MAJOR problem
 

Ok, this will be long and hopefully detailed. I live on the fringe of EVDO coverage in Colorado. I have been missing numerous calls, texts, and vm alerts at my house. I have struggled with Sprint about this issue and am currently waiting for their solution. I was on the phone with advanced tech support for an hour last night (not sure what defines them as advanced as all they did was hard reset my phone and reprogram a new MSID).

Here is what I have experienced. Using my roommates Sprint cell phone (which is about 5 years old, but gets excellent reception in the house) I call my phone. My phone will not ring. On his cell phone, it will ring 3-4 times and go to VM. I repeat this process, but while the line is ringing on his cell phone, I dial VM or any other number with mine and PRESTO his call comes through and my phone rings.

My hypothesis? While my phone cuts in and out of EVDO and 1x, the radio isn't active enough to receive a call. When I try to make an outgoing call, it activates the radio and my phone rings.

I have tried the following:
Setting the phone with data OFF to:
Only Sprint
Automatic
Only Roam

Setting the phone with data ON to:
Only Sprint
Automatic
Only Roam

I cannot understand why my phone gets horrible reception, and my roommates old phone gets good reception. Cannot figure out the method of why I am not receiving calls. My GF said it just said it was busy all last night, sometimes it goes straight to VM, sometimes it will ring (on the caller's side) 3-4 times and the VM. HELP!!!

Sprint's advanced technical support is going to send me a new phone (which is on back order BTW), but I also had this problem with the Mogul which is why they ultimately sent me a TP.

Does anyone know of any settings to have the radio wake up quicker? Or something like this? Just my thoughts. Any ideas?

PRL is 60614

Re: MAJOR problem
 

What PRL is your roommates phone on and what prl is yours on? More than likely his is older and includes some towers which have been removed from the newer sprint PRL's in order to save them money. If this is the case, and his is a EVDO prl you can try to put it on your phone via several method. If his is not a EVDO prl you may have to hack the PRL...

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Good thought. I didn't think of this. Can I change to an older PRL?

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Sorry, updated my post a bit. Yes you can write older prl's, but if it's non evdo you don't want it... And it'll require figuring out what tower you want and creating a custom prl.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

My problem is, if it is a tower problem, why would my phone ring when I make a call, but not when it's just sitting there. It would still ping the same towers, wouldn't it?

On a side note, when I find out what type of phone it is (like I said, OLD), how will I know how to find the PRL?

Re: MAJOR problem
 

One thing to keep in mind here is the difference between EVDO and 1X.

Voice calls use the 1X signal to make both calls and for data in a 1X only area. EVDO is a seperate data channel. If you are in an EVDO coverage area, calls will come through on 1X while data will be on EVDO.


What does this mean you ask? If you are in a 1X only area and you have an active data session going transmitting data, the voice call will go to VM since the channel is busy.

I had this issue on my 700wx and it sucked sicne there was nothing I could do about it. I also live in a fringe area and had to switch my phone to Roam Only in order to get a good signal. While there, I could not use data because when roaming you are on 1X only no matter what.

On the Touch Pro in the phone settings there is an option called "DDTM Mode". Turning this option on will send all calls to VM during active data sessions. However, turning it off will stop any data sessions in order for the call to come through.

I would check your DDTM setting to see what it set to. If it is off, then you should not be having this issue. If it is off, then you got something else going on like the PRL.

I can tell you that with the TP and the DDTM option I do not have the above issue anymore. This DDTM option was not something that was available on any previous phone I have had.

Disclaimer: The above information is based on my own experience and information that I have gathered. The experience of other's may vary.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

check prl at ##786#

Re: MAJOR problem
 

where is this DDTM option?

-Chez

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Start -> Settings -> Presonal Tab -> Phone -> Services Tab... scroll down to DDTM Mode and click on "Get Settings"

Re: MAJOR problem
 

##data
enter msl
change slot cyle index to 1

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I have done this now and will update tomorrow.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I understand the difference. In the original post, notice that I shut off data, and had the phone in roam ONLY. Which I would think would do the same as the ddtm option, but I will try that also and update tomorrow.

edit: it is already set to NOT send calls to VM.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

May be a silly question but did you consider Sprint Airrave? May atleast fix your problems at home.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Going thru 4 Moguls, my last one had a very similar issue. Now crappy EVDO was one thing, but not getting my calls.. Then what am I paying for service for?

I had to change out the phone, you may have a bad or corrupt radio?

-CC

P.S. on a side note, in my area, PRL 60610 did pretty well. Been having problems since 60612~

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Sure I considered it, but I thought of it this way. Should I have to pay for hardware and a monthly fee for service that A) works on my roommates 5 year old phone, and B) is labeled as "good" on sprints coverage map? Think about how wrong that is.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

PRL is 60614

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Hey, I was just coming on to post about the same problem. I'm in fringe EVDO/Sprint coverage, so my phone sits here constantly switching between 1x, EVDO, and Roaming. My phone misses most calls, VM alerts are lagged, texts are lagged bad. My mogul didn't do this. Also, randomly in the mornings I won't be able to receive texts, make calls, etc, even upon returning to coverage. I just get that error popup saying the number may be invalid or there may not be signal, even though I'm showing full EVDO. The only solution to that is to soft reset.

I'm thinking about calling retentions for an airave, but they just gave me a super deal on the Touch Pro so I don't know if I'd be calling back too soon.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I got a great deal as well, free. Because of this problem. I am going through ecare currently and they have suggested I buy an airave. This angers me as I am supposedly in a "good" area (see above post). They are escalating as we speak. It's nice to know I am not the only one. I changed the slot cycle to 1 so we'll see how that works. My new office here (just moved today) has better reception than my last and I am constantly testing the phone to see if I get calls. I might be looking to "downgrade" my PRL if this doesn't work.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Keep us up to date. I would like to know the results. If they recommend or suggest an AIRRAVE, I'm gonna request they send it for FREE or at a substantial discount..

-CC

Re: MAJOR problem
 

They did recommend it. They also suggested I fill out an NTM ticket? It is reporting bad service. Unfortunately the link they sent me didn't work. Are you having the same problem?

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Am I better off emailing ecare, or calling retentions?

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Have you tried switching to Roam Only? I would give that a try first. But don't feel bad I am also looking into getting an Airave as well.. But Roam Only clears most of the issues that you describe for me.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I didn't do the reg edit for roam only yet, but even still, it is a big pain to switch in and out of roam only every time I come/leave home.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

True, I have to do the same thing as well... but it is a simple fix and test you can try..

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Unfortunately this did not work for me. But, I have changed the cycle time and I seem to be in and out of coverage at work and I am receiving my calls. I will see how this works at home and also will have to try all the configs I listed in the OP tonight as well. Ugh!

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Roam only, in my short limited testing, seems to be helping.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Sprint only, Roam only.... No difference, still no luck. Downgraded my PRL to everyone that had EVDO and GPS, nothing. And it only happens when I am in "good" coverage areas. E-care still pushing the Airave at my expense. Also said I should go to a repair shop to see if I have updated software. I thought that was funny, considering the phone is only a week old. I still have another handset supposedly on its way (or back ordered), so maybe that will help. I am at my wits end on this problem. Was hoping someone on here had the same problem and could solve it. Horrible!

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I am now in Phoenix, AZ and getting the same problem I had in Denver, CO.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I just shot off an email to ecare, see if they can get me a deal on a Airave. I'm not going to push it too hard after the deal they gave me on TP though.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Hard reset? If you are getting the problem all over I'm going to guess it's a software issue. I am in Phoenix and have never had any problems with calls going to VM whatsoever...

Re: MAJOR problem
 

KIDMET.......THANK GOD!!!! i am having the SAME DAMN ISSUES!!!! i went nuts for days on end.....spoke to numerous ADvanced sprint technical support people, absolutely got nowhere. I couldn't believe how my mogul worked so well, but yet my TP woudl get NO calls....straight to VM...no texts nothing. I got soooo fed up, called sprint a million times, they keep wanting to send a new phone,(on backorder).....i dont know what the problem is. FINALLY, i got an airrave....that fixed the problem 50%....its hit or miss now on getting calls/texts. But everyother sprint phone in my house, has full bars etc. I think we might have gotten crappy TP"s. I feel your pain man, i went through hell, still am. let me know if you come up with anything.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Have hard reset 4 times... No luck. The replacement phone they want to send me is on backorder. They are sending it to AZ unfortunately, so now I have an added 3-4 days for my family in AZ to send it to me in CO.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Why don't you just have Sprint ship it directly to you?

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Here is my take. You get Sprint service. Sprint shows coverage in your area. You get bad reception more often then not. The Airwave can fix reception for you at your home or place of buisness. Sprint has an obligation to provide you with quality service. They should provide you with an Airwave at NO cost to you as a customer. If they try to force you to pay for the Airwave, you should politely tell them thats not acceptable, cancel your account and you will go to a provider that values your buisness and is willing to provide you the quality service you expect.

Sprint has an obligation to provide quality service as written in thier own contract. Right now it sounds as though that isn't happening and so they should do everything n their power to provide that quality service.

If I were to request a free Airwave, then I would be cheating the system because I am getting good reception, but for someone that isn't, they should be helped in anyway possible.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

I'm not entirely familiar with the Airrave, but doesn't it just use your home broadband to "boost" your signal. Also, does this work for EVDO (rev a) as well? Thanks.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

In principle you are correct, however in practice, there is no other provider where I can get the level of service I get away from my house (excellent 3G coverage, good speeds) and at the price I pay ($30/month). So it's another one of those cases where I put up with their **** because there is something in it for me. I'd rather buy an airave and pay the $5/month. And if you look at the amount of money I save compared to how much I'd pay AT&T or Verizon for the equivalent of my plan, I'd make up the difference within a few months.

Yes, it does. And no, it does not work with EVDO (possibly in the future though?)

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Just a heads up. For some reason recently, I haven't been missing calls or having lagged texts. Not sure if it's situational or what. I also signed up for a home phone line. Ugh.

EDIT: Still having problems. Last night had some major problems. Still waiting on my new phone.

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Don't know if anyone is reading this thread, but I have received my new TP today. SAME PROBLEM. :(

Re: MAJOR problem
 

Sorry man, no replacement PRO you get will fix this issue. It's the same thing as if you were on a NID boundary. Try getting an airave.