Comments on: StarTAC Memories http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/ Web design news and insights since 1995 Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:13:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: John B http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-43570 John B Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:50:14 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-43570 My 1999 Startac is still my daily driver. I am about 200 minutes shy of 50,000. original antenna and original two batteries. Recently a crack in the housing behind the hinge has developed, and now the phones life is limited. Hopefully I can nurse it to the 50k minute mark. This phone was unbeatable in analog. I live in northern maine on canadian border and no one could touch the 'tac when it came to performance. Aside from the recent crack, the only prob I have had was the ring tone quit 5 years ago. Still works on vibrate though. I have not seen or heard of a current phone that has the robustness and ease of use as the Startac. Maybe you only know these things looking in the rearview mirror. Did anyone think this phone was going to perform the way it did a year or two after it was released? My 1999 Startac is still my daily driver. I am about 200 minutes shy of 50,000. original antenna and original two batteries. Recently a crack in the housing behind the hinge has developed, and now the phones life is limited. Hopefully I can nurse it to the 50k minute mark. This phone was unbeatable in analog. I live in northern maine on canadian border and no one could touch the ‘tac when it came to performance. Aside from the recent crack, the only prob I have had was the ring tone quit 5 years ago. Still works on vibrate though. I have not seen or heard of a current phone that has the robustness and ease of use as the Startac. Maybe you only know these things looking in the rearview mirror. Did anyone think this phone was going to perform the way it did a year or two after it was released?

]]> By: Ryan P http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40886 Ryan P Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:59:53 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40886 Hello Everyone , To all of you that have Startacs phones i ve still got my old ST7868W and use it for few calls and emergency phone. The place to get this activated is called : pagepluscellular.com . Ifound this site it is based in ohio. Hello Everyone , To all of you that have Startacs phones i ve still got my old ST7868W and use it for few calls and emergency phone. The place to get this activated is called : pagepluscellular.com . Ifound this site it is based in ohio.

]]> By: larry http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40723 larry Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:38:00 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40723 today,1-28-09 c'ked w/all known carriers and NO ONE will touch the old STAR TAC WARRIOR. They have us over a barrel. sure wish some young/old timer with electronic know-how could come up with a way to by-pass those IDIOTS. today,1-28-09 c’ked w/all known carriers and NO ONE will touch the old STAR TAC
WARRIOR. They have us over a barrel. sure wish some young/old timer with electronic know-how could come up with a way to by-pass those IDIOTS.

]]> By: larry http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40709 larry Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:07:06 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40709 can't fine a carrier for my star-tac. any suggestions?? can’t fine a carrier for my star-tac. any suggestions??

]]> By: Wes http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40573 Wes Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:56:55 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40573 Sometimes people would see my Startac and ask why I have it. "Because it's good for talking on, and it's built like a tank." Other times, people would see my Startac and say how they wish they had kept theirs because every phone they've had since has broken. Here and there I'd use other phones, and as far as actually, you know, talking on them, most simply weren't as good as the Startac. Used my friend's KRZR in the same spot at the same time to the same number on the same network, and his volume kept getting louder and softer with the reception as I turned my head. The Startac had no problem. Did I mention it hasn't had an antenna on it for years? The stub broke, so I took the whole thing off. Alas, after eight or so years and a measly 50,000+ minutes, the microphone went out on it recently. I could still use it with a wired earpiece, which I now like using all the time anyway, but the planets aligned themselves with the no mic, my contract up, and a great price on a new phone, so the Startac is now retired. Of course, I then sold the new phone for a nice profit and am now using an E815, which, while I doubt is as durable as a Startac, is similar in all other respects and has all the bells and whistles of newer phones. Rest well, my friend. Sometimes people would see my Startac and ask why I have it. “Because it’s good for talking on, and it’s built like a tank.” Other times, people would see my Startac and say how they wish they had kept theirs because every phone they’ve had since has broken. Here and there I’d use other phones, and as far as actually, you know, talking on them, most simply weren’t as good as the Startac.

Used my friend’s KRZR in the same spot at the same time to the same number on the same network, and his volume kept getting louder and softer with the reception as I turned my head. The Startac had no problem. Did I mention it hasn’t had an antenna on it for years? The stub broke, so I took the whole thing off.

Alas, after eight or so years and a measly 50,000+ minutes, the microphone went out on it recently. I could still use it with a wired earpiece, which I now like using all the time anyway, but the planets aligned themselves with the no mic, my contract up, and a great price on a new phone, so the Startac is now retired. Of course, I then sold the new phone for a nice profit and am now using an E815, which, while I doubt is as durable as a Startac, is similar in all other respects and has all the bells and whistles of newer phones.

Rest well, my friend.

]]> By: Gerard http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40395 Gerard Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:10:55 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-40395 Just an update... it's December 31 2008 and I my StarTAC is still activated and used daily as my only cell phone. I think I'm on my last antenna (I stocked up on them the aforementioned time I was in the Verizon store), but I haven't had one break in 2 years.. miraculously (knock on wood!)... should I need one sure I'll be able to track one down. The only problem to creep up on my StarTAC is the charger connection on the PHONE became intermittent, so I use my uncle's old StarTAC as a charger and just swap the batteries every morning, my original battery, and the battery that was on his phone and both will last 3 days of me forgetting to swap them, at 7 years old! Most people I know with "modern" phones, their batteries don't last 7 months! I remember last year at New Years wondering if my StarTAC would make it another year, it has.... and now I'm wondering again! 24,045 minutes on the odometer and counting........ I stumbled upon my own comment completely accidentally... a common occurrence for me........... Just an update… it’s December 31 2008 and I my StarTAC is still activated and used daily as my only cell phone. I think I’m on my last antenna (I stocked up on them the aforementioned time I was in the Verizon store), but I haven’t had one break in 2 years.. miraculously (knock on wood!)… should I need one sure I’ll be able to track one down.

The only problem to creep up on my StarTAC is the charger connection on the PHONE became intermittent, so I use my uncle’s old StarTAC as a charger and just swap the batteries every morning, my original battery, and the battery that was on his phone and both will last 3 days of me forgetting to swap them, at 7 years old! Most people I know with “modern” phones, their batteries don’t last 7 months!

I remember last year at New Years wondering if my StarTAC would make it another year, it has…. and now I’m wondering again! 24,045 minutes on the odometer and counting……..

I stumbled upon my own comment completely accidentally… a common occurrence for me………..

]]> By: Roy http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-24490 Roy Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:09:17 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-24490 For Gerard http://www.factorydirectcellular.com For Gerard
http://www.factorydirectcellular.com

]]> By: Roy http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-24489 Roy Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:07:37 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-24489 To Gerard: ,Go to "Factory Direct Cellular",select "Motorola:, then "older models",then "antennas...then select a "Bullet" style..for $10...much better..won't break,doesn't stick up (lowprofille) and they tell you how to install it yourself.(Pull up your existing antennas..see the little slots on either side of the base...turn thern slowly with one or two small screwdrivers(counter-clockwise to unscrew)..throw away(or save) your broken pull-up original StarTAC antenna,screw in the new one. You don't need Verizon to help you. And KEEP your Startac dual-mode Digital on Verizon...it WILL work...and they AIN'T gonna turn it off,no matter any letters or other BS. If they give you a hard time,contact a Service Rep. SUPERVISOR and ask how you can make an "EXECUTIVE APPEAL" to NE Cust Service HDQTRS..That will help...tell um you ewanna keep your Star To Gerard:
,Go to “Factory Direct Cellular”,select “Motorola:, then “older models”,then “antennas…then select a “Bullet” style..for $10…much better..won’t break,doesn’t stick up (lowprofille) and they tell you how to install it yourself.(Pull up your existing antennas..see the little slots on either side of the base…turn thern slowly with one or two small screwdrivers(counter-clockwise to unscrew)..throw away(or save) your broken pull-up original StarTAC antenna,screw in the new one.
You don’t need Verizon to help you. And KEEP your Startac dual-mode Digital on Verizon…it WILL work…and they AIN’T gonna turn it off,no matter any letters or other BS.
If they give you a hard time,contact a Service Rep. SUPERVISOR and ask how you can make an “EXECUTIVE APPEAL” to NE Cust Service HDQTRS..That will help…tell um you ewanna keep your Star

]]> By: Chris http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-21050 Chris Wed, 26 Sep 2007 06:26:50 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-21050 I still keep my StarTac for a very novel use: talking! I have a camera, an iPod, a DVD player, etc. I want my phone to to communicate. I have used other people's modern phones and their sound quality is crap!!! The Tac has been dropped countless times and holds up better than that Energizer rabbit. Rich said: How were you able to still use a StarTAC in this day and age? I thought all service providers stopped providing analog service. Gerard said: I still love it and if I get a new phone I will never be able to activate this one again because of federal laws regarding non-gps phones. I was just in Verizon's store to replace the antenna (for only the second time in 6 years) and the tech told me I wouldn't be able to use my StarTac much longer because the analog systems were going to be shut down by law. I 'splained to her that my beloved phone is a DIGITAL CDMA phone, and I'll use it until it flat dies. She said nothing about GPS. Oh yeah, I am fine with it not beaming out my whereabouts, not that I'm anywhere illegal. Rich, there are analog-only 'Tacs (yep, still got one of those) and dual-band digital flavors, too. So, an analog type can still work a little longer. In fact, just today, I was in a very small corner of hell with bad coverage and the Tac went into analog. (Oh, no joy on the antenna. She said they're not allowed to open up a phone anymore. So, I'm off to scour the web for an antenna ... I still keep my StarTac for a very novel use: talking! I have a camera, an iPod, a DVD player, etc. I want my phone to to communicate. I have used other people’s modern phones and their sound quality is crap!!! The Tac has been dropped countless times and holds up better than that Energizer rabbit.

Rich said: How were you able to still use a StarTAC in this day and age? I thought all service providers stopped providing analog service.

Gerard said: I still love it and if I get a new phone I will never be able to activate this one again because of federal laws regarding non-gps phones.

I was just in Verizon’s store to replace the antenna (for only the second time in 6 years) and the tech told me I wouldn’t be able to use my StarTac much longer because the analog systems were going to be shut down by law. I ’splained to her that my beloved phone is a DIGITAL CDMA phone, and I’ll use it until it flat dies. She said nothing about GPS. Oh yeah, I am fine with it not beaming out my whereabouts, not that I’m anywhere illegal. Rich, there are analog-only ‘Tacs (yep, still got one of those) and dual-band digital flavors, too. So, an analog type can still work a little longer. In fact, just today, I was in a very small corner of hell with bad coverage and the Tac went into analog. (Oh, no joy on the antenna. She said they’re not allowed to open up a phone anymore. So, I’m off to scour the web for an antenna …

]]> By: Mike http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-19722 Mike Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:39:17 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-19722 I miss my startac. I had it for years but got lured into the thought of having internet on my phone. Now I just wish I had a phone that just worked. My startac was the only phone I never had to have replaced because it stopped working. I miss my startac. I had it for years but got lured into the thought of having internet on my phone. Now I just wish I had a phone that just worked. My startac was the only phone I never had to have replaced because it stopped working.

]]> By: Peter http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-18589 Peter Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:32:14 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-18589 When I invented the StarCap, I didn't realize so many people would still be using the phone to this day. The StarTac was such a great phone. When I invented the StarCap, I didn’t realize so many people would still be using the phone to this day. The StarTac was such a great phone.

]]> By: Mike http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-18127 Mike Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:41:22 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-18127 The StarTac is the greatest phone I have owned. I bought it in 2000, and still use it. Sure, I can buy a newer, sleeker, fancy phone. But I for one do not need all the crap that comes with it. I don't need to watch videos, listen to music, etc. I just need a reliable phone. And the StarTac is it. It has never failed me, or dropped a call. I keep looking at new phones, but always go back to my StarTac. Like they say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." The StarTac is the greatest phone I have owned. I bought it in 2000, and still use it. Sure, I can buy a newer, sleeker, fancy phone. But I for one do not need all the crap that comes with it. I don’t need to watch videos, listen to music, etc. I just need a reliable phone. And the StarTac is it. It has never failed me, or dropped a call. I keep looking at new phones, but always go back to my StarTac. Like they say, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

]]> By: The Mobile Phone Man http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-16806 The Mobile Phone Man Thu, 05 Jul 2007 14:35:11 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-16806 It seems like to 6 of one and half a dozen of the other some like it some dont but i can see that its giving people problems It seems like to 6 of one and half a dozen of the other some like it some dont but i can see that its giving people problems

]]> By: sbush http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-16480 sbush Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:55:31 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-16480 I still have my StarTAC and it still works. I wish I had never changed service providers, because now I can't get my StarTAC activated by anyone. I turn it on from time to time and just admire the simple beauty and functionality of it. And, I ask, why doesn't Motorola a gps version or better yet a gps implant for existing owners. There has got to be a lot of people who feel like I do about the StarTAC. I still go online periodically and search for a way I can get my StarTAC back into service. That's how I found this site. All I can do is keep on searching. I still have my StarTAC and it still works. I wish I had never changed service providers, because now I can’t get my StarTAC activated by anyone. I turn it on from time to time and just admire the simple beauty and functionality of it. And, I ask, why doesn’t Motorola a gps version or better yet a gps implant for existing owners. There has got to be a lot of people who feel like I do about the StarTAC. I still go online periodically and search for a way I can get my StarTAC back into service. That’s how I found this site. All I can do is keep on searching.

]]> By: Gerard http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-13729 Gerard Sun, 27 May 2007 09:57:10 +0000 http://www.zeldman.com/2007/01/28/startac/#comment-13729 I still use a Motorola StarTAC too, I got mine from Verizon back in March 02. I still love it and if I get a new phone I will never be able to activate this one again because of federal laws regarding non-gps phones. Last year i went back to the Verizon store to buy some extra antennas and the girl yelled at me as I was leaving "you can't keep a startac forever!" and i said "i can try" I still use a Motorola StarTAC too, I got mine from Verizon back in March 02. I still love it and if I get a new phone I will never be able to activate this one again because of federal laws regarding non-gps phones. Last year i went back to the Verizon store to buy some extra antennas and the girl yelled at me as I was leaving “you can’t keep a startac forever!” and i said “i can try”

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