usb broadband prl updates?

[Soundguy]

I've got a sprint USB broadband modem. ( franklin wireless I think? )

Works great.. I get good service, and faster speeds than they 'guarantee'.

probably 3/4 times a week I will get a pop up box from the modem driver/connection software (cmotech) telling me it is updating the 'PRL' in the modem and not to interrupt or remove the modem or permanent damage will result. takes about 10 seconds and everything is fine..

what is that? does sprint really have to update their devices every other day?

soundguy

 

[CurlyDave]

I used to have Sprint phones and as far as I could tell, the "PRL" was a list of cell towers that the phone knew about.

It seemed that the phone was dumb enough that it couldn't just query nearby towers and then use the ones with the strongest signal, the phone had to know about the tower before it could use it.

You could be standing next to a tower, but the phone would use a distant tower if the nearby one wasn't on the PRL.

Back in those days I had to initiate the PRL update myself.

Frequent, PRL updates pushed to you by Sprint are a good thing, especially if they build new towers in your area.

 

[Soundguy]

and they push them every other sday or so!

thanks

soundguy

 

[Skyco]

PRL stands for Preferred Roaming List
It is a database of which systems your device should prefer to use when given a choice. It is not based on individual towers or cells signal strength.
Say your device picks up Sprint, and Verizon and some other carrier.
Obviously it should prefer Sprint since that is your home system, but if it has to go to one of the others they are in the PRL to allow your device to find them. They may have a roaming agreement with, for example, Verizon that is cheaper to Sprint than if you use some other carrier. They don't necessarily want to block the other carrier but want you to use the one Sprint "prefers". Hence Preferred Roaming List.
These PRLs are constantly changing as contracts and systems change so that is the reason for frequent PRL updates.

 

[Soundguy]

thanks