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  1. #1
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    1. "they built a new tower by my house, so I need a new PRL so I can
    pick it up." FALSE, PRLs are done by SID (System ID) and only affects
    how your phone roams.

    2. "they oversold the network, I used to have good signal now I barely
    can make a call" FALSE, Modern systems are designed so the number of
    maximum calls are set so that coverage area changes very little (you'll
    get "System Busy"before your coverage decreases). If you had good
    signal and now don't, it's most likely 1. a hardware failure or change
    at the tower (are your family/neighbors having the same problem?)2. a
    faulty handset 3. Interference from an outside source.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




    See More: Common CDMA myths exposed




  2. #2
    DSL GURU
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed

    1. True.
    2. False



  3. #3
    Quarterwave
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed

    PRL's only steer your roaming capable phone to the preferred roaming
    partner. Usually 800 CDMA, then Analog 800. If no 800 CDMA, then straight to
    Analog. It has nothing to do with SPRINT CDMA aquisition.

    "SumYungGuy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    news:[email protected]...
    >
    > 1. "they built a new tower by my house, so I need a new PRL so I can
    > pick it up." FALSE, PRLs are done by SID (System ID) and only affects
    > how your phone roams.
    >
    > 2. "they oversold the network, I used to have good signal now I barely
    > can make a call" FALSE, Modern systems are designed so the number of
    > maximum calls are set so that coverage area changes very little (you'll
    > get "System Busy"before your coverage decreases). If you had good
    > signal and now don't, it's most likely 1. a hardware failure or change
    > at the tower (are your family/neighbors having the same problem?)2. a
    > faulty handset 3. Interference from an outside source.
    >
    > --
    > Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    > Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap
    >






  4. #4
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    "PRL's only steer your roaming capable phone to the preferred roaming
    partner. Usually 800 CDMA, then Analog 800. If no 800 CDMA, then
    straight to
    Analog. It has nothing to do with SPRINT CDMA aquisition."

    It's a little more complicated than that, it basically has an
    aquisition table and then a SID list. Each SID is then attached to the
    table, so if Sprint or anyone else buys additional spectrum (or swap
    it) the table will be ammended. A typical PRL sample would look
    something like this:

    for this example SID 1234 is Sprint, 2345 is Verizon, 3456 is some
    analog only carrier

    test.prl - IS683A Format PRL File

    File ID : 0
    File size : 42
    File CRC : C1C8
    Preferred only : No
    Default roam : On


    ACQ table : 3 records

    Rec# Type Param1 Param2
    ==== ======== ======== =================
    0 PCS Channels 8 channels 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200
    1 Cell CDMA Std System A Primary CDMA Channel
    2 Cell Analog System B
    ==== ======== ======== =================


    SYS table : 4 records

    Rec# SID NID Pref Geo Pri ACQ Roam
    ==== ===== ===== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
    0 1234 None Yes New Same 0 Off
    1 2345 None Yes New Same 1 On
    2 3456 None Yes New Same 2 On
    3 4567 None No New Same 2 n/a
    ==== ===== ===== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====

    With this PRL the phone would look for Sprint above all, then CDMA 800,
    then Verizon AMPS, then the other AMPS carrier.

    Obviously the real PRL is MUCH longer and more complex, but this is how
    it works.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  5. #5
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    DSL GURU, in response to #2 of your reply.

    "1. True.
    2. False"

    Let's see your documentation. Modern systems don't suffer from the
    majority of cell shrinkage problems that the earlier equipment had.
    Today's BTS sectors start out at about 1.5 watts transmitting, pilot,
    paging and sync and will increase to 6-8 watts when fully loaded. This
    keeps the cell roughly the same size as amount of subs increase, and if
    the amount of subs exceeds the maximum power the BTS will not take any
    more calls. It will report a forward power block and your phone will
    say "System Busy".

    Check your facts before you open your hole.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  6. #6
    larry
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    SumYungGuy wrote:
    > *1. "they built a new tower by my house, so I need a new PRL so I can
    > pick it up." FALSE, PRLs are done by SID (System ID) and only affects
    > how your phone roams.
    >
    > 2. "they oversold the network, I used to have good signal now I
    > barely can make a call" FALSE, Modern systems are designed so the
    > number of maximum calls are set so that coverage area changes very
    > little (you'll get "System Busy"before your coverage decreases). If
    > you had good signal and now don't, it's most likely 1. a hardware
    > failure or change at the tower (are your family/neighbors having the
    > same problem?)2. a faulty handset 3. Interference from an outside
    > source. *


    I believe SumYungGuy to be right on the money with these statements. I
    never believed a PRL update would do anything more than control some
    roaming partners. I have never seen any evidence of having a good
    signal in a place and then have it become weak later on. It's never
    happened to me. Once a tower is up the signal will not change from it
    unless it develops some sort of technical problems, (which happens but
    very rarely).

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  7. #7
    Craig
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed

    Few points to add

    PRL's also specify initial carrier frequency, so if a new CDMA carrier
    frequency has been added in your area, and the network isn't assigning
    carrier frequencies itself to specific phones (most networks do assign
    CF's regardless) , then a PRL update will help tell the phone to go to
    a CF with more capacity which equals better reception. Usually the
    network does this, not the PRL, so this isn't such a big deal, just
    something worth mentioning since PRL controls a bit more than just the
    SID

    Cell Breathing as they call it can have a dramatic effect on reception
    to people in fringe areas of cells that are close to capacity and
    exceeding ordinary capacity in those areas. Excess load on the cell
    relates to the noise floor, and the phones ability to communicate with
    the tower. For most of us it's not an issue but don't generalize.
    It can make the difference between being able to make a call and not
    being able to make one. Cell breathing won't be as dramatic as full
    signal to no signal, but it can make the difference between marginal
    signal (usable), and unusable.....





    SumYungGuy <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > 1. "they built a new tower by my house, so I need a new PRL so I can
    > pick it up." FALSE, PRLs are done by SID (System ID) and only affects
    > how your phone roams.
    >
    > 2. "they oversold the network, I used to have good signal now I barely
    > can make a call" FALSE, Modern systems are designed so the number of
    > maximum calls are set so that coverage area changes very little (you'll
    > get "System Busy"before your coverage decreases). If you had good
    > signal and now don't, it's most likely 1. a hardware failure or change
    > at the tower (are your family/neighbors having the same problem?)2. a
    > faulty handset 3. Interference from an outside source.




  8. #8
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    Craig said:
    "PRL's also specify initial carrier frequency, so if a new CDMA carrier
    frequency has been added in your area, and the network isn't assigning
    carrier frequencies itself to specific phones (most networks do assign
    CF's regardless) , then a PRL update will help tell the phone to go to
    a CF with more capacity which equals better reception. Usually the
    network does this, not the PRL, so this isn't such a big deal, just
    something worth mentioning since PRL controls a bit more than just the
    SID."

    You are mis-informed my friend, a PRL will contain a channel list for
    CDMA PCS, but has nothing to do with priority. The BSC (Base Station
    Controller) contains these parameters. The PRL by default will have all
    the CDMA PCS channels the carrier is licenced for included in the list.
    For example, on my network on a 1x rtt mobile, you will always idle on
    first carrier, and then it loads evenly between the first three
    carriers, and IS95 mobiles Idle on 4th carrier and when it is getting
    full it will offload to the other 3.
    This has absolutly nothing to do with the PRL.

    Craig also said:

    "Cell Breathing as they call it can have a dramatic effect on reception
    to people in fringe areas of cells that are close to capacity and
    exceeding ordinary capacity in those areas. Excess load on the cell
    relates to the noise floor, and the phones ability to communicate with
    the tower. For most of us it's not an issue but don't generalize. It
    can make the difference between being able to make a call and not being
    able to make one. Cell breathing won't be as dramatic as full signal to
    no signal, but it can make the difference between marginal signal
    (usable), and unusable....."

    This was explained in a previous post, so I won't waste my breath (pun
    intended). If this is happening in your area, some RF engineers need to
    get fired. It would be due to poor design, or more likely laziness.
    Turning up max subs instead of adding carriers where they are needed. I
    don't work for Sprint, but I've read some of their policies regaurding
    capacity expasion and if a cell is getting that full an additional
    carrier should be requested.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  9. #9
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    Larry,
    About the only way it would affect your Sprint service is if they
    somehow screwed up the PRL, or if they added spectrum, which is very
    rare since most places already have a 30 MHz block.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  10. #10
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    Larry,
    About the only way it would affect your Sprint service is if they
    somehow screwed up the PRL, or if they added spectrum, which is very
    rare since most places already have a 30 MHz block.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  11. #11
    larry
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    Ok thanks. I wouldn't put it past them to somehow screw up the PRL. lol

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  12. #12
    JRW
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed

    SumYungGuy wrote:

    > 2. "they oversold the network, I used to have good signal now I barely
    > can make a call" FALSE,


    Perhaps in some cases, but not always.

    Here's a common scenario: You were able to use your phone in the
    parking lot of your grocery and were even able to use it inside.
    Gradually or sudden, you discover that your phone seems to be
    dropping the call more often.

    Here's what's happening - When you were the new kid on the block,
    there weren't a lot of other users. A new housing development
    goes in, lots of new users. You walk into the store and you are
    now the weakest signal, i.e. highest noise floor ratio. You get
    dropped.

    As in MY case, I suddenly started lossing the signal all together.
    Over the course of seveal months, I was getting more and more
    dropped calls. It was not my handset, it was duplicated on four
    other handsets of different models and manufactures. The problem
    still continues and is worse after nine in the evening.




  13. #13
    Craig
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed

    SumYungGuy, thanks for the corrections, you seem knowledgable although
    i still disagree with your comments on cell breathing, it does occur,
    and people are affected. What Sprint PCS sets in their policies, and
    what occurs in reality are two different things. They are
    constrained by $ just like everyone else, and sometimes they allow
    certain sites to be at capacity or overcapacity which affects
    geographic coverage. Post more technical info if you can, good stuff


    SumYungGuy <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > Craig said:
    > "PRL's also specify initial carrier frequency, so if a new CDMA carrier
    > frequency has been added in your area, and the network isn't assigning
    > carrier frequencies itself to specific phones (most networks do assign
    > CF's regardless) , then a PRL update will help tell the phone to go to
    > a CF with more capacity which equals better reception. Usually the
    > network does this, not the PRL, so this isn't such a big deal, just
    > something worth mentioning since PRL controls a bit more than just the
    > SID."
    >
    > You are mis-informed my friend, a PRL will contain a channel list for
    > CDMA PCS, but has nothing to do with priority. The BSC (Base Station
    > Controller) contains these parameters. The PRL by default will have all
    > the CDMA PCS channels the carrier is licenced for included in the list.
    > For example, on my network on a 1x rtt mobile, you will always idle on
    > first carrier, and then it loads evenly between the first three
    > carriers, and IS95 mobiles Idle on 4th carrier and when it is getting
    > full it will offload to the other 3.
    > This has absolutly nothing to do with the PRL.
    >
    > Craig also said:
    >
    > "Cell Breathing as they call it can have a dramatic effect on reception
    > to people in fringe areas of cells that are close to capacity and
    > exceeding ordinary capacity in those areas. Excess load on the cell
    > relates to the noise floor, and the phones ability to communicate with
    > the tower. For most of us it's not an issue but don't generalize. It
    > can make the difference between being able to make a call and not being
    > able to make one. Cell breathing won't be as dramatic as full signal to
    > no signal, but it can make the difference between marginal signal
    > (usable), and unusable....."
    >
    > This was explained in a previous post, so I won't waste my breath (pun
    > intended). If this is happening in your area, some RF engineers need to
    > get fired. It would be due to poor design, or more likely laziness.
    > Turning up max subs instead of adding carriers where they are needed. I
    > don't work for Sprint, but I've read some of their policies regaurding
    > capacity expasion and if a cell is getting that full an additional
    > carrier should be requested.




  14. #14
    SumYungGuy
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed


    JRW,
    If that's what's happening where you live either there is a hardware
    problem at the BTS or the RF engineer really screwed the pooch there.

    --
    Posted at SprintUsers.com - Your place for everything Sprint PCS
    Free wireless access @ www.SprintUsers.com/wap




  15. #15
    JRW
    Guest

    Re: Common CDMA myths exposed

    SumYungGuy wrote:
    > JRW,
    > If that's what's happening where you live either there is a hardware
    > problem at the BTS or the RF engineer really screwed the pooch there.


    As I posted before, its happening with a Samsung N400 and A460,
    and Sanyo 8100. All in same area four miles from tower.
    Started umm...what, two weeks ago suddenly>




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