*228 to update PRL on Charge?

[Davidoo]

Do we still use *228 to update the PRL on the 4G LTE Charge or not?  I get different answers from Verizon reps on the phone and at the stores.  Some say using *228 on these phones will brick them while others say to do it and select option 2 as I did on all my prior Verizon phones. 

I'm in a solidly 4G area but near my house I get mostly 3G but a new tower went up within about 200 yards of my house.  My current PRL is 15027.  Does everyone who has 4G have the same version or are there newer ones out there.  If we're not supposed to use *228 is there a manual way to get the latest PRL?

[JoeNe]

No 228 on a phone with a sim card.

[Ann154]

You should never dial *228 to activate the phone or for a PRL update on a 4G device.

The last time I checked my PRL was 15011.

[UMFootball1989]

What the heck does PRL mean?

[Ann154]

Preferred Roaming List

[UMFootball1989]

whats it do

[Ann154]

These posts explain the PRL better than I can.

http://community.vzw.com/t5/Blackberry-Discussions/PRL-Version/m-p/260316/highlight/true#M17384

http://community.vzw.com/t5/Wireless-Feature-Questions-Other/Is-there-a-way-to-update-the-towers-nea...

[UMFootball1989]

how do you know if you need to update this?

[#9]

Good afternoon everyone!

For 4G device, the PRL is routinely automatically pushed to the device. So there is no need for 4G users to invoke a manual PRL update.

Thank you!

[Ann154]

On CDMA only phones, a person would only need to update the PRL every couple of months or so. It would depend on if you are having issues with signal or in a new location. If there are tower modifications in your area, it can be done more often. A example, would be in former Alltel coverage areas. Verizon has to convert those towers to broadcast a Verizon signal. They may also be shutting down their own towers in the same area because the Alltel towers provided a better coverage pattern. It can cause problems if the phone is looking for a tower that no longer exists.

[Ann154]

I am not sure how the PRL update system works for 4G LTE devices.

[Davidoo]

Does anyone with the Charge have a PRL higher than 15027?  I was a a Verizon store earlier today and noticed that the 3 Charges they had on display all had different PRLs.  One had 15011, another 15027 (the version I have), and a third one had a higher version...I think it was 15036.  The reason I'm asking is I still have trouble at my house with constant changing from 3G to 4G and back.  Verizon says I should get 4G and the tower near me was updated recently so I'm thinking a new PRL could help me. 

I was told that every time you turn the phone on it searches for updates, including PRL.  If that is true I wonder how 3 in the store all have different PRLs?  I powered mine off and removed the sim and sd card, waited a few minutes, put them back in and restarted and still have the same version.  Possibly it depends on where you are when you power up.  Curious to see if anyone has a newer version than 15027.  Check Settings, About Phone, Status to see your PRL.

[JerryF]

Here is a further thought on PRL and *228.  In my Motorhome (MH) I use a modem to access the Verizon network.  My old (now retired) 3G modem is a Verizon USB 720 and I could do and I did do a *228 to update the PRL on the Verizon 3G network.  This is important to do when you are driving around to other cities.

Now I have a Verizon Pantech UM290 4G/3G modem and I could NOT find a provision to do a *228 to update the PRL.  I talked to the Verizon folks and they said that every time I log the UML290 modem into the Verizon network the PRL is updated, that is, if it's necessary.

We all need to find out if this is the same way the Samsung Charge Droid smart phone does it because BOTH the 3G and the 4G towers need to be updated somehow???

JerryF

[bkhorn]

I got this off another forum.

"For 4G LTE phones, the PRL is automatically updated via the SIM card (just like it is on GSM phones), so *228 option 2 is no longer "required". "

Source: http://androidforums.com/samsung-droid-charge/367236-228.html

[Ann154]

---

bkhorn wrote:

I got this off another forum.

"For 4G LTE phones, the PRL is automatically updated via the SIM card (just like it is on GSM phones), so *228 option 2 is no longer "required". "

Source: http://androidforums.com/samsung-droid-charge/367236-228.html

---

That is what I suspected, but couldn't verify it myself. I hadn't gotten around to searching for the info myself.

[Soulchaser]

you can pull the battery and the sim card out for about 30 seconds then replace it. most of the time that is the "PRL update" for 4G devices

[Davidoo]

I pulled the battery and SIM card and when I turned the phone back on I noticed the startup took much longer and got several more messages pop up about "Searching for Service" etc.  So it appears this does at least cause the Charge to re-check at some of the software.  After this I still have PRL 15027 so that must be the latest version. 

[DC5_K20Z1]

15027 here in scottsdale arizona

[DC5_K20Z1]

I've been told not to do a manual prl update as it is done automatically with sim cards installed

[Ann154]

I have seen 15044 on other 4G phones. I forget which models.

On my Tbolt, I have 15061 for a PRL.