How to move ESN from one StarTac to another?

[stokestack]

Hi all. I have two 7868s. One is damaged but working on Verizon. The other is a refurb in good shape. Verizon refuses to activate the new one, so I need to give it the older one's ESN. Is it stored on a removable chip that I can transplant?

I'd like to use as much of the newer phone's circuitry as possible.

Thanks!

[Andy]

Verizon, or any carrier for that matter, will not activate old, non E911 capable phones on their network anymore. Every phone has an individual ESN that cannot be changed/exchanged. It might just be better to look for a new phone in your case.
HOpe this helps!

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by stokestack Is it stored on a removable chip that I can transplant?

I believe you are referring to a SIM card, which is used only in GSM and iDEN phones in the US. Some CDMA handsets have a space for an RUIM (removable user identity module) card, which is essentially a CDMA SIM card but, to my knowledge, no US carrier uses the RUIM card. Anyway, I know Verizon doesn't and the Motorola StarTAC series is to old to have RUIM cards.

Switching the ESN of a phone requires a lot of knowledge that I don't have and is illegal so, sadly, your only real option is getting a new phone. Sorry.

(I know how hard it is to stop using an old, reliable Motorola handset as I recently had to give up my Timeport P8197 because it was not E911 compatible.)

[royc]

Originally Posted by stokestack Hi all. I have two 7868s. One is damaged but working on Verizon. The other is a refurb in good shape. Verizon refuses to activate the new one, so I need to give it the older one's ESN. Is it stored on a removable chip that I can transplant? I'd like to use as much of the newer phone's circuitry as possible. Thanks!

If the RF board (the one that the charging port is soldered to) is OK in the activated phone, there is hope. The RF board is where the ESN is stored. If you swap the RF board from the old phone into the refurbished one, your new phone will have the old phone's ESN. Also your phonebook and all other settings reside in the RF board.

Here is a link to instructions for disassembling a StarTAC. I successfully used these instructions a few months ago to replace a bad keypad/display board on my son's StarTAC.

http://ridge.trideja.com/wireless/stapart/

royc

[Gabriel]

Originally Posted by rancidhooligan Switching the ESN of a phone requires a lot of knowledge that I don't have and is illegal

not in every country!!!

[MOTOhooligan]

Originally Posted by Gabriel not in every country!!!

This may be true. I am speaking only for the US, however.

[ed every]

Originally Posted by royc If the RF board (the one that the charging port is soldered to) is OK in the activated phone, there is hope. The RF board is where the ESN is stored. If you swap the RF board from the old phone into the refurbished one, your new phone will have the old phone's ESN. Also your phonebook and all other settings reside in the RF board. Here is a link to instructions for disassembling a StarTAC. I successfully used these instructions a few months ago to replace a bad keypad/display board on my son's StarTAC. http://ridge.trideja.com/wireless/stapart/ royc

I have the same issue. I tried to access the link referenced above but it is no longer there.

I have a great old Startac ST7868W that my wife is really attached to. The flip part that seats the battery and contains the earpiece got too close to something hot and melted a bit. But otherwise the unit still functions perfectly.

So I just bought another used ST7868W and want to use the plastic flip cover assy from that phone to replace the damaged one on my wife's phone. When done, I want all the electronics to be from my wife's phone.

I bought a special tool for removing the antenna and the two screws in the bottom half of the phone (just in case I need to do that).

Otherwise I am without a clue as to how to proceed.

Please help!

[Jay2TheRescue]

You should be able to just buy a new housing and move the boards over. I've done this on several phones. (V551, V3, and HTC Tilt) I looked on the internet, and all links I found for Startac disassembly guides were dead. My best recommendation if you aren't up to doing it yourself find a cell phone shop in your area that has a repair tech, and have then do the swap for you.

[royc]

Originally Posted by ed every I have the same issue. I tried to access the link referenced above but it is no longer there. I have a great old Startac ST7868W that my wife is really attached to. The flip part that seats the battery and contains the earpiece got too close to something hot and melted a bit. But otherwise the unit still functions perfectly. So I just bought another used ST7868W and want to use the plastic flip cover assy from that phone to replace the damaged one on my wife's phone. When done, I want all the electronics to be from my wife's phone. I bought a special tool for removing the antenna and the two screws in the bottom half of the phone (just in case I need to do that). Otherwise I am without a clue as to how to proceed. Please help!

Luckily, I saved the StarTAC disassembly instructions web page to my hard drive several years ago. I converted it to a PDF file. Here it is. All credit goes to the original author, Ryan Goolevitch.

royc

[ed every]

Originally Posted by royc Luckily, I saved the StarTAC disassembly instructions web page to my hard drive several years ago. I converted it to a PDF file. Here it is. All credit goes to the original author, Ryan Goolevitch. royc

That's wonderful. Thanks very much for taking the time to do this and please thank your father for me.

ed

[ed every]

I'm afraid I'm still unable to open the ST7868W's housing. I removed the antenna but the housing doesn't want to split (or slide) open. If there is some further information on this it would be appreciated.

[royc]

Originally Posted by ed every I'm afraid I'm still unable to open the ST7868W's housing. I removed the antenna but the housing doesn't want to split (or slide) open. If there is some further information on this it would be appreciated.

The back cover is a fairly tight fit. I remember using a piece of duct tape to make a grip for the cover and not leave a lot of pry marks. Did you see the little releases inside the two rectangular slots at each corner on the bottom of the StarTAC? You have to gently pry both of them with a very small (jeweler's) screwdriver to release the cover. You might have someone assist you, because you almost need 3 hands to pull on the cover and pry on the releases at the same time.

royc

[ed every]

Originally Posted by royc The back cover is a fairly tight fit. I remember using a piece of duct tape to make a grip for the cover and not leave a lot of pry marks. Did you see the little releases inside the two rectangular slots at each corner on the bottom of the StarTAC? You have to gently pry both of them with a very small (jeweler's) screwdriver to release the cover. You might have someone assist you, because you almost need 3 hands to pull on the cover and pry on the releases at the same time. royc

Thanks.

I couldn't quite make out how these little releases are configured. In other words which way should they be pried? Assume the unit is held with the back cover facing up. Do the tabs latch to the inside surface of the hole that is above them and would the tabs therefore have to be pried downward?

[royc]

Originally Posted by ed every Thanks. I couldn't quite make out how these little releases are configured. In other words which way should they be pried? Assume the unit is held with the back cover facing up. Do the tabs latch to the inside surface of the hole that is above them and would the tabs therefore have to be pried downward?

Downward is correct. I happen to have one of my old StarTAC's disassembled so I could look at the catch with the cover off. I recommend having an assistant pulling on the cover at the same time you're prying on the releases.

royc

[ed every]

Thanks to your help I was able to open both ST7868W handsets using duct tape and a little Neanderthal finesse.

My phone was working but the earpiece housing was badly damaged. My objective was to somehow use parts from the spare to replace the damaged earpiece housing. Once the units were opened it looked feasible to remove the earpiece-battery half of the unit by disassembling at the hinge. This way I didn't have to switch RF boards, I switched the flip tops instead. It worked out fine.

I did find some photos that included the hinge area and that added to the info you generously supplied. These photos are located at:

Cracking Open the classic Motorola StarTAC flip phone | TechRepublic Photo Gallery

The surviving unit now looks good and functions well.

Thanks again.

[royc]

You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to help.

royc