Develop Bugs

(Question) signal strength

I jut wanted to see if anyone could give me advice on having better signal. What exactly effects thesignl strength? I know its the prl and I believe I also read that the modem hassomething to do with it also. I've tried different modems I can probably say the best I've used was ec05 but I'm running eh17 now and I update my prl every couple of days. I be in my basment a lot ad I get a lot of call drops or don't receve calls at all and I get texts late or don't receive them at all either. Ifanyone knows anythin I can try that might fix these problems it would be really appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

Try updating your prl manually... there should be a guide in the devolpment section.. and the issue can be your basement.. I get great service in certain areas of my house but the basement usually only gets good service if I leave my phone alone and don't move it.. so it has a steady signal- that could be your issue too. Updating your prl manually isn't easy for beginners so what I would do is read the instructions very carefully
Sent from my old but still kickin Epic 4g

j7jman said:
Try updating your prl manually... there should be a guide in the devolpment section.. and the issue can be your basement.. I get great service in certain areas of my house but the basement usually only gets good service if I leave my phone alone and don't move it.. so it has a steady signal- that could be your issue too. Updating your prl manually isn't easy for beginners so what I would do is read the instructions very carefully
Sent from my old but still kickin Epic 4g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it may be because of my basement but I used to have 1-2 bars but I switch roms and try new modems and now I usually have 0-1 bar in the basment. And even when I am outside I still sometimes miss txts.
I read that thread once it waspretty confusing.. probably because I wasn't trying it. But the thing thatmade me not try it was the face that I have to choose the prl number that I want so I have no idea how to tell which one is best and even by reading what ppl say tey might be in a different place where their prl is better. So I'm really not sure about what to update the prl too and I honestly don't really know everything about prl. So I won't be messing with it until I really understand it.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

1. Buy Roam control @market
2. Set it to roam only

Well the prl is the Preferred Roaming List so if your issue is when you have no signal, which other providers tower will you roam to, then the PRL matters. If your signal in your house is just terrible then it could be some new construction in the area messing with your signal. You could ask Sprint for an Airave if you complain that you have no service in your house and if you have enough credit for an additional line it will cost you the difference in taxes for another line per month. In Florida that was another $1.72 a month. Or as suggested try Roam Control.

kennyglass123 said:
Well the prl is the Preferred Roaming List so if your issue is when you have no signal, which other providers tower will you roam to, then the PRL matters. If your signal in your house is just terrible then it could be some new construction in the area messing with your signal. You could ask Sprint for an Airave if you complain that you have no service in your house and if you have enough credit for an additional line it will cost you the difference in taxes for another line per month. In Florida that was another $1.72 a month. Or as suggested try Roam Control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this, and am supposed to get an airave sometime this week. I also use Roam Control in my house where the signal is weak. Hope to be able to just stay on Sprint with the Airave.

dohturdima said:
1. Buy Roam control @market
2. Set it to roam only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Thanks I will try.

kennyglass123 said:
Well the prl is the Preferred Roaming List so if your issue is when you have no signal, which other providers tower will you roam to, then the PRL matters. If your signal in your house is just terrible then it could be some new construction in the area messing with your signal. You could ask Sprint for an Airave if you complain that you have no service in your house and if you have enough credit for an additional line it will cost you the difference in taxes for another line per month. In Florida that was another $1.72 a month. Or as suggested try Roam Control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Is that the little modem thing where u jut connect it to your internet and it gives u better service strength?

lilajrestnom said:
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Is that the little modem thing where u jut connect it to your internet and it gives u better service strength?
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Click to collapse
Yes. It is called a Femtocell. It is like a mini cell tower in your house that uses the internet to complete calls.

kennyglass123 said:
Yes. It is called a Femtocell. It is like a mini cell tower in your house that uses the internet to complete calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Do you think sprint would give this away forfree? If I tell them I have no signal at all in my house andim thinkin about switching carriers maybe lol?

lilajrestnom said:
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Do you think sprint would give this away forfree? If I tell them I have no signal at all in my house andim thinkin about switching carriers maybe lol?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Provided you have enough credit for another line. It is usually lent to you with the idea if you no longer need it you will return it. I have seen them try to charge those with not enough credit to qualify for an additional line. I qualified for 8 lines so had no problem getting one. Just have to pay the taxes on an additional line which depends on the state you are in.

kennyglass123 said:
Yes. It is called a Femtocell. It is like a mini cell tower in your house that uses the internet to complete calls.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, so THAT's an Airave. Thanks. And they are free?

handymanxda said:
Oh, so THAT's an Airave. Thanks. And they are free?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See the post above yours...lol.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

kennyglass123 said:
See the post above yours...lol.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL....my bad. Still getting the hang of this place.
Edit: tried to thank you for being so nice about it but apparently there is a limit on thanks. Will get ya later.

Question regarding Sprint data...

I'm on Vacation and Sprint has literally no signal here, but I got a Verizon 3G roaming PRL on my device. Anyways, I've been roaming alot since I got here (I was at the beach and Tropical Storm Debbie left me inside most of the time) and I see that now I've used 500 MB in four days!!! I've read that people have gotten booted from Sprint for using 200MB in a month of roaming. I'm scared now that Sprint will cancel my line! I haven't heard anything but if they do cancel me do they cancel just the roaming line or the entire plan? I'm really hoping they don't cancel me. lol!
EDIT: manually put 60687 PRL back on my phone, suffering the 1 bar of 1x signal/no signal now. Just hope it's not too late for me.

Ascertion said:
I'm on Vacation and Sprint has literally no signal here, but I got a Verizon 3G roaming PRL on my device. Anyways, I've been roaming alot since I got here (I was at the beach and Tropical Storm Debbie left me inside most of the time) and I see that now I've used 500 MB in four days!!! I've read that people have gotten booted from Sprint for using 200MB in a month of roaming. I'm scared now that Sprint will cancel my line! I haven't heard anything but if they do cancel me do they cancel just the roaming line or the entire plan? I'm really hoping they don't cancel me. lol!
EDIT: manually put 60687 PRL back on my phone, suffering the 1 bar of 1x signal/no signal now. Just hope it's not too late for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll be fine. use as much sprint data as you can when you get back in a service area to ensure that the majority of your data is on sprint. It's only the line, not the plan.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

revamper said:
You'll be fine. use as much sprint data as you can when you get back in a service area to ensure that the majority of your data is on sprint. It's only the line, not the plan.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, will do!

I have been using Verizon prl the .0001 one since December and I use anywhere from 3-5 Gb a month. Have yet to have a problem at all.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

I used mine with Verizon hacked prl for 3 months. I finally got a call. My problem was for two months I didn't use sprint towers for a majority of my data usage. So definitely use sprint data slot as well
sent from my BAD A$$ Epic touch

Yeah I used 2.5GB on roaming and never heard a peep from sprint. I'm assuming because I used a lot more on sprint's 3g.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA

Any downside to using old PRL's?

I'm not sure if everything on this phone works the same as my old s2, but it doesnt seem to. I fly to the same city 5 days/week, and it is outside of sprint service. On my s2 i just ran the 60675 prl which got me phenomenal speeds and no roaming indicated (using old alltel towers). I don't get the same speeds now with my s3, maybe 1/3-1/2 if I'm lucky. Using 25005 yields me no data coverage, 12124 and 60675 seem similar but 60675 is marginally better. Is there any downside to using it? I can swap back and forth if needed for my home area
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

The only thing to be concerned about is getting in trouble for using too much roaming data. Using an old PRL doesn't change anything other than possibly telling your phone to look for service on frequencies that may have changed. I would try to find the 00002 PRL for a relatively recent Verizon/Alltel only PRL.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

I recommend PRL 11119. You can see my guide on changing PRLs if you need instructions or download links for PRLs.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

been using 60675 for the last year in this area, i don't actually use that much roaming data, i use wifi whenever possible, but if i'm in the car or away i need to have 3g access (navigation primarily). 60675 makes my phone think I am still in a home area which allows profile updates if i need to (especially if i am changing roms)
i used the Anycut method and it works great to change the PRL's but it is a lot of work trying to find them.

The downside would be that as Sprint makes new roaming agreements, your phone won't be set up to use the towers added by those agreements. It might also try to roam onto towers Sprint no longer has agreements to roam to, so you may end up with dropped calls. PRL lists won't affect your non-roaming coverage at all.

Im using 111115 corporate prl, its working good. I get dropped calls on anything else.

12124 seems to be working ok now
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

Signal drops and Airave 2.5 connectivity

Do you guys have any issues with signal on your GN2? My GN2 will just drop all signal and show a circle with a slash in it as if there is no signal at all. At first I thought it was my airave but it happens when I am not within range of my airrave as well.
I also have issues getting the phone connect to my Airave 2.5. Anyone have any ides about this?
I just noticed that I will have full signal and while trying to send a text, the text will look like it's sending but the signal will drop. I have to wait for the signal to come back and re-send the text. 5 minutes later and the same thing happens.

I had a problem like this also, I reset my Airave and then updated profile and it worked. Maybe give that a try.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

BigE-evo said:
I had a problem like this also, I reset my Airave and then updated profile and it worked. Maybe give that a try.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Yeah I've tried this. I reset my Airave and the GN2 will connect but at times it just disconnects.
I still have the problem where I'll turn on my phone and there will be no signal and it will connect to the sprint network after a minute. This happens with or without the airave.

I just flashed the phone back to stock and still having the same problems.

Did you update your profile after resetting the airave? Just a thought?
Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk 2

I had this problem in my house and what I did was turn roaming from automatic to sprint only and it helped. I also unchecked roaming guard for data and voice
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

smark72 said:
I had this problem in my house and what I did was turn roaming from automatic to sprint only and it helped. I also unchecked roaming guard for data and voice
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
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Thanks. I'll give this a shot.

DarkManX4lf said:
Thanks. I'll give this a shot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know if it works for you
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

smark72 said:
Let me know if it works for you
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Nope. I just set it to home only for the roaming mode instead of automatic and I unchecked the domestic roaming guards. I still get signal drops.
I think (not 100% sure) that the signal drops when the phone is idle and not when its downloading something or even when I'm on a call. Not sure if that helps.

After you set it to sprint only did you unplug the airave for a minute or so, then plug back in? Just a suggestion. I was constantly roaming when I would first come home and it would not connect to the airave. I stopped having the problem after I switched to sprint only. I hope you figure it out.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium

Same deal here. We ended up calling sprint and they sent out a 2.5 unit which has been more reliable, if not perfect. If we run into this with the new unit a quick switch to airplane mode and back again usually fixes it and if not then a phone reboot does. While your way this not the most reliable I think it's definitely have something to do with the note. Be sure to call Sprint so they are more likely to address it.

smark72 said:
Let me know if it works for you
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
smark72 said:
After you set it to sprint only did you unplug the airave for a minute or so, then plug back in? Just a suggestion. I was constantly roaming when I would first come home and it would not connect to the airave. I stopped having the problem after I switched to sprint only. I hope you figure it out.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
No I did not but that's only because I was not near the airave when I changed the sprint only setting. My connection drops outside the range of the airave too.
I took my phone to a corporate Sprint store and the tech told me that due to the towers in my area being down (due to the hurricane) that's why my signal drops. But I don't buy that...my signal was fine on Friday with my Galaxy S3. My signal drops at work a lot and my co-worker with his Sprint Galaxy S3 does not have the same signal problems.

guisar said:
Same deal here. We ended up calling sprint and they sent out a 2.5 unit which has been more reliable, if not perfect. If we run into this with the new unit a quick switch to airplane mode and back again usually fixes it and if not then a phone reboot does. While your way this not the most reliable I think it's definitely have something to do with the note. Be sure to call Sprint so they are more likely to address it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an Airave 2.5. Sorry, I should add that to the OP.

Here's an update. I called sprint and told t change support about the problem. They ran through the usual steps like update profile, prl, and a factory reset. They made sure the provisioning was okay on their end and it was. Since I have TEP, they decided to ship me a new or refurbished Note 2. Let's see how that one goes.

DarkManX4lf said:
Here's an update. I called sprint and told t change support about the problem. They ran through the usual steps like update profile, prl, and a factory reset. They made sure the provisioning was okay on their end and it was. Since I have TEP, they decided to ship me a new or refurbished Note 2. Let's see how that one goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did it go?
I think I am on the same boat. I have a brand new airave 2.5+. My GN2 only connected to it twice, after lengthy updating PRL, profile, etc. I can't make it connect normally. Wife's iphone 4s connect OK. I was told because a tower (not very strong signal) is preferred, my phone doesn't connect to airave. I think it is a bug but don't find a solution. I search this forum and found people have similar issue for GN3. I tried PRL 51097 but no luck. BTW, I am on PRL 2011 now.

Can someone post PRL 2011? I made some progress on PRL 55016 but my phone has 2011. I don't know how to read it out, nor do I have the MSL.
---------- Post added at 11:19 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 AM ----------
Does anyone understand why on earth my phone reconnect to cell tower right after I hang up a call? The phone was connected to airave before and during the call (according to the signal strength, unless I was fooled).

It wasn't prl. It was my Note 2. At the time Sprint sent me a new Note 2 and it worked fine.

Prl 25010

So I flash the modded Prl 00001 at my work because I get no signal at all. I well I did the activation refresh with ##72768# and I kept seeing I had Prl 25010 and I usually had 25009. I don't know if it is any good or not. Anyone got this Prl yet? I kept trying to reactivate because I thought it never reset my Prl. I don't know if it's any better or not. Any one else know if it's any good?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

srandroid said:
So I flash the modded Prl 00001 at my work because I get no signal at all. I well I did the activation refresh with ##72768# and I kept seeing I had Prl 25010 and I usually had 25009. I don't know if it is any good or not. Anyone got this Prl yet? I kept trying to reactivate because I thought it never reset my Prl. I don't know if it's any better or not. Any one else know if it's any good?
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
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Its pretty good check it out first picture if from prl 25009 second is from plr 25010. Ps im sure if they are upgrading my towers around me so not 100% sure but so far stop good.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

Prl upgrades don't give you faster 3g speeds.
Only real difference is Baltimore has 800mhz coverage now.
Sent from a little old Note 2

digiblur said:
Prl upgrades don't give you faster 3g speeds.
Only real difference is Baltimore has 800mhz coverage now.
Sent from a little old Note 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you, a prl police for sprint cos I found you everywhere that involves prl. Chill bro.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2

aliabkad said:
What are you, a prl police for sprint cos I found you everywhere that involves prl. Chill bro.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
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Guess you don't know me then.
Sent from a little old Note 2

I got that new PRL and it sucks nuts! :mad

Came in to download the PRL, was disappointed.

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Agreed PRL 25010 for my device has given me nothing but problems. Starting around the 15th for me my device will periodically will not pass incoming calls to the phone nor incoming texts. All data works fine, all outgoing calls and outgoing texts work fine.
Also tested it on my EVO LTE and same problem happens.. Sprint support sees a high percentage of what they call blcoked calls (calls not making it to my device) and they cant explain it. 11% today, 25% on the 15th. She said anyhting higher then 5% is not good.
Ive already been told by another XDA member that PRL has nothing to do with it. BUT i think thats wrong. All this happened around the time the new PRL dropped. Call it a placebo affect but my data services and signal strenghts are lower across the board lately.
On both the GS3 and EVO LTE, and they both have the PRL 25010.
Taking it with a grain of salt tier 2 tech told me that they have seen a higher volume of issues related to call problems and data issues in areas with network vision and i told her i thought it was related to the PRL and she agreed, but we all know how those calls can go.
Prior to the update i had no service problems and was seeing the fastest 3G speeds ever (in dallas, tx and i get faster 3G and seeing more 4G LTE) I feel like im back on the old sprint network prior to all these updates.

After you updated the PRL, did you update your profile? If not, perhaps that may help.

EndlessDissent said:
After you updated the PRL, did you update your profile? If not, perhaps that may help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup.. Today we did multiple data resets ##768 what ever the rest of the numbers are..
Did it twice and a few hours after each time im still not getting calls into my device.
I have done profile updates before and after PRL.

Are you in Baltimore area? That would be the only change in native Sprint service between PRLs.
What SID are you connected to? Check your ##debug# screen in the 1x section to find out.
Sent from a little old Note 2

Dallas, TX..
dont have the passcode its looking for when i put it into debugging. MSL code doesnt work.

Type in Sprint for the code. In numbers of course.
-- "Sensorly or it didn't happen!"

So after doing a lot more research i found out how to load a PRL to my device.
I was on PRL 25010 and am now back on 25009.
Guess what, my data speeds are back up to over 1meg on 3G. (yes that was a sarcastic guess what by the way)
I dont care how many times certain users say that a RPL doesnt affect speeds or connectivity. Call it a placebo affect.
Since 25010 dropped on us i have had nothing but crap tacular data speeds..
I was unable to get over 500k down on the old prl..
3 times now with the 25009 prl i have had 1.12 megs, 1.0 megs, and 975k down.. Ping times are also a lot better..
So problem solved now that i know how to go to an older PRL..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1880781
Thank You digiblur for that write up, the instructions to allow me to go back to my old PRL, and having the new and old PRL in a place where i could download them.
Im now looking for a way to do the same thing on my EVO LTE..

Post the SID you connect to as I am curious to look into this.
-- "Sensorly or it didn't happen!"

digiblur said:
Post the SID you connect to as I am curious to look into this.
-- "Sensorly or it didn't happen!"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When i get home tonight ill get you the SID.

digiblur said:
Post the SID you connect to as I am curious to look into this.
-- "Sensorly or it didn't happen!"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on sid 22407.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

IAmSixNine said:
I'm on sid 22407.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Very nice.. You are on 800SMR which increases coverage of course.
But as you can see there is absolutely zero differences between 25009 and 25010 for that SID:
25010:
SID: 22407 Sprint Nextel - Dallas TX; Longview TX; Lubbock TX; Monroe LA; Paris TX; Shreveport LA; Texarkana TX Prio:Same Roam:None
1X: S/476 S/526
EV: Sprint(0084:0AC0) P/475 P/650 P/550 P/575 P/375 P/75 P/600 P/325 P/175 P/225
25009:
SID: 22407 Sprint Nextel - Dallas TX; Longview TX; Lubbock TX; Monroe LA; Paris TX; Shreveport LA; Texarkana TX Prio:Same Roam:None
1X: S/476 S/526
EV: Sprint(0084:0AC0) P/475 P/650 P/550 P/575 P/375 P/75 P/600 P/325 P/175 P/225
The only recent change Dallas really had was the addition of 800SMR several PRLs back, even before the EVO LTE or S3 was launched. Probably what you are seeing is really Network Vision upgrades and such. Are you running a ROM that has the 3G/1X icon fixed? If not you could actually be on 1X instead due to some of the upgrades. And it is very possible to now only have 1X coverage in areas where you were roaming before. Enjoy the 800SMR... I'm jealous!

On my gs3 and evo lte (I switch back and forth periodically) I noticed a degradation of service from 25009 to 25010.
Both units stock. Non root.
Use the same server for speed test.
Same location. Either my apartment in my tv chair or office at my desk.
I do have mobile signal widget and network signal info to monitor my data connection and strength.
Several months ago my evo lte would get stuck on 1x. But that was several software updates ago. They fixed it. And when it happened I was well aware of it.
I'll enjoy my placebo affect and chalk up the better performance on prl 25009 to colder temperatures. Lol.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 10:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:42 PM ----------
Forgot to add. Roaming is set to sprint only. So I don't roam.
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