the border. Explain that!