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wow *228 PRL update actually did something + to my signal strength!

Lock-N-Load

Android Expert
Feb 8, 2010
2,309
195
WestSiiiide
so, for years as a long term VZW user, I updated my PRL every 2 months SOP. And to be honest, never noticed a difference. But just did it "in case" a new cell came online, a signal strength improvement was made, I wanted to be sure to tap into it.

Well, lately, since 2.1 update, it seems my coverage in my office and at home has been reduced. Down to 1 bar.

Well, on a whim, I did my standard *228 PRL update I had not done since owning my Droid the last 2.5 months and for the first time ever, ever, I visually watched it jump from 1 bar to solid 3 instantly at the moment the update was done. And, it has stayed there for the last 1 hour. I have not moved or changed anything else.

who knows... but thought I would pass it on as it was so dramatic, a real first for me to see actual bar changes, and so instant, it seemed worth posting about for those that have not done it in a while, never done it, or never heard of it. this is what I had always hoped would happen all those hundreds of times I did it before on my other phones.
 
The droid is sucking on signal after the 2.1 update and it pisses me off to be honest. I just a new PRL that came out two days ago and I now no bars then 4 for a flash then 1 then 4 then none and I want to run it over with a car!

It doesn't really matter if the bars are flashing...You will still have signal, whether good or bad. Well that happens in my case. I find the bar system highly unreliable. Rather try to look in status for the dBm or if you want to measure 3G just get an average of the bars and see where it hangs out the longest.
 
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IRather try to look in status for the dBm or if you want to measure 3G just get an average of the bars and see where it hangs out the longest.

that dBm rating is so lame... any idea what -90, -93, -89 even means? what is the scale? what is good, what is bad?

I would like to see an app - like GPS Test - that takes signal info and brakes it down into some sort of nice meter that makes real world sense.
 
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Something happens within the phone when it does PRL, like sends more power to the antennae or something, so signal will boost and stay boosted for a time. Then something happens and it's like the antennae powers down and signal goes down too. It's like the phone knows when it NEEDS to go max power to the antenna, like, I don't know, when it needs to do a PRL. But this max power antenna isn't a resting state thing.
 
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I wish there was a way to have it at full boost say when you have it charging and using wall power? Also from what I have seen the numbers do go with the bars, for 1X that is. From what I have seen it is full bars at -60 to -75, three at -76 to -90, two at -91 to -100, and one at -101 to like -115 and then none but still there at -115 to-120. This is not at all scientific but what I have quickly observed on a few occasions and total guesstimates.
 
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I wish there was a way to have it at full boost say when you have it charging and using wall power? Also from what I have seen the numbers do go with the bars, for 1X that is. From what I have seen it is full bars at -60 to -75, three at -76 to -90, two at -91 to -100, and one at -101 to like -115 and then none but still there at -115 to-120. This is not at all scientific but what I have quickly observed on a few occasions and total guesstimates.

well, -90 to -93 is equal to 1 bar but mostly 0 bars to me.

-88 to -89 is like 1 bar

but then I just watched -90 at 2 bars and then drop to 1 bar and then -91 was 1 bar and -89 is 1 bar -92 went to 2 bars and -91 went to 1 and blah blah

this is seems so illogical & impossible to really use. if such a small range is swinging me from -88 to -93 gets me 0 to 3 bars.. what the hell happens at -120 or 0? what would you need such a swing for when a small range seems to cover it all?
 
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NO remember I said those numbers are for 1X service not 3G! So the bars you see for 3G will NEVER match the numbers shown so do not try to do that because they will never be right. If you want to see the 1X bars with numbers go into the service program and change it to 1X only and watch the bars with the numbers and to show it does not show 3G numbers change it to 3G only and it goes to -120 no service!
 
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I UNDERSTAND :) and most of the time I am on 1x these days :(

I am just reporting the oddness of the #'s sans going in and making any service program changes.. just reporting what the average guy see's in bars relative to the provided signal strength number.

today I watched 3-4 bars get a -100 rating??? that seems counterintuitive or the bars do not keep up with the signal strength meter
 
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Good we need to inform them. I did not mean to be pushy to change the phone to 1X I just wanted you to know you can never look at the two and find the link because they are not the same at all. Actually if you want to see the numbers for 3g go into the service menu and look at the HDR receive power and then you will see the correlation for 3G.

Menu: ##7764726 code: 000000 then test mode enabled then you find all the goodies
 
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Menu: ##7764726 code: 000000 then test mode enabled then you find all the goodies

great tip.

BTW, when I called, I told them about all the users complaining on the forums I visit - 3 different forums. she seemed to be noting it as she asked more details about it, put in an "issue ticket" and an engineer is suppose to call back.

everyone having issues should call them and put them on notice.
 
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