BLUG60ToSLW2020
from
SituationalAssessmentTemplate2017
Introduction/Definition/etc
Replacing the SafeLinkWireLess
SmartPhone that broke to
unusable on the return
SunSeekerEZ3Trike2020
and the problems with same...
Body
Original Text
Given the history:
YoureGoingToHaveToWaitSLW2019
SLWStealsMinutes2016
(got an email from someone
linked on that page in marketing
that wanted me to remove their links,
WTF?)
PrePaidCellPhonesUpGrade2016
(seems like more, just
too clever names
of WebPages?)
...
Generally, smartphones
TCLLXA502DL2018
AlcatelRaven4GLTE2018
AlcatelGlitzUnite2017
ZTEMagestyProLTE2017
MicroSDAsOSExtender2017
MemoryComplex2016
The screen had cracked
on KGMR2018 or
KGMRAlt2019
walking around dropped
on the plaza
at early morning/ late night,
getting a photo of the chalk outlines
of the mini bike rodeo...
(remember arms get tired,
and coordination in hands
less good after 20, 30, 50+ miles,
etc)
But compressed in front shorts
pocket against the likely
EKENH9ActionCamera2017
on a Bent, no back pocket use
on a recliner like seat, instead of
Wedgie, little options for packs,
racks, storage, etc, so, few options,
even a backpack, not working well
on those seats, so i guess finally went,
water and rain might have gotten the
rest of the screen, two large circles
about the size of the action camera,
and couldn't even turn it back off,
so useless, unless USB connect
with OTG or similar, will see if i can
get the data off of it, that way...
So call up SLW on the reminding
please take our links of your listing/
page from FreeGovernmentCellPhones
or where ever on SLWStealsMinutes2016
so many years later, to rewrite history,
not likely to happen, public information,
not sure if WhiteLivesMatter2020
has anything to do with it,
or just critical of SLW and
other issues, but not really
my concern...
So called SLW tech support
their phone tree doesn't really handle
it well, replace a phone,
bring your phone (#)
to SLW / porting,
not the usual buy minutes
(on a free service?)
see balance
(texted to the device,
but mine is broken)
and my VoiceMail hasn't worked
since i changed devices,
reporting full,
but not any gotten,
even after phone change,
but getting ahead of myself...
Call and report the phone is broken,
not stolen, that's a reporting
and theft thing,
not lost, that's something else,
similar to stolen,
etc...
So i'd have to buy a phone,
and one woman only option
was to buy from SLW
their phones on their WebSite,
which seemed expensive
and would have to wait,
since monthly usage is required
to keep the subsidized minutes/ data,
i would potentially lose that
which is a big hassle,
no phone
in case of problems,
can't check email while out,
unless on open Wifi
and risks with that too...
(or 911 emergency calls,
which have a host of other
problems,...)
After a you're SOL,
not our problem attitude,
from one person,
But told i had until the ~25th
which was a month
from when i called
and didn't have money
in that month
to replace the phone,
no free replacement,
like 2G to 3G transition,
PrePaidCellPhonesUpGrade2016
and maybe one
in the 10-15? years?
i've been on that?
already used...
And already pressed the issue,
i could transfer the phone
benefit(s) to another service,
so that was the ammunition
for the expected continued
problems with SLW
like SLWStealsMinutes2016
which i lost a lot last
phone transfer, hundreds
of minutes and mostly data
now (3Gig left? had some extra
with PanDemic and SMS unlimited?
Voice I don't use much...)
Try UnLocked?
So to have to find a compatible phone
little advice/ information available,
only buy one of their TracFones
at inflated cost, and locked phone,
so decided on an UnLocked phone,
and out to find a good one,
on short notice (a few days to
research), and find where,
so Target had a TraFone
but $70? for a 16Gig?
The had a SIM kit,
bring your phone to TracFone
for a $1, the SafeLinkWireless
one online is $10, so pick up/buy
that, but asking about getting a training
receipt took 4 people, one of which
was security, and accusing like
questions, where's the receipt?
perhaps thinking i was trying to
return or warranty (sp?)
the broken, one, forget about that,
i need an invoice to buy a phone,
so a training receipt to use to get
the money to buy a replacement,
not a concept that they seem to have,
photos might work but blurry, part
numbers, things in locked glass case,
glare, angle, rush and the camera
is bursting 30+ photos each time i try
taking a photo, some places have no
photo policies, harassed at some
places i've done that for year(s) now,
and 4+ Million photo views on one
gMaps account, so let's say some problems
protecting customers who need to document,
wish list, much less reasonable accommodation,
ADA remember details, like how many Gigs?
which model?
Galaxy J2?
16 or 32Gig memory?
Even see Doesn't work on
Verizon on the cover,
but avoiding them anyways
amazing tunnel vision
when looking for stuff
and interrupted by sales
people, similar to
PandemicWareHouse2020
...
Since ATTNokia31a2019
and not getting a BluC4or5?
cheaply i think it was 16Gig
while the Nokia31a was 32Gig
and difficult to got back,
16Gig fills quickly with me,
even before a lot of photos...
I was considering doing a
page on a
PhoneStorageBudget2020
(unfilled, so far)
but not gotten around to it,
and eventually found
after days of searching online,
a 64Gig Blu Unlocked GSM,
(a few other options
open box Samsung?
in Rockville,
in the $150 range?)
go get that at MicroCenter
$100 on sale, (til today?)
(issues there too)
MicroCenterMonopolyMoney2018
they had one for the same price
at 32Gig, oddly and a G80
for $130 or so, which is higher
speed OctoCore (2.0? GHz)
(8 CPU processors
like i've wanted for RPi4
but not happened yet,
and the RPi4 4GigRAM is ~$50
without a display, etc...
but open hardware hackable,
sort of...
5G?
some prices are coming down,
but $300-500+ low end
was beyond me,
buying old technology
bothers me, but price
point, losing, dropping
theft, muggings, etc
also a problem,
maybe research and
learn more along the way
for a more intelligent/
less rushed replacement
later?
Case?
Finding a hard case
much less battery pack
with it, like for an iPhone,
or more major brand?
Activating
Call up, not sure which of
the turns out 3 SIM cards
in the kit, AT&T, TMobile
(aka TMo?),
and Verizon? plus other Unlocked
GSM varieties, and they said
i had to go back to Target,
after so many miles out to
MicroCenter, and kind of dumped
me off the phone,
like i was a problem,
she had said the phone
was compatible,
but not the SIM and it was OLD,
they were selling old stuff,
but no way of telling how to know if
it was fresh (i eventually found a date
on the packaging 03/20? being
what they had, and of the three
i ended up with, after the 1 returned,
thinking that was a problem returning
anything during ConVid
ConVid19ContinuesIn2020
but that's started again,
opened, and had to open the
smartphone case again, trying
to do that without any instructions
and scratched the soft plastic case,
using a knife, luckily not cut myself,
nor fry the new thing with bare electrical
stuff like a replaceable/ removeable battery,
but SIM, MicroSD slot and SIM2
DUALSIM phone, had bought cheap
64Gig cards at MicroCenter,
and put in on start up)
Used home wifi to upgrade
during the self imposed
down time between
you need a new SIM kit
and the energy to go back out
after so many miles, getting dark
by then Friday night, and dangerous
cold, etc...
But went anyways, not having
lights as usual from the old
beater bike built in, but a flashlight
and think a blinkie, at least on the
Aldi helmet if i remove the plastic tab
and find batteries to replace if start using...
In shorts, late, getting dark,
back to Target, similarly
unhelpful Electronics
department, but thinks
it will be returned,
to customer service,
not very helpful in Electronics,
things locked up like we are thieves (sp?)
and can't see packaging, lock cords
around things so can't even open
and down low cases, no wonder
they are getting out of the business
and an irate customer said he's an
asshole, i said i goes with the
territory, trying to add line
to Consumer Cellular, but
Target doesn't do that anymore,
apparently... No Mobile Kiosks
or something...
Try BestBastards2018
missed it by a few minutes
doors closed, try TMobile store
got inside with mobility aid,
3 staff there no other customers
have to go to the back
bring it in, next to the former
Performance Bikes still not replaced
going on a year+ empty,
and no he doesn't have it
had to check his device,
wasting my time, getting late
and dark, ridicule like
millennials (sp?), why would we do that
attitude but one said check 7-11?
CVS sometimes has some TracFone,
across the street check AT&T
and got in there, and she tried
selling me on their network,
we make SIMs, part of service,
but service costs more than
the phone...
Check Staples,
FUD? Does TracFone
still exist?
we haven't seen those
in a year+...,
after infinite wait
have to check,
sells the airtime cards to connect,
and gift cards, but nope...
So try the CVS,
getting in narrow isles,
have a flip phone
or cards, no SIM Kits,
WalGreens Security Guard
WalGreens (sp?), big (black)
security guy
you can't bring that in here,
I'm disabled, have disabled
ID, and it's right there, behind
him, had bought Atari stuff and
used the weighing blood pressure,
heart rate on
Higi machines there in the night
previous winter times,
but staff may have changed,
and now virus and
Friday night issues (dark,
cold, drinkers out, few lights )...
I had crashed near there too,
on an unseen pothole
leaving Sears
when that was a thing in
7 Corners,
and have to go more futile
Fools Errand Run Around,
And WallGreens (sp?) wanted $10
for the SIM card kit, when
it said $1 on the packaging,
i guess the manager thought
it included air time too,
like some others, but no,
waved at the guard, leaving...
Library Guard
One place, the library, guard there
tried stopping me from bringing it in,
I'm disabled, have ID
it's my wheelchair and it need it,
was good enough for him,
and it's in my records there too,
but i guess the emergency
soda is the real issue, one bag
down the Performance Transit
pannier ripped out, old
and irreplaceable,
going out a little uneven,
2 Sheriffs officers
in full combat
gear pointed that out, one late
return and all i could do is
laugh at their likely
harrassment (sp?)/ attitude,
all people are bad,
one guy new to me,
the other seemed familiar
likely kicking out a neighbor,
not wanted me,
i was the victim so
heard some of it,
and more hate in SardineLand...
CyberBullying2020 ...
EarPhones w/ Mic, Etc
Anyways, MicroCenter
had cheap ear bud headphones
one wired and one BlueTooth
try those at $5 and $4 or so,
(BlueTooth the higher cost one)
after i learn how to open
the packaging, again a problem,
opening things without destroying
nor cutting myself, with a knife,
scissors, razor, etc...
ReTry Activating
Call up again, late Friday,
had been up since 3 am or so
not back down, no nap,
many miles going to MicroCenter,
and then the run around,
reach a woman who seemed
to have a plan of further run around
and about to lose it, on their third
strike with me, so read the SIM
numbers? what about
3 cards none would work,
can i talk yo your supervisor,
but she can't hear me,
bad connection,
but knows AT&T network
will work and we try that
SIM card, so all that might
have been a waste...
Voice Over LTE (VoLTE)
I had the run Around about
VOLTE Voice Over LTE
something i need for around
here, and i guess get wifi
connections over the higher
bandwidth, not Wifi as i assumed,
had tried some message
Usage, nope, newer phone
than the SIM Kit cards,
barking dog in the back ground
amuses me, somehow,
and later seem to overhear
they are putting the dog down,
more emotional blackmail,
she's going to text me in a
few days and thinks i need
to do a good review,
'they need their jobs'/'be nice'
when at least one of the three
was not nice, but deliberately
misleading, punishing me for
not buying from their website
for more and shipping, lost
packages, etc problems,
i'm sure it's a tough job,
i'm not a phone support
person, but how customers
are treated, given the run around,
talked down to, even hold on for
3 minutes takes a while to determine
if if works, and what? can't hear
still there? when waiting for what?
infinite hold? and punishing customer
I told you to buy from the website,
or at least the x phone is good,
try that, we don't care if you
buy from us, but if you find
closer, cheaper, faster,
etc get back connected,
as the trips out could have killed
me, and no help,
it is a LifeLine service,
and Federally funded,
other competition has started
up after, and SafeLink may be
the biggest but policy of losing
accrued balance if have to
change phones, no fault really,
but punished, and not kept
up with stuff, really peeves me...
Some QuidProQuo for i got
it working, congrats you did
what two other colleagues couldn't,
but likely have to fire at least
one of the unhelpful people,
the deliberately unhelpful punishing
one, even if you are doing overtime,
on call, working from home,
not my dog, etc, i hate to be
calloused, but the organization
brought it on itself,
giving people the runaround/
fools errands, it wasn't the
card, as the AT&T worked,
and having to do the footwork
as a disabled, in the dark,
as rushed, and stressed,
could have been bad,
worse... Harvest Moon was
one good thing, but setup
to ride at night, something i
know to be more risky,
and lights, etc to be worked
out, i had bought a replacement
magneto light set,
but incompatible
with Disc brakes, so limited
use, afaict, has LightSteady,
(capacitors? for when not in motion)
besides being newer,
less rusty, but newer non clearance
models likely better, for me,
just limited availability of bike
and other parts, shortages,
and profiteering?
Modified Text
What's Missing?
What Can Be Found?
fairly typical call center issues?
What Can Not Be Found?
Clear descriptions of what can
and can't connect to their network,
seems to be a bulk buy from
different networks, as well as
theirs, so need specifics...
How To Analyze?
Lenses
Noob
New to cell phones
and not done the 2G to 3G
might be lost without in person
help, call center not cutting it,
idk...
Seniors
Some may be before
technology took off,
and might need help
from others, senior centers
have a class on smartphones
for seniors, and i've personally
tried helping some,
my mother was dying
and i was helping others
with theirs, i guess
easier when don't know the people/
have a history, like teaching to
drive, maybe...
Dis/Dys
Graphic
Might just be not able to draw,
like the other kids,
Picasso, or schematics,
but not a lot of faces,
see Harry Chapin's
Flowers are Red YouTube
video about educational
systems... Resonates,
sometimes, too much...
Lexic
oddly a lot of text
up here for someone who
started out dysgraphic
and dyslexic...
YMMV
Deaf
TTY and Voice Relay
i guess type in and
someone reads and
listens, like a transcriber/
sign language interpreter,
but given many can read,
might be good, children learning
while deaf may be an issue,
and deaf would not necessarily
want to change, hear all the noise,
implants if offered some don't want
and a strong deaf culture
(get your own sign name,
saves finger spelling out)...
General Public
Maybe the cost of Progress?
Pay Phones go away,
and now with PanDemic
a likely way of transmitting
disease?
Each have their own headset/
handset, and connect,
keyboards too cleanliness,
shared machines and cold
and flu season(s)...
LifeLine is publicly funded
for those that can't and
especially important
for kids and the Digital Divide
(the gap between have and
have nots with technology,
worse perhaps in rural areas
where the last mile/ getting
high speed is expensive/
cable doesn't go, satellite,
one way down, voice quality
line distance from LEC for DSL,
etc)
Assumptions
More people in the conversation?
BandWidth issues?
5G adoption?
Cost comes down?
Always lag a G behind?
like SmartPhones not
included for a long time,
years/ decade behind?
Time Limits
1 month from reporting
phone broken to replace,
or lose subsidized connection...
Not planned for, was looking
but not all the way broken,
just screen cracked,
and went the rest of the way
on SunSeekerEZ3Trike2020
return in the heat/ rain/ getting
dark, etc...
5G adoption rates?
migration?
Sales in Fall time?
Back To School?
Timing with ramp up
for new Holiday Season
Gifts?
Book Data
Likely books on this stuff,
online though might be more
up to date, but getting online,
dead tree version(s)?
ISBN
Bound
CopyRight
Pages
index
Links
BLUG60ToSLW2020
ATTNokia31a2019
TCLLXA502DL2018
AlcatelRaven4GLTE2018
AlcatelGlitzUnite2017
ZTEMagestyProLTE2017
MicroSDAsOSExtender2017
(adding memory as system
not just photos link name?)
MemoryComplex2016
SLWStealsMinutes2016
PrePaidCellPhonesUpGrade2016
RPiTouchScreenDisplay2018
RPi3in2016
PreTeenPatience2015
...
GeekingOutWithRaspberryPi2012
...
/GoFish
many more likely here
that relate...
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
So back to the device
less whining, and hassle/
run around, fools errand
by SLW...
Built in FM Radio
like older MediaTek processors
(really in the comms chip)
1.4GHz OctoCore
brand? not SnapDragon, AFAICT
the G80 is only $30 more
when on sale, and upgrades
to 2.0GHz likely would have
been better is not pressed/
short on money to even do this
and other demands...
Battery Removeable
something that has bothered
me with ATTNokia31a2019
especially since that is what
is broken now, not charging
even while using and plugged
in, so might have overheated
in back pocket bag keep it
from getting wet, not water proof
resistant and sweat plus the
heat, SmartWatch2020
wants that for assisted GPS
and tracking and
ConVidWise app
might be eating battery too...
HeadPhones included,
but flimsy?
volume too high,
hurts a bit and can't
turn it lower, if dial resistance
or driving bigger speakers
might be the right power
Only Andriod 9 (Pie)
not Android 10 (Q)
so already old tech
system software wise,
maybe why on sale?
besides maybe 2019
year initial release
and 5G coming on strong now...
Not 5G,
prices coming down,
but for subsidized, they
(SLW) sells them and they work,
but where how many towers?
where? and will drop down to
4GLTE too, the phone(s)
are downward compatible,
just way too expensive,
imnsho...
Security Upgrades
I did 2, nice to know
they do them, but still
months old, so wonder how
long that will last?
But not going up to 10 Q?
Would have to root it?
Accessories
Not many, a soft case included?
Memory Extension Not Working?
On boot mentioned
Insert SDCard
but it's in there
not loose, just not acknowledged
after originally formatting it,
so don't like off/non name brand
Class 10s?
Screen Save
Related to the SD card problem?
had seen it, but now don't so
FSCK file system check fail?
Corrupted on the quick reboot(s)?
Games back to Level 1/ Start Over
While i started from a backup
of the screen broken device
it only gave some apps to
try to auto reinstall 55?
but some didn't
Text Editor (TED) yeah
competes with the video TEDTalks
and many years old,
Open Source
only found it after having in Installed
history, as search now doesn't show
and errors/ warns needs newer,
but not sure he/they have...
Used to it, gDocs doesn't do well,
emojis/ word/ graphic substitutions,
SuggestChanges, etc...
1105+ levels into FishDumb2020
and all the other Games2020
takes a lot of the fun out of it,
for me...
FM Radio App upgrades
needs to save data based on RDS
which gives station, song title,etc
could basically rip from the airwaves
and automagically save for say
when in tunnels, avoiding commercials,
and other interruptions issues,
but need open source, and some
skills/ benefit, vs/ commercial interests
likely preventing a radioTiVo like
app...
UnLocked = Portable
Some SLW protection
of being unlocked
and could use the same
SmartPhone to another provider/
network, which at 3 strikes
all three SIM Kit sets of cards
and was getting rather close
to threatening that, though
the hassle, need to look into
it, likely having had so many
problems with it, got the
minutes transferred,
likely by escalation
to a manager to make me
happy after their mistake(s)...
And say nice things isn't
really my department,
Critic is, and Integrity,
Journalistic and personal,
included...
Blu buys from a company in BankRuptcy
While fact checking, noticed
The Chinese company that manufactures
the phones has filed for BankRuptcy,
the CEO was a gambler and
$100+Million in company's money
was lost in gambling,
according to the WikiPediaPage
on BLU, i didn't look far
to find it either...
Not sure what secondary plans
they have a Miami company,
for other sources...
So could be Orphaned?
MicroCenter has sold stuff
that is orphaned/ old before
i've bought activity trackers
that were Open Box,
didn't cost not much
and Didn't Work,
this kind of works,
and was relatively cheap
and had more, might be why
it was on sale?
or just older model(s)
with new coming out?
Android Pie?
and on 10 Q now?
generally just past
latest might be good
price wise, but will see
over time, the can't upgrade
problem is bad, FireFox Nightly
Chrome, and DisCord
are th three not upgrading
might have been playing with
Developer settings
but can't seem to start over
on that, turn Developer off,
doesn't help, deleted one
of the two and can;t get
FireFox Nightly back on,
only the older one sticks/
stayed???
Bleeding Edge But on a Daily Driver?
Makes phone calls,
does texting,
takes photos, better
than the bursting on,
better camera phones exist,
likely the AI camera on the back
13MegaPixel Dual?
and another?
not the 3+ like FlagShip
newest tech out there,
but up from what i had?
Isolating Issues Still
Games
FishDumb2020
required FaceBook to
"SaveProgress" but i don't
use face Book, so annoying
to go from 1108 or so to
1, currently about 200
after days on it,
and getting harder,
Won in the League
in the top 2 or 3?
See Games2020
Klondike?
Some might save with
gPlayGames
not sure
8Ball Pool?
Mahjongg?
Solitaire?
Zoom?
mic and right connecter
helps? might be too loud
talking directly int othe hole
on the cord,
one button turns off/on
not forward/ back,
just stop/play...
but works, so far...
I don't know how i sound,
don't talk on it much,
data mostly...
and some typing
chat like...
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
What are the worst customer
service problems you have had?
With TeleCom?
Subsidized so can't complain or
threats of losing things/
not getting benefits?
From a position of power over you?
What QuidProQuo have people
tried on you?
Was it after abuse?
Was it MOB/ Union like?
Gold Bricking?
Any threats of we know
you, where you live?
Etc?
Have you reported it?
Safe to do so?
Retribution?
License
Creative Commons Share and Share Alike,
Non Commercial, Non Derivative,
for the whole site's contents
unless otherwise explicitly stated
Page History
20201008 Jerry
- getting a RoundToIt
- adding BLU buys from BankRupt
- supplier/source
- Orphaned
- other cleanup/ clarity
- adding stuff
- Sectionalized some
- likely more to do,
- but might never get to it,
- will see
- YMMV
- standard excuses
- dog ate my homework
- Fall2020
- ToDos
-
20201004 Jerry
- Jerry created this page to
- log a new SmartPhone
- device and problems
- selecting, getting
- and activating
-
- from
- FrontPage
-
- Using TempSitUpdating
- to make situations uniform across cases...
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