In reply to a post by pluralist:

However I have just described to pheasant what happens, and what shows on my phone (Android OnePlus 8 Pro) at the time.

But you just effectively changed a thread about mobile broadband routers by talking about your specific OnePlus phone handset and your Three mobile service. It is unclear why?

Note also that the OP is talking about his existing and future mobile broadband routers. I very much doubt if using a phone SIM in that (as I do in mine) gives access to the mobile call minutes of that SIM via his analogue socket in the router.

Why not? There have been routers that do this, the OP was asking for newer technology ones that do this!! Some from Huawei similar to those you’ve had in the past, but required internet firmware rather than the UK operator firmware.

Maybe it would help if we knew the OP's current router and mobile broadband supplier .

Irrelevant to finding out if anyone makes hardware that could do the requirements. The second question would be compatibility, if hardware can be found. But the UK operators generally all support as many devices as possible. (Unlike the USA operators).

It only ever shows VoLTE at the visited sites, and that is to the left of that triangle. IIRC it replaces the mobile phone signal strength vertical arc.

Then that is useless, replacing signal strength is pointless. On Three in Farnborough all the sites show the VoLTE logo, about 2 years ago the network rolled out VoLTE to all their frequencies (B20, 800Mhz, B3, 1800 MHz, and the higher ones). The OnePlus Nord shows the VoLTE logo in the middle of the bar, not replacing the signal strength.

Clearly my connection to the router is wifi. I've never questioned or doubted that. But what is going in and on the other side of the router?

TCP/IP connection to the ISP, over one or more VLANs.

The question the OP asked is if a router can support the mobile providers VoLTE service, which is (as Pheasant can describe) a VLAN separated away from the normal internet access. This reduces any usage/bandwidth issues so phone calls can be made successfully when the internet connection is maxed out for long periods. (Similar setup for the “digital voice” type services on fixed line). Contrast with over-the-top VoIP services (such as Sipgate) or even apps (WhatsApp etc) that make calls over the internet but are not separated.

WiFi Calling is completely different as it provides a route back into the mobile operators voice services over ANY internet connection. Geo-limited to the UK. No attempt at separating traffic to provide a level of service quality. It works over enterprise networks providing UK internet access.

Hence the OP’s original question, and the irrelevance of the WiFi calling and whatever modes your Android (or my iPhone) support.

Will have to try, I’ve let most of my PAYG SIMs expire. O2 PAYG is pretty lacking in features. The icon certainly didn’t replace any signal strength.

Kids wanted an Easter egg hunt. Then I went for a snooze. I see you chaps have been busy 🐣😅

Maybe if I had simply referred to wifi instead of VoLTE in my first post my reply to the OP, that would have solved a whole load of unnecessary argument . That was a simple slip due to what my phone shows when a wifi-calling connection is made. Even when not in use.

My later explanations made that clear.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

But you just effectively changed a thread about mobile broadband routers by talking about your specific OnePlus phone handset and your Three mobile service. It is unclear why?

Surely that was bleeding obvious, given that I agreed I was talking about wifi calling.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

The "VoLTE" flag shows at all times, even if WiFi calling is in use on my OnePlus, and its pretty pointless to tell people this, but I see a friends (old) Samsung shows the icon only when on mobile connection and it vanishes when on WiFi.

That's just as irrelevant as your complaint about my referring to my (badly-written) post about what I see on my phone by the same manufacture . The difference being that your provider apparently causes it to show all the time when wifi calling is turned on. That is referring specifically to your own "specific OnePlus phone handset" and broadband service, and your friend's service..

And now you seem to agree that wifi calling uses the broadband connection from the router. Which is basically the main point I made in my original reply to the OP once the error of mentioning VoLTE was pointed out.

Finally, you seem to have ignored:

In reply to a post by swt1963:

Although there’s no 5G coverage at home yet, I also use the router when travelling, so 5G capability would be useful. Current router has an analogue phone port which I do use to take advantage of the included voice minutes when I’m using a phone SIM.

Clearly referring to the minutes available via the phone SIM in the router. Are you saying that is at all possible? Not using the broadband data of that SIM but rather the xG mobile phone service of the router SIM??

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Kids wanted an Easter egg hunt. Then I went for a snooze. I see you chaps have been busy 🐣😅

Indeed . All because I erroneously said VoLTE instead of wifi calling. That being because that is the indicator on my phone when wifi calling is enabled when connected to a TalkTalk FTTC router for calls and texts using my Three-SIMed phone.

Hi. My current VoLTE 4G router is Tenda 4G680 , which is a cheap and cheerful Chinese router., so I don’t use it for work purposes. VoLTE works just fine on both Three and EE

On O2 (IIRC - not tested this since 2020) it will fallback to 3G or 2G during the call, which is “unhelpful”

I’ve not tested with Vodafone but as their VoLTE support seems to be limited to a small range of handsets I’d be surprised if it worked.

Edited by swt1963 (Mon 10-Apr-23 03:10:42)

In reply to a post by pluralist:

That was a simple slip due to what my phone shows when a wifi-calling connection is made.

(my bold) in a thread about routers. Think I've done in this thread.

Maybe you should concentrate on the OP, who you can help better than I can.

Getting all "high horse" over an honest mistake by me, made because of what my and your phones display isn't useful to anyone.

Thanks for that info. Knowing your starting point often helps, though in this case it doesn't look like it does.

If we rule out the top end kit mentioned by jchamier, for the reasons he gives, is it really worth trying to use the call minutes available on the SIM in your intended new router?

I'm assuming your mobile phone plan has a limited number of minutes. (Do you ever get near to that limit?). Rather than restrict your choice of mobile router might it be cheaper to increase the minutes in your phone plan? Or maybe even cheaper to pay the excess if you occasionally exceed your existing limit?

On a different track altogether, what kit do you need the backup router for when travelling? Could you just tether to your phone as I often do for my Sim-less iPad? My mobile router stays at home! It is only present as the cheapest way to have unlimited data for security cams cloud access/storage. I ceased my landline completely over four years ago.

Is your phone 5G capable? If not, when are you likely to replace it with one that is? If replacing, what would you do with your current one? If that or your next phone has two SIM slots, just stick a different network PAYG SIM in the second slot. That also protects you against poor coverage somewhere for your main one.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

OnePlus Nord shows the VoLTE logo in the middle of the bar, not replacing the signal strength.

Until (on EE) you connect to a router. Then it changes to Vo WiFi and the broadband signal type disappears.

I expect the same happens if tethered to my 8 Pro but I can't be bothered checking.