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S40
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Posted by: dgorecki

Just trying out a friend's S40 with V3.2 on it (came from FIDO).

So far pleasantly suprised. A few notes so far:

Sound:
Excellent! Nice rich sounds like a P280, and loud. I have found the blanking out of audio to be a pain when it happens, but it doesn't happen very often.

Feel:
Again, very good. The keys are not as stiff as one I tried last year. VERY comfortable to hold for long periods of time.

RF (The most important):

There has been a couple of times where an outgoing call failed when there was full signal strength. Seemed odd, maybe the network?
However, overall I would rate it better than my T39 with IAT-10 antenna. I was shocked. There are a couple of areas in Guelph where I have a hard time holding a signal with the T39 and the S40 is rock solid! No dropped calls as of yet.

I'm actually quite shocked with how good this phone is. Perhaps my low expectations have led to this positive experience.

I haven't had a chance to test out the IR and synching to outlook. The one thing I really wish it had was GPRS. It also seems difficult to get accessories for it.

Am I crazy? Is there anyone else out there who has the FIDO version have similar experiences?

Posted by: fido8290

Quote:

Originally posted by dgorecki

Am I crazy? Is there anyone else out there who has the FIDO version have similar experiences?

Crazy? not at all. I have been trying to explain to ppl how good this phone is for a while. RF is seriously bashed everywhere, but the one from Fido, I'd have to say has good RF qualities. equal to that of a Nokia 8290, and just below my 8390.

-I would echo your comments. good review.

Posted by: olz

I'm with you guyz. Just got my s40 on fido and i'm super impressed with the sound quality. Compared to my t28, this phone rocks! Looks great, feels great, and i get reception almost everywhere! i love it!

Posted by: ganske77

I used the S40 about 9 months ago and would have to say that it is my favorite to date. I am I find the reception quite good among the other internal antenna phones and the quaility of sound very good. I am on version 3.2. I am planning on sending the phone in for software updates and to have the housing replaced. (it took a nasty spill).
All this is contigent on me going back to voicesteam. My nextel service is hard to walk away from, although pricey it has been the best service I have tried to date in MN.

Posted by: chatboy

YES !! Siemens s40 (actually it is origin Bosch 1886 product, NOT a siemens) works great with me. It's sound quality is very best. Anyone try to use this code to set EFR mode? It is:

Enhanced full rate mode (better sound quality):
Activate Enhanced Full Rate Mode: *3370#
Deactivate Enhanced Full Rate Mode: #3370#
To show the status of EFR mode: *#3370#

Good enough for the design and function of this phone, it looks very professional, i like its metallic face plate very much, and it gives a very solid feel when holding the phone, like a high-tech feeling in your hand, and also when press the red key to show the clock and date, the blue screen backlight keeps growing for about 1min, very cool when showing in the dark! (if u think you don't mind wasting some battery life... LOL), must very attractive.

Reception also satisfactory, i think it depends on the network provider, but overall seldom drop the connection even talking in a moving car. It done a very good jog for a phone with internal antenna design.

Some user found much soffware bugs of this phone, but i never encounter it, why? My version is 2.10.0, quite a old version, but why some user have so much problem of their firmware? Are they using the version much more earier?

My final commets is: not a simple phone at all, full of technology inside.

Posted by: djen

Okay, been searching my phone for after I signed the new contract in July...

Tried 3390(don't like the style), 8290(too small), Motorola L2000(this is what I'll keep for backup; battery life sucks, though; only 3 days of standby without much talk), P280(a very nice one, but I decide to sell it), and V60(a very good one, too; but decide to sell it since I spent too much:P). The 6190 is from my last contract. Pretty decent phone, and I'll keep it(can't sell it for high anyway).

Then, finally comes S40 today. I was still having a question mark in my head when I decided to buy this...since I heard about software bugs and reception defeciency...

Kind of surprise, though. A pleasant one, fortunately.

FirmWare version is 9.0 through Cingular(locked; but I'll get it unlocked later through Cingular). So far, no problem with software at all.

Menu does take a while to get used to... It's like that whoever uses this needs a Ph.D in cellphone menu plus a CCNP in network setup...:P:P:P

RF...in my home area, it's usually 3/4 for most phones. Same with this phone, so no argument here. I tried it in my freind's house where even P280 can only grab one bar(6190 can grab a bar, too; V60 is holding, but with frequent blank; 3390 is having a bar with nice quality; 8290 is having a bar, but breaking often; T39 is gone, along with T68)...

This one manage to get one bar and sometimes even 2(for seconds). Calling out(I use my voicemail and voicemail record to test both in&out call quality) isn't a problem at all. Kind of surprising since I did hear that the phone's RF ain't up to par.

Earpiece is very loud(only comparable to 6190 and P280). So that's very good for me since I have a slight hearing defect. Voice quality is not bad, either. P280 probably sounds more like nature voice, but this one ain't bad.

Outgoing voice quality...I use my Cingular voicemail to test it. THe "volume" of outoing voice is a bit smaller than P280 or 6190. But quality-wise it's pretty good, and not much background noice around.

Battery is kind of amazing... I got this phone with the battery warning light flashing(showing 0%) around 2PM. I still manage to grabbed about 1/2 hour in calling, plus it's still working(right now it's 9PM) as I type this up.

REally wonder how far this one can go after it's conditioned and fully charged...look forward for it

So in another word, this one is pretty good. I paid $80 for a new box since Siemens decides to discontinue this model(kind of sad). Cingular still carries, this, though...not for long, I guess. Not a bad price...

Now if they can just make the keypad better...

My favorite is still P280...then V60. Nokia 6190 is very good, too. 3390/8290 is okay, I guess. But S40...kind of a pleasant surprise. I will keep it as my primary phone.

Posted by: kayjay

try typing:

*#36446337*8378#

(same as: *#engineer*test#)

this should give you an ekstra menu
with network monitor etc.

cool