Is this just b.s.?

[Rob \'98]

Greg,

You could try first to get new batteries. but more than likely I would think you fried them (well the charging unit at least). I would try to charge it one last time to be sure. You should only use the charger that came with the phone or one that you know is designed for your phone. Cheap batteries can be found here

http://www.coolbattery.com/

You are out on the west coast right? If you are that would possibly explain the new phones costing so much. I think they stopped selling tdma phones (like the 5165) out west and are pushing GSM phones now.

Ok well you have a family plan I am gonna guess (2 lines at 30 a month is pretty cheap unless you meant 30 a month each line). unfortunately the GSM service doesnt have an equivalent really. So to keep your current plan you need to get new phones. The cheapest way would be to get them off some site like ebay. Make sure its a tdma phone and that it is locked to ATT or unlocked (cingular brand wont work). quick search on ebay shows new 5165 (which have been discontinued btw) at about $40 a shot. used obviously are pretty cheap maybe 10-15.

Also, you might have better luck calling customer service and maybe trying to order a phone that way. If you are on contract, you will have a hard time getting a discount. If not then they will generally deal with you. The reason is that phones are actually pretty expensive and the cell companies subsidize the price. When they still made the 5165's, the retail price would have been on the order of $300.

ATT has made a move to be a higher priced service and they arent as concerned to retain someone not spending that much anymore. So if you are off contract you might want to check out T-Mobile. Im not a huge fan but they are pretty cheap. and MUCH MUCH MUCH better than sprint.


btw I have a 5165 going on 3 years now. they are pretty tough but its too big for my liking.

[Rob \'98]

The problem with trying to get the new phone from ATT is the subsidized prices on the main page are for new contracts not people currently under contract. I know it sounds stupid but thats AFAIK the current situation. It changed relatively recently I know.

[tml5]

Careful -

T-Mobile is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than Sprint, except in Ithaca, or New Jersey, or. . .

Ask some people in your local area before you switch services.  Sprint's pretty good in some places, and atrocious in others.  Sprint tends to be good in major metropolitan areas, Ithaca (don't ask - I guess it's the Cornell thing), and around major highways.  But it's not always just an urban/rural issue.  From what I understand, AT&T is great in DC, and awful in Chicago.  Go figure.  

If you need a phone that you can use frequently just about anywhere within the contintental US, Verizon is your best bet.  If you just need something in major cities, you can pretty much get anything.  If you need something in the U.S. and Europe, definitely go T-Mobile.  If you need something for just your local area, take the cheapest company that has good coverage in that area.  You can usually wrangle a 10 day trial period, so if worst comes to worst you can buy a new plan and drive around testing your phone.

Anyway, relying on info from people in random areas of the country could lead you to get a service that's always on roaming, and paying 45 cents a minute is just awful.

[Greg Berge]

Rob,  

Thanks.  I'm on the east coast again -- DC.  I like the larger size -- nothing annoys me more than the tiny buttons on the chic phones.  My eyes or dexterity (or both) must be failing.

It'a a shame they discontinued the 5165's, which had a devoted following.

Christine,

> The speaker charger probably spits out more juice than the phone is designed to handle. Your phone's charging circuitry selflessly acted like a fuse to protect the rest of the phone. Very noble, very dead.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that is exactly what happened.  I am... puzzled... that the color-coding for the power supply jack is exactly the same (black) and the size is exactly the same as the one for my ex-parrot cell phones.  Silly me, I assumed the color meant voltage or impedence or anyway something to prevent me roasting my phone.



Post Edited (07-18-03 22:25)

[Rob \'98]

Greg wrote:


Thanks.  I'm on the east coast again -- DC.  I like the larger size -- nothing annoys me more than the tiny buttons on the chic phones.  My eyes or dexterity (or both) must be failing.

It'a a shame they discontinued the 5165's, which had a devoted following.

Not to make you feel old but my dad feels the same way. heh I would recommend the Nokia 6360 then possibly. I live in Arlington so I can tell you coverage for most of the services is pretty solid (cant have those congressmen losing their cell service now).

This might help you:

http://www.phonescoop.com/carriers/carrier.php?id=3

Its a list of all the recent phones that ATT has or had.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that is exactly what happened.  I am... puzzled... that the color-coding for the power supply jack is exactly the same (black) and the size is exactly the same as the one for my ex-parrot cell phones.  Silly me, I assumed the color meant voltage or impedence or anyway something to prevent me roasting my phone.

Most power cords with transformers have the exact same plug. Basically you just need a different transformer and you get an totally different charger. Makes it easy to make "Quick" chargers and such.

[judy]

ATT - not so good in the DC metro (good reception with Verizon though) or the hills of northern PA (if you're planning on making trips northward)
however, there was one thing I did like about it - that number you could call that was an ATT service and you could get metro traffic reports and scores for college hockey. Traffic reports come in handy around here at rush hour.

Greg, you could also try to send the phones to Nokia and see if they'll fix it for you. As long as you haven't physically altered the appearance of the phone or made any obvious non warranty covered changes, they should be able to do something for you.

Otherwise, I manged to pick up a phone on an ATT plan off of Amazon once. The phone ended up costing me about $20 after $100+ of rebates from Nokia and Amazon and a gift certificate.

Rob, I think I've met you (and the wife)? You're Chris' friend? Trying to put names on this board to faces...

[Greg Berge]

Three consecutive posts by DC'ers.  That has to be a record.  Richard Stott is also down here, in Alexandria.  Any others?

[Rob \'98]

judy '01 wrote:

ATT - not so good in the DC metro (good reception with Verizon though)

are you on gsm service or tdma? I havent seen many holes if any.

Otherwise, I manged to pick up a phone on an ATT plan off of Amazon once. The phone ended up costing me about $20 after $100+ of rebates from Nokia and Amazon and a gift certificate.

Those usually require a new plan, though.

Rob, I think I've met you (and the wife)? You're Chris' friend? Trying to put names on this board to faces...

That would have to be a negative. Im not married though I do know a bunch of Chris's. Only connection I have to anyone on this board (well besides Cornell)  is I know Kyle (and was there at the start of the original board) and I met Tom Lento a couple of times because he was friend of a group I knew. I might have met others but I am not aware of any.