Help Something Strange (To Me)

[hollowpoint]

I got a chance to go out target shooting this morning. The location was well out of my coverage area.

Being new to smartphones I made it a point to check my EVO 4G just for the heck of it to see if I was getting any reception out in the boonies.

As some of you more experienced android users might have guessed, my phone showed no lit-up "Bars," just an X over the top of a bunch of grayed out "Bars."

If I'm not mistaken, this is telling me that I'm getting no service coverage at the location I was in.

On my way back into town, I expected the "Bars" on my phone's home-screen to light up again as soon as I reached the outskirts of the city limits. The coverage maps indicate that coverage extends far beyond the city limits.

My smart phone didn't re-activate until I got to the specific zip code area that I originally listed when I signed up with this provider.

Is this the smartphone status-quo? I'd hate to think that I'll have to drive all the way home from an out of the way location just to get my phone to work again.

Have any of you ever encountered such a thing with your androids? If this is not normal, what can be done to remedy this situation? (other than changing providers)

HollowPoint

 

[ocnbrze]

I got a chance to go out target shooting this morning. The location was well out of my coverage area.

Being new to smartphones I made it a point to check my EVO 4G just for the heck of it to see if I was getting any reception out in the boonies.

As some of you more experienced android users might have guessed, my phone showed no lit-up "Bars," just an X over the top of a bunch of grayed out "Bars."

If I'm not mistaken, this is telling me that I'm getting no service coverage at the location I was in.

On my way back into town, I expected the "Bars" on my phone's home-screen to light up again as soon as I reached the outskirts of the city limits. The coverage maps indicate that coverage extends far beyond the city limits.

My smart phone didn't re-activate until I got to the specific zip code area that I originally listed when I signed up with this provider.

Is this the smartphone status-quo? I'd hate to think that I'll have to drive all the way home from an out of the way location just to get my phone to work again.

Have any of you ever encountered such a thing with your androids? If this is not normal, what can be done to remedy this situation? (other than changing providers)

HollowPoint

is your phone up to date? meaning are you on the latest ota? have you tried updating your prl and profile?

 

[hollowpoint]

"is your phone up to date? meaning are you on the latest ota? have you tried updating your prl and profile?"

This is a brand new phone. I don't have a clue what most of the acronyms mean that you're using but, to the best of my knowledge everything is the "Latest." Being a newbie to android smart-phones I could be wrong though.

All I'm really sure of is that it is a version 4.0.3; whatever that means.

What exactly is "OTA, PRL or Profile" and how would that affect my phone in the manner I described?

Thanks for your help.

HollowPoint

 

[tube517]

"is your phone up to date? meaning are you on the latest ota? have you tried updating your prl and profile?"

This is a brand new phone. I don't have a clue what most of the acronyms mean that you're using but, to the best of my knowledge everything is the "Latest." Being a newbie to android smart-phones I could be wrong though.

All I'm really sure of is that it is a version 4.0.3; whatever that means.

What exactly is "OTA, PRL or Profile" and how would that affect my phone in the manner I described?

Thanks for your help.

HollowPoint

Do you have the new EVO 4g LTE or the original EVO 4G that came out in 2010. If you have the new EVO, you are in the wrong section of the forum. The old EVO cannot have version 4.0.3 without rooting (hacking) the phone. This section is for the old EVO 4G.

 

[Rxpert83]

Sounds like you just need to do a prl and profile update.

Prl update will update your phones list of towers to search for. This is especially important now that sprint is undergoing all these network changes. The profile update just refreshes your connection to the network

Its good to do both of them occasionally.

Settings>update> prl and profile update

 

[hollowpoint]

Sounds like you just need to do a prl and profile update.

Prl update will update your phones list of towers to search for. This is especially important now that sprint is undergoing all these network changes. The profile update just refreshes your connection to the network

Its good to do both of them occasionally.

Settings>update> prl and profile update

Thanks Rxpert83:

I took the liberty of doing a little research on PRL's and Profiles yesterday after posting my previous reply. I see now why such updates were recommended. It sounds like something I'll have to stay on top of from now on.

Next time I'm out in the boonies I'll make it a point to check my phone just to see what, if any changes these updates have given me.

In response to what kind of Evo G4 I have; I really don't know if it's an older Evo G4 or a newer Evo G4. I only know that it's brand new to me. I can go to the Settings/About this phone/software, and it tells me that the software is version 4.0.3.

I don't know exactly what that means but, if we use the "Old Evo G4" or "New Evo G4" criteria mentioned by the previous poster, that would seem to idicate that this is a newer Evo G4; wouldn't it?

There was also another reply stating that I had placed my inquiry in the wrong section; or something to that effect.

I actually placed this thread in the general HTC EVO G4 section originally. It was then moved to this section by someone other than myself. I just assumed it was one of the moderators helping me out by moving it here. And as it turns out, it really was a helpful move because I've gotten some useful advice here.

Many thanks to all who took the time to reply to my inquiry.

HollowPoint

 

[Mikestony]

See this post for pix to help differentiate the 2 phones.
http://androidforums.com/4940933-post7.html

 

[tube517]

Thanks Rxpert83:

I took the liberty of doing a little research on PRL's and Profiles yesterday after posting my previous reply. I see now why such updates were recommended. It sounds like something I'll have to stay on top of from now on.

Next time I'm out in the boonies I'll make it a point to check my phone just to see what, if any changes these updates have given me.

In response to what kind of Evo G4 I have; I really don't know if it's an older Evo G4 or a newer Evo G4. I only know that it's brand new to me. I can go to the Settings/About this phone/software, and it tells me that the software is version 4.0.3.

I don't know exactly what that means but, if we use the "Old Evo G4" or "New Evo G4" criteria mentioned by the previous poster, that would seem to idicate that this is a newer Evo G4; wouldn't it?

There was also another reply stating that I had placed my inquiry in the wrong section; or something to that effect.

I actually placed this thread in the general HTC EVO G4 section originally. It was then moved to this section by someone other than myself. I just assumed it was one of the moderators helping me out by moving it here. And as it turns out, it really was a helpful move because I've gotten some useful advice here.

Many thanks to all who took the time to reply to my inquiry.

HollowPoint

I mentioned to clarify which phone because we want to give you accurate information. Both phones are very similar but when it comes to troubleshooting, they are not the exact same phone. I am glad the info given by Rxpert was helpful. He owns/owned both the "old" and "new" EVO so he can give very valuable information.

Good luck and enjoy the phone!

 

[hollowpoint]

I checked out the link that Mikestony posted. It turns out that my new smart phone is neither one of these models.

Although it's labeled as an HTC Evo 4G, mine has twin camera lenses on the back and no "Kick-Stand."

It's said to be able to take 3D photos and video. I haven't tried either yet.

UPDATE: I just checked the box it came in. Looks like it's an HTC Evo V 4G. I need to pay more attention to stuff I buy.

HollowPoint

 

[Mikestony]

I checked out the link that Mikestony posted. It turns out that my new smart phone is neither one of these models.

Although it's labeled as an HTC Evo 4G, mine has twin camera lenses on the back and no "Kick-Stand."

It's said to be able to take 3D photos and video. I haven't tried either yet.

UPDATE: I just checked the box it came in. Looks like it's an HTC Evo V 4G. I need to pay more attention to stuff I buy.

HollowPoint

Just as long as it's not an Iphoney!! ha ha

 

[tube517]

It's a good phone. Virgin Mobile finally got some decent android phones. With Android 4.0.3/Ice Cream Sandwich, you'll enjoy that one.

Since you said you were out in the "boonies", I hope the PRL and Profile updates will help. Virgin uses Sprint's network.

 

[hollowpoint]

For someone like me who's grown up using Dumb-Phones rather than Smart-Phones these android phones have what I consider to be a steep "Learning Curve" if you're just starting out with one of these.

I'm what many here would consider to be an Old-Guy. Just to give you an idea who you're helping out here, I was in the sixth grade the very first time I spoke on a phone of any kind.

The frustrating thing about them is, after you get the answers you're looking for you realize just how simple it was to correct what needed correcting.

I think that making the user feel stupid for not being able to figure out the answers is engineered into these "Smart-Phones." It makes the phones appear smarter than the user. Hence the term, "Smart-Phone."

I was kind of thrown for a loop when I realized that there was very little in the way of useful instructions on how to use this Smart-Phone as a telephone. Most of what I read in the instruction booklet had to do with social media and the internet. (techy stuff)

On a positive note; I'm not quite as ignorant today as I was yesterday.

HollowPoint

 

[Rxpert83]

Yes, the phone you have is officially called the EVO V 4G. It's basically the same as the EVO 3D that sprint sold. The naming system does get confusing.

Glad we could help you. Prl and profile updates are usually the first thing the person on the phone will have you do if you call in and complain. It's a good first place to start for any network issues.