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Help Ring Delay (Slot Cycle Index)

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bkertz

Newbie
So I'm using the sprint + google voice integration on my 3vo. I've found out that there is a huge delay when people call me before my phone rings. I've gotten many calls where my phone rings just once before going to voicemail. I've done some testing and found that the google voice app on my laptop rings several times before my phone even begins to ring. Has anyone else seen this kind of delay? Is there anything I can do about it?

At this point, I'm thinking about getting rid of google voice because of this problem. Am I going to run into any problems opting out of the sprint + google voice integration if I choose to do so?
 
bkertz said:
So I'm using the sprint + google voice integration on my 3vo. I've found out that there is a huge delay when people call me before my phone rings. I've gotten many calls where my phone rings just once before going to voicemail. I've done some testing and found that the google voice app on my laptop rings several times before my phone even begins to ring. Has anyone else seen this kind of delay? Is there anything I can do about it?

At this point, I'm thinking about getting rid of google voice because of this problem. Am I going to run into any problems opting out of the sprint + google voice integration if I choose to do so?
Click to expand...

This has nothing to do with Google Voice. This is because the phone only polls the tower every so often to check if there is an incoming call. It will be the same speed regardless of whether or not you enable the GV integration.

I've been with Sprint for 10 years and every phone I've had has the same delay.
 
this is true above. it has nothing to do with GV. ive used GV for about 3 years now.

what you want to do is change your Slot Cycle Index. its set to 2 by default.

The only way to change this is to get your MSL and get into the programming to change the number.

i have mine set to zero (0) so it polls pretty constant however this will impact battery life.

if you have access to your MSL then give this a try. set it to "1" and test.
 
Jensen and Marc have identified the likely problem. For full instructions on changing your Slot Cycle Index see this post in this thread: http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-3d...ings-improve-voice-quality-2.html#post2899211

This post I linked you to shows you a little more detail about the Slot Cycle Index. And the post after it is another helpful one by Marc which includes a link about the issue. It has been a "problem" with multiple HTC phones using Sprint's towers.
If you read through the entire thread you will find a few ways detailed to acquire your MSL #. And post number one will have more detailed instructions on getting into the service menu and entering your MSL #.

Also,

This thread is about Google Voice and the post is about not having enough time to answer calls. Its a different issue, but may be part of the problem as well? See this post: http://androidforums.com/htc-evo-3d/361703-press-1-accept-call-google-voice.html#post2870723

P.S. Did you ever get your Media Volume Issue from a few weeks ago fixed? You should follow up and post your final solution in there, maybe it can help others if they encounter that same problem.
 
Thanks for the info! So the slot cycle change will likely drain my battery? This kind of concerns me because at home and work I already have a sketchy signal (1-3 bars and sometimes goes into roaming). Perhaps this is why I have this kind of delay with the ring anyway. I've already gotten my MSL number, so I'll probably set it to 1 as marctronixx suggested and see how it goes.

PyroSporker, thanks for the reminder. I completely forgot to follow up in that thread. I have posted a reply there.
http://androidforums.com/members/marctronixx.html
 
it wont KILL your battery. ive never tested this to see how much of a drain it can be. however if the battery polls the tower more, then it uses more power.. i dont think you will notice a big dent in battery drain.. i have mine on 0 and i get the same average battery use as most others who dont modify the SCI...

also changed the title of the thread...
 
And this is by no means a problem with Sprint or their cell tech. Wife's iPhone on AT&T has the same issue. I'm always calling her phone around the house because she can't find it. Even though I hear the rings on my end, her phone doesn't actually start ringing until after 2-3 rings. At which time it only actually rings once or twice before I hit voicemail.

I guess I'll head over to some iOS forum to see if there's a similar setting I can change and a cool way to obtain the MSL. :)
 
I have changed my Slot Index on many phones and really have not noticed much of a difference, maybe one ring.

What I am curious about as I was asked this question and was not sure, does a persons' MSL # change from phone to phone, or once you have your Sprint MSL # does it stay the same no what phone you have ??
 
DonB said:
What I am curious about as I was asked this question and was not sure, does a persons' MSL # change from phone to phone, or once you have your Sprint MSL # does it stay the same no what phone you have ??
Click to expand...

Marctronixx answered me this question in the 'fix your streaming media' thread. An MSL# is unique to every phone (I've found out through some more research it is derived from the phone's ESN using a carrier specific algorithm). Marc had a good approximate example too, he said, "think MAC address".
 
marctronixx said:
this is true above. it has nothing to do with GV. ive used GV for about 3 years now.

what you want to do is change your Slot Cycle Index. its set to 2 by default.

The only way to change this is to get your MSL and get into the programming to change the number.

i have mine set to zero (0) so it polls pretty constant however this will impact battery life.

if you have access to your MSL then give this a try. set it to "1" and test.
Click to expand...

I made the change but the change but when I go back in and look, it has reverted back to "2". There is no option to save so I have just backed out. What's the proper way to exit and have the change renmain?
 
I got a chance to make the changes tonight, so I changed slot cycle to 1. My initial tests definitely show an improvement. I think I'll give it a few days to see how it plays out before changing this to 0. Thanks for all the help!
 
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