My phone in the car works terrible. I have tried 2 systems, Cingular and Mobal, who sell international simm cards. The built it phone is bad either way. The car is going in the shop tomorrow for something else. Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks

 

What exactly is wrong with it? Reception? Background noise?

 

The problem seems to be reception, drops in and out.

 

Something wrong with your telephone module. I have T-Mob and mine works great. One of my fav options.

 

Cingular uses GSM technology, and in some areas Cingular requires "quad band" phones to cover both bands that they use. Some GSM phones, such as the module used by Porsche, are "tri band," ultimately meaning they cannot operate on one of the two frequency bands that are being used in that particular area.

In short, the Porsche phone module may only be able to utilize half (give or take) of the cell phone towers in those areas.

I'm not sure whether this also applies to T-Mobile or not, as I'm unsure which bands they use.

 

Does anyone know if the comments by "onepoint" applies to Cingular?

Does anyone know if T-mob avoids the problem described by "onepoint", above a couple spots. Thanks

 

Hi atomic 80, thanks for remembering me. I seem to have bad luck with cars. Best wishes, Vincy

 

vincy: damn, i'm sorry to hear that.. my old roommate did something similar last fall in a construction zone, but he only chewed up one rim/tire.

 

tri-band phones typically work on the 900, 1800, and 1900Mhz GSM bands. quad-band phones add the ability to work on the 850Mhz band.

according to t-mobile's site, it appears that they currently offer roaming in, and are seemingly expanding into, the 850Mhz GSM band (the band most often not compatible with tri-band phones).

depending on city, cingular sometimes heavily relies on the 850Mhz GSM band.

you may be fortunate enough to live in an area served exclusively by the 1900Mhz band, in which case the porsche tri-band phone module would work very well. but, if using t-mobile, the need arises to roam with a carrier who only provides 850Mhz coverage in that area, you're out of luck. the same goes with using cingular in an area only served by 850Mhz coverage.

 

onepoint, thank you for your help. This is really complicated. I'll get a t-mobil account and try the sim card in the Porsche. thanks.

 

vincy: no problem at all. you could also try calling t-mob beforehand to ask whether they use 850 or 1900Mhz in your area. i can't imagine them having a problem with letting you know. the best of luck.

 

marc: i stand corrected, and should clarify what i was thinking. i meant to weigh how much coverage is actually provided by t-mob towers vs. how much coverage is provided by 'partners' via roaming on an 850Mhz band, in the areas that vincy uses his porsche module

this link may help some:
http://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/CoverageFaq.aspx

 

How much is it to add a phone module?
The thought of changing my sim card sounds like a real pain.
Can't I just wait for a bluetooth option of some sort?

B

 

onepoint, I got a T mobile phone. I have to wait to test it till the car comes back from the shop. You know how they strip asphalt off a road and resurface. Well I was surrounded by trucks kicking up stone and I needed to change lanes to get to my exit. I went up the ridge between the stripped and new asphalt. Blew out 2 tires and bent one rim. It was an expensive drive that morning.

 

Ouch! First the battery issue and now the wheel/tires!