Jan 23 2006
Are you tough enough?
Tough phone. Ready to rock and roll. Doesn’t matter about water, dust. You can even submerge it under water. Yeah, it’s a GSM phone, siblings of very rock solid–handytalky enabled–R250s. While satellite-enabled version available as R190.
While Ericsson was consistent creating mature product, these weatherproof versions didn’t have any successor. Only Siemens continue to release dust/splash-resistant version of their GSM using their M-series. Even latest M65 of Siemes cannot match this type of Ericsson.
I choose blue, even though I like the orange better. Since blue feature color protection of cellphone, conceal it from suspicious eyes and unnecessary attention. Unless you focus on the form, you unbarely notice it. I also looked for its outdoor accesory, featuring strong metal clip, portable compass, thermometer, and a short ruler provided by Victorinox Swiss. A compass would very helpful providing qiblat direction wherever I go and also validate given direction.
The hunt
Amazing reviews from http://www.forumponsel.com, fanatic owners, and lots of convincing testimonial. Someone said, the phone was okay when he dropped it along riding a motorcycle at about 40km/h. Scratches is a friend. Another tested to submerge it about a minute and the phone even receiving a call–surely with bubbles.
These information plus electronic manual available in PDF which wrote you can wash this phone under tap water gently. Wow! Even the official manual urged you to play in the water (note: the official manual told owners to turn off the phone first). Try this at home? Not so fast.
I was searching for a mobile phone around 2001. I decided to look for newly blue R310–together with compass-thermometer accessory. The hunt begun on February 2001. Last production date of R310 was December 2000 or February 2001. So I should easily found it. A cellphone review website even mention R310 complete with accessory is available for 1,25 million IDR. But not until August 2001, I didn’t own an R310 phone. On February 2001, a Malang vendor was showing a second-hand-2-months old blue R310. Since they didn’t offer the accessory, I didn’t buy it. It turned out that it was the last stock. Hunting from Malang to WTC Surabaya (cellphone marketplace), resulted nothing.
Later when I go back to Jakarta, I focus my hunt to Roxy. But their stock of secondhand (no fresh stock) R310s was dissappointing. Bad condition (scratches, peeling keypad) and expensive. So I turned to internet. Back in Malang, someone at http://www.iklanbaris.co.id offered a complete blue R310 with outdoor accessory (even with type-pad making your sms-typing faster) only for 750 thousand IDR. Good bargain, but the transaction was difficult.
Later on, I found a ‘disgruntled’ owner of blue R310 complete with outdoor accessory offering for 700 thousand IDR at same place. He get a little bored with his and decided to change for another. He was a Kompas-affiliated reporter. He invited anyone to see the condition of R310 at his office. At the same time, I drove Abah for PKB 1st anniversary and went home at about 9pm. I phoned the R310 owner to make appointment. He was available along the night at his office on Palmerah.
So I got there, looking at a pretty filthy R310, especially on its outdoor accessory. He showed the complete package, unfortunately with rat-eaten charger adapter. I asked for the definite price and he mentioned 675 thousand IDR. Wow!!!! a lot cheaper … even with last tempting offer (which include a type-pad). No more bargain, 675 thousand it is, cash. And I my days are happier with R310. Don’t bother about watersplash, rain or anything. You can throw it away with relief.
Torture test
Before testing and further use, I washed the phone and its accessory for clean and shiny. Now the phone is clean and didn’t looked filthy anymore. For about 2 months, no real torture test. I was convinced with its screw-tighten backcover. The battery was even more convincing, featuring rubber seal for water protection.
After 2 month, when I bathed at Malang, the torture test begun. I dipped it in the water for about 1 minute and activated stopwatch, not forgetting to turn the light on. First seconds started with bubbles filling vacant aperture to remove air with water. The phone is rock, lights under water. After this test, I must be prepared for component change or another form of service.
Problems
In 2003, the phone stopped working. I could not even turn it on. The service center diagnose it as a fail RF chip which cost 75 thousand IDR. Pretty cheap for old stuff. I thought the damage was severe which require me change cellphone.
In 2005, the phone can’t hook up cell signal. When it reaches full signal strength, it is functional. Otherwise you get a zombie phone, alive but no activities. No SMS send/receive and no phone calls. The service center diagnose it as a fail RF chip (again). This time it cost 100 thousands IDR. Another pretty darn cheap service to keep R310 alive. The service officer even offered me for physical cover change which didn’t brought my attention. Since I know that it’s out of stock, from years ago (I already try to find physical cover–since now I only got 1 screw for backcover instead of 2–from 2003 and got nothing).
In December 2005, the speakerphone was dead. I couldn’t receive any call since I can’t hear anything. The option was to repair it at service center. But the cost would be too much, a minimum 75 thousands IDR. I would opt for a handsfree device instead. The non-original should not expensive, in fact I could get it for 30 thousands IDR only. Well, 30 thousands IDR for a much comfortable (read: always handsfree mode) cellphone usage was okay. At least I could receive any call during my riding.
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