Why no simultaneous voice and 4G LTE data on S7?

[notarycat]

I bought the new S7 at Costco on May 7.  Worked great on test calls and data.  Drove the hour home, phone won't allow simultaneous voice and 4G LTE data.  In the valley at the store, the Advanced Calling is set to HD Voice & Video.  In my area, it automatically reverts to HD Voice only, and goes to 1x when on a call. 

[rothfusz]

I just noticed the same problem today myself. I'm wondering if it's something with the most recent "update".

Was hoping to see someone else on here that was having the same issue that had gotten an answer. I'm calling Verizon tomorrow, I will update when I get more information.

I am glad to see that it's not just me.

[notarycat]

I spent an hour in the store last Saturday, and another hour on the phone with Tech Support yesterday.  No answers available.  A friend suggested asking for a new SIM card, so I might try that.  Please let me know what you find.

[bearone21]

what happens if you don't select hd calling/video???

[notarycat]

I don't know.  The option is greyed out and I can;t select anything.

[vzw_customer_support]

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[dealmein]

There is nothing wrong with your phone.  The Sprint S7 has both CDMA and LTE radios but only has 1 antenna for the radios to share.  Consequently, you cannot have simultaneous voice and data when you are on a CDMA call because the device uses the antenna for the CDMA radio while you are on a call.  The only way to get simultaneous voice and data on a CDMA carrier if the phone has only 1 antenna is if your call is routed over the LTE network - i.e., VoLTE.  However, Sprint has not yet implemented VoLTE.

Having only 1 antenna is a design choice that Samsung made to save money.  Verizon has implemented VoLTE and GSM carriers don't have this issue since LTE is a GSM technology and so their devices only have 1 radio.  This is only an issue on Sprint devices and until Sprint implements VoLTE, it will continue to be an issue as the manufacturers are no longer making phones with 2 antennas.

[Ann154]

Why are you discussing Sprint's implementation or lack of VoLTE?

[dealmein]

Forgot I was on the Verizon forum.  I have both Sprint and Verizon lines and I was posting earlier on a Sprint forum.  Sorry.  But the issue is the same for the Verizon S7 - only 1 antenna for 2 radios.

The only way to get simultaneous voice and data on the Verizon S7 is to enable HD calling on both your line and your phone.  Log online to your Verizon account and make sure that HD Voice is enabled.  You go to Plans and Services then Manage Apps and Products then free products.  Something like that you should be able to figure it out.  Then you can enable Advanced calling on your phone.

And once you do that then if you have a 4G LTE signal, your call will be placed over VoLTE and you will be able to do simultaneous voice and data.  But if you do not have a 4G LTE signal or if it is weak, the phone will route your call on the CDMA network and you will not be able to get simultaneous voice and data.

Older Androids used to have an antenna for each radio so this wasn't an issue back then. iPhones never did.  But now the Android manufacturers have decided to follow Apple's lead and only put 1 antenna in the devices.  Eventually Verizon will do away with the CDMA network and all calls will be VoLTE calls but that won't happen for awhile.

[dealmein]

You need to enable HD Voice on your line - see my post above.  Then power cycle the phone and you should be able to enable Advanced Calling in the settings.