Short Review (see below for full review!):

• Overall, good phone (0-10 scale, 10 perfect), phone gets 8) ...
• Best sound quality I've heard yet...
• Typical StarTac operations...
• Battery life good.
• User friendliness, needs a little work...
• Good sensitivity in weak signal areas...

(Phone lost on a trip to LA, yet another story, of what can go wrong...)

Things I like:

• I thought I was going to get a ST7868 (functionally very similar phones), but the source that I got it from said that the 7868 was being discontinued, and recommended the P8767, instead...
• Sound Quality is much, much, better that the Qualcomm 860 (or any other phone I've used, yet)...
• Signal reception in the test area, of Down Town Soquel, is slightly better (I can't do this test there any more, GTE put up a new                     Cell Site (11/00) - YES!!!) ...
• Voice reception in the test area, of Down Town Soquel, is much better (b4 the new cell site went in) ...
• When errors (digital (voice) signal loss) happens, I get a soft tone, apparently indicating lost bits (like signal loss; but got sig, don't got voice)...
• Has head phone jack, on phone; i.e., doesn't require an extra accessory (to use head set).
• MOST StarTac accessories seem to work (the case is slightly different size, batteries, holder, holster, usually do not fit).
• Holster holds phone (and swivels 120) better that a belt clip used on a typical phone.
• Small and light.
• Flip stile phone,
• Good ear and mouth, feel,
• Keeps antenna away from head...
• 3 Color, cool, display (see note below).
• When plug in to external power, the vibrate mode is disabled!
• Has 100 memory positions for phone numbers and each position has 4 locations for ph. numbers
• Replacement new phone,
• Registers faster (first phone too at lease ~30 seconds) new one ~3 sec., or less (phone has same Software version,

I think, see notes below).
• Shorter call set up (makes calls faster).
• Manages the A/B side selection differently.

 
Things I don't Like:
 
(Don't think, because I have lots of 'things' on this "don't like" list, that I don't like this phone. Because, I do like it, dispite its problems.  I'm very picky!  You'll have to evaluate these 'problems' for your self, as important or not. The first 4 (or 5), are important to me.)
You may find them NOT important!
 
• Display is easily (almost) washed out under full sun light.
• User interface, a little difficulty to use (no selection confirmation; i.e., 'Are you sure, ...', push Select, again)...
• External antenna connector doesn't seem to work (very well)?
• TruSync (Starfish) software vary difficulty to use!!!
• Phone book can't be organized by numerical order (I came up with a funky work-around),
• Vary difficult to make turbo dial accessions to items 1-9,
• Takes a software expert to convert existing phone book data book, even when already in a .csv, or .xls, etc., formats...
• If you have existing phone book data in the phone, and you save it (once you figure how to use it), phone to TruSync,

then try to reload into the phone (TruSync to phone), WONT WORK(?)!!!
• Web Browser, works poorly,
• Difficult to use, compared to the Qualcomm 860's,
• Doesn't go back to 'Home', must be forced to ('FCN' '1', 'home'). The 860 always starts at Home.
• RSA inscription is broken, neither Motorola, nor Verizon, can fix? The 'Key' is always broken??? - I'm told this is normal?
• 3 Color display. I'd prefer a back lit color LCD, and lager.
• A little fumbley to use, missing ribs on side, to aid in one handed opening...
• Has only 8 ringers, I'd like more, like CQ in Morse code(-.-.  --.-), or even just 'C'(-.-.) ...
• Case squeaks, battery door could be better fit.
• Motorola has only Customer service, no technical service available (to end-users), apparently, no body knows anything; Werst than Qualcomm (Kyocera).
• Customer support (phone) get 8 for effort and 4 for usefulness,
• Software support (TruSync) gets 4 for effort and 1 for usefulness.
• Phone doesn't work exactly as advertised wile using "Data Mode". Has no connect speed, up/down-load speed screen etc.

(see op manual pg. 116) ???
• Back light doesn't say on when connected to external power or car kit (OEM or After market?  As stated in the maunal).
• Manual needs some help, organization, operational, and facts...

 
 


Recommended Accessories...
 

Minimum:
• Head set, I like Plantronics ($20-40),
• 12v car power adapter ($10-30),

Or
• "ClearTalk" (by Superior Communications) has external antenna connection and 12v car power adapter, important only, if u live in a            weak signal area.  Or others...
• Extra belt clip (or whatever) to mount in car, to hold phone ($5-20),

(You'll Still need the head set)
Or
• a Hands Free (Full instal) Car Kit:
• S6965, with external antenna (~$120 - $200).
• Or a CellPort 3000 (also has ext. antenna, and aprox. same cost).

(See my review of the OEM, or the CellPort, units.)
• And an glass (or Magnetic) mount 3 to 5dBd, antenna ($20-50),

Lower priorty:
• Extra battery,
• Desk charger,

 

A "ClearTalk" Car power and external  antenna adapter (~$35).

A Motorola S6965, full instal car kit, for  StarTac's and sum Time Port,  like the P8767 (~$180).

(Remember, either of these choices, needs an antenna.)

Other stuff...

Notes:

• Fun, 1, Phone options, phone info (see Op manual page 93),
• Your ESN,
• Trimode (800 Mhz AMPS, 800/1900 CDMA)
• Software, 6775
• Roam List, 50000
• Modem Fax, Capable
• TrueSync, Capable
• Browser, Capable
• Spkr Ph., Capable

• Things I wish my phone could do.(Nerd mode ;=)

 
• Bug found, can't reproduce! Yet.  I was interring a phone (scratch pad) number wile on a phone call, I tried to store the number interred, I errored several times, finally I stored the number, 'Enter", then display went black, call dropped.  Appon reappication of power, the phone could receive a call, then it would drop it, repeatabley.  I shut the power off, then back on , then ok??? (I think that first phone had sum problems?)

Never happened on the new phone, yet...
 
• Antenna tip broke, can't find replacement, yet. The tip not cosmetic, with antenna down very poor reception, up as well (I've had it for a month or so).           - Radio Shack, had it!  It turns out that thease antennas (StarTacs) are not univercal? Motorola has ~10 different vary simulardifferant part numbers and antennas.  Thay clam, it realy matters???

 

 

Questions for the vary technical types (Mot. phone experts):

• Douse it require any thing extra, to get the external antenna to work?  The Ext. antenna seems to have only a, so-so, effect on weak signal       areas???  - Please contact me...
• Is this phone IS-2000 complaint?