Jaeger

My car is pre-wired for the 2000 Motorola StarTAC phone with voice recognition. However, the handset was removed so I need to find another one (around $300 on eBay). Some people told me to forget about it since these old phones are lousy (single mode of digital), will soon be obsolete, and the latest phones work hands free. Since it was an expensive option, I hate to see it go to waste. On the other hand, I will only have one phone and an aftermarket hands-free unit is pretty inexpensive.

Anyone have a 2000 model? Have you stopped using the phone, or is it still worthwhile?

I apologize in advance for cluttering the forum with newbie questions.

millswfu

Forget about it. I keep mine in the car with the basic 911 service plan because of the safety feature. The car will automatically dial 911 when the airbags deploy (or something along those lines). Personally I bought a motorola v60i because the startac was such a terrible phone. You can have the car phone converted to handle a v60i however that costs a fortune along with everything else associated with these cars.

fcoxwell

I have one for a 2001 S500. Mine is silver, not black. If it will work you are welcome to it.

fcoxwell@nexband.net

Kar don

the silver one is a timeport phone. These are not the same phones. Jaeger, you could argue with your MB factory rep and maybe get a free upgrade to a timeport or V60. Worth a shot maybe.

Jaeger

Dagnabbit! But I believe you are right. It seems like obsolescence ought to be covered under warranty. I guess so long as it's not entirely obsolete, then it's not. Anyone need an 8-track?

In the meantime, I am designing on my own COMAND system with a steering wheel-mounted thumbwheel selector, and a touchscreen NAVI display with 6 generic buttons down either side that can be easily programmed and named however you choose. Oh, and a burlwood cupholder with all metal hardware, driver adjustable shift-points transmission, and . . . well, you get the point.

ano0oj

i have the startac thing in my 00' s500...the thing is alrite....but the reception is sometimes lousy

apricotscrub

the phone for you 00 s5 actually works? is it digital?

Jaeger

Unfortunately, Frank's Timeport didn't work, but it was a very nice gesture anyway. A cheap StarTAC came up on eBay and I nabbed it. Just hooked it up today as a matter of fact and it works fine -- voice activated dialing, voice recognition of the number. On the Verizon network. I am sure it's not a great phone but the convenience can't be beat.

I am debating whether to call the prior owner of the car since his home number is still in the address book. Just to see if there were any problems I should know about.

apricotscrub

jaeger, did u try to get service on the startac? if so, then i'm gonna get one too.

Jaeger

Yes, I have Verizon service (can you hear me now?) I can let you know how it goes. I am not a heavy phone user since I am usually near a land-line. If I really needed a good phone I might not go with the StarTAC, but I basically only use the phone to check voicemail when I'm driving, not to transact business.

UCIMBZ

My 2000 came with startac of course but prior to that I have been using startac for 6 years and believe me when I say the phone has been great. Never a drop or a weak signal what so ever. That perhaps could be contributed to vrizons flawless service which let me have reception wherever I go. The one that came with the car is Tri-mode.

Jaeger

So far, Verizon service is extremely good, even though the StarTAC is only an 800 MHz phone. I live in a dead spot for both Sprint and AT&T and I always had problems until I drove a few blocks away. But Verizon seems to work perfectly.

Kar don

yup, without a doubt verizon is the best carrier for coverage.

DarkStar

I just had my TDMA StarTac connected via AT&T. They did not want to do it over the phone...said the serial number was "old technology" and didn't want to deal with it.

I went in to a local AT&T store and the rep figured it out: they gave me a new account using a phone they had lying around the store. Once the account was created, they changed the ESN to my MB phone and it worked fine...Good luck.

//DS

verizondude

Why don't you just get one of those portable bluetooth speakers that clip on your visor? and any cheap phone with bluetooth connectivity should work with that. The Startac is a great phone, but I don't think you can get it activated anywhere, nor buy it new since it is aout 10 years old.

PS - Startac isn't $300 on eBay, you can get it now for maybe $25, easily with a box. Just don't expect to activate it

stevedel

holy old thread

verizondude

Or getting a new car with bluetooth connectivity

Skylaw

I'm not one who always believes that posting in old threads is a bad thing - if the topic and question remain relevant. However, advice to a member from a post that is 7 years old, about a phone that won't be accepted on any U.S. cellular system because of being non-E911 compliant, is a stretch - and a bit inattentive.

Verizondude, you might want to check out https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-ele...ml#post2788377