Carphones.

[LabelKing]

I want to install one of those old integrated carphones in my car--the phones with the spiral antenna installed on the rear fenders and the light-up LED display.

I'm sure I can find a phone set but can such an item be used under current phone coverage?

 

[Huntsman]

I believe they can -- anywhere you can get an analog signal, which is most places. My father tried with his Motorola a few years ago (a 1985 model) and it did work -- he was prompted for a credit card number or somesuch.

The harder part will be finding out how to program it with the important codes and such.

 

[LabelKing]

How are the fees calculated? Is this under cell coverage or under landline service?

 

[LabelKing]

Imagine this one in a car:

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

How are the fees calculated? Is this under cell coverage or under landline service?
I have no idea; however, without a subscription plan, one must assume that usury is the operative term. Programming it to work with a particular provider's network is likely the best option. The phone above is really just a radiotelephone rather than a cell, so from an engineer's standpoint I am not impressed. My father's phone was similar to this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-Dynatac...46162311QQrdZ1 I carried an OKI 1200 (I believe) in the early nineties -- another great, great phone.

 

[LabelKing]

As I understand it, these sorts of cell phones use an analog line and according to my current provider, AT&T, they still offer analog cell coverage with a $4.99 fee: https://supportcingular.atgnow.com/c...+Fee%3F#Goto11 I can get one of those old bag-phones as well since the module is much smaller and I can hide it under the seat rather than installing it in the trunk which seems somewhat tedious. http://www.motorola3watts.com/ Alternatively, I can have the old analog signal converted to the standard GSM by way of some sort of rather expensive "call director": http://www.motorola3watts.com/produc...products_id=76

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I want to install one of those old integrated carphones in my car--the phones with the spiral antenna installed on the rear fenders and the light-up LED display. I'm sure I can find a phone set but can such an item be used under current phone coverage?
I'm not being funny, but is there a reason you're looking for a carphone?

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Southern-Nupe

I'm not being funny, but is there a reason you're looking for a carphone?

To make my car look like a period piece.

 

[JetBlast]

What's your car, LK? Out of curiosity.

JB

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by JetBlast

What's your car, LK? Out of curiosity.

JB

A Mercedes-Benz SL in signal red:

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Well that makes perfect sense then. BTW...nice car.

 

[JetBlast]

Simply glorious. Make sure you purchase a velour tracksuit for your weekend driving.

JB

 

[LabelKing]

I recently saw a mint Benz 560SL in brown that had its original blue vanity plates and a large carphone spiral antenna installed--it was really fabulous as it looked so incongruous in traffic. This could also be the most convenient solution: http://www.hulger.com/ This model seems appropriate:

On the same note, look at this fabulous item:

 

[Connemara]

That's awfully eccentric. But, coming from you, I'm not all that surprised.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by Connemara

That's awfully eccentric. But, coming from you, I'm not all that surprised.

Is it all the more eccentric that I also play computer games on a separate PC?