Understand how the Preferred Roaming List is used

[DonB]

Info about PRL for those that don't understand it and what it does



C&P from Sprint website




The Preferred Roaming List (PRL), a file located in your phone, is used to acquire both the Sprint network and Sprint roaming partner's network for you while you are roaming off the Nationwide Sprint Network or Sprint 3G network. Sprint updates the PRL a few times a year to provide you with new domestic digital roaming coverage or with international roaming coverage or to make other necessary adjustments.
Sprint sends PRL updates to handsets/PDAs Over-the-Air (OTA) as needed. However customers can also proactively receive PRL updates via their device settings. For instance, newer devices have a menu screen to perform a PRL update, Settings > Phone Info > Update PRL. The device will check for an update and complete the transaction in less than a minute.
Mobile Broadband Cards receive PRL updated via Sprint Smartview Auto Updates.
A PRL update will not:

• Improve signal strength on Sprint Network or off network roaming areas
• Help with dropped or blocked calls, or coverage holes
• Help with wireless web issues
• Correcting misrouted calls when roaming

 

[Kelmar]

Moved to Sprint forum... good find.

 

[HeadlessPonch]

A PRL update will not:

• Improve signal strength on Sprint Network or off network roaming areas
• Help with dropped or blocked calls, or coverage holes
• Help with wireless web issues
• Correcting misrouted calls when roaming

Thanks for the info, but...

"Will not help with wireless web issues". The Wife's Moment was having issues connecting to yahoo via the email app, so I updated PRL and suddenly it worked again. I've read people suggest that numerous times in different threads, and it seems to work (did for me).

 

[Gamingphreek]

I understand what Sprint is trying to say, but they did an extremely poor job of wording it.

The PRL will not affect your coverage/signal strength while you are on a Sprint network, BUT:

It CAN; however, increase signal strength over all. For instance, say you are connected to tower X (Sprint) with a -100dbm signal strength. With an old PRL, lets also say that tower Y (Verizon) isn't listed; however, if it were, it would provide Roaming service with signal strength ~80dbm. If an update to the PRL includes tower Y, your signal strength would improve drastically as tower Y would now be available for the phone to select.

As for any other issues, updating the PRL really doesn't make a single bit of difference. It is probably either:

A. Placebo effect
B. An error somewhere else

There are no "ifs" "ands" or "buts" about it - the above is all a PRL does. A Radio update; however, could perhaps do some other things.

-Kevin

 

[Ken C]

What I'm trying to figure out is, what does what on say a radio combo, I've seen it split up on xda into it's separate components. This is what I think the deal is, mind, I don't know how to run command lines and all that so I'm sure there s stuff I have no clue about. So...

Baseband is our "cell" radio.
Wimax is 4g
Prl is preferred roaming list
Pri & Nv I'm not so sure of these two, am I right thinking they have something to do with 3g? I don't know if it was me. But I applied a radio combo zip. And since then my 3g has been crap. I tried flashing the files separately and nothing has really helped. Sprint changed my user name in my data profile settings using the msl deal. Its kinda helped, but my speeds aren't near what they were. When I loaded a page before it was smooth and pretty damn fast, I was tethering 3 devices easily. I haven't tried since they did the name deal, but would you guys think I could run wireless tether worth anything? Sorry, guess I kinda went over board there but if anybody has anyway that that changing something other than the 3g fix thats been posted? Nothing on the fix, it worked great before I flashed the combo. I'd love to have those speeds back.
I'd really appretiate it. Any link, thought, any help or ideas would be great. Thanks everybody