Power Vision Icon Switching to Vision

[EREBUSWICHITA]

I know I have seen this somewhere before, but I am not having any luck finding the thread, so I am hoping someone can help me.

For the past week, my phone has been dropping its power vision (2 rows of 3 arrows) connection and connecting at the old vision speeds (2 side by side arrows). My data transfer speed has dropped enormously as a result (TV, music downloads, etc.).

My first troubleshooting technique was *2, who connected me to tech support in Tulsa. He checked my nearest tower and those in the surrounding area and noticed a throughput of only 14.4k (slower than dialup!)! He had me remove my battery for 10 seconds and reboot. He also updated my PRL. Voila, back to speed. For about an hour.

My next idea was to go to the sprint store. All their phones had the same problem, but none of them had noticed it yet. I thought this was weird that they hadn't noticed it, but whatever, I don't have the brightest guys running the store in my town anyway. At least I confirmed that it is a network issue, as my buddy also has the same problem on his A920. Of course the store guys had no clue what to do.

So I have come to my last idea. I recall reading in some obscure thread that there is a field service code to force an EV-DO connection. I just can't find it :irked: Can anyone tell me what it is? Or does anyone have a better idea?!

If it only happened periodically, it would be no big deal, but this has been going on for nigh a week now, 80-90% of the time that I connect. I know that Sprint won't reimburse me for this even though I'm paying for EVDO and only getting Vision throughput, so I'm on my own to fix this. Any help would be a godsend!

[Ktixx]

Are you sure that your area has powervision?

[EREBUSWICHITA]

Wirelessly posted (sph-a900: Samsung-SPHA900 AU-MIC-A900/2.0 MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

yes im sure.

[LONDONSIXX]

You can't force power vision from what I understand, but you can make it where your phone only works on powervision or regular vision. I am on the edge of a coverage area for EVDO and I have to mess with mine when I am at home. You have to call CS and get the MSL# for your phone. After you have that you enter ##3282# and your phone will go into programming mode. Scroll down to Hybrid and check the appropriate box for what you want...Hybrid, EVDO, 1x(regular vision). Hope that helps...

[sdotb]

Actually, the option is in the debug menu for the a900. Just goto menu, settings, display, 0, enter 040793 ... scroll down to HDR selection or something like that.. Set it to EVDO only.

[a_c_s]

they could be doing network upgrades in your area if you are still getting EVDO part of the time...I've had EVDO go in and out here in NYC several times over the past few weeks...give it another day or two and if it does not resolve itself, get to Tier 2 data support...

[EREBUSWICHITA]

Wirelessly posted (sph-a900: Samsung-SPHA900 AU-MIC-A900/2.0 MMP/2.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

thank you so much for your help. no one at sprint knows how to do this. lol

[EREBUSWICHITA]

Update:

Sprint has confirmed the glitchy EV-DO coverage in my area. According to their tech support reps they fixed the problem (cell tower, probably had a squirrel nest or something in it), however, I see no change in transfer speeds. It's actually gotten worse.

I called them back, spent 45 minutes on hold and got this information from the rep. Now that I got them to admit that they had a problem with the coverage, I asked about a credit for the month and a half I was unable to use high speed. At which time I was promptly hung up on.

Calling them back now, on hold at the moment.

[EREBUSWICHITA]

Another update:

sent complaint to Better Business Bureau as follows.

Narrative Description
1. Please tell us about the nature of your complaint. Facts are more helpful than angry or derogatory comments.

I have 2 phones on my account, both of which are made to take advantage of Sprint's EV-DO network. Accessing this network requires you to purchase a Power Vision (PV) Plan (actually, this is not technically true, see * at bottom). This is analogous to upgrading to a cable modem from dial-up in regards to transfer speeds and throughput. I bought these phones in January of this year, at which point I had to sign a new 2 year contract, but I've been with Sprint since the 3rd quarter of 2004 or so.

Immediately after purchasing the phones, the EV-DO connection was wonderful. I could watch TV and get downloaded music and other files with the Power Vision (PV) at speeds comparable to a cable modem on a PC. Beginning in the middle of February I noticed a degraded connection and slower throughput. When the phone is unable to connect with EV-DO (hi throughput), it defaults to the old CDMA network (low throughput).

I called their tech support (in Tulsa) and the rep noticed that the tower in my area had only 44k throughput. He said it would be looked into (Feb 20 or so) and I would receive a call back within 3 days. I never did. The issue was never resolved. Since this original call, I have called back every few days to check on this. This hi speed connection costs an additional $25 per line per month, so I wanted to see a resolution or I'd have to cancel service. That's a lot to pay for something that doesn't work.

My calls to check up have resulted in trouble tickets being created, a promise to be called back, and then no call back. This is not resolving my problem with the connection speeds, and it's costing me a lot of money. The only reason I bought these phones (A900 $350, A920 $199, connection charge in addition to calling plan is $25 per line per month) was to use their enhanced broadband speeds. This is over $550 in hardware and $50 month I'm spending for this stuff.

When I call Sprint Customer Service, I repeatedly get rude reps who don't really understand what I'm talking about. This is after hold times ranging from 5 minutes to 1 hour (!). When someone does understand the problem I'm having, I get a promised call back with resolution, but this hasn't happened in over a month of calling. When I ask about credit for the month of missed service, I get hung up on.

I have given up on trying to get this fixed through Sprint. It has taken too long, the gauntlet I must run to find a knowledgeable rep is ridiculous, and even then there is no real resolution. I am hoping a letter from the BBB will prompt some action on Sprint's part to rectify the issue.

*Sprint will tell you that you must purchase a PV plan to use the EV-DO network. This is a lie. You can use an old Vision plan for less money and get the same speeds because they have not set up their internal accounting to see if someone with a Vision plan is using Power Vision. To cover up this problem, they won't allow you to sign up for Vision, you to pay for PV. I know this because I know some people who work for Sprint, and some customers who have been able to make sprint give them their old Vision (not PV) plan back, but still were connecting at EV-DO speeds. For documentation of this lie, see this message board, complete with images. http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94036


Desired Outcome
1. How would you like the company to resolve your complaint? Do not enter more than 1,000 characters.

Best Case: Get their network to operate consistently as it should. It did so for the first month I had the phones, so it can be done.

Last Ditch: I want my money back for these two phones, refunded for the data plan for 1 and a half month's use, and a return to service on my old phone (Sanyo PM-8200) and old plan at no charge. I would want my contract redated so that my 2 years would be up in September, as if I had never extended it by buying these phones. Itemized: A900 = $350 A920 = $199 Data plan = $75 Total is below:

2. Amount of credit/refund requested, if any:
$624.00