Force Roaming?

smalk · #1 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 04:24 PM

Hi All-

Both my office and home are in areas of poor reception through Sprint. In my prior phone life (HTC Touch Diamond) I was able to get a force roaming program to hep preserve battery life.

I have seen force roaming mentioned here a few times but I have not seen anything recently.

Have any of you heard anything regarding a force roaming coming our way?

Thanks to all!

Scott

**bradart** · #2 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 05:01 PM

Looking for this as well. Any details would be appreciated.

lilzone · #3 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 11:51 PM

Hi, I am not sure about a force roaming, but from what I have been told by others is that Sprint will shut you off if you roam too much. Just a quick thought.

**athlet1c** · #4 (**permalink**) 12-01-2009, 11:59 PM

Well that is why they put the PRL's (Preferred Roaming List ) in place. they have agreements with other carriers for roaming which makes it a money thing, so if your roaming constantly then they will make it an issue , but other than that it wouldn't be a major point

**flipzmode** · #5 (**permalink**) 12-02-2009, 11:42 PM

(I responded on xda)

Roaming is of no use to me but I always like to look in to issues that people are having. I grep'd what code we have available to us for our phones and the only two options I came across were:

ro.com.android.dataroaming = true
xml: name="sync_while_roaming">false

So all I can tell you is that I can control whether it roams or not (which can also be easily changed in our settings menu) but not to force it to roam. I googled if it was possible in android at all and couldn't find any results.

Do you know what towers are around you or what towers we can roam on? I wonder if it would be possible to hack in a verizon rom dump from eris and force it to roam on their towers. However that won't allow you to come back to Sprint. And Sprint has been known to cancel contracts of people who roam too much.

**athlet1c** · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2009, 12:53 AM

I do know the PRL Preferred Roaming List. Sprint constantly updates as they have agreements with companies

smalk · #7 (**permalink**) 12-03-2009, 02:14 AM

I know nothing about how it works but "roam only" was/is available on WM phones with custom Roms. I used it a bunch on my Diamond in areas of weak Sprint signals.

I would imagine that there must be something in the code. After all, the Hero will switch to roam if the signal is too weak.

berger1980 · #8 (**permalink**) 12-17-2009, 09:10 AM

BUMP.

I just got my Hero yesterday, and went home to a NO SPRINT service area. I switched from a Q9c, and forced it to roam for the past year and a half. Now with this Hero garbage (The no "Roam Only" settings), I can't make, receive, phone, OR data while there. I have switched the NAM and 1x like others have mentioned, and it just does not work. Something has to be done about this...such a nice handset, perfect everything...but we need to FORCE ROAM.

Anyone?

**thacounty** · #9 (**permalink**) 12-17-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berger1980

BUMP.

I just got my Hero yesterday, and went home to a NO SPRINT service area. I switched from a Q9c, and forced it to roam for the past year and a half. Now with this Hero garbage, I can't make, receive, phone, OR data while there. I have switched the NAM and 1x like others have mentioned, and it just does not work. Something has to be done about this...such a nice handset, perfect everything...but we need to FORCE ROAM.

Anyone?

I have to ask why it is "Hero garbage", and, "such a nice handset, perfect everything"?

berger1980 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-17-2009, 10:09 AM

LOL, I actually meant "garbage" meaning strictly the no "Roam Only" setting. The phone is great except for that!