5300 vs. 8100, but not the same old question

"John Salerno" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > (Note you will see 'negative comments' about earpiece volume. That is
> FIXED,
> > I believe as current SW levels. Note the date on negative comments!)
>
> if i buy the 5300 now, would i have the updated software, or would i still
> have to have them do it?
>
> also, how is an update done in a sprint store different than an update
that
> occurs when you call sprint CS? i don't know if they do this anymore, but
a
> long time ago i would get a message saying my phone needed to be updated
> (after calling *2 or *4, i forget which) and it would update whatever it
was
> it was updating....
>
>

First a little clarification....
1) There are usually 3 different 'levels' about a particular cell phone
A) Hardware level - This is like the version level of the board in the
phone. You are stuck with what you have.
With some phones (Like the 3500's) you could tell what board you
had. There were the good, the bad and the ugly.

B) Software level - This is the version of the software running on the
hardware on your phone.

C) PRL (Preferred Roaming List) - Tells your phone information about
towers id's to listen to, I believe...

All that said.......

Software can only be refreshed 'on-site', and I 'believe' on-site is a
Sprint store, but others can chime in.

PRL levels can be done OTA (over-the-air) for most phones when you call
customer support. It's a two-step process. Call once, get the phone
'flagged' . Call a second time, and the system catches the 'flag' and update
dates you! (If the update, was something you really needed, you would have
gotten a message on your first call to Sprint!)

Finally.... Unfortunately because of the fast pace of change, you CANNOT
count on the phone being up to date when you get it!. I was 1-2 software
levels behind and 3 PRL levels behind....

---

› See More: 5300 vs. 8100, but not the same old question

I'll probably run over there on Friday but that might be a mistake since it
is after xmas.

"Evil_Ernie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:FBvGb.13586$Fg.1436@lakeread01...
> Yes 1.115SP is the latest build. Weird that you're still getting the
volume
> problem though, but yeah let Sprint look at it and see what's up.
>
> "Peterbilt" <amazon-*****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> I have version 1.115SP, I think that is the latest firmware version but I
> will do what you suggest. Thanks.
>
> "Evil_Ernie" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:gzjGb.12958$Fg.12295@lakeread01...
> > Sounds like you have software version 1.114SP on your phone, which you
can
> > find out by going to Menu/Phone Info/Version. If so, take it to your
> nearest
> > Sprint PCS store (not an Express store) and have them do a software
> upgrade.
> > After it's upgraded, the volume and ringer issue will be resolved. A
word
> of
> > advice though...take the phone in when the store opens, since some
stores
> > may take up to 2 hours to do the update.
>
>

You can do it with the side buttons, you have to turn them on somewhere in
the menu. I forgot where it is though but I did it. The only thing you have
to do is open the phone to turn down the volume with the side buttons once
they are turned on.

"Stromm Sarnac" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>, amazon-
> *****@REMOVETHISeudoramail.com says...
> > I have the 8100, not the 5300 so I'll tell you about my experiences with
> > that phone. For the most part I like it except for the volume. I have a
hard
> > time hearing the ringers on the phone, they aren't load enough except in
a
> > quiet room. I have to keep it on high volume with the vibrate on. I also
> > don't like the limited ringers that are on the phone so I tried to
download
> > some and install them. None of the ringers I downloaded, when converted
from
> > midi files to the supported file type work because the tempo is not
> > supported or certain notes are not supported by the phone. If I would
have
> > known this prior to purchasing the phone I probably would have gone with
> > another phone.
> >
> > "John Salerno" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > ok, i've been searching google for posts about these two phones (i
didn't
> > > realize there was such a debate over it! and it seems like almost
all
> > of
> > > the ones i've read so far are centered on the camera of each
phone....the
> > > camera is something i'll probably use very little, if at all....i just
> > want
> > > a new phone, preferably a sanyo for the supposedly good reception, and
> > these
> > > two seem to be the newest and the best...
> > >
> > > so my question is, which of these two phones is better *aside* from
the
> > > camera? as far as reception, software, volume, clarity, physical
comfort,
> > > options, things like that....are there any differences between the
phones
> > > that aren't related to the camera?
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ---
> > > John Salerno
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> I too have the 8100. I don't have any of the problems I've read about.
> My ringer is extremely load, enough that in my parka pocket in a crowded
> loud bar I can still hear it. I have even converted clips of MP3s to
> midi to upload to my phone via a few different free websites as I'm not
> paying for that cable and THEN the software to do just a few things.
>
> I don't notice the "sweet spot" when trying to listen while talking on
> the phone. Many people have a problem getting the speaker over their
> ear in just the right way to be able to hear.
>
> I don't have any problem seeing the buttons in low light. Mine are
> nice and bright.
>
> I didn't buy the phone for the camera and have only played around with
> it a few times so I can't say much about it.
>
> I do play around with the web browser. I find that I have to power
> off the phone a few times a week to browse. Either that or I have to
> manually login. I've heard there's an update that resolves this, but I
> haven't had time to get to a FULL Sprint store to get it done.
>
>
> Two things I don't quite like. 1. I don't like that to disable the
> audible ringer and leave only a vibrate I have to go through the menus
> and can't simply use the side buttons. 2. I REALLY wish there was a
> quick way to adjust the brightness. The display is EXTREMELY bright at
> night.