Strongest Analog phone for an area w/ poor digital

By FCC regulation, no analog phone can be more than 3 watts power; and digital 6/10th watt. The performance difference you experience between the phones may be a matter of quality control and/or circuitry enhancements. Some enhancements have also taken place in antenna technology, which is why folks with phones having internal antennas are complaining less.

 

Any of the 3 watt analog BAG PHONES would serve your purpose. Be advised however that they are rather hard to find, big and heavy as a brick, and getting analog service these days is almost impossible.

None of the hand-held phones -- even or especially the analog only hand helds -- are likely to provide more than the .6 watts. A 3 watt transmitter drains the battery much too fast.

Another alternative -- although I think you say you don't want this -- is one of the 3 watt analog amplifiers. They are available for any number of phone types -- particularly the StarTacs and many Nokias. They usually mount in the automobile. They have an external antenna -- usually mounted through the glass.

If you get a (digital) hand-held phone that can be forced into analog mode (the StarTacs allow it! Also some Nokias!), you could use it where the signal strength was adequate and then mount it in the analog amplifier where the signal was poor. You could STILL use a digital plan that allowed analog roaming or use. (That would eliminate Sprint, for example. A Cingular National plan should allow it!)

Otherwise, a digital StarTac (you can see I'm prejudiced! But I got mine because of its analog ability in northern New England) forced to analog mode will give you the option of using .6watts where and if you needed to.... I'd still suggest the 3 watt amplifier.

I'm not familiar with the Motorola 3060. I assume it is an older digital (TDMA since you say you're Cingular) phone.

 

If you want a huge phone, there are plenty for sale on ebay. You could probably snag one for under $20. Talk about pumping cancer into your head though I think the Motorola Ultra Classic II is the best one made, so you might want to go for that one, unless somebody else has some better suggestions..