Lock EVDO?
 

Is there any way, a reg tweak or something, to force my Apache to only use EVDO for data? It's annoying the heck out of me when I tether or use it to stream podcasts by dropping into 1xRTT coverage at the worst possible times, often while just sitting motionless on my desk.

You can but then you won't be able to make or receive any voice calls or text messages. It's not a very good trade off.

What's the tweak?

You need your MSL. Dial ##PST#. Click on Edit, enter your MSL and press OK. In the upper-left corner, click on Display and select Modem Settings. Select Preferred Mode and select Edit. Choose HDR only from the drop-down list, select OK, and press the OK hardware key.

As stated, this will prevent phone calls from coming in. I've also had this not work. I tried this when I was in Florida in an EV-DO area and my phone kept saying 1X. After doing this, it would be Ev after a soft reset but it would still move down to 1X randomly.

To undo this, you not only need to change Preferred Mode back to Automatic, but also set HDR Hybrid Preferred to Enable.

And it only blocks calls while data is active, or will push email pretty much make my phone a data-only device? In other words, does it block calls only while moving bits?

I believe you will not receive any calls or text messages if 1x is disabled. I have never tried or tested this, but that is my assumption.

colonel is right. After doing this I could not receive any calls regardless of whether data was connected or not.

Bugger!

Anyone know of any other way to prevent my phone from dropping into 1x even when there's a perfectly serviceable (if not quite as strong) EVDO signal available? This is driving me nuts. Seriously, I'm thinking of ditching my Apache for a Q...

For starters, with the Motorola Q you will have to enable EVDO ring through every time you power up the device.

Jeff, what i need you to do is when you are connected to data in 1X, go to the dial pad and enter ##debug# and post back what your AN-AAA indicates. you will have to select HDR in the upper left hand dropdown.

Also, will your handset iota? (update vision profile)

I thought this could be done by enabling the "Mode of Operation" screen and setting it to EVDO only instead of Hybrid.