tivoboy

Do I really even need the portable hand held cell phone for the cradle?
I mean, there is a phone in the car already, that is what gets activated and connects to Star, and Info and all those other serives. And, calls out for help and such. Can one simply activate a cell plan on that built in phone? It is probably some combination of AMPS and TDMA through ATT, but that is where I would go anyway.
I don't need the handset, just want a phone in the car for calling and to be reached.
thanks
N

dtkw

Yes, I think so. When I brought my coupe to here, I needed to switch from CA services to IN services. So, I canceled the CA services and brought the MB phone to Verizon and they just programed the phone right there. And then Bingo!

rgleason

I think you are writing about the Teleaid system, right? I am 99% sure that you can't use that phone for calling and to be reached unless it is calling and being reached by Mercedes!

And by the way, since you have no keypad, you would be unable to dial anyone. My brother-in-law did lose a connection with his lawyer while talking on a non-integrated cellphone and pushed the emergency button and had Mercedes hook him up with the attorney over their system. I think doing that on an ongoing basis would be very costly.

Dick

tivoboy

I think the keypad on the radio is for dialing too, no?

rgleason

That's right, but it does not dial the Teleaid phone. It only works with an integrated phone.

tivoboy

Ah well, I knew it was wishful thinking?
Do you know if pretty much either of the timeport phones will work in the system installed, or does it have to be exactly the one CDMA or TDMA that came with it?

rgleason

You need a Mercedes Timeport phone and the appropriate PSE. You can also have a Nokia GSM phone and phone kit installed in your car, or wait until the UHI is available in the US. See this thread: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=43190

tivoboy

What is the PSE. IS that some sort of comm control unit, or just the plug adaptor?

rgleason

It stands for Phone Support Electronics. In my C240 it is installed in the trunk behind the right trunk panel.