Wifi Calling on a cell phone.

[480sparky]

Please read the entire post before responding.

I know how wifi calling works, and have it enabled on my phone because my cell carrier signal isn't very strong at my place. This enables me to stay connected around the house even when the atmospheric conditions cause the carrier's signal to be unreliable.

Last year, I purchased a Starlink Mini, in part, for maintaining that same wifi connectivity when traveling down the road. Some places I drive through have zero cell service. I also plan on using the Mini for getting a wifi signal when camping out in the boonies... again... where there simply is no signal.

Having enabled wifi calling on my phone prevents me from testing this scenario: I'm out in the sticks, and someone really needs to use their phone for a true emergency. But this person has not set up wifi calling on their phone (assuming it's capable of such).

My question is: In this scenario, would the person be able to enable wifi calling on their phone without being connected to their cell service, or is it possible to do if they're connected to my Starlink wifi signal (ie, I give them the password and they connect to the internet)? I'm assuming the latter is possible but I'd like to know for sure.

 

[nerwin]

That's a good question. If Wi-Fi calling wasn't setup and activated first, I doubt it would let an emergency call through. But I'm not entirely sure, might vary. I know newer phones now are using satellite for emergency calls if cell service is unavailable. But yeah that's s definitely an issue and easily be solved if they just let the phone call out via WiFi for an emergency.

 

[Digger...]

If it was my phone & as last years Samsung add states the phrase "Can i kick it" thats exactly what i would do, kick the bloody thing for 6 points.

But yeah no coverage out in the wild doesn't help in an emergency.

 

[nerwin]

To add to the confusion....wifi calling only seems to work on my phone when I'm at home on my wifi, I never seen it work on other peoples wifi. On mine you have to enter your 911 address to get it to work because they can't track the signal via wifi calling, they might be able to get a general area but not the exact position so by entering the 911 address, it will send that data directly the emergency call operators and can send first responders directly to that address.

I would highly suggest getting a new phone, one of the latest models like an iphone 14 minimal or pixel 9 or galaxy s25 that has satellite connectivity. Although I am unsure if there is a fee to use this function but for emergencies, I don't think so.

 

[PhotoHobbyist]

I used to use wifi for phone calls ten years ago without having a phone carrier. I'd wifi using a deactivated Android phone with an Android app through Google Voice. The phone carriers changed the law forcing Google to disable that ability with a deactivated Android phone. I think you could still use a laptop to make wifi calls though.

The point being today I believe you can't make phone wifi calls without a phone carrier. If you can't get cell service, you probably would have to access your phone carrier through their web site to enable wifi calls.

 

[nerwin]

I used to use wifi for phone calls ten years ago without having a phone carrier. I'd wifi using a deactivated Android phone with an Android app through Google Voice. The phone carriers changed the law forcing Google to disable that ability with a deactivated Android phone. I think you could still use a laptop to make wifi calls though.

The point being today I believe you can't make phone wifi calls without a phone carrier. If you can't get cell service, you probably would have to access your phone carrier through their web site to enable wifi calls.

I think @480sparky is talking about for emergency calls which doesn't require a phone carrier. All phones can make emergency phone calls without any carrier, some people even buy cheap basic flip phones just for emergency calls as the batteries last a long time, sometimes months without charge. But in his case the cell coverage is limited to non existent which is why he is using starlink and to use wifi-calling. But if you don't already have wifi-calling setup prior, it wont work as far as I know.

 

[smoke665]

You can share your cell phone internet via Bluetooth tethering or Hotspot. If someone else has the login credentials to connect, they can use multiple free apps to make/receive free calls or texts without a carrier.

Here's a head scratcher to add to the mix. Up until recrntly, we had sloooow ATT Uverse (6mb on a good day), Samsung cell phones (ATT) for years and a VOIP phone line. At home we had a decent signal on the cell phones most of the time, but when we switched to wifi calling, it killed our signal, the VOIP worked great, but streaming was limited and surfing slow. We switched to T-Mobile 5g home, the speed is blazing (190-250mb+), easily stream and surf multiple devices. Also upgraded to T-Mobile Samsung S25, the cell signal is okay, about the same as ATT, and just like when we switch to wifi calling we have problems. If we can get any bars at all it's better not using wifi calling. The VOIP only works to make outbound calls (not the best quality),we had to go to their site and forward all inbound calls to the cell. Something about incaptiblity with the T-Mobile router, wanted us to buy an adapter for $99, that's not happening. The VOIP is only $15/month but we'll be dropping it once we're sure our contact records are updated.

 

[RScottie]

I have AT&T cell service and it is very poor in my home and even in my yard. Drive just down the street and it is full signal, so I guess I am in a dead spot.

I previously used a cellular router that AT&T had that did not require you to switch modes on your phone to internet as it "pretended" to be a cell tower. That device was discontinued by AT&T and now I use Wi-Fi calling at home.

I also use Wi-Fi calling when I travel to the mountains and stay in various rental cabins. I always have to use the Wi-Fi Calling in those places.

Wi-Fi calling works by "tunneling" through the internet to a server that is owned by your carrier. In the case of AT&T, it works regardless of who's Wi-Fi I am on. I simply turn it on when I need it and it works if I have Wi-Fi internet service.

I currently have a Samsung 22 but have used Wi-Fi calling on multiple phones over the years.

 

[Rickbb]

After looking it up it appears that you don’t have to activate this first. You only need to have a phone and their carrier that support's WIFi calling to work for them. They just turn it on and connect to your WiFi access point.

As far as making 911 calls with zero coverage using satellites automatically, I can’t find anything to verify this. Phone has to be a satellite specific device, regular phones are not equipped for that.

 

[nerwin]

After looking it up it appears that you don’t have to activate this first. You only need to have a phone and their carrier that support's WIFi calling to work for them. They just turn it on and connect to your WiFi access point.

As far as making 911 calls with zero coverage using satellites automatically, I can’t find anything to verify this. Phone has to be a satellite specific device, regular phones are not equipped for that.

https://www.techlicious.com/guide/all-the-phones-that-have-satellite-messaging/

 

[480sparky]

.. Phone has to be a satellite specific device, regular phones are not equipped for that.

There are smart phones on the market today that have satellite capability. Google Pixel 9, for one.

Allegedly, my new S25 Ultra has the hardware built into it, but the firmware doesn't allow it... yet. Rumor has it a future update of Android will switch it on.

 

[480sparky]

I think @480sparky is talking about for emergency calls which doesn't require a phone carrier. All phones can make emergency phone calls without any carrier, some people even buy cheap basic flip phones just for emergency calls as the batteries last a long time, sometimes months without charge. But in his case the cell coverage is limited to non existent which is why he is using starlink and to use wifi-calling. But if you don't already have wifi-calling setup prior, it wont work as far as I know.

In the US, all cell phones are required by law to be able to dial 911. But in my scenario, there is no cell service to be found to be able to call 911. AFAIK, using wifi calling to dial 911 is possible.

But the issue still presents itself: If a phone hasn't been set up for wifi calling, can it still be set up using just a wifi connection sans cell service?

 

[480sparky]

To add to the confusion....wifi calling only seems to work on my phone when I'm at home on my wifi, I never seen it work on other peoples wifi.....

You need to have their wifi password to connect to it.

 

[RScottie]

AT&T requires no setup other than having the app on the phone.

Once the app is on the phone, you just need either open Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi that you know the password required.

There is no signing in to AT&T that you can see. You merely click on the app and it connects to its servers.

I do not know how other carriers do their Wi-Fi calling, so this may not be the case.

 

[480sparky]

AT&T requires no setup other than having the app on the phone.

Once the app is on the phone, you just need either open Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi that you know the password required.

There is no signing in to AT&T that you can see. You merely click on the app and it connects to its servers.

I do not know how other carriers do their Wi-Fi calling, so this may not be the case.

Once again: the question is:

If a phone hasn't been set up for wifi calling, can it still be set up using just a wifi connection sans cell service?