Tacfone/Net10 questions

[mike2874]

I tried what dd78749 suggested and I found the SID in phone settings which is 1258. Then I went to website he linked to and put the code in

Annepani I didn't even know you could send emails with Tracfone I guess I just learned something here. I sent an email to myself and unless I did something wrong it shows @mypixmessages.com

I called HQ # and she said they couldn't give out that information but said the only thing I can tell you is the type of carrier you are using and that's Verizon. We already know CDMA is using Verizon but I guess I still don't know if Verizon is roaming on Pioneer or another carrier in my 67058 zip.

[annepani]

Annepani I didn't even know you could send emails with Tracfone I guess I just learned something here. I sent an email to myself and unless I did something wrong it shows @mypixmessages.com

I called HQ # and she said they couldn't give out that information but said the only thing I can tell you is the type of carrier you are using and that's Verizon. We already know CDMA is using Verizon but I guess I still don't know if Verizon is roaming on Pioneer or another carrier in my 67058 zip.

You didn't do anything wrong.

Okay, let's get started and get as far as we can.

1 - Yes, you can send and receive email with most current Tracfone phones.

2 - @mypixmessages.com is Verizon's mms server -- pictures, graphics, ringtones, etc. (Verizon also has a much older mms server @vzwpix.com) Verzon's text server is @vtext.com. Check it out right now. Send a very simple, very small text msg ('this is a test') to your wife's phone and see if it comes through. You would send it to herphonenumber@vtext.com. It should come through right away with no server latency. And since this is your wife's phone, another simple text message that works well is 'I love you.'

Then try the mms server with a very small picture, maybe 4kb or so. This is the same server you would use to send a ringtone to her phone. The email address is herphonenumber@mypixmessages.com. Again, very small picture, don't introduce size problems. It should come through with at most a minor delay. mms servers can take longer.

3 - Even though the phone has Verizon parameters (which you can tell by the servers) you may be roaming. Data and mms may not work while roaming. Older phones used to display an R while roaming. See if you can go somewhere with your wife's phone where you know for sure there is no Verizon and see if you get the R or the phone acts strange in other ways.

Try those things and post back here with the results and we'll see if we can figure things out.

Good luck.

[dd78749]

It would be helpful if someone with a reasonably current CDMA Tracfone could verify if there is a roaming indicator shown on the phone's screen while roaming.

[mike2874]

You know I've really never messed with my wife's phone before but it does a lot more than I thought it did.

I sent a text to her phone and it went through fast just like you said.

I then sent a very small picture and it finally did come through although for some reason it can't open or display it but it's no big deal.

What I did find out though and a surprise to me is it's pretty roaming much all the time from within my home and definitely when I call or text. I have to apologize for not checking this out from the beginning I never realized this before since it's never effected her calling or texting.

So knowing that her phone is roaming all the time what does this tell you? And why is it roaming with a Verizon tower 5 miles away?

[Lisme]

The phone is apparently not getting a strong enough connection with the Verizon tower. That's why it is roaming on Pioneer (presumably).

Tracfone might not have been able to get a contract with Pioneer as a primary carrier, so you had to get Verizon. But Tracfone was able to get Pioneer as a roaming partner.

Usually, excessive roaming is frowned upon, since it is costly for Tracfone. But it appears necessary in your case.

I am surprised that you were able to activate this phone in the first place, since activation requires communication with the relevant tower.

Picture and sound messages tend to fail while roaming. It depends on the roaming contract.

Maybe you could contact Pioneer and see if your phone is registering on their system.

[Lisme]

It would be helpful if someone with a reasonably current CDMA Tracfone could verify if there is a roaming indicator shown on the phone's screen while roaming.

I had an LG290C that was roaming. It said Roaming plain as day on the middle of the screen, as I recall.

[dd78749]

I had an LG290C that was roaming. It said Roaming plain as day on the middle of the screen, as I recall.

That's good to know. Thanks for the information.

I thought that it likely would, but it's good to have confirmation of this.

[mike2874]

I'm leaning toward going ahead and giving the R455C a try as long as Tracfone continues to let me roam and not restrict functions like my wife's 290C.

Would it be smart to only get a $10 card (30 min/30 day card which I guess would be triple minutes) to start out with to make sure I get the same coverage/carrier as my wife?

If I'm needing at least 1200 minutes (maybe more) would I be better off getting the 400 min/365 days/$100 card or the 800 min/365 days/$120 card? Would the $120 card be 2400 min with TMFL R455C?

[Lisme]

If you are roaming, the functions may be restricted. It is a result of the roaming contract, not the phone.

Yes, you would be smart to start out with the $10 card. You will get 90 minutes, 30 days, plus the starter airtime. There are no applicable promo codes.

The 800 minute card is not appropriate. That is simply the 400 minute card for people who have single-minute phones and want to convert them to double-minute phones. They will get the double minute feature added to the phone, plus 400 times 2 minutes. The 800 logo is just telling them what they will end up with. If you add this card to a triple-minute phone, you might create a mess.

You can use the 400 minute card. Personally, I wouldn't make a commitment like that unless I was sure I liked the service.

[mike2874]

I guess I'm just not that familiar with Tracfone's website it says free overnight shipping if I buy a phone over $20 but free shipping never shows up during checkout I must be missing something?

[Lisme]

If the card is packaged with the phone (see how it's pictured with some of the phones), and you get it automatically with the phone, then you can use the shopping cart like you are trying to do. If you are trying to buy a completely separate card, that is a different shopping cart and it assumes you already have a phone to load it on automatically. You don't get a physical card like with the phone bundle. So if you want a physical card, you will have to buy one at a store. Or you can wait until you get your phone and then order some instant airtime.

By the way, you can go to this site http://www.cashbackmonitor.com/ and look up Tracfone. Then pick one of the cashback sites. If you follow the instructions, you can get money back (eventually).

[mike2874]

Lisme thanks for explaining everything I just selected overnight shipping during checkout and the charge was deducted on final bill.

[annepani]

You know I've really never messed with my wife's phone before but it does a lot more than I thought it did.

Here is a link to the tutorial for your wife's LG290c. It is just a little help but better than nothing.

http://tracfone.deviceanywhere.com/t...m?deviceId=639

And for your new Trac Sam R455c, here is the link to the tutorial and 86-page manual

http://tracfone.deviceanywhere.com/t...stId=TFSAR455c

[Fireflyqn]

Sending a simple text (vs a multimedia message) from your phone to your e-mail account identifies which carrier service that you are using. Yes, it costs a little mula upwards of a half a minute. Yes I know using Amberalerts is free and popular. But this method is more reliable.

1 Going to http://tnid.us/ it shows my wife’s LG 290C is using Alltel service but does that mean she’s really using Verizon? We live in a rural area and a few years ago we were with Alltel but service was so bad we had to switch carriers just curious if wife’s phone is really using Alltel or Verizon.

[Fireflyqn]

From your latest post, I understand that you have purchased the Samsung r455c. Samsung seemed to have updated their voice command feature, the rest of the phone IU is standard for them. Would you report back how you like this feature. The reviews to-date have been pretty favorable but I don't recall anyone discussing it. Many thanks in advance.

4. Since the Samsung R455C is probably the most featured (maybe best) Tracfone phone available at this point in time how does it compare to the best Net10 CDMA phones? (personally I’m not a fan of small key blackberry type phones)?