Steve Punters review of the Nokia 6385 now up

[Vindicator]

Well, Steve has just released his review of the Nokia 6385. It was looking promissing except for the fact that the 6385 has the same fatal flaw as the 6185/6188...

http://www.arcx.com/sites/Nokia%206385.htm

This discusion should bring back some old 6188 memories.

[alpha tag]

hehe finally, a new review... it's been a while steve

[Bonka]

I suppose this is closest to the 6310i equivalent.

There's that antenna again

[Vindicator]

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Its too bad that it drops calls just like the 6185 for no reason even at full signal. Telus wont touch it with a ten foot pole.

[HC - NO "i"]

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I disagree with Steve`s comment on frequent dropped call issue as I have way fewer incidents than him and the gentleman who borrowed him this handset.

[HC - NO "i"]

Well, it is not perfect but good enough to be my workhorse. I think Nokia has finally come around with an acceptable CDMA handset with 1x. It is definitely a good start to add 6385 into its DCT-4 generation line up. Like you too, I put RF and Audio in high priority - 6385 excels in these two areas. These are my observations with the firmware V02.01, PRI 508902.A3...

- RF performance: I have compared it with 6185i, Samsung A520, A540 and Sony Ericsson T206 side by side. I could not and was not qualified to set up a control environment and hooked up with engineering gears from Agilent / HP to test though. However, my observation through making / getting calls at the same spot - where showed the same band / ch / carrier / P/N... but the Ec/I0 / RSSI showed different figures.

In the close proximity of the strong cells, they were close in the RSSI but 6385 and T206 were leading among them. Followed by the 6185i with the antenna fully pulled out. A520 and A540 were about the same.

In the poor signal area like a underground parkade, T206 held on with the cell for the longest time before rescanning for other bands / ch / carriers. It could make call as low as -103dB while 6385 can go the record low of -105dB! And, during a continuous conversation from the surface to the underground parkade, the 6385 would not drop the call or got audible Frame Error until it hit -107dB to -109dB with the retractable antenna up! 6185i, A540, A520 were about the same - they started rescanning for better signal when went down to -97dB to -100dB. They could not make call in the same area. I must give a big thumb up on the dual antenna design - both an internal (behind the D cover / housing and above the battery cover) and a retractable antenna. Even with the retractable antenna down, it still performs very good. For analog, I have not paid much attention.

- Audio quality, I have found both incoming and outgoing are very good. Not too bassy, Not too "tinny". However, I am still waiting for the SMV implementation on 6385 and Telus. Perhaps, it is just vapourware.

- Battery Life / Power Consumption: It improves a lot since the Nokia DCT-3 generation CDMA handsets. The supplied 950mAh rated BLB-3 last for a whole day of my heavy usage - even without topping up in my office or on the road (in my car). In the past, the 6185/6188/6185i required to be top up merely 8 hours in my average daily routine. Do not forget, they came with BLS-2N or BLS-4, which are both rated 1050mAh and 1500mAh respectively.

Now, the "bads" and the "bugs":

- Occasional "Choppy" Outgoing audio: There are many occasions when I am having conversation, the other party on the line are complaining about the audio is very "choppy" while it is crystal clear to me all the time.

- The volume settings: both headset and the earpiece (that's right, 2 separate settings and I like it too) are too soft even at max. If I crank it up too high, it will "crackle". For the headset, I have given up the fragile HDC-9 for good. I am now using a Plantronics MX-100 with the miniplug connector. The audio quality is acceptable compromise.

- Typo: In the phone settings, there is a "Display Brightness" while it should be "Display Contrast". Nokia has confirmed on this one and will revised in the future firmware.

- Card Calls: When Active Call Timer is enabled, during a card calls (with Access Number + Calling Card Number + LD number), the Active Call Timer will NOT be displayed. Also, there are several occasions when the Active Call Timer NOT showing EVEN during local calls (10-digit or * numbers).

- Card Calls: It CANNOT be used in conjunction with the 1-Touch dialing.

- IR Data Connection: It may not be compatible with PalmOS 4.1.

- Voice Commands: It CANNOT assign voice tags for ALL presets; the reason: Insufficient Memory. -

- Occasional Lock up: When edit the settings and answer the incoming calls, the phone may lock up in the same screen after the conversation. I have to cycle the power to correct.

- Possible Faceplate design (A Cover) flaw: I have check with many 6385 owners. They have all got the cracks even test units that have been slightly used. Mine has eventually chipped on one corner. There are stress points near the bottom corners that leads to cracks forming. I think it is the indent / shape of the faceplate (A Cover) and the black casing (D Cover) molding / indent are not perfectly matched / align. The 2 screws near the bottom of the handset add to the pressure. I recommend to sand / file a little off near the bottom edges of the D Cover. (Refer to the similar model 6360 exploded diagram for parts description and the cracks developed on 6385 below)

[Vindicator]

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Well maybe this goes back to nokia's not working well on lucent hardware.

[HC - NO "i"]

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Vindicator, i would think just bad luck as that gentleman is having frequent dropped calls in Alberta too with the Nortel gear.

[Steve Punter]

As I have noted before, I can only post my review based on the phone I tested. If the one that I was lent happened to be a lemon, and subsequently drops calls more than is the norm for that model, there isn't really much I can do. If in the future I can get my hands on a second 6385, I'll re-evaluate it and see if the drop call problem does or does not exit.

If we take away the call drop problem and the penchant to produce more frame errors than my ST-7868W, then the 6385 is a GREAT phone. Maybe I can test another one day and prove that to myself.

[Nokia 6188]

The only time I experience a drop call on my Nokia 6188 is when my RSSI hits -107/-108db, and I know when a call is about to drop due to alot of choppiness in the call which hits at about -106db.

BTW, I think I'm on the Lucent hardware while on Telus, and when I roam on Bell, I'm on the Nortel hardware.

Only gripe I can find is that the Nokia 6188 is not suppose to drop, but do a seamless transfer to Bell Digital or Bell Analog, but that is rarely the case.

I think Steve tested a lemon or one with a US Cellular specific firmware, cause there is no way a Nokia 6188 can outperform a Nokia 6385 in terms of dropped calls.

[HC - NO "i"]

Originally posted by Steve Punter
As I have noted before, I can only post my review based on the phone I tested. If the one that I was lent happened to be a lemon, and subsequently drops calls more than is the norm for that model, there isn't really much I can do. If in the future I can get my hands on a second 6385, I'll re-evaluate it and see if the drop call problem does or does not exit.

If we take away the call drop problem and the penchant to produce more frame errors than my ST-7868W, then the 6385 is a GREAT phone. Maybe I can test another one day and prove that to myself.

Steve,

Yes, I read your email. Do not get me wrong, like other handsets from other manufacturers, even the same model / chipset / components are used, they may perform differently. For one thing I know, RF tuning paramters is factory tuned and every single handset has slightly different fine adjustment.

For the 6385 I have, surely I have dropped calls as well - when it happens it often in my home! It is because my place is located in a relative weak spot for both Telus and Bell cellsites.

Next time, when I drop by TO, I would be honoured to let you try the phone again for a whole day.

[HC - NO "i"]

Originally posted by Nokia 6188
The only time I experience a drop call on my Nokia 6188 is when my RSSI hits -107/-108db, and I know when a call is about to drop due to alot of choppiness in the call which hits at about -106db.

BTW, I think I'm on the Lucent hardware while on Telus, and when I roam on Bell, I'm on the Nortel hardware.

Only gripe I can find is that the Nokia 6188 is not suppose to drop, but do a seamless transfer to Bell Digital or Bell Analog, but that is rarely the case.

I think Steve tested a lemon or one with a US Cellular specific firmware, cause there is no way a Nokia 6188 can outperform a Nokia 6385 in terms of dropped calls.

Nokia 6188,

A new product is beaten by the predecessor? Well, it could happen - Cellphone included! The single mode, non-1x Nokia 8270 is a very good example. I tried it briefly in San Diego alongside with the 6185i - thanks but no, thanks.

*HUMOUR: Perhaps Motorola should retro the "brick" and "bag" phones with digital PCS!

[Vindicator]

Originally posted by Nokia 6188
The only time I experience a drop call on my Nokia 6188 is when my RSSI hits -107/-108db, and I know when a call is about to drop due to alot of choppiness in the call which hits at about -106db.

BTW, I think I'm on the Lucent hardware while on Telus, and when I roam on Bell, I'm on the Nortel hardware.

Only gripe I can find is that the Nokia 6188 is not suppose to drop, but do a seamless transfer to Bell Digital or Bell Analog, but that is rarely the case.

I think Steve tested a lemon or one with a US Cellular specific firmware, cause there is no way a Nokia 6188 can outperform a Nokia 6385 in terms of dropped calls.

The problem with the 6185/6188 was it would drop calls seemingly at random, even at higher signal levels. (Just as Steve described the 6385) It could be defective, but it just doesn't look good.

It seemed the same problem with the 6185/6188. I had about 6 or 7 of them. (1 Bell 6185, 1 Telus 6185 and the rest clearNET 6188's) Some were fine and would have no problems and wouldn't drop calls. But too large a number did drop calls, garbled calls etc. Currently I have one 6188 that works perfectly and one that is horrible.

Although the sound quality may be quite good on both the 6188 and 6385, if it drops calls then whats the point?

I think Steve needs another phone to test in the same areas to see if the first one was just a fluke.

[Steve Punter]

Originally posted by HC - NO "i"
Next time, when I drop by TO, I would be honoured to let you try the phone again for a whole day.

Drop me a line and let me know when you'll be in town. I'm sure I can make the time to meet with you.