FYI: PRL 13xxx means you're on the new Hybrid Network

kxs783kms

Well-known member
Dec 6, 2009
183
9
0
Originally Posted by Gav508
Tonight I called tech support from Verizon and was surprised to get in touch with a very knowledgeable rep. The Hybrid push is a known issue, but ONLY for certain customers. These customers are in certain areas and are either former Alltel customers or customers that are accessing former Alltels equipment. I to have the 15008 PRL, however my location, New Jersey, I am not affected by the Alltel issue, and even though she said she would send the update to my phone, she stated that it can cause other issues. Since she seemed very knowledgeable about this information, I decided to take her advise and stay clear of this update.

For any of you guys using Alltel towers or equipment, all the info you have read is correct and this pushed update should serve you phone well. Just first verify you are in that Alltel local.

Myself I suffer from loss of internet sometimes moving from one place to another. (home to work). She asked if I frequently get the cannot connect for internet message. I do. She also asked if I get the 1X instead of 3G frequently. I do. She stated that this is a know issue with the Thunderbolt and it can be rectified very easy by doing a full factory reset from settings. Since I was having more issues with the Internet then the phone calls I am going to try this fix. I hate reloading and setting everything back up but I am going to try it anyway.

For anyone thinking of this, this operation puts your phone back to factory release condition. You will lose all contacts and data info. Make sure your contacts, calendar and misc info is backed up first. If you have a Google Account everything is and will reappear after you re sign back in.

Update from the OP: I said 13xxx, but this number could be different for your area. I honestly have no way of telling how many different PRL's there are or which number would say that would definitely tell you that you're on the Hybrid network(If there is one in your area.) I just know my results and that my PRL number changed.

On a quest to figure out why my phone had 3-4 bars of network signal, while my wife's phone had 0-1 bars even when they were next to each, I found this out in the process. If you're on PRL 15008, your phone is connected to the old Verizon Nationwide network. While if your phone shows PRL 13xxx, then your phone is connected to the New Hybrid network. I was on 13004, while she was on 15008. If your PRL shows 15008, I highly recommend you call Verizon and have them upgrade you to the Hybrid network, as this GREATLY increased my wife's signal and fixed her voice calls reception. (Not sure if this does anything for data. She always had good 3G and we're not in a 4G area.) They will push the update to your phone and have you leave it on for a few hours. Afterwards, I pulled the sim card and battery out for 30 seconds, replaced them and let the phone boot up. After 10-20 minutes, the radio will locate the nearest tower and my wife's phone auto updated its PRL number from 15008 to 13006. She now has a constant 3-4 bar signal and her time without a signal is significantly lower. (Same as mine.) Also, if you're rooted, make sure you know the correct stock firmware/radio version as they will probably ask you for this info.

P.S. I would only do this if you're having voice(not data) signal problems like my wife phone was. My wife phone shows 13006 and mine shows 13004, so PRL's can be different numbers for your area. So again, this may help some people and this may do nothing for others. If you already have a great signal, I would leave well enough alone.
 
Last edited:
On a quest to figure out why my phone had 3-4 bars of network signal, while my wife's phone had 0-1 bars even when they were next to each, I found this out in the process. If you're on PRL 15008, your phone is connected to the old Verizon Nationwide network. While if your phone shows PRL 13xxx, then your phone is connected to the New Hybrid network. If your PRL shows 15008, I highly recommend you call Verizon and have them upgrade you to the Hybrid network, as this GREATLY increased my wife's signal and fixed her voice calls reception. (Not sure if this does anything for data. She always had good 3G and we're not in a 4G area.) They will push the update to your phone and have you leave it on for a few hours. Afterwards, I pulled the sim card and battery out for 30 seconds, replaced them and let the phone boot up. After 10-20 minutes, the radio will locate the nearest tower and my wife's phone auto updated its PRL number from 15008 to 13006. She now has a constant 3-4 bar signal and her time without a signal is significantly lower. (Same as mine.) Also, if you're rooted, make sure you know the correct stock firmware/radio version as they will probably ask you for this info.

Thanks for the info i will call verzion right now
 
Do the reps know about this or will I have a hard time making them upgrade my PRL?
 
Wow I guess I have to call to. How would you ask them. Just say my 4g is slow ugrade me please?
 
I took mine into a corporate store and the dude realized the difference in PRL's like I did. He then told me about the update push that he was going to do to get her phone on the Hybrid network. I don't know how hard this would be when calling a rep over the phone. Also, how do I take screen pics? I will show you her/my PRL and time without a signal?
 
I took mine into a corporate store and the dude realized the difference in PRL's like I did. He then told me about the update push that he was going to do to get her phone on the Hybrid network. I don't know how hard this would be when calling a rep over the phone.

What's best everyone is probally say you compared your phones prl to a friends or something and noticed its different. Im going to try that
 
Where do you live? Around here (North Carolina), the "Hybrid" PRLs have existed ever since the Alltel merger. These special PRLs preferred the old Alltel network over VZW due to Alltel's superior coverage in the eastern part of the state (Alltel had a very mature cellular network vs. VZW's barely a year old PCS network).

Now, the networks are finally being merged, which will take away the need for a hybrid PRL.

Has VZW bought any carriers in your area recently?

Unless this hybrid PRL is different from the ones I am aware of, it will have no impact for most people, since it was designed to address issues in a handful of specific areas.
 
Settings > About Phone > Software information

That gets you your PRL. I'm on 15008. No idea if I need an update.
 
So just got off with a Advance tech named david And he had no problem doing it. i told him i seen it on the Android Central forums and if i can go ahead and get the Update. He said sure he had no problem with doing it.
 
I'm in Central Florida. Also, this info may be device to area specific, but it's working excellent for my wifes phone in this area.
 
mine is 15008 as well. ALmost 90% of the people have the same prl number I have seen almost all people in android forums have this prl number. If this is an issue, I am sure verizon will do an OTA. I mean they wouldn't leave all the customers with 15008 prl hanging in the dark if this was the case as most people have that prl.
 
Well, the deal with PRLs (up to now at least) was that some folks could benefit with what is called a "Hybrid" PRL. But Hybrid PRLs are usually used in those places where maybe another roaming partner or ex-competitor (Alltel) has legacy towers. So, AFAIK, the "Hybrid" thing is geographically prompted. Not so sure we all need this Hybrid. I'd wait till we learned more about it.

-Frank
 

Trending Posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
956,893
Messages
6,970,483
Members
3,163,641
Latest member
RichardDixon