Roaming in Alaska

I am currently in Anchorage. I am connecting to GCI, but I am only getting 3G calls and texts. Texts only work 1-to-1. Group texts fail. Any text with attachments/images also fails. It looks like I should be getting 4G LTE based on the coverage maps. What’s going on? Can this be fixed? I have the Essentials plan and a Moto G Power.

Hey there! Were you able to try an alternate SIM card? Where specifically in Alaska are you?

Yes,  I tried 2 different SIM from my other phones.   When it is placed in the updated S8 it says I'm roaming.   When I put the sims card in all the other phone it doesn't says I'm roaming.   I'm using the phones in Anchorage.   At this point even with the new mother board installed it still roaming so I think it's the system update.  Samsung said they can't verse the update.  I'm not sure what what I can do here in Alaska.  Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.  O have a brand one unused SIM but I don't know if it'll help.

Similar in Anchorage suddenly NO Coverage.  Worked perfect for many years.  Turned on phone the other day - zero coverage.  Support sent new SIM card but I can't activate it because no signal and no store to take it too.  Tech support will not activate unless in store.  Gotta cancel Tmobile and get different carrier unless someone can help?

I live in Anchorage and have had no issues prior to the weekend - picked up service for about 10 years up here.  Travelled - had service in New Orleans and San Fran... when I landed in Anchorage and turned phone on Sunday night -No service?  Phone shows a wi-fi signal from public/home... I don't use data.

Tech tried to help but sending me a new sim was a waste of time becasue we can't activate it... no signal = can't activate... no stores up here to go to.

Hope ya can help.  Will probably cancel and go to another carrier today unless you have feedback.  15 years w/Tmobie.

I live in Anchorage and have been for a while.  I have 4 other lines with T-Mobile and they are not roaming and could use data as normal.  I'm the only one roaming because I did a phone update.   When I put my Sim into the other phone it didn't say I'm roaming and works fine with all the other phones.  I don't know anyone else with T-Mobile.   My sister also has an S8 but she didn't do the phone update so hers is working fine, she's not roaming and has access to limited data.

Northstar not sure about registering on the website but I'll poke around?  I've talked to a lot of reps - nothing working out - gonna try n' give it another day but looks like a need a get new carrier.  Got a new sim (not sure that was necessary but worth a try?) but it's useless because the reps won't activate it over the phone (to protect me from fraud).

Chris I haven't travelled more than 10ish miles from where I am.... and probably not venturing further anytime soon.  Beth with customer service was awesome and had me try checking a bunch of settings... thinks a tower is down (from GCI who I probably pick up service via)... she put in a ticket.

? not sure ? but can't go without service much longer

@northstar88 - Okay, so we know for sure that it is not a signal issue since your phone is the only phone having the issue. Typically, sw updates will not affect how your phone picks up signal. Since you are in Anchorage, you are going to be "roaming" on GCI no matter where you are since T-Mobile does not have towers there. So just to clarify, is the issue that you are having a problem with not getting signal at or the signal that you are getting is roaming signal?

A few questions about the update/ "new motherboard". What SW version does your S8 show that it is on now and where specifically did you get this new motherboard? @notworkingak

@notworkingak - It sounds like the rep you spoke with filed a service request for you which is definitely the right track if you are not able to connect to GCI in your area. The rep that filed the ticket for you will follow up with you as soon as the ticket is returned to them from the engineers.

Okay thanks for clarifying. If your phone or the other phones on your account are connecting to GCI, it may not show the roaming signal but the data used will be used on the GCI network which is a partner network so it would be limited.

I am currently having the same issue.  I live in Michigan but I work in Alaska and I started having connectivity issues last month 12/20/17.  I keep getting the the prompt that I am not registered on GCI, I cannot send messages unless I am on WIFI calling.  I am not sure if this all related to the international roaming issue but I  have multiple coworkers that are having the same issue Iphone and Android phones.   I switched to Tmobile as soon as they partnered up With GCI and have had nothing but great connectivity up in Deadhorse Alaska until now.

Hi... My phone that has always worked is ol' school - So when I learned 2G was cancelled by GCI put a 'new' SIM into an iPhone (yesterday).  Nothing.  The sim is not activated - is that a new problem?  but how can I activate it without a signal... meaning I can't dial t-mobile? 

Would love to try the sim that has worked for 15 years (in AK and everywhere) but it is too big for the iPhone.

Customer service says they will mail me the activation code but unless I get a signal - I don't think that's the answer?

@ak-in-mi So we still have an active roaming agreement with GCI in Deadhorse. I am not seeing any issues listed at a high level but I think it would still be best if you were to contact our technical support so they can gather some specifics from you and get an engineering support ticket opened.

@notworkingak​Okay cool! I am glad they were able to get the verification code sent out to you. I know it is a pain but the security of your account is something that we take very seriously.