Solved
Smartphones Are Not WiFi Devices
Greetings, I was excited when Cox began offering Mobile Wireless service, that I could bundle it with my Home. Internet connection, reducing complexity and going with a provider I know and trust. C...
Forum Discussion
"I discovered that smartphones on Cox Mobile service are expected to use Mobile Data only."
Where did you learn/read that? Android phones, including Pixels, can use wifi calling, which sends the traffic over the wifi connection. See here. On top of that, Cox Mobile also connects to any CoxWifi network in range and sends traffic over that. This is similar to wifi calling but uses the public hotspot instead of your private wifi.
::edit:: Have you updated to Android 15? Looks like it didn't work with Pixels until that update. See here.
"My first Android device was WiFi-only, "
What device is that? I have been using android since it came out with the G1. Technically android started as an OS for cameras, but starting 2004, it shifted to be for cell phones. This was before wifi calling I think, and every phone is going to have cellular connectivity.
" I had been connecting the Pixel to that home network, but the cable-modem data is metered and accounted separately from Mobile Data."
Yes, that is the whole point of wifi calling, to use your home internet bandwidth and not your cellular bandwidth. Why is this a problem? It doesn't count against your bandwidth if you allow it to use the hotspot(Coxwifi) instead. Also, internet traffic will go through the wifi. If you want it to go through cellular, turn off wifi on the phone.
"But American's don't really, and this represents a Cost of Living increase across the board."
I think you have it backwards. In my experience, capped bandwidth is more a thing in the US then Europe. Europe has more fiber ISPs, and fiber ISP rarely use bandwidth caps. I am not sure what this has to do with anything though.
"Smartphones aren't optional; every business and service I interact with promotes their Mobile Apps in the app stores, and SMS message phones are required, and voice calls haven't gone away. And Mobile Apps can't be run on a typical desktop or notebook computer, so even at home, I'm using my smartphone and its data, constantly."
Wow, a lot wrong here. First, SMS isn't used much anymore. You might want to do some homework on that. Also, text messages for 2FA isn't safe anymore since Salt Typhoon. You should use either email or an authenticator app. Also, android apps can be run on desktops. See here.
Oh dear. I'm sorry that I attracted your attention or confused the issue by mentioning a lot of unimportant details.
The point of my post was nothing to do with voice calling, origins of Android, Fibre Optic in Europe, or SMS 2FA.
Where did you learn/read that?
I learned it as the result of several conversations with Cox Communications officials: on the tech support line and in-store in person. That's the nature of the service as envisioned by Cox Communications.
Here's where we've got it backwards:
It doesn't count against your bandwidth if you allow it to use the hotspot(Coxwifi) instead. Also, internet traffic will go through the wifi. If you want it to go through cellular, turn off wifi on the phone.
But here's what I'm saying. Cox informed me that customers with Cox Mobile phones shouldn't be using their Panoramic Wifi while at home. The Cox Mobile service provides Mobile Data for us to use instead of WiFi, and it's metered and capped separately, and so to use Panoramic WiFi at home is "cheating" or "hiding" the actual data usage of the Android device.
In view of this restriction, I used the Panoramic WiFi app to "Pause" the Android/Cox Mobile device, so it won't be permitted to use Cox Home Internet bandwidth instead of its designated Mobile Data connection.
Panoramic WiFi, Home Internet connections are far faster and with far more capacity than the mobile network. At this time, it appears that the "Gig Unlimited" mobile plan offers 20GB per month before throttling bandwidth. Mine's using 6-8GB, if I'm out and about, using it freely. "Pay as You Gig" is a fixed cost per Gigabyte used each month, and throttled above 5 or so.
I have a second Android phone, which I'm using WiFi only, and I was mulling over a second "Cox Mobile line" and installing a SIM card, but this would degrade my service and cost more, so I will need to pretend it is a tablet and not a "phone" because I choose not to utilize the SIM card/Mobile Wireless option on it. Cox issued this Pixel to me, and it's natively running Android apps where I need them, especially in my pocket while not at home.
But a Mobile Wireless plan is the only sane way to access voice calling and SMS texting, and believe me, the 4G/LTE/5G service is the only way to go. My voice calls are crystal clear with great reception, and I use dozens of SMS per day for important tasks, quite reliably. You'd be surprised how many millennials communicate solely by SMS/RCS.
Mobile phones are mobile and used outside the home. Cox offers a telephone service for customers to use inside their homes, so there should be no need to use a Mobile Phone while sitting around the Home Internet/ Panoramic WiFi service area.
It's not a question of how I, Anesti33, want to communicate, but how my contacts choose to reach me, and how Cox Communications architects their services.
Cox informed me that customers with Cox Mobile phones shouldn't be using their Panoramic Wifi while at home.
Not only is that wrong, but it's Cox trying to get more money out of you. Yea, they don't want you using your home bandwidth for your cellular bandwidth, because they give you less cellular bandwidth and charge you more for it, however I don't think there is any technical way to stop phones from connecting and not other devices. Also, it doesn't make sense because Cox only resells Verizon cellular service. They don't have their own cellular network so it benefits Cox to put traffic over their network instead of paying Verizon. Did you see any documentation or ToS stating this? Pretty sure if you did you could file a complaint with the FCC.
n view of this restriction, I used the Panoramic WiFi app
Which brings up another question, how would they do what you say they said they do if the customer used a retail router?
there should be no need to use a Mobile Phone while sitting around the Home Internet/ Panoramic WiFi service area.
But didn't you say "Panoramic WiFi, Home Internet connections are far faster and with far more capacity than the mobile network."? So you admit that your home wifi is faster/better to use for your phone. You have two sets of bandwidth cap. You can decide what bandwidth you use for what device and when. You go over one, you should switch to the other.
My best guess is this has something to do with the fact Cox requires you to have Cox home internet to get Cox cellular, however this is more a financial requirement then a technical one.
Not only is that wrong, but it's Cox trying
Cox has expanded its offerings. If you believe it's wrong then you're contradicting their support professionals. PM me for a transcript and proof.
Also, it doesn't make sense because Cox
because WiderMouthOpen is thinking like a customer and not a provider or regulator, or shareholder.
Did you see any documentation or ToS stating this?
Yes; the FCC is one authority who authorizes tariffs for this activity and you see, Cox Communications provides service to devices and networks.
You have two sets... You can decide... Yyou should switch to the other.
Where in your Cox Mobile Wireless TOU does it described these choices? When did the FCC tell you that you have two interchangeable caps and two allowances? Which Cox Communications technician told you to switch your smartphone to WiFi whenever you're feeling like saving a buck?
WiderMouthOpen, you don't appear to have much insight into Mobile Wireless service as provided by Cox; you're speculating without reason or research; you're trying to encourage subversive behavior for customers trying to do the right thing. I'm not in the mood to make complaints to.your moderator but I would kindly ask you stop posting this thread, allow others to participate, and try reading for comprehension or staying in your lane of TCP/IP FIOS BGP SSID DOCSIS sort of things. Because this forum does not treat those topics.
I made a long post countering all your points, but in the end, I know it does not matter. You have insulted me, so I no longer want to help you or even talk to you. Goodbye.
I think it comes down to this; proof is in the pudding. Try it and find out. Does it work better? Do you save bandwidth? Does Cox say anything?
Proof... pudding
WiderMouthOpen, that idiom you use to think is wrong. It's been truncated beyond utility. PM me for a link to the full saying and an authortative explanation from professional lexicographers. And you're trying to tell us what to do. We're not your customers.
Does Cox say anything?
Yes, but only Elizium23 seems to have understood them.
I am not trying to tell you what to do. Most of what I was trying to do was just understand what your actual complaint was. 75% of the OP was random technical facts that had nothing to do with a problem. You even apologized for this, and I thought we were going to be able to have an adult conversation, but it seems I don't use big enough words for you. Have fun with Cox support. It seems they have treated you great so far. 😀
::edit:: I have an idea. How about you post this question on Cox's Reddit page and see what others say.
