I don't have "Global" or "CDMA" as choices for prefered network

[Robrooke]

I would be very very careful with Verizon Wireless they seem to be pulling peoples strings I bought service through Straight Talk which told me they shoot off of Verizon towers which I found out was true however for the first 6 months I had perfect service no matter how much data I use or anything it was perfect then all of a sudden it started slowing down and then it went completely out I have argued for 6 months with 18 different Straight Talk reps that the 19th told me that Verizon Wireless was upgrading to a 5G system so they were slowing everybody down that shot off of their towers just believe Verizon Wireless customers happy so when I decided to change I went down to Walmart and the Walmart employee told me the same exact thing that he had a lot of Straight Talk customer service changing their service because they shoot off of their towers and it's being slow down so I decided to go with Verizon I figured that would solve my problem however for three months now my problem has stayed the same it says on my network mode they tell me it needs to be on global but when I do a device health care check through Verizon Wireless app it tells me that I'm not on a preferred setting when I go to LTE / CDMA it tells me the same thing I am not on a preferred setting I have argued with 9 different Verizon Wireless agents about this I filed a complaint with the FTC and the FCC and the only way I could get them to call me back was for the FCC to send them my complaint and then the representative told me that there was nothing wrong with my phone and hung up on me I'm a prepaid customer and I feel like they are treating prepaid customers like second-class citizens you don't get the options that postpaid customers do I was told by a Verizon agent that weed shoot off a low-tier Towers not what postpaid customers do it is just pathetic how they treat their prepaid customers so if you're having trouble with global or CDMA go to the Verizon app and run a device Healthcare check and see if it does not say not on a preferred setting Verizon is doing this on purpose

[DMathews1]

I've run the device service check many times on Samsung phone.  Although it says "not on a preferred network" all the time, I'm using Global Network and have been told by Verizon tech support that's the best network setting to choose...  btw, I'm on post-paid acct.

[vzw_customer_support]

When it comes to choosing the preferred network, there are often two choices that you can toggle between, DMathews1. We recommend whichever of those two deliver the best service to your device. Are you having trouble with the service on your device? Please provide more details.

GeorgeS_VZW

[DMathews1]

George-

Thanks for your reply.  I have recently had some difficulty with my GPS working with Waze.  I had heard someone say by turning off the Verizon 5g, the GPS problem gets fixed.  That is the main reason why I was considering switching off the 5G.

When I go to the Network settings on my Galaxy s20+, my choices are Global, LTE/CDMA and LTE/GMS/UMTS.  Which would you recommend?

[vzw_customer_support]

DMathews1 Of the options you are providing Global or LTE/GMS/UMTS are your best options. I'm sorry the 5G is not working for you. It could be that it's not available in certain locations. Let us know if we can be of further assistance.

[DMathews1]

Thanks for your reply.  It's not a matter of my 5G not working;  I believe it would work if Verizon had 5G in my area.   The fact is, Verizon 5G is hardly available anywhere.

I do not think that Global would be a suitable option because Global does not turn off 5G.  As far as I know, the Global option uses 5g...  And as I mentioned, I'm only trying to "turn off 5G" so I can get my GPS to work properly on my Samsung Galaxy S20+

What would be the advantage of using LTE/GMS/UMTS over LTE/CDMA on Verizon?  Thanks again for your input!

[vzw_customer_support]

DMathews1, you asked a great question. A review of many forums out there suggests you are on the right path to “turning off 5G.” There is no advantage or disadvantage between the LTE/GMS/UMTS and LTE/CDMA. Our recommendation is to choose the setting that gives you the best signal to your device. We thank you for your replies and efforts.

GeorgeS_VZW

[DMathews1]

Thanks for your follow up.  Going on my old Verizon cell phone knowledge, CDMA "at one time" applied to Verizon;  and GMS applied to AT&T;   based on that, I would think that a "Verizon customer" would stay away from LTE/GMS/UMTS;  (UMTS of course means 2G which I assume doesn't exist anywhere).  

I believe somewhere I saw that someone used LTE/CDMA with good results.  It would be nice to get an official answer as to the distinction between those two modes on Verizon Wireless.

[vzw_customer_support]

DMathews1, CDMA is a technology that was used exclusively by Verizon and Sprint; however, with the development and implementation of LTE, all carriers converted over to GMS, which uses SIM Cards. Also, we have retired the CDMA technology and our 3G services which means that CDMA only phones would not work any longer on Verizon. Lastly, not all phones are Global phones. To be a Global phone, you have to have CDMA/GMS/UMTS capabilities on the phone so that it can function in any country internationally. If your phone does not show "Global", it may mean it is not a global phone or it has not been provisioned as a Global Phone. - ErichC_VZW

[DMathews1]

Eric-

Thank you for your reply. Fi mentioned earlier in this thread,  my phone is one of the latest Samsung phones, Verizon-Samsung s20+ so it does have a Global network setting. 

My original question had to do with whether one network setting has advantages over the other... I'm particularly interested which one, if any, would turn off 5g on my phone so that my GPS "might work better" until Samsung/Google comes up with a patch that solves the problem that S20 and S10 users have been experiencing.

[vzw_customer_support]

You can think of Global as an automatic mode, and will work to keep the phone connected in most places. In cases where it doesn't work, we might change this option to the local network. CDMA is a US network technology and supports the LTE network here, so they may appear together. The best one to use is the one that allows the most reliable signal for your phone in that area.

ZakC_VZW

[DMathews1]

Thanks for your reply, but the one question I asked remains unanswered:

"I'm particularly interested which one, if any, would turn off 5g on my phone so that my GPS might work better" 

So, do any of the choices other than Global, turn off the 5G on my phone?

[vzw_customer_support]

CDMA is an old network type that is currently in the process of being retired. If you were to switch your device to CDMA you would lose 5G connectivity. Since we are retiring the old CDMA network, you may also experience overall service issues if you swapped from Global.

[DMathews1]

So, when the setting on my phone says LTE (which is 4g)/CDMA you are telling me this could end up being lousy service??? - - What's the easiest way for me to determine the signal strength of my phone reception/data when trying to determine the overall effect of switching from one mode to another?

As I mentioned, if GPS was working properly on my s20+ I would not be resorting to changing network settings on my phone.  Some people have said by turning off 5G, it seems to fix their problem with GPS.  - - I'm sure eventually a software/patch update will fix the GPS problem.  But in the meantime, I'd like to have my GPS working.   Thanks!

[DMathews1]

Is anyone able to answer my question above???

[vzw_customer_support]

Making sure the GPS functions proprly is essential. You asked which setting to select to disable 5G service. Is that correct? If so, Go to Settings, Connections, Mobile Networks, Network Mode and select LTE/CDMA if you do not want to access 5G. We can't guarantee a particular setting will resolve the GPS issue without troubleshooting. Share details about the GPS issue. Which apps are you using that are experiencing problems? 

[DMathews1]

I am using the same gps apps that 80% of the U.S. use:  Waze and/or Google Maps (both owned by Google).    I don't know when or how the GPS problem with Samsung S20 phones and other Samsung phones will get resolved.  It's a hassle not being able to rely on either program due to the GPS locking up/turning off...

And if turning off 5G doesn't affect my phone service, I don't mind doing so, especially since probably 95% of the country doesn't have 5G service with Verizon... we surely don't have it where I am, and I'm only 30 minutes from the Technology Capital of the World, Silicon Valley...

Thanks for your reply.

[Tigerstep]

Since prepaid accounts don't run credit checks, what's stopping you from using Metro?