[HOWTO] Change PRL on Virgin Mobile LG Optimus V (5/06/2011)

I saw this information posted elsewhere in pieces and thought I'd bring it together. I didn't make this procedure, but I can confirm that it works (and so can many others now). This is absolutely for the LG Optimus V and no other phone. Do not do this unless you understand what a PRL is and why you are doing it. There is some risk in doing this. I'm sure Virgin and Sprint would not be happy to know of this mod. It might even be blocked in the future by changing the way Sprint's towers filters Virgin users. Do this at your own risk! I take no responsibility!

1. Requirements:

Windows
LG Optimus V USB Serial Drivers (updated 3/22/2011)
Read the first few pages of this thread if you have driver issues. You can also try this. Thank you rjones1981.

You don't need to have a rooted phone to do this.

2. Get Your MSL Code:

New Technique (thanks to mmarz)

1. Log into your Virgin Mobile account.
2. Click this link
3. Although you get a 404 error page, search the page for "msl:"
4. The six numbers after msl: are your MSL code. Write them down.

Old Technique

1. Download CDMA Workshop 3.6.0 Demo
2. Turn on USB Debugging, and connect your phone to your PC.
3. Open Device Manager.
4. Ports > LGE Android Platform USB Serial Port > Properties > Port Settings > Advanced > COM port number
5. Change the value to a port number below 10. (demo restriction of CDMA Workshop)
6. Run CDMA Workshop
7. Select the proper port from step 4. Hit "Connect."
8. Under the "Security" tab, find "SPC/User Lock."
9. Change the drop down menu to "LG method," and click "Read."
10. Write down the number that appears in the box. This is your MSL code. Now close CDMA Workshop, we won't need it anymore.

3. Update Your PRL:

1. Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable.
2. Open Device Manager.
3. Ports > LGE Android Platform USB Serial Port > Properties > Port Settings > Advanced > COM port number
4. Make a note of your COM port number.
5. Download and install QPST v2.7.
6. Open "QPST Configuration".
7. In the "Ports" tab, if your com port isn't listed, select "Add New Port" and write in your com port as "COM#" (# being the number you noted in step 4). Verify that your com port is listed.
8. Make sure your phone appears in the the "Active Phones" tab.
9. Click "Start Clients." Choose "SERVICE PROGRAMMING." Select your phone.
10. Click "Read from Phone."
11. Enter your MSL code when promoted. (It will not finish reading from your phone. It will stop near the end and report an error. This is normal.)
12. Hit "Save to File" to backup your phone's settings and PRL to a .qcn file. (Optional but recommended)
13. Select the "Roaming" tab.
14. Under "Preferred Roaming Enable" choose "Browse..." and select the 01115.prl or 61677.prl file. (attached below, also see update 6)
15. Under the "System" tab change "Roam Preference" to "Home only". (Optional but recommended)
16. Click "Write to Phone," and your phone should immediately reboot. Do not disconnect your phone until it has booted back up.

To confirm that this worked, go into settings > about phone > status. You should have the new PRL and all that it entails. To reverse the process, follow the same steps but use the Virgin 61007 PRL or use your .qcn backup by selecting "Load from File" in the QPST SERVICE PROGRAMMING.

If you try different PRL's and get better service, please post your results here.

Update 1: Even though you can enable roaming using the QPST System tab under Roam Preferences, and you can actually connect to the Verizon towers, your calls will prompt you for a credit card, and your data will not work while roaming. I recommend leaving roaming on "Home Only." Even though you can't roam, an updated PRL will give you better coverage on Sprint's network. There are already reports that this fixes the 3G connectivity issue.

Update 2: I have created a hybrid PRL numbered 61676. I manually picked that number, and it may conflict with the PRL # of one released in the distant future, just fyi. I created the PRL by taking 60676 and removing a few roaming entries to make room. I then compared the entries in 61007 to it, and added all the non-roaming entries that 60676 lacked. It will almost be impossible to figure out if these additional entries help at all, but they can't hurt. I'm attaching 61676 below if you guys want to test it out. I promise nothing, but so far my phone has not complained about using it. Let me know how it works out if you do try it.

Update 3: Added new 60677 and a new hybrid 61677

Update 4: Proof that it is worthwhile to do!

Update 5: Added 01115 PRL. It is the latest from Sprint. Don't know why it is numbered like it is. I'm not going to make another hybrid prl for it because it is too time consuming, and I see no benefits from it.

Update 6: I'll no longer keep this updated for new PRL's. You can find new ones as they are posted here: http://cid-eabe29f3770d8d15.skydriv...Public/PRLs?ppud=4&wa=wsignin1.0&sa=636785150

Update 7: Newest PRL posted here: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=17690691&postcount=201

Roaming does not work on Virgin Mobile! If you do roam, you will not receive your phone calls or texts, and you won't be able to make calls or send texts! Your data will also not work if roaming. Set your "Roam Preference" to "Home only", and you don't have to worry about roaming.

60680.rar PRL

xtravbx said:

This was never in pieces, why don't you give proper thanks to the original poster from android central?

http://forum.androidcentral.com/opt...irgin-mobile-prl-61007-needed-enter-help.html

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Haha, you should be asking why he doesn't give proper thanks to me. I wrote this, and he copied it. Before I wrote it, it was spread out over a bunch of posts. I don't really care either way. I didn't invent the phone, the programs, or the procedure. I'm just glad the info is out there.

http://forum.androidcentral.com/opt...prl-61007-needed-enter-help-5.html#post715849

I guess he did reference me.

Here is my version of CDMA Workshop. I believe it is 3.6.0, it works

Enjoy
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?3zwgsuqwtq2qa4e

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The latest sprint prl's can be found here (I'm not liable, if you flash an incompatible one) He keeps them updated pretty good. I'm currently on the 60685 (a tad old I know, lol).

http://www.batonrougebroadband.info

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1747257

mjs2011 said:

i just want to confirm, do i need to revert to stock to do this? i'm currently running Backside. thanks!

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

you don't have to revert, just use xionia recovery and use qpst while booted into recovery. Even if you can't see the screen because of an older version of xionia, it'll still allow qpst to talk to the hardware, and you can flash your existing recovery back with flash image gui from backside, or with adb or terminal if you prefer.

someone said earlier that they were able to use qpst with iho, maybe bob fixed the usb id issues in the kernel... you can try qpst before changing recoveries, and if it can talk to the phone, you're good to go without changing anything.

if iho kernel is now working with qpst, please post that info and I'll stop telling people it doesn't work