Is There Any Way to Enable VoLTE on SM-N960U?

[cloudyrei]

So I have an AT&T branded, carrier unlocked, Samsung Galaxy Note 9 model number SM-N960U and I'm currently using Straight Talk as my carrier with a SIM card that uses AT&T towers. Voice Over LTE is disabled on it for AT&T towers and I've been trying off and on every time I get frustrated with my backup phone's cracked screen to find some way to make it function again but to no avail.

Anyone know of any magical fixes for this? I've done quite a bit of searching for answers and I've tried a bunch of things but not come up with any real fix for the problem...

Things I've tried include multiple different APN settings, turning on VoLTE Provisioning manually by dialing ##4636## (VoLTE Provisioned is grayed out with AT&T sim card but not other carriers cause of course it is), I've called Straight Talk and had them do whatever it is they do on their end multiple times with no success and unfortunately the only carrier we get signal with in my area is AT&T or I would be happy to just switch to a Verizon SIM. I also tried looking for a way to root the darn thing (and tried using the rom I found in another thread here to change it from N960U to N960U1 but mine must be on a different update than that rom) cause I'm sure with access I could bypass all AT&T's crap but my security update is too recent to allow for root access so I'm worried it may just be stuck...

Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated! I'm so frustrated with this phone I'm half tempted to chuck it out my window lol.

 

[jsusang]

Hi, @cloudyrei

I am currently on Old Folks Cellular/Consumer Cellular with an AT&T sim.

Had to change sim cards after the recent 3G shutdown because IMS no longer registered.

Are you using a launcher that can access activities on your N9?

If not, please download Activity Launcher from the F-droid store. I use it on N9 and N20U.

In the Activities menu, please search for: "Call Settings" - this will be found under Call Settings (com.samsung.android.app.telephonyui.hiddennetworksetting.MainActivity) and create a shortcut

"Mobile Network" - this will be found under "Settings" in Activities (com.android.settings.network.telephony.MobileNetworkActivity) and create a shortcut

"Phone info" is also listed under "Settings" in Activities (com.android.settings.RadioInfo) and create a shortcut

Please open "Phone info" and select "LTE only" at the "Set preferred Network Type."
This menu also shows Data network type and Voice network type, which should display "LTE."

On my N9, the "Call Settings" will not have anything selected underneath "Network" or "Band Selection."

Hopefully, you can access your mobile network settings for Straight Talk via "Mobile Network."
Then check settings for your SIM card status in "About phone."

 

[cloudyrei]

Oh! Thank you for that app! That helps a lot so I don't have to type that string into the dialer every time!

Unfortunately this is what I'm looking at with LTE only selected and I also went through the whole list and tried every one of them just in case and they all look the same only with some variation in signal strength but that's about it...

 

[jsusang]

You are welcome, @cloudyrei, and so sorry that I couldn't help you.

Please set your phone back to its original mobile network settings.

Please remove your screenshot because it has your phone number and other info on it.

Is your phone on Android 10, One UI 2.5?

I looked around for Straight Talk's (AT&T) APN settings, and found this:

Straight Talk APN Settings for Android 2023 - 5G 4G LTE APN USA

Straight Talk Verizon AT&T T-Mobile US 5G 4G LTE 3G Internet and MMS Settings for Android Galaxy S9 S8 S5 S6 S7 M21 M31 F41 S20+ S21 S21+ 5G Tab Note On HTC One Desire Wildfire LG Optimum Xperia LG APN Settings by SMS Text APN to 611611 Straight Talk APN for Android On the

www.apnsettings.org

Before tinkering with your apn settings, you may want to contact Straight Talk to confirm you have 4G LTE.

I had to contact the service provider for a new sim card because it would not register the IMS.

Here's the settings on my N9:

 

[cloudyrei]

Oh heck you're right! I thought about that maybe having my info on it awhile after I put it up but forgot to go back and check! I haven't gotten any weird calls yet at least so woo!

Yes my phone is on Android 10, One UI 2.5

I reverted the mobile network settings and tried the other APN and it does make it so the mobile data works, however, I still can't make phone calls or text.

I'm sure I have LTE as all of the things function normally with the sim in the backup phone with the cracked screen I have, It's a Galaxy S10.

Here's my settings in the Note 9 as of now. I cropped out the part with my number and such this time lol.

 

[jsusang]

Are you turning off the power in your N9 when you place the SIM card in it, @cloudyrei?

Thank goodness you did not receive any strange phone calls. lol

Does Straight Talk send you a "configuration message" via text for your APN, SMS, and browser settings when you place your SIM in your N9?

I do not download the configuration message for APN, SMS or browser settings.
I noticed that downloading each one changes the default SIM.

If you downloaded the configuration message settings, you could try setting it back to the default settings for your SIM by going into "Settings," "Connections," "Mobile Networks," then "Access Point Names."
Then reset to default by clicking on the 3-button menu.

Please power off your N9 if you reset the SIM.
Remove SIM, wait a few, Insert SIM, then power on.

My sim settings for AT&T:
MVNO reseller
Name: MVNO Reseller
APN: reseller
Proxy: Not set
Port: Not set
Username: Not set
Password: Not set
Server: Not set
MMSC: http://mmsc.mobile.att.net
Multimedia message proxy:
proxy.mobile.att.net
Multimedia message port: 80
MCC: 310
MNC: 410
Authentication type: None
APN type: default,supl,mms
APN protocol: IPv4/IPv6
APN roaming protocol: IPv4
Turn APN on/of: APN turned on
Bearer: Unspecified
Mobile virtual network operator type: GID
Mobile virtual network operator value: 2AC9

I don't think there should be any spaces between the items listed for APN type.

If this doesn't work, I hope someone can help you.

I had to request a new SIM from CC after the 3G shutdown.
The IMS would not register on the N9 or N20U.

The SIM card I had to replace was originally used in an unlocked Galaxy Note8, which was on Consumer Cellular network with a T-mobile SIM.
The new SIM is an AT&T SIM.

I remember reading that some N9 owners had problems after the 3G shutdown and had to get a new SIM.

Then, I tinkered around with the "Phone settings," (from Activity Manager's shortcut) and set it to LTE only.

 

[rjones97]

Please open "Phone info" and select "LTE only" at the "Set preferred Network Type."
This menu also shows Data network type and Voice network type, which should display "LTE."

Sorry to bring this back from the dead, but I bought my sister a Note 9 specifically for the deprecation of 3/2G.

Verizon finished sunsetting their towers recently and now my sister's N960U cannot even connect to the towers that would send config messages. And "VoLTE provisioned" is not enabled.
This sim works in other VoLTE phones and gets provisioned. Its only the N9 that won't provision.

One thing I noticed was the IMEI number under Phone Info is one number off from the IMEI that shows under "About Phone" is this normal?

I would figure that the IMEI should be complete in "Phone info" and maybe thus us the reason why Straight Talk can't provision VoLTE?

 

[jsusang]

@rjones97

My apologies for replying so late to your questions about your sister's Note9.

Were you able to receive service with Straight Talk for her phone?

 

[rjones97]

Unfortunately, we haven't. Straight Talk support is assuring me that everything is configured correctly on their side. The last thing they did was submit a report to Verizon about the account. They said to expect a reply the next day, but nothing came through.

 

[jsusang]

Hi, @rjones97

Is your sister's N9 unlocked?

If your sister had service w/ Verizon/Straight Talk before Verizon ended service for 2/3G, you may want to ask if they will send you another SIM card for her Note9.

I had to get another SIM (AT&T) from Consumer Cellular because the IMS service would not register.

Or you could try these settings on this webpage to see if her phone will work.

Straight Talk - Verizon APN settings:
(Please read through the "comments" if you run into any problems to see if they may help)

straight talk Verizon apn settings – easy setup guide

Correct Straight Talk verizon Apn Settings - fastest and most updated LTE APN Settings. Name: straight talk, APN: ACCT.TF.GW6.VZWENTP, username: blank, pass

apn-settings.com

Straight Talk - Verizon APN settings for troubleshooting MMS not working:

https://apn-settings.com/straight-talk-mms-not-working/https://apn-settings.com/straight-talk-mms-not-working/

I hope this helps you set up her phone so she will have service.