Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

I haven't been to a Verizon store in a while (aren't any within 2 hrs of me)
but I hear all support for the old startacs is no more.

I have a serial-to-startac cable.... is this all I need to flash?

and the other question: does anyone have a firmware file they could email
me?

I think 7654 was the latest, if I did my homework right...

I actually have three Startacs (all 7868w)... and one already is 7654, the
other is 7058, not sure about the third...



thanks!

~Reuben


ReubenL1 at hotmail.com

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Why not get a new phone with more features? The 7868 is about 8 years old.

"Reuben L" <ReubenL1 --AT-- hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7bidnZlONLxdfw_fRVn-vg@cablespeedwa.com...
>I haven't been to a Verizon store in a while (aren't any within 2 hrs of
>me)
> but I hear all support for the old startacs is no more.
>
> I have a serial-to-startac cable.... is this all I need to flash?
>
> and the other question: does anyone have a firmware file they could
> email
> me?
>
> I think 7654 was the latest, if I did my homework right...
>
> I actually have three Startacs (all 7868w)... and one already is 7654,
> the
> other is 7058, not sure about the third...
>
>
>
> thanks!
>
> ~Reuben
>
>
> ReubenL1 at hotmail.com
>
>
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Mij Adyaw" <mijadyaw@nospam.net> wrote in
news:FqJke.30$GL.5@fed1read03:

> Why not get a new phone with more features? The 7868 is about 8 years
> old.
>
>

Because the StarTac runs 600 mw, instead of 150 mw?

Just a guess......(c;

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

In article <Xns9660B2EEB45A9w4csc@63.223.7.253>,
Larry W4CSC <noone@home.com> wrote:
>"Mij Adyaw" <mijadyaw@nospam.net> wrote in
>news:FqJke.30$GL.5@fed1read03:
>
>> Why not get a new phone with more features? The 7868 is about 8 years
>> old.
>>
>>
>
>Because the StarTac runs 600 mw, instead of 150 mw?
>
>Just a guess......(c;
>


And, next to the Motorola 270c, is probably the best no-frills, excellent
on battery power and signal strength phone Verizon Wireless has ever
carried.

I have both and continue to use them today. Nothing comes close.

Scott

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

I have a couple of startacs with the atest firmare. About the only
thing the latest version does is add movile web and ext meassaging
capability.The web is way to hard to read on the phone and the test
messaging output doesn't have an kind of T-9 predictive test input,
which means it's very slow and pinful to send a test message.

I've taken my startacs out on numerous occaision to fringe areas and
modern phones have much better digital reception. As far as analog my
Audiovox 9500 is just as good if not better.
The only thing about the startac that is better is the voice quality,
since it is pre 1xrtt and the form factor.

If you hunt carefully among some of the more modern phones, you can get
a phone with nearly as good analog reception and a much better digital
reception and a whole lot better screen and feature set.

Many more modern handsets still have an external antenna adapter which
will provide excellent analog fringe performance in a pinch.

I loved my startac, but after LOTS of side by side reception with many
more modern phones. My Audiovox 9500 is still better, the v60i is just
about as good.

Digital reception, for the Startac has been eclipsed by most modern
phones as well.

In short a firmware upgrade isn't going to add a lot more to the 7868
useability.

It's probably cheaper to buy a 7868 refurb, than find a VZW store to do
an update. The Canadian made Timeport is another good option, instead
of the Chinese built 7868. The keypads on the 7868 are one of the first
parts to fail in my experience.

Forget the milliwatt ratings and try a real comparison with some
friends current model cell phones in a fringe analog area. You might be
surprised how little difference the specs makes.
AN unactivated phone can still be used to call 611 for test calls.

Sure there are some real dog analog performers, just about any phone
with a stub antenna will be poor.

Generally, the longer antenna the better the fringe analog reception.

-
David

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

On Tue, 24 May 2005 18:22:30 -0400, Larry W4CSC <noone@home.com>
wrote:

>"Mij Adyaw" <mijadyaw@nospam.net> wrote in
>news:FqJke.30$GL.5@fed1read03:
>
>> Why not get a new phone with more features? The 7868 is about 8 years
>> old.
>>
>>
>
>Because the StarTac runs 600 mw, instead of 150 mw?
>
>Just a guess......(c;

Or to state it another way, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.;-)

Mij ought to apply for a job at VZW sales.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Thanks, all.

I've got friends w/newer phones, and they're still amazed that mine will
pull in a signal (digital) in many places where their modern, color-screen,
cute-ringtone, picture-taking tele-gizmos will not. I do appreciate the
comparisons to a 270c, but I love the fact that it's a flip-phone. my
keypad looks like brand new... and I've had the exact same phone (not
replaced once) for 4 yrs. now. I've replaced probably a 8 or 10 antennas in
that time, though!

also, like I said... I have 3 of these, so if one breaks, I get to keep all
my car-chargers, wall-chargers, desktop-chargers, handsfree-thing that I
never use, etc. etc.

so, if I can GET the firmware, CAN I flash it myself using my serial-port
cable? or is there a flash-utility that I'd also need?

thanks-

~Reuben





"The Ghost of General Lee" <ghost@general.lee> wrote in message
news:3ae9919uu6f4p0ncsq4kid2s5vqbl0p689@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 24 May 2005 18:22:30 -0400, Larry W4CSC <noone@home.com>
> wrote:
>
> >"Mij Adyaw" <mijadyaw@nospam.net> wrote in
> >news:FqJke.30$GL.5@fed1read03:
> >
> >> Why not get a new phone with more features? The 7868 is about 8 years
> >> old.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >Because the StarTac runs 600 mw, instead of 150 mw?
> >
> >Just a guess......(c;
>
> Or to state it another way, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.;-)
>
> Mij ought to apply for a job at VZW sales.
>

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Like you I had 3 copies of a phone model. Four if you count the
non-branded one. I have since moved on to a newer model, since some of
the old network features no longer worked on the old model and of course
some of the new network features would not either. However the point I
am trying to make is that since your model of phone is discontinued,
there may not me anymore software updates written. For the model I had,
there were never any updates.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Reuben L" <ReubenL1 --AT-- hotmail.com> wrote in
news:ebmdnSjoZ7F6pAjfRVn-tA@cablespeedwa.com:

> picture-taking tele-gizmos

Ha....I love this description better'n my "toyphone" one!

"Pardon me, Sir. Is that your new picture-taking tele-gizmo you have
there?"

I'm gonna have to make a special trip to the mall!....(c;

Thanks....hee hee

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

"Dean" <dean173@yahoo.com> wrote in newsSFle.4558$Fb.2884@trndny07:

> Another solution--I started accumulating StarTacs a couple of years
> ago from friends who "upgraded" their phones, and I went a little
> overboard. I have 4 or 5 of them in excellent shape, all with the
> newer firmware, so they are able to do 2-way SMS. You can buy one for
> about the same as they will charge you to upgrade, and you'll have a
> spare phone.
>
> Dean
> _

Shhhh....I have a 99 cent, 3W bagphone in each car. It WILL call 911 on
whichever A or B system it likes....whether the goddamned company
bureaucrats want it to or not....(c; No dead battery...plugs into ciggie
lighter.

Everyone should have one in their trunk..just in case. It'll call the cops
or an ambulance when all the picture-taking gizmophones are dead meat.