Analog Cellphone Network Deprecated on 2/18/2008

[blantonl]

The analog cell phone network, responsible for band blockages in hundreds of radio communications products, has now been officially scheduled to be removed from service on Feb 18th 2008. Can we expect the band blocks in our radios to follow this sunset?

Per the following article: "Perhaps a million cell phones will lose service, but those are cheap and easy to replace. The effects will be felt the most by people who have things that aren't phones but have built-in wireless capabilities, like OnStar cars and home alarm systems."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071222/ap_on_hi_te/cellular_sunset_5

 

[enine]

This has been discusses many times on many forums so I'm surprised at how bad yahoo news reports on this (actually i;m not, news is just one area yahoo sucks). The analog network is not going away, the FCC is allowing carriers to stop supporting it. now large carriers like Verizon and AT&T are going to drop it but smaller carriers can keep analog systems running and those may be partnered with big carriers to provide roaming service outside the big carriers coverage area. So small carriers who still have a large analog customers base may wish to keep analog going to keep from loosing those customers. So it could be years before the last analog cell goes down.

 

[icom1020]

I'm going to turn on my bag phone next year and see what happens. I had service til 2 years ago when the sites began dropping off. I really haven't seen that many of them around.

 

[Thayne]

Motorola has a new "Bag phone" out that is only digital and higher power output. It comes with both an attached and external antenna. (To keep the higher power away from your noggin the handset has a coiled cord, the antenna is not in the handset) I am supposed to install it in an ambulance when it comes in.
several companies make NMO antennas (Dual band 800/1900 I think) I am planning to change the NMO mount to one that comes with low loss coax, since 17 feet of RG58 might lose a lot at 1900. I think that phone is called Motorola model 800 or something like that.

 

[DiGiTaLD]

Motorola M800

I think that phone is called Motorola model 800 or something like that.

http://www.motorola.com/consumer/v/...d010VgnVCM1000008206b00aRCRD&show=productHome

Says it does AMPS on 800 MHz, which would be analog, no?

 

[Thayne]

http://www.motorola.com/consumer/v/...d010VgnVCM1000008206b00aRCRD&show=productHome

Says it does AMPS on 800 MHz, which would be analog, no?

Yes you are right, It still does analog; that is good since some have said analog will not be forced to go away. I need to look thru that stuff you found and see what the connector type is for an external ant

 

[Hooterville]

Is there even anyone still on these analog cell phone freqs anymore?

 

[icom1020]

I dunno, I had about a hundred or so of the analog freqs programmed in my 19 year old BC200xlt when it was still active, I fired it up some time ago in the search mode, it was silent.

I remember being up on a radio site in Oregon a couple of years ago and seeing one of the older 3 watt models hooked up to a rack of radios, presumably as an remote function. If I can find the picture, I'll post it.

 

[n4voxgill]

I don't think there is any chance that congress would take up a bill to change the communications act to help scanners. This was not an FCC rule, but a public law passed by the ccongress called The Electronic Communications Privacy Act. It was ammended only one time that I can remember and renamed, but left the restrictions in place on scanners.

 

[wucherer]

Analog Cellular

Yes, analog cellular is still available for the time being. But since digital is approaching the cellular market for more compact lighter phone the old technology will eventually be replaced with newer technology...digital. But digital has been injected into the spectrum in almost everything. Digital advances are supposed to be better for the consumer and if it's attraction makes the price go down then analog will be phased out completely. But for now, i enjoy my tri-mode phone (analog,digital) and my amateur radio (analog) having purchased a d-star handheld for the interest of the digital mode brought in for another mode of communications in the hobby/service of ham radio.

 

[JT-112]

Folks - it is going away, the operators can't stand analog as the equipment is old and obsolete and takes up valuable spectrum that can be better used for digital. Analog has terrible capacity and really bad interference problems.

I know for a fact that Verizon will pull service with 30 days of being able to. Some states have made noise about trying to stop the analog shutoff but I don't believe they've made any progress.

The number of analog cell sites has dropped by 80% (yes, 80%) in the last 4-5 years. The last 20% will be gone very soon.

 

[DaveNF2G]

State lawsuits might hold things up, but only long enough for a couple of bright judges to realize that the federal government preempts all regulation of the cell networks. The states can make all the noise they want, but they can't make the cell companies do anything they don't want to.

 

[iMONITOR]

Maybe this action will help to eliminate some of the interference problems around the country.

 

[kd5dga]

I agree that going to digital in the cell phone bands will eliminate interference.

 

[iMONITOR]

Gadgets Affected by Analog Shutdown
http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/C/CELLULAR_SUNSET_GLANCE?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-12-21-15-49-56

 

[studgeman]

Things we should all know....

Analog is not required to be turned off, it is only not required to be on. Some of the cell companies have been jumping the gun. Verizon has put up a couple new towers around me with no analog recently. Cingular/AT&T has said they plan on turning off all Analog on the first day possible. Verizon has publically said they plan on turning off the Analog in urban and spectrually conjested areas, (they need the digital capacity). They have also said they have no plans to turn off the analog in areas where there is no pressing need to turn it off, ie. more rural areas, praticullarly in the eastern US, where many places the only coverage they have is analog and building towers is nearly impossible. (ie. Adirondack Park in New York).

So, becasue they are not outlawing AMPS, just not requiring it, you will not see the scanner restriction removed.

To answer the question about "is anyone using AMPS anymore?" Yes, in certain areas, praticually seasonal VERY rural areas, where landlines are not available. Sometimes you need the 3 watts on a 10db yagi pointing at the cell tower to get a signal <grin>

 

[DaveNF2G]

studgeman - Excellent summary of the facts.

 

[HM1529]

This has been discusses many times on many forums so I'm surprised at how bad yahoo news reports on this (actually i;m not, news is just one area yahoo sucks).

The was an AP news story. Blame the Associated Press.

 

[robertmac]

Someone may be able to correct this. I don't think the M800 bag phone, nor permanent install is "High Power". Puts out 0.6 watts or less, but bag phone antenna or outside auto mount antenna will increase range somewhat. To have more power, need amplifier. When one is through installing M800, amplifier and antenna, the cost is close to $600-$900. Kind of hard to swallow! And my experience with Digital Cell phones leaves a lot to be desired. Dropped calls and poor audio quality.

Merry Christmas to all.

 

[Hooterville]

Can you still receive analog Cell Phones on an unblocked scanner anymore or are all analog cell phones out of service?

Merry Christmas !