Project Fi?

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel) 04/13/2017 at 19:34 • Filed to: None

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Anyone use it? Looking to move away from my parents Verizon plan onto my own plan and $25 a month for my level of use is mighty tempting. My only real concerns is that it would lock me into using the Pixel line (I am currently quite happy with my Pixel but what about the Pixel 3 2 years from now?) and that there’s no real way to know what my service would be like before making the switch.

garagemonkee > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 19:47

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There’s no contract, you’re not locked in. I use it, works fine. I like only paying $28 a month with taxes. I use it on a 6P.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:01

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I have thought about it, but I don’t really like the Pixel on paper and Nexus meh.... I like the idea of fi, but coverage seems on the low side

Well, same-ish area in total, but the high speed areas seem less.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:06

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I don’t think that T-Mobile admits to where there is only 3G like Fi does. Fi uses T-Mobile’s network so signal strength between the 2 would be the same. Either way I am in the north east where they claim to have good coverage.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > garagemonkee 04/13/2017 at 20:07

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I’m not technically locked in to my Verizon plan either. It’s just a bit of a pain to switch carriers.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:08

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Probably very true. Well then it looks like a good deal to me. They may have more phones in a few years too you know?

7:07 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:08

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My wife tried it for a month or two with her Nexus 6P. Dropped calls and spotty service even at home with wifi and strong cell reception Ended up switching back to AT&T because the experience was so frustrating.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:09

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Supposedly they are going to expand it to all android phones at some point but there hasn’t been any news on that front since Project Fi was announced.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:10

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That is lame. Maybe give them a call and ask? Then let us know

random001 > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:10

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We’ve been using it for over a year, and it’s been completely amazing. We’re not heavy data users, though. If we’re not taking a trip or anything, combined we usually skirt 1 GB between the two of us. We pay $20 for my line, then $15 for the second, and $10/GB between us. So for the two, it’s $45+taxes, usually less than $55 a month. A big change over from our $120/mo T-mo bill.

CaptDale - is secretly British > random001 04/13/2017 at 20:11

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Damn... That sounds great.... Maybe I should switch over... But I am still paying off my phone

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:15

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I think the issue is that the Fi network actually requires special hardware to handle the dynamic switching between T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular, and Wifi.

random001 > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:16

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That’s the rub. Always is. But the money I’m saving a month on the bill, it was 4 months to make up the difference that we had to pay on the wife’s phone to move her over.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > random001 04/13/2017 at 20:18

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The data rates are what really has my attention. I have been rather light this month but I am currently at 57MB with 10 days left in my cycle. My current plan is 2gb shared among 4 phones and paying $25 a month to give myself some elbow room to do some music streaming would be nice.

random001 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:18

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It’s baked into the software, so technically any phone with the dual protocol radio should work, but the switching only works on their phones right now.

Also, I can get you a referral and you’ll get $20.

CaptDale - is secretly British > random001 04/13/2017 at 20:20

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Hmmm.... Tempting

random001 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:20

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The other thing, their customer service is F$#@%^ amazing. Like, I have never been treated better amazing.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > random001 04/13/2017 at 20:20

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Cool, I’ll let you know if I decide to switch. I already have the free sim I got when I bought my Pixel but I wouldn’t be trying to switch until late May when I am home and have access to all the Verizon info to disconnect from that line.

Textured Soy Protein > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:21

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Total Wireless uses Verizon’s network but is cheap. It’s slightly more than Straight Talk which uses AT&T. They’re both part of Tracfone but Total costs more for Verizon’s network. Either way you need to use YouMail or Google Voice for visual voicemail instead of old school dial in touch tone voicemail

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > random001 04/13/2017 at 20:21

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The live support on the Pixel is scary with how quickly you can get real help from a real person.

Levitas > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:22

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I’ve been on it for about 8 months now, very happy with it. I’m around Detroit now, I’ve had no service problems. Only time I notice a loss of signal is driving through the middle of nowhere Ohio/Indiana to go to my parents.

I average about $45 per month for me, and as others have said, you’re not locked in. But I love the pixel XL I have, and I love the experience on it much better without Verizon et al and their associated bloatcrap.

CaptDale - is secretly British > random001 04/13/2017 at 20:24

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You know, after $20 a month, $30 for 3gb data, and $20 for the phone that is $70 a month and that is pretty much what I am paying now, but with T-Mobile I get all the music and video streaming that doesn’t affect my data... So I guess I will stay. Plus I love my S7E....

random001 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:24

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Seriously, between Project Fi for my cell service, and switching to the Amplifi for our wifi, I have hit the jackpot for customer service.

jovimon7 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:25

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I had it for 3 weeks, online data reception sucked just like ATT. Now on Verizon prepaid with 5gb for $50. Great reception. Also research the THREE different phone numbers that connect you to the different networks, wrong numbers/spam calls everyday.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Levitas 04/13/2017 at 20:25

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The breaking point for me with Verizon was when they took my Pixel which I bought unlocked from google and installed the locked Verizon firmware onto it last weekend. That pissed me off. It’s my phone and Verizon needs to keep their dirty red hands off it.

OKcarburetor > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:26

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I switched to it about 5 months ago. I couldn’t be happier. My service + phone is $10 a month less expensive than just my Tmobile service. The coverage is better as well.

Switching was about as easy as possible. I got a package in the mail with everything I needed. 30 minutes later I had the same phone number on a new phone and new carrier. My Tmobile account auto cancelled as soon as the number transferred.

I have the Pixel, and can’t find a fault with it except it’s not waterproof. I don’t even mind the proprietary charging port.

random001 > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:27

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Yeah, like I said, we’re not heavy data users. I have music on my phone, and do a lot of podcasts, and my streaming service is amazon prime music which just downloads to my phone, so yeah, if you need lots of data Fi might not be for you.

Levitas > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:28

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That right there sums up my feelings. Even if I had occasional service issues on Fi, the fact I can get a clean experience is worth way more.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > OKcarburetor 04/13/2017 at 20:28

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The Pixel may not be water resistant like the Galaxy but it is still splash resistant and I have used it in the rain and snow multiple times. The charging port is standard USB-C like you find on all new android phones and a lot of new laptops. Nothing proprietary there.

OKcarburetor > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 20:33

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Ya, it seems fairly water resistant.

I had no idea the USB-C was a thing. Makes plugging your phone in, in the dark much easier haha.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > jovimon7 04/13/2017 at 20:33

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Verizon lost me when they overwrote the Unlocked firmware on my phone with their locked firmware and bloat apps. That and the announcement of their new spyware applications they are going to be rolling out to all android phones in the future.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > CaptDale - is secretly British 04/13/2017 at 20:40

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Fi is really designed for low data users. Someone like me who only uses about 600mb per month would probably only ever pay $25-30 a month.

plak424 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 21:10

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It’s decent. Not as good reception as Verizon but $50/month vs $150/month for me and my wife for Verizon wins in my book.

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 21:48

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Switched from Verizon last year, on a Pixel XL in LA. Coverage is ok but not as good as Verizon’s. Wife is still on Verizon for that reason. Having data while traveling abroad was awesome, as is having an extra data only sim card.

MyJeepGetsStuckInTheSnow > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 22:57

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Straight Talk is another good one to consider if you don’t want to be locked into a Pixel.

The Snowman > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 23:07

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Fi works great for the wife and I in SLC went from 140 a month on Verizon to 50 a month for both of us as long as we try to not waste data. Only gripe is it can take a few seconds to start a call (<10)

Nick Has an Exocet > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/13/2017 at 23:38

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I switched to MintSim instead. They were offering a deal (3 month for the price of 1). I’m in good Tmobile coverage so it works pretty well. Dropped my bill from $72/mo to $19.90. Also known as a solid car payment/year.

CaptDale - is secretly British > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/14/2017 at 10:49

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Yeah, I use a lot of data

t0ast > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 04/14/2017 at 13:51

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I was previously using a Nexus 6 on AT&T’s network with a (grandfathered) unlimited data plan, but I wasn’t using nearly enough of it to warrant the price, especially after they bumped it up following several years of steady pricing. I put in an order for the Pixel XL not long after it became available and switched to Fi when it came in.

I’d estimate a loss of around 10% in the general quality of service (coverage, call quality, data speeds, connection stability) but it’s only costing me <$40/month when the AT&T plan was about double that. I’m also enjoying some of the other benefits like seamless international service, which worked great for me in Japan, and being able to have an additional data-only SIM for my semi-retired Nexus 6 at no extra cost. Managing the service has been remarkably simple and straightforward as well, from initial setup to ordering that extra SIM to the regular billing scheme.

The only noteworthy gripes I’ve had so far is that making or receiving some calls will occasionally fail on the first try and the Pixel XL has left me wanting for a few minor hardware features, like front-facing speakers (which the Nexus 6 had) and water resistance (which can be improved with the right case, but at an extra cost). Billing from international activity can take quite a while to show up as well. That’s about it though, I’m pretty happy overall.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > random001 05/14/2017 at 16:04

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I’m thinking that I will be jumping over to Fi at some point later this week. If you would like to offer up a referral link that would be awesome.

random001 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 05/15/2017 at 10:46

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X7R336

It’s just a referral code you use when you sign up, so I don’t think there’s a specific link anywhere. Welcome to the fold!

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > random001 05/15/2017 at 10:50

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Cool! Thanks very much.

random001 > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 05/15/2017 at 13:01

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And thank you!