After the recent news that Metro PCS now allows phones from other carriers to be on the Metro PCS network via Metro Flash, I bought a UTStarcom PPC 6700 / XV6700. However, I had problems getting MetroPCS to flash the phone. Every store I went to couldn't do it. Most told me that Metro PCS only flashed non-PDA phones (even though the original press release included the PPC 6700/XV6700). After a lot of research and help from friends, I finally found every setting that needs to be configured for the PPC6700/XV6700 to be flashed for MetroPCS.

Note: This guide assumes you either 1) will clone your MetroPCS phone (check your local laws, as this is not legal in some states), or 2) MetroPCS has already approved your ESN. If you are working on number 2, you will need to go to a MetroPCS store which handles Metro Flash, and ask them to enter your ESN in their Houdini system. This allows your ESN to work on the MetroPCS network. If your ESN is not approved for the MetroPCS network, you will not be able to use your phone on the MetroPCS network.

Software You Will Need On Your PC

• Mini SD Card
• Latest MetroPCS PRL. At the time of this writing, the latest is 00069
• QPST
• PPC6700 / XV6700 Modem Drivers
• Xvi32 Hex Editor
• InterESN Checksum Calculator for CDMA Phones
• Authentication Key (AKey) Generator
• All Files In One Bundle

Instructions for Flashing PPC6700 / XV6700 to MetroPCS

Note: Make sure you have ActiveSync / Mobile Deskop disabled. It is best if ActiveSync / Mobile Desktop is not installed on your PC while you follow these instructions. ActiveSync / Mobile Desktop interefere with the other software which need to communicate with the phone.

1. First, you need to hard reset the phone. This will erase everything from the phone
   • Push both "-" buttons while at the same time using the stylus to press the reset button
2. Turn on Phone (not just PDA, but the Phone itself must be on)

Updating PRL on PPC6770 / XV6700 for MetroPCS

1. You must first download the latest PRL for MetroPCS.
2. Latest MetroPCS PRL. At the time of this writing, the latest is 00069
3. Search the page for "MetroPCS", download the highest number for MetroPCS EvDo Phones. At the time of this writing, the files was "0068.prl"
4. Copy the prl file onto the Mini SD Card.
5. Insert the mini SD card into the phone
6. Slide up the screen, and type on the keypad (without quotes)
   • Alltel and Verizon: "##778" (press enter)
   • Sprint: "##778#"
7. Click "Edit"
8. Type your unlock code (without quotes) and click "OK"
   • Alltel and Verizon: "000000"
   • Sprint: This is your MSL code. It is a 6 digit code. If you do not know it, you will need to Sprint and ask
9. There is a dropdown at the top left. On most phones this has the text "Display". Open this dropdown
10. Select PRL
11. Select "Update PRL File" and click "Edit"
12. Use the "Browse" button to browse to your PRL file, then click "OK"
13. Click "OK" in the upper right. You will be prompted to "Update the items". Click "Yes" on the prompt.
14. After a few seconds, you will be prompted to reset the device. Click "OK", and your phone will now reboot.

Changing the ESN (serial number) on the PPC6700 / XV6700

• This step is optional, and only used if you are cloning an existing Metro PCS phone or want to change your ESN for other reasons
• Note 1: In some states, changing your ESN is illegal. This is for information purposes, only. You must research your local laws before using this information.
• Note 2: Before you begin the process of cloning your phone, you must do the following:
  1. Get all the phone information off the original phone. This is usually the ESN and the AKey (if one is used)
  2. Turn off the original phone
  3. Remove the battery from the original. Some phones will still transmit their ESN even when they are turned off.
  4. Do NOT turn on your original phone while the new, cloned phone is on and active
• Note 3: Active Sync must be disabled for this step. On some PC’s, you will actually need to uninstall it.
• Note 4: Sometimes the drivers don’t work on Vista. You may need to install the drivers on Windows XP for this step.

1. Download and install QPST
2. Make sure the phone is NOT connected to the USB cable
3. On the phone, type ##3424# (or ##3424)
4. Click "Start" on the phone
5. Connect the USB cable
6. You will be prompted to install drivers for the phone. (PPC6700 / XV6700 Modem Drivers)
   • You must choose "Install from a specific location".
   • Browse to the folder containing the drivers
7. After the drivers have been installed, run "QPST Configuration"
   • Start > Programs > QPST > "QPST Configuration"
8. Click "Add New Port"
   • In the new window, there should be two ports listed. One will say "…. Data Modem", and the other will say "…. Diagnostic".
   • Click on the one which says "Diagnostic"
   • Click "OK"
9. Select the new port in the list (it should now show information about the phone)
10. Click "Start Clients" > "EFS Explorer"
    • 
    • Select your phone in the popup (should only be one item in the list)
    • Enter your unlock code (see above)
    • Click "ok"
11. Navigate to the NVM folder
    
12. Right click copy the $SYS.ESN to your windows hard drive, remember where you saved it and back it up
    • NOTE: the file name must be upper case, and exactly as shown in EFS Explorer
13. Install and Run Xvi32 Hex Editor
    • Do not close EFS Explorer
14. In xvi32, open the file you just copied from your phone
    
15. NOTE: My ESN originally was 1A2B3C4D
    
    We read the ESN in groups of 2, the example serious 1A 2B 3C 4D, and Checksum 1F 25 12 F1 and enter the ESN backwards
    
    Example ESN: 1A 2B 3C 4D = 4D 3C 2B 1A
    
    Example Checksum: 1F 25 12 F1 = F1 12 25 1F
16. If you are creating a new ESN (not cloning an existing ESN):
    • Run InterESN Checksum Calculator for CDMA Phones
      
    • Using Inter ESN Checksum Calculator enter in your new esn and click calculate to get your checksum.
17. Change the ESN and Checksum using xvi32
    ESN: 12 34 56 78
    ESN to enter: 78 56 34 12
    Checksum: 1F 25 12 F1
    Checksum to enter: F1 12 25 1F
    
18. Save you’re newly edited $SYS.ESN.
19. Close xvi32
20. In EFS Explorer, overwrite old $SYS.ESN with new $SYS.ESN
    • The easiest way to do this is to drag the updated $SYS.ESN on your computer to EFS Explorer
21. Exit EFS Explorer. If you are prompted to reset the phone, click "Yes"
22. Exit QPST
23. Click Stop on the phone and wait for the PPC6700 to restart and your new ESN is entered

Configuring the PPC6700/xv6700 for Metro PCS Network

1. This step finishes configuration of your phone to work on the Metro PCS network. In order for this step to complete successfully, your phone must have an ESN that is already recognized by Metro PCS. If you are not cloning your phone, you will need to call Metro PCS and have them Metro Flash it. This basically adds the ESN to the list of approved ESN’s for the Metro PCS network.
2. Log into the PST console (see above – Flash for Metro PCS - ##778)
3. Click "Edit" on the prompt
4. Note: To edit an item, select the item, then click Edit.
5. Nothing is saved to the phone until you exit
6. Using the dropdown list in the upper left (starts with "Display")…
   1. Display
      • NAM Name – the value should be your ten digit phone number (no dashes or spaces, only numbers, like 5615552345), xxxyyyzzzz
      • MSID – the value should be your ten digit phone number (no dashes or spaces, only numbers, like 5615552345), xxxyyyzzzz
   2. A-Key
      • Authentication Key – in some areas this not needed, however most areas need it. Use the Authentication Key (AKey) Generator to create an AKey and enter the number here
      • In the AKey generator, type your new ESN
      • Under A-Key, type a 20 digit number. You should six a digit number in the field on the right.
        • The first two digits should be 11
      • On the phone, type all 26 digits (your 20, plus the 6 digit checksum)
   3. NAM Settings
      • NAM Name - the value should be your ten digit phone number (no dashes or spaces, only numbers, like 5615552345), xxxyyyzzzz
      • Mobile Directory Number (MDN) - the value should be your ten digit phone number (no dashes or spaces, only numbers, like 5615552345), xxxyyyzzzz
      • MCC (Mobile Country Code) – this value should "310" (no quotes)
        • Note – as far as I can tell, Metro PCS does not actually use this setting
      • MNC (Mobile Network Code) – this value should be "27" (no quotes)
   4. Home SID / Home NID
      • Home SID/NID #1 – 4815 and 65535
   5. Security
      • This section is necessary for you to use Metro Web, the Metro PCS data plan
      • HDR AN AUTH User Id(LONG) – the value should your ten digi phone number @mymetropcs.com. Example: 5615552345@mymetropcs.com
      • HDR AN AUTH Password(LONG) – "metropcs" (no quotes)
      • PPP USER ID - the value should your ten digi phone number @mymetropcs.com. Example: 5615552345@mymetropcs.com
      • PPP Password – "mymetropcs" (no quotes)
7. Press "OK" in the upper right
8. Press "OK" on the reset prompt
9. Your phone will now reboot
10. Sometimes these settings take effect immediately and you can begin using your phone right away. Other times, it takes a few hours for Metro PCS to recognize your new phone. If you don’t have it making phone calls within two hours, double check all your settings.

Configuring the PPC6700/xv6700 for Metro Web (the Metro PCS Data Plan)

1. The first step of this process was already done when you configured the Security section of the phone’s PST menu.
2. On the phone, click Start > Settings
3. Click the "Connections" tab
4. Click the "Connections" icon
5. Click "Manage Existing Connections"
6. Click "New…"
7. For the name, enter "Metro PCS"
8. Select "Cellular Line" as the modem. Click Next
9. Enter "#777" (no quotes) for the number to dial. Click Next
10. For the username, enter you ten digit phone number @ mymetropcs.com. Example: 5615551234@mymetropcs.com
11. For the password, type "metropcs" (no quotes)
12. Leave Domain empty
13. Click Advanced
    • Click the TCP/IP tab
    • "Use Server-assigned IP address" should be selected
    • UNcheck "use slip"
    • Check "use software compression"
    • Check "use IP header compression"
    • Click "OK" in the upper right
14. Click "Finish"
15. Click "Setup my proxy"
    • Click the "Proxy Settings" tab
    • UNcheck "this network uses a proxy server…"Check "This network connects to the internet"
    • Click "OK"
    • Click "OK"