Anyone have/know about Motorola StarTAC phones?

[Josh]

I'm going to get an old school Motorola StarTAC off e-bay real soon and most likely get Verizon service on the phone and I was wondering which is the best StarTAC model to purchase?

For those who don't know, this is a StarTAC 8600 and most of the StarTACs look exactly like that but I'm unsure of all the different features/etc of all the StarTAC models and I was hoping some people on the forum would have or know about these phones...

Let me know and thanks in advance

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Not a bad phone, I used to have one. It's a dual band CDMA phone and not much else. It will store you phone numbers for you and you can use it as a computer modem with the right cabling. Battery life was excellent on that phone compared to my Samsung N400. And reception was always crystal.

 

[rudeguy]

buy some spare antennas...they break off pretty easy on those models

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer
Not a bad phone, I used to have one. It's a dual band CDMA phone and not much else. It will store you phone numbers for you and you can use it as a computer modem with the right cabling. Battery life was excellent on that phone compared to my Samsung N400. And reception was always crystal.

yea i just want to use it as a phone for calling and reciving calls, I don't care 'bout browsing the internet on it, playing snake on it, text messaging and all that other new distracting features...verizon service is great around here and I don't really like any of their new expensive phones and these starTACs are on ebay for lke $20-$40

 

[JoLLyRoGer]

Originally posted by: rudeguy
buy some spare antennas...they break off pretty easy on those models

I never broke one antenna in 3 1/2 years. Carried it in my pocket without any case too.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: rudeguy
buy some spare antennas...they break off pretty easy on those models

I never broke one antenna in 3 1/2 years. Carried it in my pocket without any case too.

ehh...I sold em for three years....

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: rudeguy
buy some spare antennas...they break off pretty easy on those models

I never broke one antenna in 3 1/2 years. Carried it in my pocket without any case too.

ehh...I sold em for three years....

:Q whats the best startac model to purchase?

 

[moonshinemadness]

known as 'Clam Shell' phones if i remeber

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: moonshinemadness
known as 'Clam Shell' phones if i remeber

Yea, I like the look of them. It's "old-school" but def. very cool lookin'.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: rudeguy
buy some spare antennas...they break off pretty easy on those models

I never broke one antenna in 3 1/2 years. Carried it in my pocket without any case too.

ehh...I sold em for three years....

:Q whats the best startac model to purchase?

Nokia

We stopped carrying those models about a year ago, so I couldnt tell you

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: rudeguy

Originally posted by: JoLLyRoGer

Originally posted by: rudeguy
buy some spare antennas...they break off pretty easy on those models

I never broke one antenna in 3 1/2 years. Carried it in my pocket without any case too.

ehh...I sold em for three years....

:Q whats the best startac model to purchase?

Nokia

We stopped carrying those models about a year ago, so I couldnt tell you

Hah, no, I'm saying when you did carry them for the three years you sold them what was the best model in your opinion...'cause they are old phones and no one sells them anymore really unless you get on e--Bay which is where I'm going...and I'm wondering which model to purchase..

 

[RxL77]

The 7860 is probably the best one. It's also one of the lowest radiation phones. All the new phones will kill you with the radiation. I had a 7860, it broke, and then Motorola sent me a 7797 I believe.

Anyway, CNET should have some good reviews on the old school Motorola Startacs.

I now have a Motorola T720 for Verizon. Poor battery life (2 days standby, vs. 287hours manufacturer rated) and the volume is very low. Can barely hear a thing when I'm on the streets of NYC.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: RxL77
The 7860 is probably the best one. It's also one of the lowest radiation phones. All the new phones will kill you with the radiation. I had a 7860, it broke, and then Motorola sent me a 7797 I believe.

Anyway, CNET should have some good reviews on the old school Motorola Startacs.

I now have a Motorola T720 for Verizon. Poor battery life (2 days standby, vs. 287hours manufacturer rated) and the volume is very low. Can barely hear a thing when I'm on the streets of NYC.

Do the 7860 models break eaisly? Or did you have an unavoidable accident or something...

 

My antenna broke off after about two years. However, the phone was amazing. The battery could go days at a time with sporadic calls - the life was excellent. I always had reception, except in my underground dorm room. And it was durable as a rock - I dropped it numerous times while walking from the garage to the house, and it never broke.

Get it - you'll like it. They're tiny too.

EDIT: I had a 7868W with Verizon service. Served me admirably.

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: RxL77
The 7860 is probably the best one. It's also one of the lowest radiation phones. All the new phones will kill you with the radiation. I had a 7860, it broke, and then Motorola sent me a 7797 I believe.

Anyway, CNET should have some good reviews on the old school Motorola Startacs.

I now have a Motorola T720 for Verizon. Poor battery life (2 days standby, vs. 287hours manufacturer rated) and the volume is very low. Can barely hear a thing when I'm on the streets of NYC.

bwahahaaaa


all cell phones are .6 watts max....all cellular phones have to comply with fcc and international radiation guidelines

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: jumpr
My antenna broke off after about two years. However, the phone was amazing. The battery could go days at a time with sporadic calls - the life was excellent. I always had reception, except in my underground dorm room. And it was durable as a rock - I dropped it numerous times while walking from the garage to the house, and it never broke.

Get it - you'll like it. They're tiny too.

EDIT: I had a 7868W with Verizon service. Served me admirably.

Nice. They have a lot of those models on e-bey too. Thanks for the response, looks like I'll be getting this phone.

The only thing I wish these phones had were an external screen to show caller ID...guess I'll just turn off the "auto answer when opened" feature so I can see whos calling before picking up and know who I'm talking to

 

[Josh]

ne1 else have opinions?

 

[Murphyrulez]

I would advise against getting a StarTac. I had one for about 6 months. I went through 3 antennas. The design of the antenna is such that when the antenna hits against something, it just bends over, it isn't stiff. After bending about 50 times, it finally wears out and the metal inside breaks. But, the rubber outside is still attached, so now you have an antenna that just flops around....


Poor design.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I have had two StarTacs (an ST7867 with Sprint PCS, and an ST7868 with Verizon), and was always pleased with both. They are definitely not bells-and-whistles phones, but they are rugged, have outstanding reception, and provide good battery life. On balance I liked my StarTac better than the more modern Samsung I replaced it with (I temporarily lost the StarTac).

I think the whole fragile antenna thing is being really overblown - if you handle the phone with a reasonable amount of care, you will not break the antenna - I very slightly bent my first phone's antenna, but that was it. They are not that easy to break unless you constantly drop them or otherwise abuse them.

 

[NutBucket]

I had one for two years (7867W on SprintPCS). It was a good phone but compared the Sanyo I have now the reception is a bit eh. But it was durable, that's for sure. And the sound quality was excellent. I broke two antennas in the time I used mine. I bought some cheap replacement first time around. That one made reception worse so I bought an OEM one second time around and bingo, full reception again.

 

[Josh]

thanks everyone.

 

[aceO07]

I've had a StarTac 7868W for about 3 years and 4 months now. Still working fine, the antenna is bent a tiny bit but not noticeable. I finally bought the slim battery for it a few month ago. It's much thinner now. I recharge every night, so it's fine.

edit: I should go back to Verizon store and have the tech guys open it up and clean it out for me. It's usually in my pocket so it's probably full of dust.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: aceO07
I've had a StarTac 7868W for about 3 years and 4 months now. Still working fine, the antenna is bent a tiny bit but not noticeable. I finally bought the slim battery for it a few month ago. It's much thinner now. I recharge every night, so it's fine.

edit: I should go back to Verizon store and have the tech guys open it up and clean it out for me. It's usually in my pocket so it's probably full of dust.

does the thin battery have less battery life? or just as good?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: aceO07
I've had a StarTac 7868W for about 3 years and 4 months now. Still working fine, the antenna is bent a tiny bit but not noticeable. I finally bought the slim battery for it a few month ago. It's much thinner now. I recharge every night, so it's fine.

edit: I should go back to Verizon store and have the tech guys open it up and clean it out for me. It's usually in my pocket so it's probably full of dust.

does the thin battery have less battery life? or just as good?

Less life but it still easily went a full day for me without recharging.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: aceO07
I've had a StarTac 7868W for about 3 years and 4 months now. Still working fine, the antenna is bent a tiny bit but not noticeable. I finally bought the slim battery for it a few month ago. It's much thinner now. I recharge every night, so it's fine.

edit: I should go back to Verizon store and have the tech guys open it up and clean it out for me. It's usually in my pocket so it's probably full of dust.

does the thin battery have less battery life? or just as good?

Less life but it still easily went a full day for me without recharging.

I might have to get that too. Damn, I can't wait to get my hands on this phone. It's pimp