Any Sanyo RL-4920/30 users here??

[coldwave]

What are your thoughts on this phone, any current users?? I've heard nothing but good things about the RL-4930...seems like the screen on the 4920 is better....

Thanks!

[manofmany]

Pretty cheap basic phone. Should be perfected at this point. Not sure why you would go that route but I think if you have a low budget, go for it!

[coldwave]

Yeah, I'm thinking it would be great for when I'm in the mountains hiking/climing....I've heard the RF performance of these phones is great, and the battery life is awesome.......

[coldwave]

...besides, I'm looking for a VERY basic alternative...:)

[Bob Coxner]

I have an old 4900 that I used for about 3 years. Fantastic RF and the battery life is excellent. I live in a fringe area for reception and I've always gone with Sanyos. My 8300 had very good RF and my new Katana DLX is even better. It's hard to compare them exactly, and individual units will always vary, but I would probably rate the 4900 best for RF.

[coldwave]

Yep, thats why I switched back to my 7050...still looking for a 4900, 4920, or 4930 to take when I go into the mountains (twice a month)...the extra battery, and heft of either of those phones would be perfect in that environment!

[Bob Coxner]

They're going for about $10 to $15 on eBay, including shipping.

http://cell-phones.search.ebay.com/sanyo-4900_Cell-Phones-Smartphones_W0QQcatrefZC12QQfromZR40QQsacatZ3312

[coldwave]

Thanks Bob, great link!.....I think I might grab that mint one! :tu:

[coldwave]

Oh man, I just realized that the 4900 is PCS only in digital mode, and analog...no 800MHz CDMA...:indiff:...usually when I'm out and about in the mountains I loose Sprint, and have to roam on Verizon....Well, I guess I need to shift to the RL series....:cool:

[coldwave]

Here we go: http://cgi.ebay.com/Sanyo-Sprint-RL-4920-PCS-Vision-w-Charger-Case_W0QQitemZ260261423313QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCell_ Phones?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116#ebayphotohosting

:tu:

[Bob Coxner]

I was always able to roam on Verizon on 1900, but that was just in rural areas, not in the boondocks. Looks like you should be able to get a 4920 or 4930 for roughly the same price as the 4900.

The analog is nice to have for remote areas but it's going away on all carriers soon and has already disappeared on some.

[coldwave]

I know, that is a bummer with analog going away....I go to some very remote areas, and when analog was around it was literally a lifesaver...Now, in those same areas it's a crapshoot with Verizon's 800 service...and Sprint's 1900 on and off....:fingers:......back in the day, I could be miles from anyone, up on a ridge @ 10,800ft. and still get a solid analog signal with my old trusty Micro-TAC 650...:headbang2

[Bob Coxner]

You could always go with a satellite phone. The prices are a little higher (starting at $900 for new) and the per minute rates are a bit higher, but not insane. 14 cents a minute with Globalstar and $39.99 a month. You can even rent the phones for a couple of days at a time, from companies like http://satellitephone.com/#meinav=rentals

Actually, here's a used sat phone for $68. http://cgi.ebay.com/QUALCOMM-GLOBALSTAR-GSP-1600-TRI-MODE-SATELLITE-PHONE_W0QQitemZ140296208632QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4242 8QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If my life depended on it, I would go sat phone.

[coldwave]

Hehe..funny you mentioned a satellite phone; I was just thinking about those the other day...yeah, back when analog was around it was so dependable on climbing trips..now, not so...yes, a satellite phone would be a VERY good idea up there...the per month charge was something I was trying to avoid...the rental's would be a good idea...I guess it would be kind-of nice if they had a prepaid sat phone service! :tu:

[Bob Coxner]

You can go per minute if you want to avoid monthly charges. Here are the prepaid minutes from one vendor:

* $1.39 standard per minute charge (I guess no minimum bundle, just per minute as you go)
* $0.99 per minute with purchase of 75 min bundle ($74.25)
* $0.94 per minute with purchase of 150 min bundle ($141.50)
* $0.88 per minute with purchase of 500 min bundle ($440.00)

A rental phone from the same company is only $19.49 a week. http://www.allroadsat.com/rentals/globalstar-rentals.aspx However, if you would be using a sat phone frequently then buying a used one on eBay would make more sense. Since you can go per minute (no monthly contract) your annual cost wouldn't be bad at all.

$1.39 a minute sounds extreme but if you're only going to be using the phone in an emergency, it's not that bad.

[coldwave]

Oh wow, now we're talkin' Bob! I'm wondering if you can interchange phones, and all....I wonder if they have to be programmed, or a card based..? I could buy my own phone, and get the 75 min. plan....I bet those phones have insane batteries...I'll do some research later...:tu:...thank you!

[crtt]

i have the 4920

when i org. started with sprint i had purchased some fancy phone only to get home to discover that the only way i could use it was to go outside and stand in certain spots and hope the wind did not blow (no lie) i took it back and canceled within 2 days.

2 months later i was in best buy and a sprint district rep was there and i complained to them about this, they showed me their phone they use and to my surprise it was not a fancy phone, it was the sanyo 4900 and was told that it gets reception.

I purchased the 4900 right then and there, went home and had a signal!
that is when i discovered that reception is very much phone dependent.

another plus to that phone was that i was able to tether it and use it as a modem, i think it is blocked on the phone i have now.

I travel a lot and need great reception although i think i will be purchasing the touch pro and hope reception on that is good.

as far as i still know the Sanyo 49xx series is still king of reception.

[coldwave]

crtt, that is VERY good to know! Thank you for the info! Since you have experienced both, how would you compare the 4900 to the 4920? RF performance, and build quality?

Funny you mention about reception, and wind....we (my family) have a place up in the moutains we frequent at least once every couple of months, and for years I use that location as a benchmark for phones, and fringe reception. Back in the analog days, it was the best of course, but digital is catching up, up there. I remember trying the Centro, Upstage, an M520, and a few others up there....spotty at best...even the v950, was actually very disapointing up there. I had to go to a ridgeline before I could even get a signal, and it was Verizon...the RAZR was just as bad...actually, the only phone that worked 100% there was my old Samsung SCH-3500, and my Sanyo SCP-7050..hehe...I often wonder how much more R&D, and attention they put the radio part of phones nowadays?? It seems to all go into the camera, or mp3 player, esoteric design, etc, etc.....seems as if the Sanyo 4xxx series was literally, the last of a dieing breed..:td:

Thanks again!

[coldwave]

Yep,

I purchased a brand new RL-4930...and I have to say, I actually like it a little better than my 7050! :tu:

It just feels better built, and sounds better....sure it's a little more clunkier than the 7050, but it just seems so much more solid.... it's worth it..that's funny too considering the 4930 isn't Military Spec. like the 7050..(at least I don't think it is....)

I like it so much I'm seriously considering purchasing another brand new one for a back up....:cool:

They sooo don't make phones like this anymore...