Wow *228 gave 2 extra bars

[LOGAN1204]

Had my droid about 6 months now and decided to give *228 a try as my reception has not been great recently. To my surprise I got 2 extra bars of service right after I did *228, watched the bars go up while sitting in the same seat. Amazing, never thought it did much, but I am very surprised.

 

[The_Chief]

Verizon recommends *228 option 2 every month or so, just to update your phone to any tower changes in the area. I'm glad you got lots of bars!

 

[RandolphNY]

Verizon recommends *228 option 2 every month or so, just to update your phone to any tower changes in the area. I'm glad you got lots of bars!

I am confused. Please provide more details.

 

[The_Chief]

Just open your phone and dial *228. When prompted, press 2. It will says "please wait while your phone is being programmed". Takes a few seconds. Then it hangs up. DONE!

 

[Lock-N-Load]

wait a few days.. it will not last

I wrote a post on this long ago. I have also noticed this kind of instant jump. but in the end, it generally settles back down.

I also routinely do the *228 trick... but really, in this age I am not sure, if we are still living in the same place, what good it will really do. no real new towers going up, at least, no around most of us. I could see it help if you moved and need to make sure it is aware of your new location and the towers around you.

 

[LOGAN1204]

Since 2.2 seemed to have poor reception. I have been with Verizon since BAM, and did the 228 every 6 months or so. Just never saw a drastic change in bars.

 

[Chuck1906]

*228 is also very good to do if you do a lot of traveling. Different areas have different towers. I always do *228 when I travel down to Puerto Rico and various other places.

 

[publicanimal]

Similar result here, instant boost of two bars in my apartment. Interesting.

 

[geekabilly]

Another approach:

1. Go to Settings >About phone>Status
2. Check PRL Version
3. Create a new Phone Contact - I call mine "Roaming Update"
4. Give that contact the number: *22891 (this will take you directly to the update w/o prompts)
5. When complete, go back to see if your PRL version changed
6. Schedule a reminder in your calendar to do this once a month

Another note: if you follow the VZW Twitter feed, they post every time a new tower goes into service...

 

[Lock-N-Load]

"if you follow the VZW Twitter feed, they post every time a new tower goes into service..."

which is pretty rare in populated suburban areas I think at this stage. I follow also a site that lists towers and have never seen a new one around me added for VZW.

 

[that guy]

did the *228 went from no bars to full...sweeeeeeet

 

[Lock-N-Load]

please... those of you that report this great several bar jump - just like I reported months ago like you guys did - come back in a week or so and report back. I am curious.

I also was so excited I posted here.. and then within a week, it reverted back.

I just did mine, as I do it out of habit every 2-3 months, and my PRL # stayed the same.

 

[Rojas1]

I did *228 today and there was no No change... In fact I think i lost a bar....

 

[LOGAN1204]

please... those of you that report this great several bar jump - just like I reported months ago like you guys did - come back in a week or so and report back. I am curious.

I also was so excited I posted here.. and then within a week, it reverted back.

I just did mine, as I do it out of habit every 2-3 months, and my PRL # stayed the same.

checking now from my same seat and 4 bars. Had 2 bars a few days ago.

 

[jbmart7735]

Could you post what your current PRL# is? I'm curious, as mine hasn't changed after updating for the last couple months.

 

[geekabilly]

could you post what your current prl# is? I'm curious, as mine hasn't changed after updating for the last couple months.

51926

 

[cyberclaus]

Folks the statement that this will let your phone see new towers in your area is false. It doesn't work that way. Your phone is made aware of new towers/sectors as they come on air by the network. If every phone had to dial *228 to learn about network changes it would be a nightmare for the carrier to make any changes. Dialing *228 will mostly force an update to your PRL and/or baseband. The baseband would explain an increase/decrease in bars. Your PRL is your preferred roaming list, which as VZ makes deals with wireless carrier, mostly in rural areas, allows you to roam on their networks. It also tells your phone which order to scan for these networks to speed up network registration.
There are other reasons why you can increase or decrease in signal level, but they are too long to mention in this thread and can get specific to geographic location.

 

[Lock-N-Load]

51926

same here.. and what are the chances we are in the same area in SoCal?

 

[Poloki]

same here.. and what are the chances we are in the same area in SoCal?

I have the same number and I an in NW NJ.

 

[cc9703]

No change here either. I'll try again if the housing market ever picks up again and there is any additional development around here. Although I know that doesn't neccessarily mean more cell towers

 

[SourPatchKid]

While new towers might not be going up the buying and selling of towers is not uncommon.