telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) (12/10/90)
It had to happen, I suppose. As cellular telephones become more and
more commmon, the need for accessories, alternate antennas, batteries
and other gimmicks has followed close at hand. A company is now
operating, via mail order, with a small catalog of accessories for
your cellular phone.
Cellular Products Distributors of Los Angeles sent me their catalog of
items. Included are a variety of antenna connectors, SMA < --> TMC
adapters, mobile mounting devices, extra batteries, battery
eliminators, NAM programmers, and more. They offer several types of
antennas to replace existing ones as desired.
They claim to stock the above accessories for several manufacturers of
cellular phones, including but not limited to Panasonic, Audiovox,
Oki, Mitsubishi, NovAtel, Motorola, Uniden, NEC, Technophone and
Nokia-Mobira / Radio Shack.
Their prices seem to be reasonable, and their delivery service is
good. I ordered two items:
Item ULPAO 1/8 Wave Ultra Low Profile Antenna $17.88
Item NMCG Battery Eliminator for Radio Shack CT-301 $28.88
The first item is a little *tiny* antenna, all of one-inch long,
intended to replace the "standard" antenna on my CT-301. Now I know a
little about antennas, and I know that the antenna is probably 75
percent of what makes *any* radio good or bad. I was skeptical of this
item, which appears to be too good to be true (my original antenna was
frequently abused and getting bent under my jacket), since only
certain fractions of a wave are the most receptive to a good signal.
In many (most?) radio serviuces, 1/8 wave does not do very well. But
I've found the Chicago area is so well covered that the slight
degradation of signal (I've measured it) using the little stub-like
thing is minor. It also works nicely with my Technophone MC-915-A
that I have operating on Cellular One/Chicago.
The second item is a 'dummy battery' which attaches to the CT-301 just
like a regular battery, but has a cigarette lighter adapter plug on
the end of a five foot coiled cord such as on the receiver of a
telephone. This allows the CT-301 to be used in the car without the
bulky 'mobile adapter' recommended by Radio Shack. The cigarette-lighter
plug can be easily removed by a technically inclined person and any
adapter of choice installed instead, such as to a 12-volt power supply
you plug into an AC line, etc, meaning you could plug the phone into
an electrical outlet anywhere there is electricity and you want to use
the phone. Caution: the 'dummy battery' is NOT the AC/DC adapter ...
it is just a way to connect the wires to the phone.
The little catalog I received has dozens of little charms like this,
and I would recommend you at least order the catalog itself and look
it over. They take VISA/MC of course, as well as COD orders. Open
account may be possible with established credit; I can't say for sure.
They ship next-day air for a few dollars more. I put my order in by
phone on Thursday, December 6 and had my purchase Friday morning at
the office.
Cellular Products Distributors
1616 Cotner Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Orders: 1-800-654-3050 Nationwide except CA
1-800-443-9889 CA orders only
1-213-312-0778 Technical inquiries / calls from outside USA
1-213-473-7782 Fax line for orders, inquiries, etc.
Patrick Townson