Batboard

I hope this isn't deemed too far off-topic. I am looking for a new 3 watt cellular mobile telephone, preferably a Motorola, but beggars can't be choosers. Does anybody know if any such device is still being manufactured? I guess with the demise of AMPS, it would likely be dual mode, but sometimes in the summer I get to some pretty rural places. I realize that I can get external antennas and amplifiers for portable phones, but I really want to know if can even still get a truly mobile (hard wired) telephone. (I know that it does sound sort of odd, almost like going to an audio forum and asking to buy a "new" 8 track tape player!)

Sounds like you want the M800. Be warned, they don't come cheap.

click me

Too bad, I sold one of Fleabay a few months back for about $5. ! Circa mid 90/s AMPS-CDMA. That M800 which I was surprsied to see offered at all from the small photo on the Motorola site pretty much looks like a handheld coupled up with a amp and put in a bag. Many carriers still offering single band service ?

Given how CDMA operates, id be very surprised if sprint or vzw would allow these.. but then again im sure they are designed to only go up to full power in EXTREMELY remote cases, otherwise they would be same flea powered radios as every one else...

Right. CDMA uses dynamic power control, so the cell site tells your phone how much power to transmit at, irregardless of how large of an RF PA it has.

I gave a call to the Moto Store from work! From the site that motorola_otaku posted! They don't have any in stock... They said if I want one to call Alltel !!! LOL
I don't need an M800, just a slow day... and the rep said they are not CDMA
and he could not give me a MSRP on the item

Jim2121 wrote:and the rep said they are not CDMA

Going against the published specs, eh? THAT'S OUR MOTOROLA!

If not CDMA, then what? GSM? iDen?? And it's not like AMPS is going to do anyone much good anymore.

I have one for sale on eBay, if you're interested.

http://cgi.ebay.com/RadioShack-Bag-Phon ... dZViewItem

This has turned out to be a pretty interesting thread. Okay, are there any other somewhat older 3 watt bag phones or vehicle phones that will work on anything other than the AMPS networks? If so, maybe I would look for one of those since the Motorola M800 is so spendy.

motorola_otaku wrote:

Jim2121 wrote:and the rep said they are not CDMA

Going against the published specs, eh? THAT'S OUR MOTOROLA!

If not CDMA, then what? GSM? iDen?? And it's not like AMPS is going to do anyone much good anymore.

well the rep I spoke to was from the "contact us" tab on top of the page! He sure didn't work for NASA part time. did the best he could to answer my questions.
"Even though the M800 is CDMA 1X 800/1900 MHz / AMPS 800 MHz"

Jim1348 wrote:This has turned out to be a pretty interesting thread. Okay, are there any other somewhat older 3 watt bag phones or vehicle phones that will work on anything other than the AMPS networks? If so, maybe I would look for one of those since the Motorola M800 is so spendy.

Jim I have found myself in dead spots! Thats why I have mobiles & HT's... The radios pick up where the phone dies off.... I'm not going to look for another 3-watt phone from the past.
I'm going to look at the Iridium Satellite Phone Rentals but I'm not in an area where my cell is dead for more than 20 mins! But my radio works... We had a post on this before here. maybe a search will show something? But if you want an M800 give Alltel a call & see if they have any in stock? good luck to you... If you find 1 post it so others can check it out.
Jim Reid
PS: I see these 3 watt Boosters from Radio Shack to type in Google: "3 watt cellphones"
from $189 to $449. antennas and or repeaters, ect.... but I never checked it out!
maybe someone else picked one up and wants to post his commets?

The amplifiers work out pretty well. I have a Digital Antenna DA4000 inline between the Aircard and an external antenna, and the improvement in coverage is dramatic. Essentially: MW800 --> Sierra Wireless Aircard 875 --> Digital Antenna DA4000 --> NMO mount fed with LMR195 --> dual-band gain low-profile antenna. The amplifier is bidirectional, providing about 18dB gain on the RX side and up to 3 watts out on the TX side. It also observes GSM power control, so the power doesn't run up unnecessarily. I've never had any issues with it, I get far better transfer rates, and fringe areas disappear - I had about 99% coverage from Dallas, up through Arkansas/Missouri/Illinois/Indiana/Ohio enroute to Dayton.

Forget anything AMPS - AMPS is dying fast.

As far as the bag phones:
M900 - GSM 850/900/1800/1900
M800 - CDMA 1X 800/1900, AMPS 800