I went to the motorola bible link- but unfortunately the link was dead. Did anyone print this out?

Alos the Motorola TDMA ohone micheal has works, did they mkae any CDMA phones which might work?

No CDMAs-that was my original objective

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Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Benz man 600: Just saw the rest of your posts concerning the phone. I saw the image of the cradle. I would tend to think you may be right about the switch on the cradle being bad. On the image, it looks like the "window" on top of the cradle is green, this would be the "on" position. You change the switch to "off" and the window would be red or orange colored. The phone system has what was called the TRU (transmit/receive unit) in the trunk, this is the "brains" you were asking about. The antenna not raising with the phone on, by itself would not keep the phone from working, but you may not have any reception. On this car, I believe the mast antenna was "it", no backup antennas until the introduction of Teleaid, not a 140 piece of equipment. I would tend to think that the antenna not working is a symptom of the problem (inop system) rather than the cause. It could be as simple as a fuse, or possibly as you suspect, the switch on the cradle.
I could probably come up with the part number for the cradle. What year is the car? Also, does the antenna work OK for the radio?
Gilly

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The year is 1993. Heres another question: The 12 disc changer that came with car broke (my sister spilled soda in it when she put groceries back there !!!!!) and instead of buying a new OEM changer, I had a pioneer installed with FM modulator. I dont think they did, but a few people said companies will disconect a power antenna when a modulator is installed. Could this be the case, and how would I fix it? And where is the TRU located in the trunk?

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Being a dealer wrench, I'm not all that familiar with the FM modulated cd changers. I know what it is and how it works, but I don't know all that much about it otherwise.
I believe the TRU mounts on a bracket in the trunk, behind the left (drivers) side trim panel.
Knowing the model year, I should be able to come up with the cradle part number. I may even have one in my box of dirty tricks, I'd have to find the pn first, then see what's all in there. The dealership was tossing a bunch of "old tech" parts, and I was asked if I'd like them, so I still got some old 140/129 phone parts laying around.
Gilly

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I have a nakamichi Fm modulator that will work with any CD changer for sale $35

So...140 parts are considered "old tech"now? This stuff must have been crazy money five-ten years ago? Does the industry really move that fast; that Mercedes would throw away W140 phone equiptment? Thas shocking!!! But anyway, I'd appreciate it if I could get a part number (or even a part) and maybe some instruction on replacing it, or is it as easy at it looks?

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"If I teach you half of what I forgot, you'll still have enough to compete with most people"

My phone was off when I wanted to activate it, too. Twiddling with the console and the phone itself did nothing. It ended up being the TRU (the brains) in the trunk. It turns out that the cable at the very bottom of it was unconnected, which caused the handset not to turn on and the antenna not to go up. Feel around the button of the box, there should be a place for a cable to be screwed in, and there should be a cable that is not connected. Apparantly the phone company or Mercedes techs disconnect the brains when the phone is not activated. If screwing it in doesn't work, or if the cable is already screwed in, try unscrewing it and screwing it back in. Hope this helps.

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1994 E420 (W124)
1968 250SE (4 speed manual)
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Well, no one is going to get into a guys car to disconnect the TRU, not without being told/asked to by the owner. If there is no service, there's no service, plain and simple.
What I am getting at, by "old tech", is that this is an analog phone system. YES, it's been outdated for several years now, not MB fault, not anyones fault. That's like blaming MB for the fact that you can't find (hardly) 8 track tapes anymore, if you have an old MB 8 track player.
MB wasn't throwing the stuff away, our dealership was, no doubt not returnable anymore.
You may want to reconsider messing with the system. I have heard that in the near future there simply won't be any analog service any longer. But I will still try to remember to find the part number and see if i may have it. In the future, who knows, it may increase the value of the car to have it operational. But for day to day use, you're probably better off with a tri-mode portable phone with a nicely done hands-free kit, they may even be able to use the factory mic and speakers.
Gilly

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If you are looking for a complete analog rig I have one from when I retrofitted mine to digital into the factory slot. Works great and they should support digital for some time to come!

Dave

I remember the old adage from computers...Cheaper with more features- Applying to hardware and software. Problem was if you did not upgrade your hardware and software pretty soon you couldn't communicate with anyone.

The software got more features added to it, the hardware got faster- to run the "fatter software" you had to have more ram- and more speed, and The faster CPU's spurred the programmers to write "fatter bloated code" that required still faster machines. You are constantly forced to upgrade whether or not you intend to use any of the new features- just to be able to work with others and be able to open each others files. I call it a "Technology Tax".

So what does this have to do with Mercedes Benz analog phones...well- Your analog phone will still turn on, and perhaps you can still call if you still have service from earlier...but allow a lapse in your service and it is all over.

It is very hard to activate an analog phone in all but remote areas that offer no digital service. Live in an area serviced by a digtial and analog network....guess what? - they won't activate a analog phone.

I went to the AT & T store to see if I could get a good calling plan and they said I would have to buy a triband phone regardless if I wanted the "One Rate no roaming plan" or the Home area plan with Unlimited long distance that charged you roaming fees.

They said a Dual band Digital TDMA phone with analog would not be activated.

So it is akin to saying that the new Software won't work with the old hardware and you are forced to upgrade.

That's fine for those people with lease cars and toss them like so many kleenex... but what about those people who hold onto their cars.... or those people that buy used cars? We are screwed. We either have to already have a cell phone service that we can transfer over to the car phone.... or not have the convenience.....and dare I say safety, of a well integrated car phone. Ever try to dial those rice sized recessed cell phone buttons when driving- surely there must be a correlation between accidents and the size of the dial pads and keys. Using cell phones in the car in traffic is dangerous- but there are times when people will use them- and the designs of the handhelds aren't really safe for car use- even the voice dial ones with 20 Voice dial memories aren't useful for conducting business--- that is unless you only deal with 20 or fewer people. Phone designers are really being socially irresponsible making phones like these.

Can we blame the phone companies... partially,,,,,, because they have an interest in selling you new phones and service plans with the phones cost rolled into the plans.

But the people really to blame are the auto makers for not forcing the cellular carriers to support the phones for a longer period of time. And if that means making newer cheaper rates available for older phones...so be it.

Offering no upgrade path is ABSURD in a Mercedes. Especially when you pay such a premium for an integrated phone. Part of the reason for paying so much for a integrated car phone as opposed to a "handheld" is the 3 watt booster which helps to reduce dropped calls and static. But the reality is that the system is rarely supported long enough to pay off your car.

It isn't as bad as making a car knowing that gasoline won't be available in 5 years- but not far from it in regards to the useful life of a cellular phone. And I might add it is one of the most expensive options next to leather seats. And we all know how much money is profit in those "options" that often are not really "options" as the dealers order the cars "loaded".

To make matters even more despicable- Mercedes BMW et al all make hte phones "non compatible" with the regularly available "consumer phones" so that you MUST buy the Mercedes phone to integrate with your car and then....when upgrades are available for the consumer aftermarket car phones....Mercedes turns its back on its customers- "ha ha ha ha no upgrades for you....want a nice phone.....we have it- but to get it you'll have to buy this phone upgrade option bundled with a NEW CAR."

How's this one..... At the A T & T store a fellow came in with a Dual Band phone and was told his phone (which he paid $289 for less than a year ago from A T & T) won't be supported on th A T & T network and that he would have to buy a new phone. So they showed him the exact same phone (even color was the same) but in a tri band for .......$289. He was Bullshi*t for obvious reasons.

Then this fellow comes in with a Sprint PCS phone. He starts saying that he paid almost $500 for his phone .... and that it is so cool that he can download family photos off the internet on it.

So we asked him- what are you doing here?

He said "Uhh... well... I need a phone that will get calls and not drop them after less than a minute".

With this type of logic expect cars that have fax machines, flatbed scanners, microwave ovens, coffee brewers, gel seats, aromatherapy, and air ionizers that "uhh...well.... don't steer very well".

Mercedes, BMW, et al should be whipped for the lack of upgrade paths- it's got me hunting around on the internet for a dual band digital phone phone that was only made for a year- that I'll have to finagle an excuse to get activated, and still won't operate the built in memory functions. And is likely to be "unsupported" by the cellular carriers in less than 2 years. A T & T has already introduced GSM phones in San Jose and I believe Phoenix and plans to phase out the tri band phones as soon as possible.

As for the 8 track tape thing..... it isn't all that compareable and certainly Mercedes has an upgrade path to put a DIN sized Cassette player or CD player into the same slot and like magic you are in business again- at least you did not have to rip out all your speakers and amps and rewire the whole darn car-And the controls will all integrate just as before- .......but for phones..........?

I wish Mercedes would do something about this. I doubt they even read this site- though they could find out their customers needs and wants for free as opposed to blowing well over a million dollars on misguided focus groups that got us the "New improved Mercedes auto's of recent years" they wanted cup holders...right? How much did that cost them to find out? And of course these costs are passed on to us.

This is not "The Mercedes-Benz Experience" I anticipated. This is the Yugo experience.

yeah....I'm upset.

Senor Erase,

I agree with you completely The only way for guys like us to stay current with our "vintage" rides is to pursue degrees in electronics engineering so we can retrofit the new stuff annually!

Technology has moved very rapidly in the world of cell phones, and I believe all of the automakers have been caught with their pants down, not just the Europeans. All driven by the cell carrier's ability to deliver its product more profitably.

In my case I'm gonna wait this out a bit, because in the next year or two I believe the format (cdma, tdma, whateverdma) will be established (at least here in the US; of course diff. frequencies or formats are in place abroad) and we can safely buy rigs that will not be outdated before the install is complete

And I've left my TDMA phone active, even though it's rarely used...why take chances?

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Herr Erase,

I'm with you, I think it is very disappointing that DB does not support phone upgrades for cars under warranty. All your points about the expense of this option, the only one missing on my ML, are true. I'm glad I didn't rationalize paying $1800 for an integrated phone, I wanted to though! Now I have one via the purchase of a second car which came with the option. The support (or lack thereof) is really turning me off to Mercedes.

I am one of their biggest proponents, everyone who knows me knows that. If they lose my loyalty, they've got really big problems with the rest of their customer base. They really should read this site, because it's the best I've ever come across. But if I have continued lack of support on a couple of issues, you can bet my next vehicle will be a BMW.

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Current wives...
2000 ML430 Skyview "The Mel"
2000 CLK430 Cab "The Cab"
85 300D Turbo "The Diesel"

Past wives...
92 300E
85 190E

"One should as a rule respect public opinion in so far as is necessary to
avoid starvation and to keep out of prison, but anything that goes beyond
this is voluntary submission to an unnecessary tyranny, and is likely to
interfere with happiness in all kinds of ways."
Bertrand Russell

WELL DAMN!

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Greetings,

If you search under 'car phone help' I had the same frustration with my factory analog setup.

I was determined to get such a nice, integrated set-up to work.

I did.

It was such a pain to find a 3 watt 2 band digital phone that when I did find 2 I bought them both.

I have been contacted by two people about buying my extra.

I am thnking the best way to sell this would be to list it on ebay.

If anyone is interested in getting their factory phone working, let me know and I will email when I list the phone.

Thanks,

Dave