Hacking Motorola C201

[Rowan Crowe]

Coca Cola are currently flogging off these phones for the "low" price
of $50 plus 15 tokens. Does anyone know if these have a data cable
available that lets you do things like send and receive SMSs? I'm
interested in hooking up a GPS receiver and a microcontroller to a
mobile so that I can track where my car is...

 

[Marty]

"Rowan Crowe" <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1847cae8.0406042317.37fc1157@posting.google.com...

Coca Cola are currently flogging off these phones for the "low" price
of $50 plus 15 tokens. Does anyone know if these have a data cable
available that lets you do things like send and receive SMSs? I'm
interested in hooking up a GPS receiver and a microcontroller to a
mobile so that I can track where my car is...

Why don't you investigate the amateur radio service APRS (automatic position
reporting system) - uses radio frequencies and a cheap (<$200) GPS interface
to do exactly what you are looking for, even if the radio freq's you use
aren't on the amateur radio bands. Could prove cheaper in the long run over
using a mobile phone.....

Try a Google for "aprs" to find sites with info. The GPS interfaces are
available as a kit from Tassie I believe......

 

[Rowan Crowe]

"Marty" <NOSPAM_vk2umj@yahoo.com.au_NOSPAM> wrote in message news:<40c25489$1_1@news.iprimus.com.au>...

"Rowan Crowe" <googlegroups@sensation.net.au> wrote in message
news:1847cae8.0406042317.37fc1157@posting.google.com...
Coca Cola are currently flogging off these phones for the "low" price
of $50 plus 15 tokens. Does anyone know if these have a data cable
available that lets you do things like send and receive SMSs? I'm
interested in hooking up a GPS receiver and a microcontroller to a
mobile so that I can track where my car is...

Why don't you investigate the amateur radio service APRS (automatic position
reporting system) - uses radio frequencies and a cheap (<$200) GPS interface
to do exactly what you are looking for, even if the radio freq's you use
aren't on the amateur radio bands. Could prove cheaper in the long run over
using a mobile phone.....

The main problem with this solution is that as an unlicensed user of
the spectrum I would have severe limits on frequencies and power
levels that I can use. At best I may be able to get a couple of
kilometres range; with a mobile phone solution I can 'poll' the device
with an SMS and it will reply just about anywhere within Australia.
The car would have an external antenna installed for better range.

I have a spare Ericsson T39m which I could use (also supports GPRS
which is another possibile way to communicate with base), but it seems
a shame to waste such an expensive phone on this... although these
days it's probably not worth much more than the Coca Cola one.

 

[Mike]

Rowan Crowe wrote:

Coca Cola are currently flogging off these phones for the "low" price
of $50 plus 15 tokens. Does anyone know if these have a data cable
available that lets you do things like send and receive SMSs? I'm

Nope. No data connector at all. Just headset and power jacks.

Not a bad phone though.
Similar is the older T190 $79 with $50 credit on Telstra.

 

[Michael]

"Mike" <nospam.really@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:40c482c4@quokka.wn.com.au...

Rowan Crowe wrote:
Coca Cola are currently flogging off these phones for the "low" price
of $50 plus 15 tokens. Does anyone know if these have a data cable
available that lets you do things like send and receive SMSs? I'm

Nope. No data connector at all. Just headset and power jacks.

Not a bad phone though.
Similar is the older T190 $79 with $50 credit on Telstra.

Yeah. Cant complain about a phone for $50

 

[Mike]

Michael wrote:

Yeah. Cant complain about a phone for $50

I dunno. When you can get a good phone for $50, then you
can complain about another poorly-designed one at $50.

But the current cheap Motorolas are good phones. Small,
good battery life, easy to use, good sound, nice UI.

Pity about the 3G Motorolas. Full of design faults.

 

[Michael]

"Mike" <nospam.really@westnet.com.au> wrote in message
news:40c657a2@quokka.wn.com.au...

Michael wrote:

Yeah. Cant complain about a phone for $50

I dunno. When you can get a good phone for $50, then you
can complain about another poorly-designed one at $50.

You cant really get any new phones for $50, so you cant complain, full stop