Wifi Calling Issue on IPv6

We are residential integrators and provide network/wifi coverage for homes that normally require a multitude of waps to cover the home. Using a fios router to our PoE switch and out to the waps has always provided this well. It always has, but in the past few months is when we have began to get complaints from customers about their wifi calls dropping. Speeds are fantastic through the home (at gigabit incoming, our wireless can achieve 580Mbps +). This is mostly anywhere in and outside of the home. I would love to see something relative to wifi calling protocols built into the fios routers where we can make changes because when it doesn't work and starts to drop calls, we have no recourse. We can always add a 3rd party vpn router to allow us these features, but if the customer has a MoCa cable box system, this isn't really an option. Any other thoughts on wifi calling using a Fios cr1000 or g3100 router ? I'd be interested in other experiences. This seems a topic not much discussed specifically.

btar

Thank you! I did just discover that if I turn airplane mode on and then go to settings and toggle wifi calling off and back on. That corrects the issue! It seems to me they have a bug in their coding. I say this like I know what I am talking about, but I don’t! Lol But, maybe the work around I found would be helpful to the Verizon engineers to compare what is happening before my work around and after the work around.

I think the issue lies within cell broadcast range and wifi signal strength more-so than protocol at this point. If the wifi signal is great and your phone is active "wifi calling", but happens to see a trickle of a cell broadcast, it will try to connect to that signal and then drop the call. If the device is in airplane mode, normally this will prove wifi calling is working as it should since it cannot see any cellular broadcasts due to it being in "airplane mode"'.

It seems if a cell signal that is coming into the home is powerful enough to force the device to connect to that instead of the "wifi calling" feature - and thats when the call most likely drops. If the device is working and not dropping calls in "airplane mode", then this proves true. If it is still dropping calls while in airplane mode, then this will point to the provider or lack of wifi broadcast range.

I have experienced the exact same issue and know other Verizon customers who have also experienced it. Has Verizon acknowledged the issue or provided any response? @l116991
did you leave ipv6 disabled as a temporary workaround?

I have done that. ipv6 disabled, no luck with that helping.

l116991

I had a Verizon support manager talking to me about the issue but they seemed to have moved on.

I’ve left IPv6 disabled at home and have no issues with WiFi calling. Frustrating because VZW could have a keep alive or something similar flow through the IPSec tunnel and it would be fine. The program assumes all gateways/firewalls are keeping track of the tunnels.

Hi there Sanchezam! We want to make sure that you are receiving exceptional service. Your device uses IKEv2 with EAP-AKA authentication with Verizon network, leveraging the subscriber data and security credentials stored in the SIM card. If you are still having issues, please indicate and we can troubleshoot individually with you.

-Erica

I've opened a case and Verizon Engineering is investigating. I shared the details you provided above, which pretty clearly identifies the issue with the Verizon router. Let's see what they come back with.

I've temporarily disabled IPv6 and haven't experienced the issue since but as mentioned, that is only a temporary workaround.

Hello. This is not related to the issue many of us are having. I've opened a case and it is being investigated. I'm hopeful Verizon will be able to identify a solution.

I also want to confirm that the issue *never* occurs when airplane mode is enabled, which further supports your position on the underlying cause.

Update. Verizon transferred the ticket to Verizon Wireless. From what I can see, I don't believe Verizon Engineering examined the issue closely since it is clearly a problem with the router configuration.

I'm disappointed it was transferred, but we'll see how Verizon Wireless responds. Verizon has offered me an extender, which I've declined, since I would like to see the problem resolved for myself and all other impacted customers.

Hi there Sanchezam, we're disappointed to hear the ticket hasn't been resolved but transferred to another department. We'd be more than happy to help by providing you with an update on your ticket, and continuing any troubleshooting to assist with resolving this concern. Keep an eye out for a private note, so we can provide you with further assistance.

~Brian

calvotj

Hello. I believe I am also having this issue as well. Calls were being sent to voicemail automatically and seemed to be isolated to when WiFi calling is activated. My wife’s iPhone is not having this issue. It is isolated to my line. I worked with the Verizon network team and they seemed to isolate the issue to WiFi calling as well when they traced the calls. I currently disabled ipv6 as well on my g3100 router but it seems more of a workaround that an actual fix. Has there been any further look into this by engineering or support?

calvotj

I am having same issue. Extender didn’t help at all, if WiFi calling is turned on.

We never want our customers to be without the ability to make or receive calls. We will send you a private message so we can troubleshoot your connection.

-Toni

Update: Verizon Wireless confirmed it's an issue with the FIOS router (which we knew) and the ticket has been transferred back the FIOS team. I spoke to the case handler and asked that FIOS Engineering take a closer look at this issue and reiterated that we are happy to assist them if that would be helpful in finally resolving this issue.

@calvotj
Verizon Wireless confirmed it's an issue with the FIOS router (which we knew) and the ticket has been transferred back the FIOS team. I spoke to the case handler and asked that FIOS Engineering take a closer look at this issue and reiterated that we are happy to assist them if that would be helpful in finally resolving this issue.

MetalMinded13

I'm having the same issue (started a month or so ago), with a few add-ons.....

1) No calls come in. They go straight to VM with no indication of the call or the VM on my end.

2) No messages come through. If I discover this and restart my phone, messages come flooding in after.

3) All 3 phones in my home (all iphones) are having the same issue.

4) This is ONLY a problem at my home.

5) Restarting daily (in the morning) seems to have "solved" the problem.

We know having reliable service is important. Sending you a Private Message now.

-Cryssie

Nealwald01

This is clearly an ipv6 issue had the same problem in three different FIOS locations. Disabling ip6 solves the problem. Not an issue on other non fios wifi networks. It’s time Verizon stood up and addressed this issue so customers can use ip6 again. So frustrating they don’t acknowledge and resolve this issue.

Update: I received an update that they are still investigating and I will receive another update by August 1st. I've asked if that update will have any substantive detail on this issue. This is clearly impacting many people so I hope that they are prioritizing it.

@NealH
I agree, especially since customers have done much of the troubleshooting for them. I'm hopeful that Verizon Engineering is legitimately investigating this.

This is an ongoing issue is so many homes. As mentioned previously, we are residential integrators and we deal with a multitude of providers given the location. Some customers have Fios where others have Comcast. We always install our own distributed wifi system to cover the sq. footage of the home as well as outdoors. We see this issue on many homes that are provided service via Fios. We use the Fios router Cr1000 or G3100 and see the issue with both. We also used our own VPN router and set the config to allow IPsec / disable SIP protocols accordingly, which also prove the same. This is not a Fios router issue, it is a Fios issue. Hardware is not the issue since we've tried many different third party routers without the Fios router being used. What we have not seen is this issue surface when we use the same third party routers on a Comcast, Spectrum or Optimum service. Fios is still what we recommend the customer to choose when they have the option due to the consistency of the network stability given the gigabit dedicated speeds - but wifi calling is so important in some areas that have zero cell service that if there is another provider available, that may be the choice to go with and make the compromise for losing upload consistency to gain wifi calling always working for incoming and outbound calls.

@pnc447
this is interesting feedback. Verizon FIOS is clearly dropping packets - we have countless examples of that - but you're saying that even with the FIOS router removed from the path, you're still seeing the issue with Verizon and conversely, you're not seeing this issue with any other ISPs. Is that correct?

If so, can you describe the architecture in the non-FIOS router implementation? I'm curious where else packets might be getting filtered.

so for example in a non Fios scenario. We’ll go with the Araknis vpn router. Provider Modem is in play then the araknis router. protocols are enabled and disabled accordingly for wifi calling to pass. let’s use comcast as the example. wifi calling no issues. customers never complain about calls dropping.

Same goes for Spectrum and even Optimum.

Using this same router in a Fios home. ONT with our Araknis setup identical, same drops. If we use the g3100 Fios router, same issue. If we use the cr1000 Fios router, same issue. If we setup an eero as the gateway, same. Even an old Airport extreme, same results.

Take that same old obsolete Airport and use it as the router for a Comcast network, wifi calling hasn’t any drops.

It is somewhere in the Verizon signal to home or ONT creating the issue. The router has no relevance here. We tried a multitude of routers on a fios gigabit network with the same headaches relative to wifi calling.