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Even in a large city like San Antonio (or bigger, if you prefer, but we are up there) you won't always be on a Sprint tower, it is pure economics and real estate. I have horrible coverage at my house (the Hero has handled it better than most, by the way), which is North Central, a major area right next to the airport.
The way you worded your statement was confusing, you did not clarify which end you were referring to, caller's or you're. It sounded contradictory was all.
I'll say it again, I have had this problem with EVERY Sprint phone I have owned, and I have been a customer since 03! This is not just an HTC issue, and it seems to affect some phones more than others even among like models. After changing my c.s. to 1 I am not having a problem, my phone will ring at least three 3 times on my end, and up to 5 or 6 times!
As far as incoming voice calls, I sometimes see 30-50 calls a day, so I am aware of what is going on. I am starting to think part of the problem may be on the tower side of things; just because you are in a Sprint area does not necessarily mean you are on a Sprint tower.
And memphis, if you never get better than 2 rings, how do you average 3?
If you just watch the Hero's behavior during an incoming call, you can almost see part of the problem. Visually, you can see that an incoming call is about to happen - the lights light up! But it's not until a few seconds later that the ringtone begins. Unless you're staring at your phone - those are lost seconds and is probably the equivalent of at least one wasted ring at the caller's end.
I do not see how that is a "Sprint issue." That is clearly a phone issue.
Device(s): Evo 3D Rooted With Revolutionary, Asus Transformer 16GB
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I didn't say it was entirely a Sprint issue, but the combination of tower lag and phone lag are more noticeable on the Hero, and my Touch Pro, and my Mogul, and my A900, and...like I said, every Sprint phone I have had has had it, some worse than others, but all nonetheless.
I am seeing a bit of lag from when the phone starts working the call and the ring tone starting.
-R
Yes, but that just compounds a problem that already exists. All Heroes have that lag. If you have your phone set to both vibrate and ring, you will notice the vibrate before you hear the ringing. Everything seems to happen in stages - all with delays.
1. The caller hears several rings before the Hero even acknowledges it.
2. First, the lights light up.
3. If you have it set to vibrate - that will start.
4. THEN ... finally ... the ringtone will begin.
By then, you are just a few seconds away from the call going to voicemail. Having a ringtone that lasts over 15 seconds is pointless on a Hero. In some cases, you'll be lucky to have 10 seconds to answer your phone.
Last edited by memphis9489; February 1st, 2010 at 10:17 AM.
* Explain to them that you would like to change your Slot Index Cycle from '2' to either '1' or '0'
* Go to the phone dialpad and type in ##3282#
* After you hit the last '#' symbol, it's going to say "initializing"
* Next, it's going to want to know if you want to go into "view mode" or "edit mode"
Next steps require here the help of Sprint Support:
* Select "edit mode"
* It asks for a password
* Enter MSL number (must get from the Sprint representative)
* Go to the "Advance" tab in the "edit mode"
* Scroll down to Slot Index Cycle (it's going to be set to '2)
* Tap it and change it to '0'
* Once back in the "edit menu" hit the hard button menu button (next to the trackball) to bring up the save option to save your new settings
* This will save and reboot the phone
The only thing you need from the Sprint Rep when you call, is your MSL number, but you have to have them help you through the steps, because they won't just give you your MSL number if you ask for it.
Change Roaming Alert (step described above)
I think that about covers it? .
.
Last edited by killabee44; February 1st, 2010 at 04:41 PM.
Memphis... Respectfully, The Slot Index thing IS a system issue and I too had this with my last phone not just the Hero, Last phone was a Palm Treo which required the same fix for ringer lag. Not the same commands, but the same fix, changing the Slot Index Cycle to a lower number.
Have you tried all the settings, like 1 instead of just 0? Also, have you reset it back to default and checked like you said to see if there was a difference in rings prior heard to cell ringing? I don't know, just making suggestions. Hope it works out for ya'. Did for me.
Memphis... Respectfully, The Slot Index thing IS a system issue and I too had this with my last phone not just the Hero, Last phone was a Palm Treo which required the same fix for ringer lag. Not the same commands, but the same fix, changing the Slot Index Cycle to a lower number.
Have you tried all the settings, like 1 instead of just 0? Also, have you reset it back to default and checked like you said to see if there was a difference in rings prior heard to cell ringing? I don't know, just making suggestions. Hope it works out for ya'. Did for me.
I have changed my slot index cycle to ZERO and it has helped.
True, adjusting the slot index cycle effects the way the phone interacts with "the system" but, nonetheless, the Hero certainly does have an issue with ringer lag that clearly does not exist (to this extent) with other Sprint phones operating on the same "system."
This has been verified by many Sprint users already. It is completely UNTRUE that all phones on the Sprint network experience this same lag. Just watching the Hero react to an incoming call tells you all you need to know. Everything happens in stages.
Last edited by memphis9489; February 1st, 2010 at 07:44 PM.
I have AT&T for years, and always noticed that, when I called my Sprint friends, it would take forever for them to answer. Then I got Sprint, and my friends told me that it took tons of rings before I would answer on their end, but I only heard the phone ring once or twice.
It is definately sprint. It takes a bit sometimes for the phone being called to actually notice the phone call and start ringing. Add that to the horrendously laggy Hero and it takes even longer. Quite often my Hero is lagging so hard it can't even get the phone call on the screen and I can't answer, and miss the call.
Called Sprint advanced CS and got the MSL for both lines with no questions asked. I changed the slot index cycle from 2 to 0 and noticed my ring lag went from 3-5 to 1-2. Great!!! Thanks for the info. Will change the wife's phone when she gets home.
Last edited by lunatech; February 2nd, 2010 at 04:21 PM.
hey guys.. i wonder if this issue has been fixed.. i been testing mine.. and it only rings once in the handset until the phone starts vibrating, or blinking..
* Explain to them that you would like to change your Slot Index Cycle from '2' to either '1' or '0'
* Go to the phone dialpad and type in ##3282#
* After you hit the last '#' symbol, it's going to say "initializing"
* Next, it's going to want to know if you want to go into "view mode" or "edit mode"
Next steps require here the help of Sprint Support:
* Select "edit mode"
* It asks for a password
* Enter MSL number (must get from the Sprint representative)
* Go to the "Advance" tab in the "edit mode"
* Scroll down to Slot Index Cycle (it's going to be set to '2)
* Tap it and change it to '0'
* Once back in the "edit menu" hit the hard button menu button (next to the trackball) to bring up the save option to save your new settings
* This will save and reboot the phone
The only thing you need from the Sprint Rep when you call, is your MSL number, but you have to have them help you through the steps, because they won't just give you your MSL number if you ask for it.
Change Roaming Alert (step described above)
I think that about covers it?
.
Big thanks to everyone in this thread, especially big_z, ToxicToastKatz, and abourne
Was reading this thread and decided to try it. I have a different carrier (Cellcom) and it only takes one ring. I tried it with my Google number and got the same result.
I have been a Cellular South customer for 15 years. I have never had a problem with ring lag until I just bought the Hero.
I know that many of you have had problems with other sprint phones, but I defiantly think this is also a Hero issue.
Is this fine to do if you're rooted and running a custom rom (Fresh 1.1)? The Sprint representative is just giving you the MSL, not looking at your system settings or anything?
My coworker has definitely has said my phone tends to ring a bunch before I pick up.
Also, dumb question; do I need to call Sprint from a different phone?
Is this fine to do if you're rooted and running a custom rom (Fresh 1.1)? The Sprint representative is just giving you the MSL, not looking at your system settings or anything?
My coworker has definitely has said my phone tends to ring a bunch before I pick up.
Also, dumb question; do I need to call Sprint from a different phone?
I cannot speak on the rooted issue, however I called and just said "I need my MSL# to change the slot number so that it rings quicker on my side of the line" ... and the lady was like "uhhh... ok" and gave it to me.
I am not rooted though. I don't think they know that information.
I have a Hero with service from Cellular South. Have the same issue with ringer lag everyone has talked about here.
I just called CS to try and get the MSL #, and they wouldn't give it to me. They said changing any settings "may cause other problems"
I have a Hero with service from Cellular South. Have the same issue with ringer lag everyone has talked about here.
I just called CS to try and get the MSL #, and they wouldn't give it to me. They said changing any settings "may cause other problems"
Device(s): Evo 3D Rooted With Revolutionary, Asus Transformer 16GB
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I would call back, another CSR or tech may give it to you. If not, I would politely tell them you realize what they are saying but want it anyway. It won't harm your phone.
No, haven't had a chance to do anything else yet. It will probably be next week sometime, though. I'm going camping all weekend.
I will try to call back and see if I can get a different CS Tech, but I'm not hopeful. The one I talked to didn't know what the MSL# was... she put me on hold, and talked to higher level support, who wouldn't give her the MSL for my phone, and gave her the "may cause other problems" line...
I'll try to talk directly to the upper level support next time...
I changed it to zero and it took 2.5 to 3 rings, maybe I will try 1 and see how many that lowers it to, I imagined it would be quicker by going to zero.
Just wanted to update, I was able to use CDMA Workshop to get my MSL#, and change the Slot Index Cycle... seems to have helped some, I'm getting about 1-1.5 rings before the Hero actually starts ringing, which is some improvement.
Just wanted to update, I was able to use CDMA Workshop to get my MSL#, and change the Slot Index Cycle... seems to have helped some, I'm getting about 1-1.5 rings before the Hero actually starts ringing, which is some improvement.
Set it to 0 first, haven't tried to set to 1, but I'll try that and see what the difference is, if any.
I did a quick test of 0 and 1... I seem to get about the same results with both (about 1.5 rings before Hero starts ringing). This is with limited testing, though.
I didn't say it was entirely a Sprint issue, but the combination of tower lag and phone lag are more noticeable on the Hero, and my Touch Pro, and my Mogul, and my A900, and...like I said, every Sprint phone I have had has had it, some worse than others, but all nonetheless.
You are correct. It is the nature of CDMA technology. It will always happen.
Oh, and unless something at Sprint has changed within the past year, Sprint controls the Slot Cycle setting at the network level, meaning you can set your phone to 0, 1, 2, 3, etc., and eventually the network will override whatever your phone is set to and revert you back to 2 (though your phone will continue display whatever setting you selected).
The rings you hear when you are calling someone (or someone hears when they are calling you) from a cell phone are just created by the network to make you "feel" better that the phone is working properly. The number of rings you hear in the earpiece has nothing to do with how many rings the receiver of your call will hear (or how many their network will perceive).
Last edited by AnthroMatt; April 14th, 2010 at 09:57 AM.
You are correct. It is the nature of CDMA technology. It will always happen.
Oh, and unless something at Sprint has changed within the past year, Sprint controls the Slot Cycle setting at the network level, meaning you can set your phone to 0, 1, 2, 3, etc., and eventually the network will override whatever your phone is set to and revert you back to 2 (though your phone will continue display whatever setting you selected).
The rings you hear when you are calling someone (or someone hears when they are calling you) from a cell phone are just created by the network to make you "feel" better that the phone is working properly. The number of rings you hear in the earpiece has nothing to do with how many rings the receiver of your call will hear (or how many their network will perceive).
uggghhhh that is whats happ to me(it does show 2 after a lil while when i go in to check it after i switch it to zero)... i wish i knew that b4 i went thru the fight to get my msl (it took 2 days and 4 reps b4 i got it) is there anyway to prevent Sprint from switching it back to 2????
The Sprint HTC Hero was announced on September 3rd, 2009, making Sprint the 2nd American mobile carrier to offer a phone based on Google's Android operating system. While HTC had already launched the Hero, making it available on European carrie... Read More
They said changing any settings "may cause other problems" 
