Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System

From	Robert Riches <spamtrap42@jacob21819.net>
Newsgroups	comp.os.linux.misc
Subject	Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System
Date	2026-10-05 02:52 +0000
Organization	none-at-all
Message-ID	<slrn11c647r.hk6.spamtrap42@one.localnet> (permalink)
References	(15 earlier) <cR-dna9thaWhBV33nZ2dnZfqn_SdnZ2d@giganews.com> <nid5u7Foo9pU8@mid.individual.net> <119s6a8$3fkuv$1@dont-email.me> <nie0tjFoo9pU10@mid.individual.net> <119udv6$8ubd$1@dont-email.me>

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On 2026-10-04, Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> wrote:
> On 10/3/2026 20:53, rbowman wrote:
>> On Sat, 3 Oct 2026 17:23:34 -0700, Lars Poulsen wrote:
>> 
>>> Now that both my wife and I have our iPhones on T-Mobile, I wonder what
>>> is the best cheap virtual carrier that does NOT use T-Mobile airwaves?
>>> I like to have a spare Android phone to use when the main system is
>>> down. Although AT&T has the best coverage in town, we left them because
>>> of poor customer service, and independent of that, a couple of years
>>> ago, their network in our part of town was down for THREE DAYS.
>> 
>> I had TracFone for years but switched to Mint when I went to 4G. Since
>> then Verizon has bought TracFone. Verizon seems to have a number of
>> virtual plans but the cheapest I see is $20/mo. Mint is $15/mo with 6 GB
>> of data. Not a huge difference. Back when I went with Mint Verizon didn't
>> have any similar plans. Today I'd probably go with one of theirs since
>> coverage is a little better here.
>> 
>> I'm not sure why Verizon and T-Mobile bought the virtual carriers and kept
>> the plans rather than offering a similar deal to start with.
>
> Around here, only the homeless use TracFone. The phones are shit, the 
> coverage is marginal and of course there is no service.
> The phones are tied hard to TracFone and cannot be unlocked.
>
> AFAICS, Mint is T-Mobile. Fourth-tier access priority, behind "5G 
> Unlimited", "T-Mobile Basic 55+" and "Metro by T-Mobile" prepaid customers.
>
> So who else OTHER than T-Mobile captives are in that discount space?
> Is Consumer Cellular still AT&T?

You're definitely right about TracFone customer service (and
technical support) being terrible.  However, it is possible to
buy an unlocked phone elsewhere, then buy a SIM from TracFone.
Last I checked, for the SIM, the customer gets to choose between
the three back-end networks.  However, with IIRC TracFone now
being owned by Verizon, that might change.

When I switched from TracFone-locked Alcatel flip phones to Schok
Classic Flip phones plus a TracFone SIM, one of the lines took 5
hours for "support" to get voice minutes, SMS/text, and data all
transferred correctly.  When one Schok phone broke, the TracFone
agent said I would have to buy a new SIM for the new phone and go
through the same process to move the number/service/account to
the new SIM.  Instead, I moved the old SIM to the new phone, and
everything worked perfectly.  Of course, I practiced ESD safety
when moving the SIM.

IIUC, Schok has basically quit selling their flip phone, so I'll
eventually need to switch to Alcatel, Nokia, or other unlocked
flip phone.  IIUC, I _should_ be able to simply move the SIMs to
the new phones, even with the phones being different.

-- 
Robert Riches
spamtrap42@jacob21819.net
(Yes, that is one of my email addresses.)

Thread

Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-24 01:42 -0400
  Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Andy Burns <usenet@andyburns.uk> - 2026-09-24 10:33 +0100
    Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-24 11:53 +0100
      Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-09-25 03:43 +0000
    Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-26 00:08 -0400
      Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-26 09:31 +0100
        Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-09-26 10:01 +0000
          Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-26 12:04 +0100
          Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-26 21:39 -0400
        Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-26 21:32 -0400
          Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-27 07:59 +0100
            Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-27 03:16 -0400
              Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-27 08:38 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-09-27 19:02 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-28 08:58 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-09-28 17:33 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-29 03:25 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-01 01:37 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-02 01:39 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-02 11:47 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-02 12:10 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-02 19:57 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-03 03:13 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 02:07 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-03 08:47 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 04:04 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-03 20:15 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 23:53 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 04:29 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-04 02:03 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 19:10 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-05 09:56 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 01:58 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-02 19:34 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-02 20:40 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-02 21:25 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-02 21:18 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-10-03 05:00 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 02:13 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Stéphane CARPENTIER <sc@fiat-linux.fr> - 2026-10-03 09:17 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-03 11:51 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-03 13:22 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 23:28 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-04 12:57 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 18:55 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-05 09:32 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-05 19:31 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-05 02:31 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-05 14:42 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-03 20:05 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-03 08:46 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 03:59 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-03 13:37 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-03 20:07 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-04 13:00 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 18:23 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-03 13:20 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E. R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-10-03 13:36 +0200
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-10-02 06:33 -0700
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 01:52 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-03 20:12 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-10-03 17:23 -0700
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 03:53 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-04 00:04 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 04:19 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-10-04 13:46 -0700
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Robert Riches <spamtrap42@jacob21819.net> - 2026-10-05 02:52 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-05 03:49 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-05 19:26 +0000
                [OT] Ex-Nokia HMD feature phones (was: Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System) Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-07 10:22 +0100
                Re: [OT] Ex-Nokia HMD feature phones (was: Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System) rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-07 18:21 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Charlie Gibbs <cgibbs@kltpzyxm.invalid> - 2026-10-05 23:20 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-06 01:56 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-07 01:29 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-10-08 14:22 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-08 20:28 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-09 02:34 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Robert Riches <spamtrap42@jacob21819.net> - 2026-10-09 17:38 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-07 10:23 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-07 01:10 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-07 17:28 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-08 04:06 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-08 09:45 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-10-09 14:40 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-11 00:50 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-04 03:36 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-03 23:47 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 04:34 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-10-04 02:14 -0400
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-10-04 19:06 +0000
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Nuno Silva <nunojsilva@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-05 01:35 +0100
                Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-10-05 09:47 +0100
              Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Lars Poulsen <lars@beagle-ears.com> - 2026-09-27 06:53 -0700
      Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Fritz Wuehler <fritz@spamexpire-202609.rodent.frell.theremailer.net> - 2026-09-26 17:05 +0200
        Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System rbowman <bowman@montana.com> - 2026-09-26 20:00 +0000
  Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-24 11:43 +0100
    Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2026-09-25 03:50 +0000
      Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System The Natural Philosopher <tnp@invalid.invalid> - 2026-09-25 09:11 +0100
    Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System "Carlos E.R." <robin_listas@es.invalid> - 2026-09-25 12:28 +0200
    Re: Micro-Review "ATT Home-Advanced" System c186282 <c186282@nnada.net> - 2026-09-26 01:54 -0400

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