LG530 Keeps Changing to Roam.......IN MY BASEMENT!!!

This started happening a few weeks ago; whenever I use my phone in my
basement, an "R" keeps appearing on the screen. So I thought, ok, my
phone must be malfunctioning! Well my next bill showed roaming
charges!! How can I prove to them that I wasn't really roaming?? I
have the LG5350. Does anyone have this problem??

---

› See More: LG530 Keeps Changing to Roam.......IN MY BASEMENT!!!

SprintPCS Tech wrote:
> eSheri@www.com (Sheri) wrote in article
> <[email protected]>:
>
>>This started happening a few weeks ago; whenever I use my phone in my
>>basement, an "R" keeps appearing on the screen. So I thought, ok, my
>>phone must be malfunctioning! Well my next bill showed roaming
>>charges!! How can I prove to them that I wasn't really roaming?? I
>>have the LG5350. Does anyone have this problem??

An important clue is to look at the history. There wasn't a problem
in the past, but there is now; therefore something has changed as
opposed to it not working from the very start.

> If you're off Sprint's network, you're roaming.
>
> Best way to prevent this is to set it to SprintPCS only (settings -
> network I think).
>
>
> You're in a basement - which means you're underground - 1900MHz CDMA
> doesn't penetrate well into buildings esp. in weaker coverage, and going
> underground just makes it worse.

I can understand the frustration she's having. She bought a service that
cleary shows she's in the coverage area of the Sprint network, but ends
up roaming. There wasn't a problem in the past, but there is now;
therefore she has a reasonable expectation at least some attempt be made
to determine if the situation can be corrected (as opposed to demanding
an unfixable problem it be fixed).

I experience the same thing in a well shielded lower floor
in a data center. Since it has always been this way, unlike Sheri's
problem, I don't expect anything will improve the situation. I simply
accept the fact I'm not going to get a Sprint signal.

I used to keep my 4900 set so that it would lock on any signal and it
would indicate a) I was roaming, b) I was in analog mode, c) a warning
would appear before I answered the phone indicating I was roaming.

You can't, because you were really roaming. If there is an "R" on
your screen you are roaming. Either limit your roaming calls by
checking the screen each time before you make or take a call, or set the
phone to Sprint PCS only.


Sheri wrote:

> This started happening a few weeks ago; whenever I use my phone in my
> basement, an "R" keeps appearing on the screen. So I thought, ok, my
> phone must be malfunctioning! Well my next bill showed roaming
> charges!! How can I prove to them that I wasn't really roaming?? I
> have the LG5350. Does anyone have this problem??

In article <[email protected]>,
Jerome Zelinske <[email protected]> wrote:

> You can't, because you were really roaming. If there is an "R" on
> your screen you are roaming. Either limit your roaming calls by
> checking the screen each time before you make or take a call, or set the
> phone to Sprint PCS only.
>
>
> Sheri wrote:
>
> > This started happening a few weeks ago; whenever I use my phone in my
> > basement, an "R" keeps appearing on the screen. So I thought, ok, my
> > phone must be malfunctioning! Well my next bill showed roaming
> > charges!! How can I prove to them that I wasn't really roaming?? I
> > have the LG5350. Does anyone have this problem??


This is a similar problem we saw from the user up by Dallas. He had
service, then lost service, and it was pulling teeth - in his case a
letter to State's Attorney General - for Sprint to let him out of
contract even though Sprint was no longer providing him any service. If
a cell tower gets busier, its coverage shrinks we've been told. A weaker
signal will have more trouble getting into a basement. Unfortunately all
cell carriers specically disavow any indoor performance guarantee.

Sheri has 3 bad choices now:

1. Set phone for Sprint PCS and perhaps have zero Sprint availability in
basement.
2. Wait till contract ends, and find a carrier whose signal will reach
your basement.
3. Quit Sprint now and eat the "early termination Fee".


In theory a different model phone might have better reception, but its a
pain to keep swapping phones in hope of finding a better one for one
unique situation.

"Phillipe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news[email protected]...
> 3. Quit Sprint now and eat the "early termination Fee".

Reportedly, she has until August 31 to cancel without penalty due to the new
number portability surcharge on her bill.

However, it sounds like she is actually still generally satisfied with her
service, despite the basement roaming. As others have mentioned, she could turn
off roaming entirely, or at least turn on the Roam Guard. Or she could sign up
for a Free&Clear America plan, which would eliminate any extra charges for
roaming. It is sad that 1900MHz CDMA does not penetrate buildings and basements
as well as 800MHz analog, but...every wireless carrier has its own tradeoffs.

Very possibly something changed outside your house. Something like a
building going up or a new tree planted, etc. in the line of sight from
the SPCS tower down to your basement. Also I know that some LG phones,
even if put on SPCS-only, they will pick up a Roam signal at different
times. If you have some type of Roam Guard, turn it on and listen for
it.

--
Chris

Please respond on Usenet or Phonescoop.com


eSheri@www.com (Sheri) wrote in article
<[email protected]>:
> This started happening a few weeks ago; whenever I use my phone in my
> basement, an "R" keeps appearing on the screen. So I thought, ok, my
> phone must be malfunctioning! Well my next bill showed roaming
> charges!! How can I prove to them that I wasn't really roaming?? I
> have the LG5350. Does anyone have this problem??

[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]

1. No, I don't like Sprint's service (Using Upoc is a nightmare!)
2. Contract expires in December (Can hardly wait)
3. While in the basement, the "R" is not constantly on; it goes on &
off, while sitting in the SAME spot!




[email protected]am (Chris Russell) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Very possibly something changed outside your house. Something like a
> building going up or a new tree planted, etc. in the line of sight from
> the SPCS tower down to your basement. Also I know that some LG phones,
> even if put on SPCS-only, they will pick up a Roam signal at different
> times. If you have some type of Roam Guard, turn it on and listen for
> it.
>
> --
> Chris
>
> Please respond on Usenet or Phonescoop.com
>
>
> eSheri@www.com (Sheri) wrote in article
> <[email protected]>:
> > This started happening a few weeks ago; whenever I use my phone in my
> > basement, an "R" keeps appearing on the screen. So I thought, ok, my
> > phone must be malfunctioning! Well my next bill showed roaming
> > charges!! How can I prove to them that I wasn't really roaming?? I
> > have the LG5350. Does anyone have this problem??
>
> [posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]

Sheri wrote:
> 1. No, I don't like Sprint's service (Using Upoc is a nightmare!)
> 2. Contract expires in December (Can hardly wait)
> 3. While in the basement, the "R" is not constantly on; it goes on &
> off, while sitting in the SAME spot!

Have you ever sat at a stop light and had your radio station fade off into
static, then roll forward a couple of feet and the station is clear as a
bell again?

A car that receives interference like that can also be the source of it as
it drives by your house. Even quite a ways off.
--
-+-
RØß
O/Siris
I work for Sprint
I *don't* speak for them

Have you tried a Sanyo handset? The receiver sensitivity on the Sprint
Sanyo phones is superior (well known fact) and the phones necessity to
vote on weak signals is pre-determined by the phones receiver
sensitivity. With a better phone (E.G. Not an LG) you can set your
phones roam characteristic to "Sprint Only" this should resolve your
"roam at home" problem. Seriously, go to a Sprint Retailer or Radio
Shack... have them power up the phones... LOOK at the signal strength! I
am a Sprint Agent and in side by side tests we have Sanyo phones showing
solid signal while the LG and Samsung phones are "low/no" or
"searching". Check it out.

--

"It is what it is




"O/Siris" <robjvargas@sprîntpcs.com> wrote in article
<L_g3b.281854$uu5.63255@sccrnsc04>:

> Sheri wrote:

> > 1. No, I don't like Sprint's service (Using Upoc is a nightmare!)

> > 2. Contract expires in December (Can hardly wait)

> > 3. While in the basement, the "R" is not constantly on; it goes on &

> > off, while sitting in the SAME spot!

>

> Have you ever sat at a stop light and had your radio station fade off into

> static, then roll forward a couple of feet and the station is clear as a

> bell again?

>

> A car that receives interference like that can also be the source of it as

> it drives by your house. Even quite a ways off.

> --

> -+-

> RØß

> O/Siris

> I work for Sprint

> I *don't* speak for them

>

>

[posted via phonescoop.com - free web access to the alt.cellular groups]