Even though I'm nearly one year in to enjoying my 2001, 3.2ltr XJ8 . . . I hadn't really tried too much to sort the Motorola in-car phone out, even though I'm pretty sure that in the UK mobile service providers are obligated to keep even 3G services "on" until 2030. Whether they will or not is anyone's guess. I also believe that many "steam powered" devices like the Jags Motorola and the Nokia 3310i in my pocket actually use the 2G signal?

On perusing the Jilly the Jags routine "general care" manual for coolant quantities, I saw that every fuse socket on all 5 fuse boards were identified. After a quick scour of the tables, slot 22 of the main fuse board in the boot (trunk to most of you guys) is where the 5amp fuse for the in-car phone should be . . but there was no fuse in there at all. So put the only 5amp spare on the case lid into the slot. It didn't work at first, so look another look and the 5amp fuse was blown. I can't really say if the fuse I put in wasn't blown already (I didn't check) as it would be daft beyond belief to keep a "blown" fuse in the spares rack . . but someone might of done just that!! Anyways, I've put a 15amp fuse in and the in-car phone has woken up and working fine and its crystal clear.

Upon reading the "In-Car Phone" dedicated booklet, I'm really impressed. Not only remembers your favourite numbers, you can "voice tag" them. So press the telephone button on the steering wheel, say a name you've asked it to remember and . . you're off.

Boolmin' Marvelous Methinks!!!

 

Us guys can be so enamored at some of the simplest outdated items when we get them going.....like a hit miss engine...and women will roll their eyes with a "so what" look.

 

One of my XKRs has the original phone in the center cubby but is left un-connected.
I also have an old one in a box somewhere I got from the dealer when somebody had it removed a few decades ago.

Cool little flip phones with Jag logo!

 

I still have an old "bag" phone that still works! The battery
needs replaced but it was amazing that it connects to anything!

 

I thought old tech was relegated to 911 emergency network?

 

I believe the phones in these use 2G rather than 3G. I hope so as 3 turned off 3G in September.

I've got the StarTec flip phone in my XJR & keep meaning to get a SIM & see if it works. Never get around to it though as I don't use the car enough to remind me. My previous Sovereign, despite being a slightly later reg date, had the earlier big car phone on a cable. That powered up too, but again no working SIM.

 

I think the reason I didn't progress getting the mobile working, was getting bogged down with which 3G networks were still operating in UK and until when. I agree with Hooli that I believe these Jags only need 2G and quite a bit of tech in common use here still uses that bandwidth.

I put a simple "pay as you go" Lebara sim into the Motorola and it works a treat.