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  #1  
Old 07-03-2005, 01:29 PM
Larry Delor's Avatar
What, Me Worry?
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
Posts: 3,114
Star Tac...The equivalent of a 123 ?

Hi y'all!

Looks like my Star Tac finally bit the dust... We had a downpour the other day (so what else is new in Fla?) and it got a bit wet. Now, the caller can't hear me.

I called the phone mart today and asked if they had something equivalent in quality/durability. The person on the other end said that I would have to come in and see what they have, since "everybody else that's had one of those dinosaurs hasn't liked anything else".
That phone has lasted me over 3 years with the same battery. It's only Archilles heel was the antenna that would sometimes fall back into the chassis. (no biggie, I had some old star tac analogs that I used for parts)

Anybody have recommendations for a decent cell phone? ...something 123 like?

Thanks!

-Larry

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09 Jetta TDI
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  #2  
Old 07-03-2005, 01:38 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Back in Colorado for now
Posts: 1,315
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Delor
Hi y'all!

Looks like my Star Tac finally bit the dust... We had a downpour the other day (so what else is new in Fla?) and it got a bit wet. Now, the caller can't hear me.

I called the phone mart today and asked if they had something equivalent in quality/durability. The person on the other end said that I would have to come in and see what they have, since "everybody else that's had one of those dinosaurs hasn't liked anything else".
That phone has lasted me over 3 years with the same battery. It's only Archilles heel was the antenna that would sometimes fall back into the chassis. (no biggie, I had some old star tac analogs that I used for parts)

Anybody have recommendations for a decent cell phone? ...something 123 like?

Thanks!

-Larry

That is about as close to a perfec comparison as you can get.

I've tried all the new phones and end up selling on ebay and going back to a startac. Am using my 7868W right now as the LG VX3200 broke after about a week and I'm reluctant to try it again.

If you have Verizon, it's cake to login online and change your phone ESN yourself. In one day I changed three phones (two buggy startacs and then to the timeport until I found a good startac.)

You can try ebay, but the last three I bought "in perfect" condition and "like new" were all buggy pieces of crap that looked like they went through hell, so don't believe ANYTHING that a seller says about it. Even the "NEW" startacs are "refurbs" are are crap.

You might check out a timeport. They are the same electronics, keypad, etc. as the startac, but a color LED display and they go in their holster backwards so no using the organizer with them (at least not holstered.)

I have one of these in good cond if you want to try it (cheap - I keep as a backup in case my startac falls in a plating bucket - happens a lot to me.)

Other than that, don't try the V265 or about any other motorola products anymore. They don't even come CLOSE to a startac. Actually, the LG VX3200 was a decent phone, but it went out the window losing reception switching from dig to analog area (the startac has much better reception and sound quality than any of the newer phones.)
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  #3  
Old 07-03-2005, 02:08 PM
Larry Delor's Avatar
What, Me Worry?
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
Posts: 3,114
Thanks, Tom!

It is the 7868W that I have also. Darn good phone.

I recall several months ago, when my provider called and offered me a new phone along with some newfangled plan. I mentioned I had a Star Tac and that I really liked it. The rep pretty much said: Never mind, you're better off with the star tac, it's a better phone.

For work, I've had a V60 of some sort, and now a V60p. Didn't care for the 60 and am not too impressed with this 60p goes, as far as battery life. Apparently this 60p has gps built in. (Great, now Big Brother can keep track of me even better!)

Star Tac upon powering on: a long tone, provider logo, ready status.
300D upon powering on: no tone (buzzer broke), glowplug light, ready status (glow light out)
V60p upon powering on: Some little melody, and a dude wiping the background to reveal provider logo, ready status.
New car upon powering on: I'm afraid to find out!
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  #4  
Old 07-03-2005, 03:30 PM
Geezer
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Holland, MI
Posts: 1,316
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry Delor
Looks like my Star Tac finally bit the dust... We had a downpour the other day (so what else is new in Fla?) and it got a bit wet. Now, the caller can't hear me.

I called the phone mart today and asked if they had something equivalent in quality/durability... ...Its only Archilles heel was the antenna that would sometimes fall back into the chassis.

Anybody have recommendations for a decent cell phone? ...something 123 like?
Larry, in my opinion there is NO equivalent. I will buy another from ebay if mine ever quits. Yes, 3 years, same battery, same wobbly antenna (bought some replacements from ebay) and its been dropped more than a few times. No musical ring tones (I leave it on vibrate 24/7) and no camera.

Old-school Motorola product; rugged, overbuilt, and will outlast most cell phones and fads.

Best Regards,
Jim
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  #5  
Old 07-03-2005, 08:52 PM
compress ignite's Avatar
Drone aspiring to Serfdom
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: 32(degrees) North by 81(degrees) West
Posts: 5,554
Star Tac

2nd most reliable R.F. unit Motorola ever produced!
1st was the old "Brick"(size of) [one of them went swimming with me in the
Chatahoochee River back in the middle 80's,took it apart dried it out with a
hair dryer and it worked,although the volume was "tinny"]

Depending on who your cellular provider is they MAY have some used but not
abused 7860's or 7868's in the back gathering dust.
ASK!

Mine has been Sailing with me for the last 5 years.AND as we all know
electronics hate salt air.
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  #6  
Old 07-04-2005, 11:03 AM
sfloriII's Avatar
Still pedaling...
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 1,614
I gotta tell this story:

I used to have a Star Tac.

I was running across a busy street in DC a couple years ago when my Star Tac fell off onto the pavement. I got to the sidewalk and looked back in horor to see a car drive OVER my phone. The phone literally flipped three feet into the air and back onto the pavement.

I ran out to the street, retreived the phone and returned to the sidewalk. The phone was cracked along the seam and I had to sqeeze it back together with my hands before it would close back up. Looking at the phone, I could see TIRE TREAD marks across the headset!! Now came the test: I pressed the power button. POWER WORKED!!

Then I called my sister and she answered!!

That phone still worked even after getting run over by a car.

But it no longer rang, so I had to replace it with a V-60 as the Star Tac was no longer in production.

Stick with the Star Tac. The V-60 is nearly as indestructabe too. I've dropped mine on cement studio floors about a million times and it still works.

Good luck!
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Last edited by sfloriII; 07-05-2005 at 11:38 AM.
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  #7  
Old 07-04-2005, 02:17 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 26
Buy this, best of both worlds.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7983611945&category=38655

j/k, it'll only work in a car, but cool anyways
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  #8  
Old 07-07-2005, 06:13 PM
Larry Delor's Avatar
What, Me Worry?
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Sarasota, Fl.
Posts: 3,114
Update

I got talked into a Motorola V710. everything but the kitchen sink (at least compared to the Star Tac anyway).
Lots of bells and whistles. The picture taking resolution rivals my old Agfa digi camera - haven't tried it yet though... gotta read the manual.

Wouldn't you know it though? Within the hour of agreeing to get the new phone, I figure out how to make the star tac work again. (Ya have to twist it a little like a banana, and then they can hear me again) Suppose I better keep it around as a back up lol.

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