vB Easy Archive - Upgrading from an 8100

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Upgrading from an 8100 - what phone next?
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Posted by: Sug

It seems to me like the obvious choice would be the Sanyo 8300, but that's been out for ages. It seems kind of boring to me.

I had been thinking about the 9000, but it looks like that's long gone (though I thought I saw one in the Sprint store.) The 7500 seems to be the only phone I'm really interested in that is also listed on Sprint's page o' phones. Is anyone liking the 9000 more than the 7500, or vice versa, assuming I could still get a 9000? Is there another phone I'm ignoring that I should take a look at?

All I pretty much do now with my phone are take pictures, play Solitaire and Tetris, text message, download a few ringtones, and call people. I really don't ask a lot from a phone!

I NEED REALLY GOOD RECEPTION from any phone I purchase. I can't stress that enough! After the software update I did on Thursday, my 8100 sometimes digitally roams on my front porch and there's now a random dead area in my kitchen.

Maybe I oughta have analog roaming, just in case? Audio quality and reception is big for me, as my husband has a Samsung and all of the audio and signal problems that go along with that.

I'm a bit concerned about the Power Vision and Bluetooth, as well. Will PCS Vision be discontinued anytime soon? (If I end up with a phone with fewer features, I may be stuck with PCS Vision capabilities only.) And will I be out of luck at some point because I may end up with a Bluetoothless (heh) phone?

Posted by: Milkbone98

Sanyo 8400 has BT, should be released in the near future. I would say its a good bet that this will have the same RF as the 8100. The 6600 is also due soon, it is the Razr - like model, also has BT, and is priced at $99 after $150 instant rebate.
The upsate that was done sounds like a PRL update, as opposed to SW. It loaded a different PRL than you had, and changed your tower map and priority list. Software updates wont do that, but techs rarely differentiate.
Vison isnt going anywhere, and BT will never be available on every phone produced, its a convenience thing, so, not having it wont adversely affect you. After having it you may never go back though.
The 9000 is still around, you just gotta find it. It may be more than you need though, given your "list of demands" from a phone. Or, if you get one, your list may change to include high speed data and walkman like capabilities.

Posted by: Sug

Thanks for the reply, Milkbone98!

I actually did the PRL update of the 8100 on Monday or Tuesday of last week. It didn't seem to help much. I called Sprint to complain about poor signal, hoping that maybe they could get someone to check out the nearest tower (apparently some of them were damaged in storms around here), but the guy on the phone told me that my problems were software related and that if I updated my software, my reception would be much, much better. So I went in on Thursday, paid for the software update and received it, and so far, the update has not helped my reception (or anything else) out. Which doesn't surprise me - I wouldn't think reception was something that could be fixed with a software update.

How much longer do you think it'll be until the 8400 will be out? I already know that we'll have to get a landline out here, so I'll be reachable at home, but I'm not convinced that my 8100 will be entirely reliable on the road. But I'm sure I could try to tough it out if the 8400 is coming down the pipeline within a few months! The 6600 looks really cool, and I wonder about what it has on board in terms of features. Honestly, I'd rather buy more phone than I need, as opposed to too little. If the 8400 or 9000 is an awesome phone and I have to pay more for it, oh well. I want something more dependable and something with better signal than I do now.

I'm one of those old school people who don't use headsets when talking on the phone. My husband loves his Bluetooth headset, but he did go through at least three other headsets and two phones to find a phone and headset that work together. However, I can't say that I wouldn't try out a Bluetooth headset. If it's really as convenient as everyone says it is, then I'd be a fool not to try it out.

Posted by: Milkbone98

Type ##786, OK, save number and see what your PRL is. I dont know where you are, but I still run 10025 with out updating cause it works reliably in my area. 10031 is the latest. Its not uncommon for techs to do nothing, and claim to update things. Do the same key sequence to see your SW version, I think the latest is 1.116SP. If yours is not equal to or greater than 1.116, you got hoodwinked.
The SW claim is a time saver, the general public has zero comprehension of PRL lists, so its easier to call it a SW update. If everythig indeed is up to date, call 866-273-2163 (direct line to tech support) and request a Trouble ticket based on your observations of storm damage, etc.
For release dates, features and the like, everthing is speculation right now, nothing firm. Should be within a month or so I would think, the 3100 was released this week. The 6600 is BT, EV-DO, camera, close to the 8xxx series featurewise. The 8400 should be in line with its precedents, around $100 after rebates. The 9000 is more, but you get substantially more. http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=815
I would try to stick it out for the 8400 or 6600 in your shoes, they will be similarly priced and its better to have BT and not use it, than to not have it and want it.

Posted by: macintosh

6600 and 8400 won't be released until june/july. go for the brand new 3100 being released tomorrow. it has a camera and is a nice sanyo phone but without all of the extra goodies that most people won't need. btw, most recent prl is 10032. if you want to wait until summer for a new phone, replace the battery on your phone (after 18-24mo battery performance degrades and it will affect signal performance), get a software upgrade (not prl) and get ESRP

oh and don't ever type ##786 unless you know what you are doing, leave that to a tech or you could ruin your phone.

Posted by: Milkbone98

Quote:

Originally Posted by macintosh

and don't ever type ##786 unless you know what you are doing, leave that to a tech or you could ruin your phone.

there's nothing you can do with ##786 to hurt your phone. Other codes yes, this one no. The strongest function is reset default, which requires an MSL and doesnt erase any data.
3100 was released Thursday, 4/20.

Posted by: nancito

according to pcsintel, the Sanyo 8100's newest firmware is 1.116SP as mentioned above. the best place to get a 9000 is probably fry's, if you are lucky enough to have one in your area.

Posted by: macintosh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milkbone98

the official release of the 3100 was sunday, although it appeared in stores early, and the reset default WILL remove all data making the phone like it was when it left the factory, i've done it for people as a last resort to get vision or picturemail working

Posted by: Sug

I checked my phone and it says that I'm running PRL 10032 with software version 1.116SP. I guess I'm good to go on that!

replace the battery on your phone (after 18-24mo battery performance degrades and it will affect signal performance) - Is it really true that a bad battery might be behind some of my reception problems?

My phone will tell me "low battery," but I'll power it off and then back on, and have 2 out of 3 bars left on my battery according to the phone. I would have thought that it was a software issue, not a battery issue, but the problem hasn't gone away even after the software upgrade.

I would try to stick it out for the 8400 or 6600 in your shoes, they will be similarly priced and its better to have BT and not use it, than to not have it and want it. - I think that's what I'll try to do. I'll get a replacement battery for the 8100, if that'll help, and see if that'll tide me over.

Thanks again for all the help!