Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS) for Pixel 3a and 3a XL in Android 10

[bobby janow]

If you have a phone like the 3a that supports dsds all you need is one carrier that supports it. Google fi does but Verizon doesn't. So I put in the physical SIM for VZW and use the esim on Fi. Works perfectly..

 

[rogers11]

Dual-SIM support does generally work but it's really disappointing that Android Auto cannot deal with it. You will not be able to make a call because it will not offer the possibility to choose the SIM.

 

[bienyu]

I need an option to disable physical SIM card rather than take out the SIM card itself.
I hope Google add this option.

 

[bobby janow]

I need an option to disable physical SIM card rather than take out the SIM card itself.
I hope Google add this option.

Once you disable a sim it's no longer usable. Why would you want to do that? You can turn off mobile data if you don't want to use that. The reason you are using DSDS is so both lines are available for incoming calls and texts but if you want to turn off one you'd need to remove the sim. You might be able to forward the calls directly to voicemail though if that would solve your problem. Why do you want to disable the physical sim, just curious.

 

[bienyu]

Why do you want to disable the physical sim, just curious.

I'm a frequent traveler, so when I go back to my home I want to disable the other abroad SIM and only use my home SIM. There's no meaning to have abroad SIM active while you're at home right? ... and I'm just too lazy to take the SIM out

Anyway, current condition is my home SIM located at physical slot and abroad SIM is an eSIM. So there's no issue right now. If my home SIM support eSIM, I will move my home SIM to eSIM because eSIM coverage still small just few operator and most of them will say they only support iPhone. I know there's Google Fi but it's a last resort.

Coming from Nokia phones, I can disable any physical SIM and activated when I need it. For P3a, you can only disable the eSIM.

 

[bobby janow]

I'm a frequent traveler, so when I go back to my home I want to disable the other abroad SIM and only use my home SIM. There's no meaning to have abroad SIM active while you're at home right? ... and I'm just too lazy to take the SIM out

Anyway, current condition is my home SIM located at physical slot and abroad SIM is an eSIM. So there's no issue right now. If my home SIM support eSIM, I will move my home SIM to eSIM because eSIM coverage still small just few operator and most of them will say they only support iPhone. I know there's Google Fi but it's a last resort.

Coming from Nokia phones, I can disable any physical SIM and activated when I need it. For P3a, you can only disable the eSIM.

I see, I think. lol. So when you are not traveling you don't even want phone calls right? I'm not familiar with international calling and sims. You use the international sim for data and calls? With your home sim active abroad do you get phone calls on that while traveling or do you disable that to avoid international calling fees? I'm just, obviously, a little confused. Nonetheless, on your Nokia does that have dual standby or single standby? Because on the Pixel 3 you can only use one sim at a time which probably would suit your purposes. On the Nokia do you actually disable the physical sim or simply transfer activation to the eSim? I always thought disabling the physical sim inactivates it.

 

[bienyu]

I see, I think. lol. So when you are not traveling you don't even want phone calls right? I'm not familiar with international calling and sims. You use the international sim for data and calls? With your home sim active abroad do you get phone calls on that while traveling or do you disable that to avoid international calling fees? I'm just, obviously, a little confused.

I'll explain my condition. For simplicity, I'll omit the physical SIM and eSIM term so it's just SIM.

[At Abroad]
I'm using local SIM card when travelling abroad for data and call, usually I go for 1-3 months so local SIM is my preferred way.
My home SIM is used for any OTP for account and banking, no making/receiving call on home SIM due to international call rate.
So in this condition, I will use DSDS.

[At Home]
I'll disable my abroad SIM, because it's no use.
My home SIM definitely will be on all the time.
In this condition, I will disable the other SIM and only have single standby

Nonetheless, on your Nokia does that have dual standby or single standby? Because on the Pixel 3 you can only use one sim at a time which probably would suit your purposes. On the Nokia do you actually disable the physical sim or simply transfer activation to the eSim? I always thought disabling the physical sim inactivates it.

My Nokia phone have DSDS with dual nano SIM (physical of course). You can see in the attached image, you can enable/disable any SIM (now it's empty but it can be done). And no, disable the physical SIM just turn off the radio for that SIM only same like disable the eSIM (you need to erase eSIM to deactivate it).

 

[bobby janow]

I'll explain my condition. For simplicity, I'll omit the physical SIM and eSIM term so it's just SIM.

[At Abroad]
I'm using local SIM card when travelling abroad for data and call, usually I go for 1-3 months so local SIM is my preferred way.
My home SIM is used for any OTP for account and banking, no making/receiving call on home SIM due to international call rate.
So in this condition, I will use DSDS.

[At Home]
I'll disable my abroad SIM, because it's no use.
My home SIM definitely will be on all the time.
In this condition, I will disable the other SIM and only have single standby




My Nokia phone have DSDS with dual nano SIM (physical of course). You can see in the attached image, you can enable/disable any SIM (now it's empty but it can be done). And no, disable the physical SIM just turn off the radio for that SIM only same like disable the eSIM (you need to erase eSIM to deactivate it).

That's very interesting. So you actually have 2 physical sim slots in the Nokia and not an eSim. I wonder if that's what allows you to turn off one without actually disabling the sim. It's basically disabling the slot where the sim resides. On the 3a you can disable data but I don't see how you can temporarily disable the slot entirely. I wonder if the iPhone has that ability. (It looks like it does but that's questionable)

 

[Uzephi]

That's very interesting. So you actually have 2 physical sim slots in the Nokia and not an eSim. I wonder if that's what allows you to turn off one without actually disabling the sim. It's basically disabling the slot where the sim resides. On the 3a you can disable data but I don't see how you can temporarily disable the slot entirely. I wonder if the iPhone has that ability. (It looks like it does but that's questionable)

Settings > Network and internet > mobile network. Select the network. Mine has an option to turn off that carrier's eSIM. I don't have dual SIM on right now to see if it turns off all eSIMs programmed.

Hope that helps. It didn't erase my eSIM and it turned back on without issue.

 

[bobby janow]

Settings > Network and internet > mobile network. Select the network. Mine has an option to turn off that carrier's eSIM. I don't have dual SIM on right now to see if it turns off all eSIMs programmed.

Hope that helps. It didn't erase my eSIM and it turned back on without issue.

I completely missed that "use sim" at the top, nice catch. But I don't have that option on the physical sim (Verizon) My only option there is to turn off mobile data.

 

[thesebastian]

Do you how much the battery is impacted by using dual SIM?

I have one of my two phones resting at home and only check it on Fridays (I don't like to carry two phones when travelling for work)

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[bobby janow]

Do you how much the battery is impacted by using dual SIM?

I have one of my two phones resting at home and only check it on Fridays (I don't like to carry two phones when travelling for work)

Zero impact.

 

[thesebastian]

Zero impact.

Amazing. I thought it was going to be like 5-10% at least

Thanks!

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[bobby janow]

Amazing. I thought it was going to be like 5-10% at least

Thanks!

If we had two radios I believe you'd be correct. But one radio draws the same.

 

[thesebastian]

If we had two radios I believe you'd be correct. But one radio draws the same.

What that's it mean? Can the phone receive SMS/calls from both Sims ? Or you can only enable one at a time? (Example if I use two different carriers)

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[bobby janow]

What that's it mean? Can the phone receive SMS/calls from both Sims ? Or you can only enable one at a time? (Example if I use two different carriers)

Dsds is dual standby, meaning both sims can receive SMS and phone calls while on standby. When one SIM is active on a call the other is unavailable temporarily. SMS will always come through as far as I can tell. With two radios both sims are active all the time and you can put one call on hold when the other one rings and even conference them in.

There are very few phones with two radios. Probably one reason is battery drain and another perhaps cost. Dsds works great and is most likely all we need. If you need dual active, ie two radios, you just might want to go with two phones which is a pain. I know I've done it before dsds.

 

[thesebastian]

Dsds is dual standby, meaning both sims can receive SMS and phone calls while on standby. When one SIM is active on a call the other is unavailable temporarily. SMS will always come through as far as I can tell. With two radios both sims are active all the time and you can put one call on hold when the other one rings and even conference them in.

There are very few phones with two radios. Probably one reason is battery drain and another perhaps cost. Dsds works great and is most likely all we need. If you need dual active, ie two radios, you just might want to go with two phones which is a pain. I know I've done it before dsds.

Ah ok didn't even know that other more advanced scenario existed.
Thanks

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

 

[mkdr]

If we had two radios I believe you'd be correct. But one radio draws the same.

That is total nonsense of course. It of course will have an impact, especially if the two cards use different frequencies. There need to have a seperate connection being opened which draws more energy.

 

[bobby janow]

That is total nonsense of course. It of course will have an impact, especially if the two cards use different frequencies. There need to have a seperate connection being opened which draws more energy.

Real world experiences say you're wrong. No battery drain at all.

 

[mkdr]

Does anyone know if German o2 carrier eSIM works with the Pixel 3a? Some people suggest it works some it doesnt... also, how easy/fast can you switch between the esim+sim for data? How easy can you select esim for data and vice versa? Can you also deactivate a sim if you dont need it?