Hello. We have a few Blackberry 7250s that we'd like to tether. One of them is using Alltel PRL 30029 and has no problems connecting to their EVDO network. The others are using PRL 40029 (which is more recent) & can't pick up the EVDO network for more than a few seconds for anything; they will only connect at 1X. They're all running software 4.10.291, which is the latest software from Alltel.

I've tried a suggestion from another forum where you put in the HEX ESN as the password instead of "alltel" & it's supposed to force it into EVDO mode, but that hasn't worked.

Is there anyway to save the older PRL from the one 7250 & save it to the others? Otherwise tethering is not feasable for our needs, which is sad since it only costs us $10 to tether versus $50 for PCMCIA aircards.

If anyone has suggestions on how to do this, please let me know. Thanks.

OK, here's an update: I found a website that has the 30029.prl file and found out the dates are the same, they're just meant for different hardware.

If anyone out there knows how to update the PRL manually I'd appreciate it.

The application software for the BlackBerry 7250 has nothing to do with the PRL Version for the network. The PRL (Preferred Roaming List) Version helps update the software (platform) for which a device operates on. The beauty of being able to update your PRL Version is limited to certain Telecom Carriers; Telus Mobility and Verizon Wireless with a few other CDMA Carriers depending on the area of the country you are in. Here are the steps to updating the PRL Version for each wireless device.

• BlackBerry Software Program "Status" Screen: #4357* > View current PRL Version before updating.

• Cellular Programming/PRL Version: **22800 or *22801 >Press 1: for english> Press 1 to program ESN or Press 2: to update Roaming List software

• It would be recommended if possible to update your PRL Version every 3 months to keep your devices on the current platform.

If these steps will not allow you to complete this update, you can contact me and I will provide the steps to flash the lastest version to each device.

Daniel

The thing is I know how to update the PRL from the air. The problem is that the version the *228 does is that it downloads the wrong version to the phone. With Alltel there are three different versions of PRLs: There's 20xxx, which is written for phones with no EVDO capability, 30xxx, which is written for phones with EVDO capability, and there's 40xxx, which is for special devices (aircards, etc).

On all the 7250s we have that run the 40029 PRL (the latest from Alltel & the only one they send down with *228) the phone keeps constantly switching back and forth from 1X to 1XEV. If you try to surf when it rarely says 1XEV then it is still slow, then when you check the phone it switches back to 1X. Also this constant switching is killing battery life.

These problems do not happen with the 30029 PRL. This is why I need to be able to push the 30029 PRL to the 7250 manually instead of over the air.

OK, this is weird.

My phone automatically updated to 40036, the latest PRL from Alltel and it is still picking up EVDO without any problem. I took an identical 7250 & downloaded the same PRL to it, made sure it had the same software, settings, everything & it wouldn't pick up the EVDO network.

I'm starting to think it's hardware related, not software related. Could it be the antenna is a little different? The one that does pick up the EVDO network is about a year newer, but inside the hardware looks identical.

Any ideas?

The only thing that would be recommended is to Flash the PRL Version through a copy downloaded to a CD for the BlackBerry 7250. A authorized Altel service dealer can provide this to you with the instructions to program your device. You will need your lock for the programming. This step or process will take 15-20 minutes to complete and the device is powered back up.

To check the version - from the phone screen dial: #4357* SND

That was the first thing I tried. Unfortunately Alltel doesn't have software to manually download the PRL to the phone. That's where my problem comes in.