Vintage Cell Phones

[lnx64]

Yea they can't be re-tuned. I took apart one of my Nokia 5190's here, and it has specialized filters just for the frequency they operate at: https://i.imgur.com/xUP9ZDG.jpg

On another note, I'm leaving MetroPCS, and switching to Mint Mobile. Entering my Nokia 5190's IMEI number into Mint's phone checker says it IS compatible and identified it properly as a 2G phone. So I guess we'll see if the Nokia gets to keep ticking. I'll find out maybe Tuesday, if the number ports fast enough. (I don't see why not, because they are using T-Mobile's network so technically I'd be hitting the same towers).

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by lnx64

Yea they can't be re-tuned. I took apart one of my Nokia 5190's here, and it has specialized filters just for the frequency they operate at: https://i.imgur.com/xUP9ZDG.jpg

On another note, I'm leaving MetroPCS, and switching to Mint Mobile. Entering my Nokia 5190's IMEI number into Mint's phone checker says it IS compatible and identified it properly as a 2G phone. So I guess we'll see if the Nokia gets to keep ticking. I'll find out maybe Tuesday, if the number ports fast enough. (I don't see why not, because they are using T-Mobile's network so technically I'd be hitting the same towers).

If keeping that phone is more important than the carrier and your not confident you can go back if mint doesn't work, then you may want to first try and get a cheap prepaid sim from mint to test the phone with before switching number and turning off your old plan.

There's an old proverb about making sure the new bucket holds water before getting rid of the old one...Good words to live by in situations like this.

[lnx64]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

If keeping that phone is more important than the carrier and your not confident you can go back if mint doesn't work, then you may want to first try and get a cheap prepaid sim from mint to test the phone with before switching number and turning off your old plan.

There's an old proverb about making sure the new bucket holds water before getting rid of the old one...Good words to live by in situations like this.

I'm already 90% sure it's going to work. MetroPCS that I have right now is a T-Mobile MVNO, and Mint is an MVNO as well on the T-Mobile network. Both are no different. The SIM card Mint is sending is a 4G LTE SIM, that's the same kind of SIM Metro gave me 2 years ago (not a 5G SIM, which won't work in the Nokia). So the SIM versions are the same, same network, frequency, both are MVNO's (which was in the 2G specification by the time the Nokia was made anyway), I honestly am sure it'll work.

But at this point saving money was more important, so if I need to put the SIM in my smart phone, it's not entirely a deal breaker. It will suck, but Mint has the best deal in my area for services with coverage.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

If keeping that phone is more important than the carrier and your not confident you can go back if mint doesn't work, then you may want to first try and get a cheap prepaid sim from mint to test the phone with before switching number and turning off your old plan.

There's an old proverb about making sure the new bucket holds water before getting rid of the old one...Good words to live by in situations like this.

This would seem to be a very cheap experiment:

https://www.amazon.com/Mint-Mobile-S...s%2C226&sr=8-4

not affiliated,
jr

[lnx64]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

This would seem to be a very cheap experiment:

https://www.amazon.com/Mint-Mobile-S...s%2C226&sr=8-4

not affiliated,
jr

The only problem with that as far as I was told by sales, was that I wouldn't get the $15 a month special when I recharged it. I'm fairly certain it'd work though, there's really no reason it wouldn't, the Nokia 5190 knows about MVNO's, and it's still on the same band and network technically. I'll find out Tuesday. If it doesn't work, I'd be more happy to save $15 on my phone bill as it is.