[mymitsu3kgt]

I seem to remember people talking a while ago about a code you type on your BB to update the cell tower locations. My friend has an 8703e and is having trouble receiving voice mail notifications and his signal seems screwy. I thought this code might help but I can't remember exactly what to type. Would this code also work with other phones on Verizon?

[JGBerry]

Originally Posted by mymitsu3kgt

I seem to remember people talking a while ago about a code you type on your BB to update the cell tower locations. My friend has an 8703e and is having trouble receiving voice mail notifications and his signal seems screwy. I thought this code might help but I can't remember exactly what to type. Would this code also work with other phones on Verizon?

lol...it's not a code for blackberry. it's a code for all VZW customers. the code to dial is *228 and honestly, if he's having connection problems, it most likely isn't because of that.

you really won't notice much of a difference with the *228 unless you are on the fringes of VZW's expansion locations, where they are adding new towers and new coverage, or making new roaming agreements, etc

[audit]

dial *22899 and hit send.

[mymitsu3kgt]

I knew it wasn't a BB specific code. I just wanted to make sure that every device on VZW used the same code. Thanks for the help.

[JGBerry]

Originally Posted by audit

dial *22899 and hit send.

i believe it's just *228

[Dodge DeBoulet]

Originally Posted by JGBerry

i believe it's just *228

For just a PRL update (the subject of this thread), *22899 does it all in one step. If you dial just *228, you then have to select option 2 to perform the PRL update.

[JGBerry]

Originally Posted by Dodge DeBoulet

For just a PRL update (the subject of this thread), *22899 does it all in one step. If you dial just *228, you then have to select option 2 to perform the PRL update.

oh ok, thanks for that info. i've just been using *228.
hmm, i can't even remember when the last time i used that was. i think Verizon should do it automatically, like GSM carriers...when you leave anything up to the customer, it never gets done b/c most customers don't really know much about cell phones

[audit]

I make sure that at least every 2 weeks it's done on my family phones and also the Exec's at the office that use VZW. I just walk in their office, grab their phone and dial it for them, hand the phone back when it's done.

[JGBerry]

Originally Posted by audit

I make sure that at least every 2 weeks it's done on my family phones and also the Exec's at the office that use VZW. I just walk in their office, grab their phone and dial it for them, hand the phone back when it's done.

you do it every 2 weeks? that's a bit excessive. they dont come out with PRL's every 2 weeks. it's usually every 1-2 months. you realize updating the PRL really won't help you much at all unless you're on the fringes of Verizon's expansion

[JGBerry]

Originally Posted by audit

I make sure that at least every 2 weeks it's done on my family phones and also the Exec's at the office that use VZW. I just walk in their office, grab their phone and dial it for them, hand the phone back when it's done.

updating the PRL will NOT:

Improve signal strength in regular coverage or roaming areas
Quality issues (Echo, Static, Cross Talk, Audio Weak, etc.)
Blocked Calls
Dropped Calls
Coverage holes (No Service at all is available to make or receive calls)
Fast busy signals
Providing added features to a carrier's network
Voicemail issues
Wireless Web issues
Receiving a carrier error message on outbound calls
Correcting misrouted calls when roaming
Receiving a credit card prompt while roaming

[jsuen]

In fact, updating the PRL could cause you to lose coverage. The biggest example was that when VZW formed, they signed comprehensive roaming agreements with Sprint PCS, in the same markets. In many markets you could roam on Sprint without Verizon coverage. These were removed one by one with PRL updates as Verizon built out their coverage.

[Dawg]

There are actually 2 updates one is PRL and other is software

dial 1 for software
dial 2 for PRLs

They actually did a software update on two of my phones and now one gets better service and other gets worse lol

My BB had no service at my house when inside now I get atleast 2 bars

[JGBerry]

verizon should make updates behind the scenes...it's stupid to make the customer dial and update by themselves.

they could have it do a quick update at 3am once a month or something. the problem now, is that when you do *228 and update your PRL, your phone resets. it never used to do that with the older phones

[jgb@etree]

Unless I am mistaken, *22899 actually activates/programs your phone (part of this process is pulling the most current PRL). and is a one step way of doing *228 and selecting 1 to activate. *228 then option 2 specifically updates the PRL. I can believe that re-activating your phone doesn't cause any problems, but i'm still not doing it on my phone ;)

[mundyb]

I do a *228 every time I happen to think of it. It may be once a week, or once a month, just depends on how my mind is working. I don't do it for the potential benefits of improvement, but so that if I call VZW the first thing they ask is "When did you last update your phone?", then they try to get you off the phone as quick as they can. It seems to be their band-aid and a kiss solution to get you to leave them alone.

[jgb@etree]

Originally Posted by mundyb

.....I call VZW the first thing they ask is "When did you last update your phone?", then they try to get you off the phone as quick as they can. It seems to be their band-aid and a kiss solution to get you to leave them alone.

Thats why you always lie and say, "Yeah, the problem started about a week ago. After 2 days, I tried updating my PRL and restarting my phone to see if that would fix it, but I'm still experiencing the same problem.."

[Dodge DeBoulet]

Originally Posted by jgb@etree

Unless I am mistaken, *22899 actually activates/programs your phone (part of this process is pulling the most current PRL). and is a one step way of doing *228 and selecting 1 to activate. *228 then option 2 specifically updates the PRL. I can believe that re-activating your phone doesn't cause any problems, but i'm still not doing it on my phone ;)

You are mistaken.

*22890 activates and updates the PRL.

*22899 just updates the PRL.

[jgb@etree]

Originally Posted by Dodge DeBoulet

You are mistaken.

*22890 activates and updates the PRL.

*22899 just updates the PRL.

Good info, thanks.