Thanks, Mike, for quick useful information! (or more on PRL)

houtmang · EVDO Newbie Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

I've been having mostly slow downloads the last few days or weeks.

This evening, after testing download speeds for 1/2 hour or so (all slow for dialup!), I spent 1/2 hour on the phone with Verizon tech support, only to be told:
(1) We don't support the Sierra 5220 card on a PowerBook.
(2) If you had a Kyocera 650 card, we could escalate the trouble ticket, because the 650 with a PowerBook has been newly supported.
(3) If you have a PC, we can work with you and the Sierra 5220 card.

I told Verizon that intermittent fast downloads indicate that the problem is not with the computer, but with their network. The guy I talked with said my PRL wasn't up to date.

So I googled "Kyocera 650," to see about buying one, if that was the only way to make this work faster than slow dialup. http://www.Booster-Antenna.com came up in the search results. (I bought my Sierra 5220 and booster antenna from y'all.)

I thought, hey, let's see what the site has to offer. I found the current Verizon PRL version number and a description of how PRLs work. I found a picture of a screen I have on my computer system, with the PRL version number circled.

So I fired off an email to Mike here, basically steamed with Verizon and the situation in general:

Michael · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 8:24 am Post subject: Updating PRL PC5220

Gordon, glad to be of assistance.

For anyone that discovers this thread on Updating PRL PC5220 from the search engines, here is additional information if you have a Audiovox / Sierra PC5220 and need to update the PRL on a PowerBook.

While clicking on the signal strength indicator in the menu bar hold down the Option Key and you will see this:

The last two options you only see when the option key is pressed.

Select Activate Card... and this will update your PRL (Preferred Roaming List), it takes a minute or two. If you PRL is not updated, you can be in the middle of a BroadbandAccess area and your card will only connect to NationalAccess.

For those running any card on Windows or those running KPC650 on Mac, when you Activate the card your PRL is automatically updated. Verizon updates the PRL every 3-4 months.

More info on PRL and Current PRL Version

Sign up for free PRL Update Notification Emails
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toonerh · EVDO Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2005 Posts: 9

More info on PRL and Current PRL Version

Although this is correct in principal, the actual PRL version has been updated multiple times since May, 2005. Just do the "Activate Card..." - then you can't go wrong!