When you look for a SIM card it can be confusing. Sprint and Nextel and now the same company. Sprint is CDMA and does not use SIM cards. Nextel is iDen and needs a SIM card. When you are ready to buy, maybe you can contact the seller just to make sure that the SIM Card had been activated at one time.
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Nextel i355 help
- Thread starter jjoyster
- Start date
- Status
Yeah tell me about it...
I've found a couple of nextel cards, the buyer wrote that they're "used", but they're also "ready to be activated". This makes me very confused... Does anyone know if they're good to go or should I find other cards?
This is what I mean:
Nextel 128k Sim Card for i9 i920 i930 i580 i880 i870 - eBay (item 280453723989 end time Feb-18-10 03:08:02 PST)
I've found a couple of nextel cards, the buyer wrote that they're "used", but they're also "ready to be activated". This makes me very confused... Does anyone know if they're good to go or should I find other cards?
This is what I mean:
Nextel 128k Sim Card for i9 i920 i930 i580 i880 i870 - eBay (item 280453723989 end time Feb-18-10 03:08:02 PST)
That makes me think that they're not activated yet, but since the condition is "used"... they must've been at some point? I wish I knew more about how your carriers and sim cards worked over there...
I can't edit my last post, so I'll just post a new one...
I have ordered the phones and the sim cards! I hope I get them soon so I can test them out.
Question: The phone has a 2.5mm jack, right?
Can I use an earpiece like this: 1x 4-004 PTT Earpiece/mic for ? (please choose type) - 409Shopwww.409shop.com 409 對講機 專門店 KG-UVD1 VX-8R VX-3R VX-7R VX-170 KG-699E KG-669 KG-689 PX-777 PX-888 FT-897 FT-857 VX-177 VXA-300 KG-679 VEV-3288S V-1000 TG-UV FT-817ND FT-60R FT-8
If I buy the "Motorola talkabout" version, it should come with a 2.5mm connector that should fit in the I355. Has anyone tried this?
I have ordered the phones and the sim cards! I hope I get them soon so I can test them out.
Question: The phone has a 2.5mm jack, right?
Can I use an earpiece like this: 1x 4-004 PTT Earpiece/mic for ? (please choose type) - 409Shopwww.409shop.com 409 對講機 專門店 KG-UVD1 VX-8R VX-3R VX-7R VX-170 KG-699E KG-669 KG-689 PX-777 PX-888 FT-897 FT-857 VX-177 VXA-300 KG-679 VEV-3288S V-1000 TG-UV FT-817ND FT-60R FT-8
If I buy the "Motorola talkabout" version, it should come with a 2.5mm connector that should fit in the I355. Has anyone tried this?
Nextel i355 Help
I would suggest that you check carefully before purchase to verify compatibility. Here is a URL that links to some accessories for the i355:
Hands-Free Earbud w/Push To Talk for Nextel i265/i355/i560/i730/i860/i900 Series - Cell Phone Hands-Free And Headsets for Nextel All Models w/2.5mm jack
Sprint - Accessories Select Model - New Header Template
I would suggest that you check carefully before purchase to verify compatibility. Here is a URL that links to some accessories for the i355:
Hands-Free Earbud w/Push To Talk for Nextel i265/i355/i560/i730/i860/i900 Series - Cell Phone Hands-Free And Headsets for Nextel All Models w/2.5mm jack
Sprint - Accessories Select Model - New Header Template
I received my I355's on monday (so it only took 4 days for them to get from the US to Sweden!). No express shipping or anything like that.
I received my sim-cards today, and they worked! So if anyone else is interested, just buy some used nextel 64k cards on ebay and it'll probably work.
About the earpieces:
I managed to find a hong kong store that sells radio stuff. They had an earpiece for Nextel phones, and it said that it works with the I355, so I guess it does. It had that weird 2.5mm Nextel plug on the pics. Cost for the earpiece was only $0.99 + $5 shipping. It was that cheap because no one else bid on it.
New question:
I noticed that there's a taller antenna for sale. Motorola NNTN5539
Does that antenna make the reception better on Direct Talk too, or is it only for actual phone calls?
And how do I remove the current, original antenna from the phone?
The antenna: Amazon.com: OEM Motorola Nextel Antenna for i325 i325IS i355 i315 Nextel: i325, i325IS, i305, i315, i355: Cell Phones & Service
I received my sim-cards today, and they worked! So if anyone else is interested, just buy some used nextel 64k cards on ebay and it'll probably work.
About the earpieces:
I managed to find a hong kong store that sells radio stuff. They had an earpiece for Nextel phones, and it said that it works with the I355, so I guess it does. It had that weird 2.5mm Nextel plug on the pics. Cost for the earpiece was only $0.99 + $5 shipping. It was that cheap because no one else bid on it.
New question:
I noticed that there's a taller antenna for sale. Motorola NNTN5539
Does that antenna make the reception better on Direct Talk too, or is it only for actual phone calls?
And how do I remove the current, original antenna from the phone?
The antenna: Amazon.com: OEM Motorola Nextel Antenna for i325 i325IS i355 i315 Nextel: i325, i325IS, i305, i315, i355: Cell Phones & Service
Nextel i355 Direct Talk
I seem to recall that the i325s came with a fixed antenna that improved performance both on and off network. Some people would replace the original antenna on other Nextels with that fixed antenna and improve performance on those as well. I do recall that a special tool was necessary to remove those antennas, however. Take a look at some of the old posts on Howard Forums and the part number for that might be found in there.
vB Easy Archive - i325 & i315 interchangable Antennas!!
I seem to recall that the i325s came with a fixed antenna that improved performance both on and off network. Some people would replace the original antenna on other Nextels with that fixed antenna and improve performance on those as well. I do recall that a special tool was necessary to remove those antennas, however. Take a look at some of the old posts on Howard Forums and the part number for that might be found in there.
vB Easy Archive - i325 & i315 interchangable Antennas!!
m0odv
Member
I had two motorola i355 and it is possible to work them back2back Direct talk with-out sim card.The following proceedure must only be done without a sim card fitted,,Power up---dial 911 send then cancel---then dial 112 send then cancel--This should send the phone into DT mode.
KA9JYO
Member
i355
When you first power up the radio it connects with the nextel network, after it find the network, lets you go to the DirectTalk mode. If there is not a Nextel service in your are, you won't be able to use this feature.
When you first power up the radio it connects with the nextel network, after it find the network, lets you go to the DirectTalk mode. If there is not a Nextel service in your are, you won't be able to use this feature.
Well.. I have my radios/phones set to "airplane mode" and "start in DT", so everytime the phone starts, it asks if I want it to connect to the network. I choose no. Then it asks me if I want to go to DirectTalk, I choose yes and it starts. Works perfectly for me.
KA9JYO
Member
start up
you are right, I found out that even if there isn't nextel available, you can use direct talk, as long as you have a sim card (nextel or boost). They work good up to 1/2 mile. I tried Trisquare and they are not as good, they are not truly digital.
you are right, I found out that even if there isn't nextel available, you can use direct talk, as long as you have a sim card (nextel or boost). They work good up to 1/2 mile. I tried Trisquare and they are not as good, they are not truly digital.
The handsets need a SIM card from the "correct" carrier (ie, Nextel for Nextel-branded units) in order to avoid issues with the carrier's subsidy lock code. Boost SIMs should also work on Nextel units as they're both part of Sprint. The SIMs do not need to be active, or even for iDEN phones. I've used SIMs from Sprint CDMA/GSM phones like the Samsung Ace i325 or Blackberry 8830 successfully. Nor do the SIMs need to be the "right" size for the phone in question. The old 32k SIMs are cheap and easy to find on Ebay, and will work fine, both to allow the handset to boot-up and to store contacts.
The i355 uses Motorola's weird iDEN handset headset connector with the fourth conductor being a metal ring concentric to the usual plug.
The antenna for the i325 will work with the i355, and it does increase the usable range to a noticeable degree. I've managed to get ranges of up to 9 miles (14 km) between a pair of i355s with the NNTN5539 antenna fitted. That was under "perfect" hilltop-to-hilltop conditions with a clear line of sight. With just the stock telescoping antenna the best I could do was a little over 7 miles.
For actual handset-to-handset use under "real world" conditions around a mile is more realistic, less in heavily built-up or vegetated areas.
Be careful using these in Sweden. They use the 902-928 MHz ISM band which is restricted to ITU Region 2 (the Americas and Greenland), I don't know who the assigned users would be in Scandinavia.
It is possible to set the i355 to power-up into DirectTalk mode, no matter if there is Nextel service in the area or not.
I have about a dozen i355s configured for DT use. I've set all of them to go into DT on power-up using the "Menu" > "Settings" > "Personalize" > "Power Up" > "Direct Talk" setting; about half will automatically go into DT after first booting up in network mode, the others will get stuck in network mode, displaying "No Service" until the "End" key is pressed, at which point they switch over to DT mode.
There isn't a pattern I've been able to locate so far: handsets with the same codeplug and software version will react differently to the "Power Up" setting, and the "Direct Launch" setting in the menu under "Direct Talk" does not make any difference.
This worked for me, no SIM card in my i355.
m0odv
Member
i355 Direct Talk
These cellphones are useless in the UK we use GSM technology.Different to iDEN in the Americas.PTT cell phones are non exsistent in Europe but the Mototalk(tm)Direct Connect works ok even without a carrier or sim card.But put a UK sim-card into this phone ( after a menu cheat )the benefits are some useable menu features and off network PTT,Also the GPS function i can refresh using satellites showing my co-ordinates. Shame i can make phone calls but its a good two-way radio.
These cellphones are useless in the UK we use GSM technology.Different to iDEN in the Americas.PTT cell phones are non exsistent in Europe but the Mototalk(tm)Direct Connect works ok even without a carrier or sim card.But put a UK sim-card into this phone ( after a menu cheat )the benefits are some useable menu features and off network PTT,Also the GPS function i can refresh using satellites showing my co-ordinates. Shame i can make phone calls but its a good two-way radio.
rescuecomm
Member
The antennas screw out from the top using a special tool, but I used a 1/4 bladed screwdriver. If you pull out the OEM antenna and look into the recess, you will see two slots on the sides about 25 mm down. That is what you put the screwdriver in to rotate the antenna out. The external antenna simply screws in.
Bob
Bob
exboyblue1
Member
Hi All I am v new to this game and want to try and use the i355 for an official purpose in parks and open spaces so to speak but where cash is tight for my team and Airwaves radios may not yet be available to us. Is it possible to use at all in the UK as I have three handsets with used sim cards from Nextel and want to use as fairly long range comms up to 9 miles. Help would be appreciated as phones will unlock with sims but that is as far as I have got. Where will I get plane mode as given elsewhere, for example and is there and signal out there they might use. Was told T mobile sim would work but just asks for a special code.
power up in direct talk
First u need used or old sims card. If you have a new one go to nextel they will swap with you they have a bucket of them at the store. Keep it in phone mode to make change. If it gets stuck and wont exit start up mode push 9 then delete. Then go Menu-- Settings-- Personalize ---scroll down to power up and pick direct talk. Power it off and it should work if you have a previos activated sims card.
First u need used or old sims card. If you have a new one go to nextel they will swap with you they have a bucket of them at the store. Keep it in phone mode to make change. If it gets stuck and wont exit start up mode push 9 then delete. Then go Menu-- Settings-- Personalize ---scroll down to power up and pick direct talk. Power it off and it should work if you have a previos activated sims card.
Motorola iDen is still popular. Especially for what the OP said about using it for jobsites. Its a cheap way for radio communications. In 2014 here you can find a Motorola iDen phone for under 20 bucks. Trade-off is about 1/2 to 1 mile communications on average. Since they have short antenna's the distance between phone to phone is limited. Thats why many have just used Motorola DTR's however thats another thread in and of itself. Anywho, they are good for a cheap way of communications since if you have the sim card in it should work just fine.
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