AT&T Roaming

**hyelton** · 07-30-2012, 06:07 PM

Okay, So I ROAMED for the VERY FIRST TIME EVER haha on AT&T. Where Im usually at its 911 Calls Only on T-Mobile whenever Im in an area with no AT&T

Well I was in Smith Co, TN heading back home to North Carolina about a 7 hour drive and for about 30min ish, I roamed R beside my bars and under status. BUT my NETWORK ID still SHOWED AT&T, But when I dialed an inccorect number I kept getting an Error message in a VERY southern Female Acsent so I knew I was NOT on att, I had network tools running it was on 310-880 And even on Network tools it Showed AT&T. But its DTC Wireless. Any Idea as to why it would still show AT&T? I even had to enable data by checking data roaming, Same for my friends phone showed AT&T as well.

**Steveanderson13** · 07-30-2012, 06:13 PM

Standard AT&T MO to fool you into thinking they have universal native network. I don't know when they haven't done this; deception is their stock-in-trade and why I don't use them and never will. Same thing as the iphone 4g icon fiasco.

**hyelton** · 07-30-2012, 06:25 PM

Haha Stupids. My friends phone didnt say it was roaming, you wouldnt have know unless going under status where it says roaming cause it just showed AT&T He has the AT&T note and on mine I had a R but it still said att and I have the International N7000 note

**Jordan T** · 07-30-2012, 06:40 PM

Steve, it's not deception, it's meant to avoid confusion. Honestly, though, I think we're at the point it'd be better for AT&T to say "off network" or something for everyone, so that it doesn't appear like AT&T has a terrible network in places where they just have no network. But, it's hardly deceptive.

**Wireless Junkie** · 07-30-2012, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Uhde

Steve, it's not deception, it's meant to avoid confusion. Honestly, though, I think we're at the point it'd be better for AT&T to say "off network" or something for everyone, so that it doesn't appear like AT&T has a terrible network in places where they just have no network. But, it's hardly deceptive.

Yea its pretty deceptive when they ENFORCE roaming limits, but don't give you guidance on when your actually roaming. It should say something like AT&T Partner or AT&T Extended like the olden TDMA days. But to give 22 or 23MB of roaming data before they start being pissy, and not tell you its deceptive.

**XFF** · 07-30-2012, 07:00 PM

Actually, I think it's very deceptive, especially since they impose limits on data roaming allowances. How is one supposed to not exceed the roaming limits if they don't even tell you that you're roaming?

BTW, you can call CS and ask to have the 4EON code added to your line of service and then it'll say "Off Network" when roaming.

**Squid7085** · 07-30-2012, 07:03 PM

You probably "Roam" a lot more than you realize. I think it hurts AT&T more than it helps them, here in Kansas the "Roaming" areas are horrible, and it really reflects badly on their network. Like Mark said, I wouldn't have a problem if AT&T put "Off Network" as a standard. But then again, going back to the earlier days, roaming or "Off Network" was a dirty word. Given there is "likely" zero consequence for "Roaming" on any networks in the US, AT&T doesn't feel they need to insert that confusion. Most people would assume they will get charged if their phone doesn't say AT&T. Your phone WILL change if you connect to a network that will incur fees, like close to the border.

If you are curious though, AT&T can add a "Feature" to your account that makes your phone display "Off Network" any time you are in fact Off Network. I believe the feature code is "4EON" (For Excessive Off-Network Roaming.) I find it quite useful honestly, and of course I am always curious. Call up and ask them to add that, some reps will just add it right away, others will be more inquisitive. When I added it I said that I live in an area that I keep switching between AT&T and another network, therefore I didn't want to get in trouble for always being on the "other" network. Be careful though, even though you "ask" for it to be on, it's a tag that is "put" on if you DO have excessive off network use, and reps see it that way. When trying to get my iPhone unlocked they refused because of that tag, and it's not easy to get off!

**Squid7085** · 07-30-2012, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by Wireless Junkie

Yea its pretty deceptive when they ENFORCE roaming limits, but don't give you guidance on when your actually roaming. It should say something like AT&T Partner or AT&T Extended like the olden TDMA days. But to give 22 or 23MB of roaming data before they start being pissy, and not tell you its deceptive.

I believe it was Verizon phones that said "Extended," which didn't seem to cause too much confusion. It masks the true network name, which is good, but it also lets you know you are on a "different" network.

**Steveanderson13** · 07-30-2012, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by Squid7085

Like Mark said, I wouldn't have a problem if AT&T put "Off Network" as a standard. But then again, going back to the earlier days, roaming or "Off Network" was a dirty word. Given there is "likely" zero consequence for "Roaming" on any networks in the US, AT&T doesn't feel they need to insert that confusion. Most people would assume they will get charged if their phone doesn't say AT&T. Your phone WILL change if you connect to a network that will incur fees, like close to the border.

At&t is piss poor as usual. Roaming charges and their handling of the problem were why I left them. Let's see, it's "confusing" customers, meaning they think we're stupid, like Mark said, if we're off network if it said so, but if there is a fee, then it DOES say "off network". And this is less confusing? Sheesh. Deceit, fraud, par for the course for this company. Do they ever spend any effort educating their customers? No, they can't take a chance having customers know too much.

**Steveanderson13** · 07-30-2012, 07:36 PM

And "Extended Network" label is actually very useful and less confusing for both Verizon and me. Funny thing, the first time I saw it, I figured "Gee, I must not be on Verizon" Not too difficult. I had a "no roaming" plan and no "roaming" triangle so I wasn't concerned or confused. It's actually good PR cuz I don't get mad for bad signal or 1x data.
But AT%T is not smart enough to think like that. The best and only thing they can do is get the iphone. What geniuses!

**hyelton** · 07-30-2012, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by Squid7085

You probably "Roam" a lot more than you realize. I think it hurts AT&T more than it helps them, here in Kansas the "Roaming" areas are horrible, and it really reflects badly on their network. Like Mark said, I wouldn't have a problem if AT&T put "Off Network" as a standard. But then again, going back to the earlier days, roaming or "Off Network" was a dirty word. Given there is "likely" zero consequence for "Roaming" on any networks in the US, AT&T doesn't feel they need to insert that confusion. Most people would assume they will get charged if their phone doesn't say AT&T. Your phone WILL change if you connect to a network that will incur fees, like close to the border.

If you are curious though, AT&T can add a "Feature" to your account that makes your phone display "Off Network" any time you are in fact Off Network. I believe the feature code is "4EON" (For Excessive Off-Network Roaming.) I find it quite useful honestly, and of course I am always curious. Call up and ask them to add that, some reps will just add it right away, others will be more inquisitive. When I added it I said that I live in an area that I keep switching between AT&T and another network, therefore I didn't want to get in trouble for always being on the "other" network. Be careful though, even though you "ask" for it to be on, it's a tag that is "put" on if you DO have excessive off network use, and reps see it that way. When trying to get my iPhone unlocked they refused because of that tag, and it's not easy to get off!

I`ll add it next time I call, I dont think I`ll roam for a awhile, It might be a few months til the next time I go. as it is 7 hours away haha. yea The Roaming Service was CRAP haha, EDGE was slower than AT&T`s edge, Like 0.02 I had too Speedtest it

Calls seemed good, But the Error messages was Unprofessional haha, like VERY southern.

I wish AT&T would roam here, But the only other GSM network is T-Mobile. and it will Only get 911 only.

**Steveanderson13** · 07-30-2012, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by hyelton

But the Error messages was Unprofessional haha, like VERY southern.

Southern is unprofessional? What did it say? "Y'all come back, ya hear?"

**hyelton** · 07-30-2012, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by Steveanderson13

Southern is unprofessional? What did it say? "Y'all come back, ya hear?"

It said Wure sorry (Sounded Like that) We are not able to complete yourrrr Call at this tim please try again later idk it sounded very bad

**XFF** · 07-30-2012, 08:37 PM

In west Texas (going on I-10 between Junction and El Paso), you're better off roaming on VZW (ex-ALLTEL) than being on AT&T's native EDGE network, which is beyond horrible. They only have about 12 sites covering hundreds of miles of highway, and the signal constantly drops and you switch over to ALLTEL. Even when you're near one of the sites (Van Horn, Ft. Stockton, Ozona, Sonora) the network is so overloaded that it's basically useless and you wish you could force-select ALLTEL again. I really hope they upgrade that area to 3G soon.

I-10 through NM is all 3G and works flawlessly. I-10 through AZ is almost all 3g now, but even the EDGE portions work perfectly fine in AZ. Not sure why they can't get it to least that level in west TX. Cali is of course all 3G and from Junction east to the TX/LA border and beyond is all 3G as well. It's just the El Paso to Junction section that frustrates me.

**Trocks797** · 07-30-2012, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mark Uhde

Steve, it's not deception, it's meant to avoid confusion.

Just like how everyone's 4S suddenly became 4G? Zero confusion there. Verizon has zero domestic roaming penalties and still shows "Extended network" on every handset they sell.

Do I think AT&T purposely chose to make it this way to make their network seem bigger? Not really. I just think they haven't bothered to rectify the situation, which is a poor choice to make considering their domestic roaming penalties.

Also, most Verizon phones come with extended data turned OFF. One must manually enable data for extended networks (which really doesn't make sense for a company that grants their customers 100% free reign on any data network). Anyway, are AT&T phones set up the same way?