Analog->Digital Phone Conversion! Done

[eaglevision993]

Hi,
as we know the older analog phones in the 98-2002 TownCars do no longer work in all areas in the US. Here in Germany they don't work at all anymore.

If you still want to have the stock look and convenience of an old school in car phone, you need to go digital. Thats what I did in the last 2 days and all went right thank God. Just wanted to give an overview in case anyone decides to go the same route.

This is not a job for the novice as it involves taking lots of stuff apart and lots of soldering! I did not have the original phone installed, but the premium Alpine stereo system.

Here is the overview.

First, I got a Motorola 2700 International car phone system.
This phone fits perfectly in the arm rest where the original handset would be.
The Transceiver is in the trunk and gets power from the subwoofer amp with a dedicated 5 amp fuse. The subwoofer circuit has a 30 amp fuse.

To make the phone mute the radio at incoming calls and use the car speaker system in hand free mode I had to hack somewhat in the audio harness behind the radio unit: The radio has 3 wires you will need: phone +, phone - and "transmit on" signal. The last one tells the radio when an incoming call comes so it rings through the speakers and mutes the current program. The wires are found in the FSM connector printout.

The mute wire from the phone sends a negative feed when it wants to use the car speaker system. That goes to the "phone transmit on" wire in the radio harness.

The phone + and - wires need to be connected to the phone speaker out BUT you have to use a high/low converter as the radio needs line level inputs and (at least my phone) drives a dedicated speaker under normal circumstances so it has its own amp inside.

Now all needed to complete the job is the microphone (comes with phone) installed and of course the antenna.

As for the antenna I went with a cell phone antenna that mounts behind the rear bumper and is invisible. No need to drill holes but you need to remove the bumper. Don´t have a model number for the antenna if used in the US as mine is a German one (Hirschman brand)which is actually used on older Mercedes S Class vehicles.

This is the antenna I used:
http://www.hirschmann-car.com/Englis...na/index.phtml

The system works flawlessly by now: Incoming calls mute the radio, the display shows "PHONE", speaker rings and hands free operation is also through the car speakers.

The only "original" features that don´t work is speed dial via the radio preset buttons and voice dial.

Some may ask WHYYYYYY go through all this trouble in todays smartphone world...well, I just like the look of a good old style car phone with its non-wireless handset and all...No internet, no email and all, just a phone, thats it. Fits the style of these cars.

I got a second SIM card with no extra charges to use in this phone so basically free aside from the costs for the phone of course....

If you have further questions or want pics let me know.

Best regards
Benjamin

[DaKat]

Wow.

[rascal]

eaglevision993....nice work, makes me want to buy an older TC again. WOW!!

[flyboy72]

I used a different method for in car communication. I've been a CB nut since 1970 & have always had a CB in my vehicles. I bought a Cobra 29LTD CB radio that is Bluetooth equipped. Matching my cell phone to the radio is easy to do with the enclosed directions. I have a base loaded CB antenna on my deck lid that links me to the cell towers in the area. For incoming calls all one has to do is push the button on the mike & start talking. I have a auxiliary external speaker & the incoming calls come through the radio to the speaker. Out going calls are simply dialed on the phone & transmitted via the radio. The Bluetooth button is in the center of the mike. Another reason for the Bluetooth is that here in Missouri with the increase of accidents involving vehicles & cell phones the highway patrol & the local police are on the lookout for the ones with the cell phone glued to their ear. I've noticed that the vast majority of cell phone use while driving is done by the ladies, which in some cases have a problem walking & chewing gum, let alone driving & talking on the phone. (BTW my wife agrees with me on that topic)!

[eaglevision993]

I also had a CB radio in my former car!

When I find the time I will make a little video of my phone and its operation....

[eaglevision993]

Hi there, as promised here is the video demonstration of my digital phone conversion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-2yo...t=HL1348937024

Have fun.
Benjamin

[rascal]

AWESOME!!!! Thanks for sharing!

[eaglevision993]

Thanks for the feedback!

[Vandy5000]

Anybody know where I can find a replacement phone? Couldn't find a junkyard in the area with a donor. I got shivers when the original owner told me they 'threw it away'

Surely theres an unwanted phone somewhere.

[Newave Dave]

Eaglevision, I bow to your prowess and dedication. BTW, washers in the coin slot? Do they work in parking meters by you?

[sitka]

holy that is a balls conversion, probably the last one to ever be done.

[eaglevision993]

Originally Posted by Newave Dave

Eaglevision, I bow to your prowess and dedication. BTW, washers in the coin slot? Do they work in parking meters by you?

Thanks!
Regarding the "washers", they are actually tokens/coins for the DIY wash boxes overhere.
You can change bills into tokens in case you have no coin money. Most DIY wash boxes work with both change and those tokens over here.

[89TCSignature]

Good writeup on the phone conversion.

BTW Who else actually has $100 bills laying around in their cars?

[Risrae]

Hi. Very cool post. I have a Motorola phone in my car that I would love to convert. Is there anyone in the states that do this? I am in so cal.

[JoeFonte]

Originally Posted by Risrae

Hi. Very cool post. I have a Motorola phone in my car that I would love to convert. Is there anyone in the states that do this? I am in so cal.

Hey Risrae, I'm in So Cal at the moment too. Did you find anyone good who can do this?

[Bradford Bailey]

Eaglevision993, I'm a little confused about this. I'd love to get the phone working in my Mark VII. It is still hooked up & powered as it was bought new. The dialing will sound through the speakers & everything. Is it the transceiver in the trunk that allows this to work, or is it that antenna you put up a link for. Any help, from anyone is really appreciated!!

[joegr]

Originally Posted by Bradford Bailey

Eaglevision993, I'm a little confused about this. I'd love to get the phone working in my Mark VII. It is still hooked up & powered as it was bought new. The dialing will sound through the speakers & everything. Is it the transceiver in the trunk that allows this to work, or is it that antenna you put up a link for. Any help, from anyone is really appreciated!!

Maybe you missed this part?
"First, I got a Motorola 2700 International car phone system."

He replaced the analog phone and its modules with a digital phone and associated modules.

I recommend a different route. Get a Bluetooth adapter. There are some that you can wire into your factory radio so that it will mute the radio and play the phone audio through the speakers. Even better would be to replace the factory radio with an aftermarket phone that has Bluetooth phone support built in. Either way, then you wouldn't have to pay an extra monthly phone bill for a phone that you could only use in your car.

[Bradford Bailey]

I did see that. I thought that is the model that is already in my car. Sounds like it, but I'm not positive. The handset is definitely different. I plan on installing a head unit with bluetooth, but I would love to also have the factory phone working. If it's just a digital phone that looks like the old ones, I missed that completely. I thought it was meaning making an analog digital, not replacing one for the other. That's too bad. The search continues. LOL

[towncar95]

was the phone an option in the signature or cartier for 95-97 ? my signature has one , but was wondering .

[PinochlePunk]

Originally Posted by towncar95

was the phone an option in the signature or cartier for 95-97 ? my signature has one , but was wondering .

My 1996 Cartier had one.

[Yaelkroy]

Originally Posted by eaglevision993

Hi,


First, I got a Motorola 2700 International car phone system.

Hi Benjamin

Have you got Motorola 2700 system work in USA?
I though it is 900 Mhz GSM only and in USA 850MHz GSM

Thank you