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Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

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Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#111

Post by joecool1029 »

michalhosna wrote: post #41

> The Nokia 5110 is a 2G telephone, meaning it uses the original 2G mobile network to communicate. This network has long been decommissioned in most western countries, including Australia. In Europe, 3G is shutting down, but 2G as a fallback seems to be staying for years to come. > However, 2G networks were still available as of 2023 in most parts of the world, while notably excluding the majority of carriers in Nort…

> AFAIK, in the US, T-Mobile still has a 2G network.

They do but most won't be able to use a phone this old on it. Reason being the SIM application was taken out of the issued sim cards years ago for T-Mobile (something like 6 years or so at this point). Newer 3G-era cellphones use the USIM application and can fall back to the 2G network.

So the only way to still use a device that's pre-3G (circa-2007 or so) on the 2G network is to have a SIM that's been activated the whole time. T-Mobile will not activate expired SIM cards that still contain the application.

Source: I have used back to the Sony Ericsson t68i this past summer on T-Mobile. If you have an ancient SIM and want to browse WAP 1.x as well you can use this site for the gateway: https://nbpfan.bs0dd.net/index.php?lang=eng&page=wap%2Fmain

EDIT: Funny thing about 3G-era phone support, you can use a euicc (removable ESIM) on a phone from 2007 (I used Sony Ericsson K850i) and it will work just fine with an activated esim to access 2G.

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#112

Post by Syonyk »

sourcepluck wrote: post #78

Are there any not outrageously expensive, tough, battery-goes-for-weeks, does calls and SMS and wifi hotspot and maybe even F-Droid but a small screen, and maybe has at least LTE so that it is safe to be used for years, type devices? I've looked once or twice, and found two categories: one was expensive phones leaning in to the "super slick minimalist" thing, which looked like they could be good devices and cover wha…

Yeah, look at the Sonim XP3+/XP5+ (depending if you want a flip phone or candybar).

Rugged, Android-Go powered "Call/SMS/MMS" devices, week and a half on battery if you leave it on constantly, hotspot, and you can, if you insist, sideload apps. Just, don't expect any modern Android app to be usable on a 240x320 screen with keyboard input only. If you use a Bluetooth mouse, it's marginally less-awful, but still, don't expect much to work.

I did get KDE Connect working - that allows you to send text messages with a real computer keyboard. It's not as nicely integrated as the Apple iMessage ecosystem, but it does allow for sending texts without having to T9 the whole thing. Alternately, the better option is to just move longer conversations to email or an actual phone call.

One of these shouldn't run you much over about $150 (in the US), and they work fine on the super cheap MVNO operators out there.

My writeup from about a year ago: https://www.sevarg.net/2023/12/30/more-flip-phone-sonim-xp3-...

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#113

Post by lifestyleguru »

grujicd wrote: post #15

My old Nokia 6310i from 2003 was in use until a year or two ago with my mother in law. And with the original battery lasting for days! Then finally on/off button broke. While nowadays phones not only have a glass in the front, which is understandable, but in the back too. So fragile. What would grandpa Nokia say to his ancestors?

I had this phone, sometimes from boredom I was tossing and catching it and it occasionally fell on the ground. Try doing this with these miserable fragile iPhones and Galaxies. Unfortunately one day it cracked while falling and I regret so much throwing it, the 6310i would have been working until today.

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#114

Post by Etheryte »

toast0 wrote: post #87
Etheryte wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While I really like the idea, I think we're still too far out tech wise to make it a reality in a way that it would live up to the dream. EVs of today are really heavy and even with a fairly small range, I fear the weight from the batteries would butcher any kind of driving experience for a car like that. In time though, I hope we get plenty of old cars retrofitted to be EVs as the tech becomes lighter, cheaper and m…

People have been making EV VW Beetle since forever. The 914 is just a weird looking Beetle. :P Probably have to accept it would be a short range car for going to work in warm but not hot weather and not a touring car.

The point isn't that it can't be done, EV conversions have been done for decades at this point, but that you'll get a car that's a whale compared to the original.

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#115

Post by jtbayly »

jcul wrote: post #37
josephernest wrote: post #35

Pro tip: don't buy the new versions "Nokia 3210 2024" and similar models. I did, two times, with slightly different models, and they are of exceptionally poor quality: dead after one year, very buggy firmware. The customer support is an AI with no real answer. They recommended to install an app "from the Google Play app store" which is nonsense for a dumbphone. They are very cheap noname phones, branded with the name…

Yeah I bought a Nokia 2660. After probably a month or so the hinge brackets broke from normal use. Nokia refused to refund / repair it saying that only a drop could have caused it. I replaced it with an AGM M8 which is a great dumbphone.

Can you use the M8 on carriers other than T-Mobile? I’m seeing several places that say T-mobile only.

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#116

Post by amoorthy »

Sorry for tangent but any recommendations for small smart phone (i.e. I like my iPhone 12 mini with its 5" screen (though it is glitchier than one would hope) but now all phones seem to be 6"+ which is hard to fit into a pocket or even manipulate with one hand.

I know the Samsung ZFlip 6 and Motorola Razr+ are small, though rather pricey at $800-1000. Any opinions from folks on reliability/usability etc of these?

I am embarrassed to say I have some Apple lock-in with earbuds and even basic conveniences like "find-my" working for my children's watches so not sure if these are worth staying with Apple for, even if I dislike their latest devices.

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#117

Post by sourcepluck »

Syonyk wrote: post #112
sourcepluck wrote: post #78

Are there any not outrageously expensive, tough, battery-goes-for-weeks, does calls and SMS and wifi hotspot and maybe even F-Droid but a small screen, and maybe has at least LTE so that it is safe to be used for years, type devices? I've looked once or twice, and found two categories: one was expensive phones leaning in to the "super slick minimalist" thing, which looked like they could be good devices and cover wha…

Yeah, look at the Sonim XP3+/XP5+ (depending if you want a flip phone or candybar). Rugged, Android-Go powered "Call/SMS/MMS" devices, week and a half on battery if you leave it on constantly, hotspot, and you can , if you insist, sideload apps. Just, don't expect any modern Android app to be usable on a 240x320 screen with keyboard input only. If you use a Bluetooth mouse, it's marginally less-awful, but still, don'…

Ohhh snap, I'm glad I asked, I had not seen that one during my browsing. It looks like it really does hit all the points, wow. Investigating it right now! Cheers!

Update: not available outside US, or you can get it shipped but it's locked to US carriers (which seems nonsensical...)

Anyway. I'm back looking at the Cat B35, and I think that does the job. Thanks again!

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#118

Post by Syonyk »

sourcepluck wrote: post #117
Syonyk wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, look at the Sonim XP3+/XP5+ (depending if you want a flip phone or candybar). Rugged, Android-Go powered "Call/SMS/MMS" devices, week and a half on battery if you leave it on constantly, hotspot, and you can , if you insist, sideload apps. Just, don't expect any modern Android app to be usable on a 240x320 screen with keyboard input only. If you use a Bluetooth mouse, it's marginally less-awful, but still, don'…

Ohhh snap, I'm glad I asked, I had not seen that one during my browsing. It looks like it really does hit all the points, wow. Investigating it right now! Cheers! Update: not available outside US, or you can get it shipped but it's locked to US carriers (which seems nonsensical...) Anyway. I'm back looking at the Cat B35, and I think that does the job. Thanks again!

There are some carrier unlocked versions available. Or at least used to be. They seem pretty universal - I'm running a T-Mobile one on an AT&T MVNO right now, and it wasn't too big a hassle to set up. Unfortunately, I think these are nearing end of production, supplies seem to be limited lately.

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#119

Post by sourcepluck »

Syonyk wrote: post #118
sourcepluck wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ohhh snap, I'm glad I asked, I had not seen that one during my browsing. It looks like it really does hit all the points, wow. Investigating it right now! Cheers! Update: not available outside US, or you can get it shipped but it's locked to US carriers (which seems nonsensical...) Anyway. I'm back looking at the Cat B35, and I think that does the job. Thanks again!

There are some carrier unlocked versions available. Or at least used to be. They seem pretty universal - I'm running a T-Mobile one on an AT&T MVNO right now, and it wasn't too big a hassle to set up. Unfortunately, I think these are nearing end of production, supplies seem to be limited lately.

I think it's a tad risky, as in, if I've an issue, returning it is an extra effort. Plus I'd be paying a fair bit extra for postage in the first place.

I think the best bet for me over here (Ireland) is to research the CAT phone that is dumb enough and not too expensive.

E.g., the CAT B26, for example, looks promising https://www.productindetail.com/pm/cat-b26

Re: Nokia 5110 – Back from the Dead (2022)

#120

Post by palata »

0_____0 wrote: post #99
shreddit wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Already? This blog post is from 2 years ago...

Fair enough. My point still stands that they may have been blogging this for themselves or a relatively small number of readers. I'm reticent to criticize anyone for putting their unfinished or aspirational work up on the internet, it reminds me of a 'net where people hosted their own blogs for mostly noone. Writing destined for a small or non-existent audience feels precious when everything is made to game the atten…

Well I did not mean it to be offensive, and I hope that the author would not take it this way.

I genuinely thought about this expression when I realised what happened with this project, and looked up the English translation. I shared it because I found it fun and interesting, that's all.

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