vB Easy Archive - Challenge: analog for rural, slim, bluetooth

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Challenge: analog for rural, slim, bluetooth
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Posted by: coyotefred

I'd like to find an Alltel-compatible phone that has:

-analog/analog roaming for rural
-external antenna capability
-slim/compact size
-bluetooth

Several of the newer LG phones have all of this except the slimness/compact size. I have the LG LX5450 and it a little clunky; the newer phones with bluetooth aren't much slimmer.

'Was hoping on the Samsung u520 but I haven't been able to confirm whether it has the ext antenna capability or analog for rural.

'Any other thoughts appreciated!

Posted by: PhotoJim

I don't think analog and slimness will go together. The battery requirements for analog are quite large and a small battery is just not going to give you reasonable talk and standby times.

Posted by: nokiaman76

yeah it will be a tuff choice as analog phones are slowly going out if you cant find a new one look to ebay .

Posted by: coyotefred

I think you are right. I recall reading some other reason more of the newer phones don't carry the analogy capability too. I don't need something ultra-small like razr, just something not as clunky as my LG (1 1/4" thick) so it will go in pocket better in and around time (about 75% of the time). The other 25% when I'm out in the sticks I sometimes need that analog help though...

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhotoJim

I don't think analog and slimness will go together. The battery requirements for analog are quite large and a small battery is just not going to give you reasonable talk and standby times.

Posted by: ghostchild

Quote:

Originally Posted by coyotefred

I think you are right. I recall reading some other reason more of the newer phones don't carry the analogy capability too. I don't need something ultra-small like razr, just something not as clunky as my LG (1 1/4" thick) so it will go in pocket better in and around time (about 75% of the time). The other 25% when I'm out in the sticks I sometimes need that analog help though...

You're right. None of the newer Motorolas have Analog, the Razr, KRZR, or E815. The Samsung U520 is also NOT analog but I have heard it's a good little phone if you can get away with digital only, but stay away from the Samsung a645 because of reception issues.
...
The Nokia 2865i doesn't have a retractable antenna but is small and good at holding a signal. The W315 is a nice little option too but I'm not sure if it's small enough for you. The AX390 also seems small and has analog but the antenna is fixed length. Those three seem like the best options to try to combine slimness and analog. Or at least a starting point for the things you're looking for.

Posted by: nokiaman76

W315 would be the best choice but it dont have bluetooth if you can stand a e815 like phone you can get a used v710 off ebay it would be loaded and have bluetooth and analog now if you had verizon or USCC you could get the v325i that slimmer and has bluetooth or the v323 but since you have alltel its hard.

Posted by: ghostchild

The E815 doesn't have analog. The Nokia 2865i though does have bluetooth and Analog despite it's lower price and I also agree that the W315 is a great option. The V710 is a good older option but very bulky and I do agree the V710 was perhaps one of the best phones ever at getting a signal and it had analog. That's actually a really good thought as long as he can stand the size and can find one.

Posted by: captainmicahp

Analog is going away very shortly. the carriers want the spectrum for newer technologies, so I think by the end of this year or next analog sites will be shut off.

Posted by: sid pearlman

I think the Nokia 6256i or some version of like the 6255i can be used on Alltel. I have the Nok 6256i on VZW and it has analog capabilty. The Mot 710 might be a good choice IIRC that handset can be used on Alltel.

The Audiovox/Toshiba 9500 is my choice of handset when camping in analog land, mostly because I can still activate it on VZW, since it has the 911 capabilities and MOST IMPORTANT it can be hooked up to an external Yagi/omni antenna. I can't tell you what a huge difference it makes to hook a handset to a 9db Anntenex Yagi! I use the debug screen to aim the Yagi at the source tower.
The Nokia is OK but the is no RF connectivity in the antenna adapter sold, which connects into what is a test port on the back and not a regular antenna connector as found on older Nokia. Wilson says theirs works, but I have no personal experience of this being true. Perhaps an external connecter that attaches to the antenna may work?

Motorola may be the best bet for external antenna connectivity.

A welded 3' pro grade, Antennex Yagi holds up to being packed into the trunk. An aluminum swimming pool handle makes a great antenna mast. I only had to cut off about 6" to get the collapsed mast/swim pool handle to fit into a small 4 door car. I glued a short section of PVC tube inside the aluminum pole, near the end, to keep the tubing from collapsing when the antenna mount is tightened up. A 3-4' section of electrical conduit fits inside the base and allows for rotating the mast to find the best signal. I drilled a couple of holes in the Conduit to attach to either my hitch mounted bike rack, or to pound a couple of lag screws into any suitable stump, to mount the mast away from the car.

Use thick low loss (more expensive)cable since thin cable will tend to lose much more signal

While driving a 3 db omni works OK but is marginally better than standing outside the car. Since the higher the db rating of an antenna squashes the signal radiation pattern more towards the horizon/horizontal, when traveling in the mountains use a 3db. A higher db antenna may miss the source tower if it's mounted high on a hill. For flat topography reception a higher antenna db rating can be used.

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Sid