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Help Sprint PRL Updates Thread (Latest PRL 21090)
- Thread starter Wiley_11
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- htc evo 3d
Just a heads up - after this has been up and absorbed for a day or three or whatever, I'm moving the OP into the 3G issues thread so the info survives. 
(Unless another mod has a better idea?? I think we should be tracking up-to-date config on this stuff. Forum guide maybe??)
(Unless another mod has a better idea?? I think we should be tracking up-to-date config on this stuff. Forum guide maybe??)
Androidalltheway
Android Enthusiast
what does updating prl do?
Preferred roaming list, read below
Code:
The Preferred Roaming List (PRL) is a database residing in a wireless (primarily CDMA) device, such as a cellphone, that contains information used during the system selection and acquisition process. In the case of RUIM-based CDMA devices, the PRL resides on the RUIM. The PRL indicates which bands, sub bands and service provider identifiers will be scanned and in what priority order. Without a PRL, the device may not be able to roam, i.e. obtain service outside of the home area. There may be cases where missing or corrupt PRL's can lead to a customer not having service at all.
On many networks, regularly updating the PRL is advised if the subscriber uses the device outside the home area frequently, particularly if they do so in multiple different areas. This allows the phone to choose the best roaming carriers, particularly "roaming partners" with whom the home carrier has a cost-saving roaming agreement, rather than using non-affiliated carriers. PRL files can also be used to identify home networks along with roaming partners, thus making the PRL an actual list that determines the total coverage of the subscriber, both home and roaming coverage.
The PRL is built by an operator and is normally not accessible to the user. Many operators provide the ability for the user to download the latest PRL to their device by dialing an Over-the-air (OTA) feature code (*228 for Verizon/MetroPCS/US Cellular).Ours don't auto update. Also. I've read a number of users post that updates can decrease roaming; supposing a local tower was replaced for another, for example, or if it gets corrupted (whether an update is available or not), that's not unreasonable. Sprint phone behavior seems to indicate that the PRL is an actual list.
You can find the changes on my site at BatonRougeBroadband.Info - Home
A PRL is a list of cellular system IDs. It has nothing to do with specific towers. Some common myths... will it give me better Sprint signal? Nope. Will it give me better 3G speeds? Nope. Will it give me better 4G? Not a chance.
A PRL is a list of cellular system IDs. It has nothing to do with specific towers. Some common myths... will it give me better Sprint signal? Nope. Will it give me better 3G speeds? Nope. Will it give me better 4G? Not a chance.
Ok, so where you been keeping yourself and may I ask how you came by such detailed information? 
Lots of users back up the practice of PRL updating to confirm the configuration supporting better performance. Any comments on the disconnect?
Lots of users back up the practice of PRL updating to confirm the configuration supporting better performance. Any comments on the disconnect?
atg284
Well-Known Member
Ok, so where you been keeping yourself and may I ask how you came by such detailed information?
Lots of users back up the practice of PRL updating to confirm the configuration supporting better performance. Any comments on the disconnect?
This is in congruence with my interests.
Ok, so where you been keeping yourself and may I ask how you came by such detailed information?
Lots of users back up the practice of PRL updating to confirm the configuration supporting better performance. Any comments on the disconnect?
Been around for a while...just not this forum. Found this thread by Googling for 60680 so I could run a diff on it.
The detailed information comes from an app I wrote that does two things...compares it to another PRL to determine the changes. Or analyzes the entire PRL.
The better performance, more signal, less signal with a PRL update (and even an "Update Profile") are 99% placebo's in peoples minds.
If you are not roaming then there's a very very rare chance that it is going to affect your signal or speeds. The only time it would add signal if not roaming is if Sprint included another partner such as Caroline West Wireless. Those towers are shown as native Sprint signal when users are in the area. But as I said it's rare. I've debunked many people saying they had better speeds. I showed one user that his SID hasn't changed in over 15 different PRL versions.
I could do an experiment with in my town with a brand new PRL and one with a PRL from 2 years. And 2 years ago we didn't have EVDO from Sprint. I could have two phones same brand, same everything, except for the different PRLs. I could drive around town and the phones would be using the same exact towers as each other. "But wait?! how is that true? Sprint added stuff!" You don't need a new PRL to see new towers.
The PRLs had all of Sprint's native network SIDs and channels setup waaayyyy back. Sprint put in all of their channels they had licenses for in each area into the channel scans. So no matter what PRL you have, when Sprint adds the tower to your area your phone uses it.
Now of course, one thing will debunk what I said but it is different since Sprint would be adding a new band. Once Sprint starts rolling out CDMA on the 800mhz band and the PRL is updated to use the "new" band, users with 800SMR band capable phones could see better in building coverage.
DeeJayCrash
Newbie
Does the 3VO have this 800mHz band?
I never heard of the 3VO.
3vo<->evo 3d.
I believe EarlyMon said the EVO 3D does a while back in a post I read, he will correct me if I am wrong
WhiteNoise
Well-Known Member
People around here insist on calling the HTC Evo 3D the 3VO.
<elitistrant> 90% of the battery life tricks, battery life solutions, new handset solving problems, tricks to make things faster, larger "capacity" batteries, tricks for better reception, yadda yadda discussed around here are explained by the placebo effect. Sigh. </rant>
Wiley_11
Android Enthusiast
Why would Sprint even bother to update the PRL and Profile if they are "99%" useless, what is the purpose of updates then ?
Just asking, not questioning your veracity.
Why would Sprint even bother to update the PRL and Profile if they are "99%" useless, what is the purpose of updates then ?
Just asking, not questioning your veracity.
Answering two questions. Yes, the EVO 3D has the capability to communicate on the 800SMR band. Hence the reason for the different PRL versions this phone is running. Down the road we will see the acquisition tables updated to include this band.
They are not 99% useless. The PRL updates are needed as roaming agreements/prices change and other carriers change things on their network. For instance if some mom and pop CDMA carrier raises their roaming rates where Sprint does not have coverage, Sprint might issue a PRL update to make your phone to prefer the VZW network instead of that mom and pop CDMA. Like in many areas Sprint negotiated with MetroPCS and Cricket to use their network and vice-versa. Several PRL's ago in areas where those companies have PCS licenses, the PRL was released to prefer Metro or Cricket over VZW in those areas due to lower prices of roaming than VZW charges.
The PRL is going to change your roaming carriers and or priorities...not your Sprint signal or speeds. Hence the name Preferred Roaming List.
well I think you spoke on this earlier, but, if you are in an area that gets fringe sprint (or any fill in the blank carrier) coverage and there is a 3rd party cellular network in the area that gets added to the PRL and it allows one to get on that network, performance will increase. also if data roaming agreements are also in place, ones data connection could get a performance boost also.
i do agree, however, many people have the incorrect idea about what PRL updates actually do..
i do agree, however, many people have the incorrect idea about what PRL updates actually do..
well I think you spoke on this earlier, but, if you are in an area that gets fringe sprint (or any fill in the blank carrier) coverage and there is a 3rd party cellular network in the area that gets added to the PRL and it allows one to get on that network, performance will increase. also if data roaming agreements are also in place, ones data connection could get a performance boost also.
i do agree, however, many people have the incorrect idea about what PRL updates actually do..
correct...and then you would be roaming. I've seen too many times where people say they updated their PRL and now they have better signal or faster 3G...or worse signal and slower 3G. I check the SID they provide and there have been ZERO changes to that SID for the last 5 or 6 PRLs. Kinda funny.... umm...dude..you have the same car...same gas...it's not going to drive any faster than the day before.
Wiley_11
Android Enthusiast
Thanks for explaining it to dumbie (me
) Very informative. I've never noticed a difference, but I update anyway. crammed174
Lurker
wow this totally changed my peception of what I though I knew about PRL's. I do still remain a bit confused in regards to the problem I've been having. I have the EVO and i'm in NYC and when I first got the phone it was ok speed then crap for a few weeks till a sprint tech who knew what they were doing told me about the profile reset.. bam, I was FLYING for almost 2 months peaking at 1.6 mbps minimum 700-800K during peak times. Then, after I was having some AOSP rom issues I flashed a stock ROM updated my PRL and profile and then poof went the speed. (01115 to 66780) I was moving like 20K. unfortunately nandroiding back doesn't matter since it remains in the phone so I learned how to manually flash a PRL by getting the froyo epst and when I went back to 1115 I started going 100K, even on the verizon PRL which ppl claimed where no sprint 3G they could move 1 Mb verizon I only pulled 500. called sprint a couple times and they pushed some update and yesterday I started going around 600K again but today I'm back to 200K, I called them again and they offered me the airave for free (which i took and didn't even ask for) but the problem isn't only at home, my speeds tdo vary depending on location but nothing near optimal. today I updated my PRL to 60680 again and I'm back down to 100K or so. and now as I write this im flashing a different PRL and my phone's hung up so great
so long explanation aside, I'm in NYC, supposedly sprint put a new tower up next to me - why all other things aside has this PRL stuff had an effect on my speed and you're saying its about the SID, what can I do to get back those speeds?? my voice and 4G are fine, but 3G is unbearable in use - no streaming, no web browsing. And to make it aware, I'm fairly versed with sprint stuff and androids so i've done the 3g hack 0.0.0.0 stuff, multiple profile resets - trying different roms etc...
any advice?? or do you think I should "clean" out my phone and head over to sprint... voice is fine so i don't think it's the radio but who knows. Sprint denies outages or throttling even though theres widespread forum uproar about dying speeds and my 5 line plan together doesnt even use more than 2-3 GB $50 premium speeds my A** (and i've stuck with sprint through thick and thin, I just want it to work, I don't want to switch to VZW or Tmo - but they're faster now!)