Certain Phones Can?

I recently asked about putting new phones into Extended Network, but that didn't work so well for me, and I have another question.

A Verizon employee put my phone (LG VX 4500) into Extended Network about a year ago so that it would get better service in my area and it worked great.

I was planning on getting a new phone with my NE2 upgrade and purchased the Maxx Ve. But, the service in my home wasn't great so I returned it. The phone itself was awesome, but I don't have a home phone so I rely on it to work in my apartment. When I returned it, I told the rep what had been done to my previous phone. He said that to some people who live in my area, they have to "put their phones in Extended Network" to get a better signal. He said it was an easy thing to do, but not every phone has the option. From the way he described it, it's not as complex as a NAM1 NAM2 SID edit, but rather a simple option in the hidden menu.

Do any of you know what this is, how to do it, or what phones work with it? I had heard from one person that LG phones only work with this trick, and I was looking into the VX8100 as an upgrade to my old 4500 which I have reverted to using.

 

Using the above method in post #2 may work on the VX4500, but not on the new LG handsets. The hidden menu was changed slightly in order to accommodate Verizon's EV-DO. You can test post #2 out to see if this will improve your coverage out before upgrading your phone.

To put the newer LG (EV-DO capable) handsets into "Extend Network" without changing NAM:
1) Hit Menu, and 0
2) Service code: 0 0 0 0 0 0
3) Hit #3 for Network Select
4) Hit #2 for Band Preference (Default is set for #1=Any, you should try #2 for Cell only, or #3 PCS only until your handset displays "Extend".

The LG 8100 was discontinued by Verizon. Did you mean the LG 8300 as an upgrade? I put both of the phones side-by-side in this link for you to look at. Compare Phones (Phone Scoop) I had the 8100, and now own the 8300. Between both of these phones, I can tell you from experience that the 8300 does get better reception as well as improved battery life over the 8100.

 

Are you saying that you do this on the LG 3200? This will work on your handset because the LG 3200 is a trimode phone. However the LG 4500 is a digital only handset and therefore is not capable of Analog as a backup.

 

Thanks to both of you! Yes I did mean the 8300, I'm sorry. Because of my location, I need the help of Alltel's Extended Network so I'll be looking into the LG VX8300...the RAZR Maxx didn't work well at home for me. Oh well, I'm used to the LG's anyway.

I didn't read great reviews about the 8700, so I think I'll get the 8300 (free, with NE2) and try these tricks. I'm assuming that is what the Verizon rep was talking about and just wouldn't tell me exactly...

So would the 8300 use the old option or the new option?

 

In order to force the LG 8300 onto "Extend", you will need to do the steps that I have listed in my post #5 above (new option). The LG 8300 is an EV-DO capable handset and therefore the steps listed in post #2 wouldn't work due to the slightly different menu layout.
Let me know if you need any help with the 8300 when you get it. I really like mine. And as I said before, it really does get good reception.

 

I will let you know, thanks again. I actually used the trick to help a friend of mine out too.

I thought about picking up the 8700 just to try it out but I already took back a Maxx, is there a limit to how many phones you can buy and return? I know I can for sure get the 8300, but I figure might as well give the 8700 a try?

 

Verizon's policy is that you can exchange your handset one time for a different model within their worry free guarantee period, after that they will only exchange the same handset for a new one of the same kind within a 30 day period if it is defective. I have heard of people that were able to exchange their handset models two times, however it never worked for me.

If you "returned" the MAXX without doing an exchange, you will be starting up as a new upgrade again and therefore will be entitled to try the 8700 and the 8300 to see which one of these you would prefer.

It's a good idea for you to try the 8700 out also, like you said. This way you can judge for yourself how the phone performs for you. From what I can see by the reviews on phonescoop, both of these LG handsets have received alot of good reviews. Compare Phones (Phone Scoop)

EDIT: I found a copy of Verizon's official return policy on there website for you. Enter your location (see the section on "Exchange New Merchandise"). I think it explains their policy a little better than I did.

 

I'd definitely like to try out the 8700. I've got a couple friends with the 8300,, so I know my way around that one. It also all depends if this little "trick" works on the 8700 as well...

 

The LG 8700 is an EV-DO handset as well, so the method in post #5 will work. Keep us posted RP33.

 

Thanks for pointing this out Charlyee. I didn't know that LG had changed the code.

RP33 The Secret Programming Menu Code for the 8700 is ##77647268700 and send. I'm not sure if this menu is set up the same way or not, but you might be able to find the option to change the network selection somewhere in there.

 

I don't know why LG went and added this extra step to getting into the service menu, but upon further research I now think that there is a way to change the network setting in that menu, due to the fact that it is still possible to turn off the EVDO in that menu.
One of the posters on phonescoop reported that h/s is now getting better battery times after turning off the EVDO and the bluetooth. LG VX-8700 Forum (Phone Scoop)
However I can see how the battery times on the 8300 would be better than that of the 8700 due to the fact that the 8700 only comes with a 800mAh battery vs the 8300's 1100mAh battery. Also the resolution of the 8700's screen is higher than the the 8300's.

 

Extended Network is key for me, especially in the area I live. I DO want to check out that 8700, but I fear that the vibrate will stink and I'd just be better off with that 8300 even if my best friend and girlfriend have the phone. I know it's solid and has everything I'll need.

While I'm at it, I do have a couple more final questions about the 8300...

Can you turn EVDO off? It's not available in my area anyway, and if it saves battery life, then it's an worth it.

Can you e-mail self made ringers and wallpapers to the phone to use, perhaps through mytendigitnumber@vzwpix.com?

 

Yes you can turn off EV-DO on the 8300(I keep mine off all the time, except for when I need to use Verizon's VCast services.
See post #2 in this link for the steps that I listed how how to turn it off. (These steps will work on the 8300 as well)
http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/lg-electronics/62874-how-to-turn-off-evdo-lgvx8500.html

It was possible at one time to do this but according to Andy in this tread, Verizon has recently started to block people from doing this. http://forums.wirelessadvisor.com/verizon-wireless-users/63049-verizon-no-longer-lets-you-email.html
You can still download ringtones by getting a data cable for the 8300, and downloading a program called BitPim.

Keep us posted RP33.

 

These are the phones Bandwidth Preference settings.

The phone is set at MOB_P_REV 6 (default) 1X/EVDO = 800MhZ band

REV 4 is the 1900MhZ Band preference that will override 1X and puts the phone in digital mode only. (If you put your phone in REV 4, you will need to change it back to 6 again in order to use the Mobile Web).

Some people have claimed to be able to make and receive clearer calls while having their phones in the P_REV. 4 mode, but I've never tested it myself.

I don't advise changing any of these settings on your handset unless you know what you are doing.

Hope this was able to answer your question. Maybe someone else will have a better explanation for you.

 

In my testing of this so far, I have found a stronger signal in the P_REV 4 setting than I have with Verizon's default setting of P_REV 6. At my son's school tonight where I usually only get one 1X bar, had 3 of the D bars showing. I also found that I can't use VCast or the MW as stated in my post above. I am going to do some further studies on the Voice quality that people claim is better in P_REV 4 as well. I do realize that they are all digital. When I stated in my above post that putting your phone in P_REV 4 puts it in digital only mode, I meant that unlike the 1X digital setting where you can still access the Mobile Web, you can't while in P_REV 4. As far as the band goes that I mentioned for these settings, my research on the web has all pointed to the above listed frequencies as being correct.

 

Thanks for summarizing this for us on here Charlyee, it did help. IS-95 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Some of the other sites that I researched yesterday made it seem to confusing.

 

My above post on P_REV 4 using 1900MHz came from a post that I was reading on the forum in this link. Discussion Forum for Cell Phones instruments, Service Providers, Softwares, News Etc - 8100 tweaking... P_REV
I'm going to do some further testing today on whether or not the reception is better while using the setting P_REV 4, by going into my phones Test Field and looking at the numbers for myself. If the numbers I get are the same numbers that I receive while using P_REV 6, then I'll keep my phone set at the default setting.