Where can I find a CTEK cable for an Oki 900?

October 25, 2006 4:54 PM

Where can I find a CTEK cable for an Oki 900?

I have an old Oki 900 cellular phone, and I want to hook it up to my computer and relive my misspent youth. To do this, I need a CTEK cable, but they're impossible to find anymore. I've got a saved search on eBay for them, but in almost 18 months it's never found me a cable, just a few phones. I've found plans for building the cable/interface, but they require me to program a PIC, and I'm not really set up to do that. I think I've found one guy who makes and sells the cables, for $200 - it's not worth anywhere near that much to me.

Essentially, I'm hoping some MeFite or friend of a MeFite has a CTEK cable left over from HIS/HER misspent youth, which they would be willing to sell me for some nominal cost :)

Anyone?

posted by autojack to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

I know people who probably still have them, but I doubt they'd part with them except for a favor or cash comparable to the guy you found.
posted by scalefree at 6:23 PM on October 25, 2006

Depending on where you are located, it might not be worth anything at all. Most (95+%) analog traffic died in the upper midwest over the last five years. You'll hear a huge amount of buzzing ugly digital traffic, and not much else.

When I was young I tried to build one multiple times, it was a total loss. If you want one, 200$ is change compared to the effort you'll need to invest in one. The schematics online omit part numbers and never worked for me.
posted by fake at 7:28 PM on October 25, 2006

Response by poster: My main interest is in decoding the forward data channel. From what I've seen, there are still a lot of organizations using AMPS for remote administration of computers, where a 9600 baud connection is OK. Like for polling scientific equipment, changing electronic road signs, that sort of thing. I see this as a chance to do some sort of reverse wardialing in a way; home in on the interesting stuff right out the gate. Mostly though, I'm just interested in the mechanics of it all. If I do get my hands on a CTEK, I'd probably just fiddle with it for a few weeks and then put it in a box :)

Since the phone is no fun without a cable, and I imagine most people who do have the cables also have the phones, I'd be willing to buy both from someone for a reasonable price. Scalefree, if you want to ask your friends, maybe we can work something out. My email's in my profile!
posted by autojack at 8:47 PM on October 25, 2006

I'd be surprised if you find much data traffic on AMPS anymore. I haven't found a single carrier who's willing to do new analog activations. So much for using the CDPD modem that came in my laptop! Anyone still on AMPS is trying like hell to get off it, because it's going away soon. I suppose that doesn't mean there aren't neglected systems out there, though.

Do us a favor: If you find one and get it working, take some screenshots or video footage, and preserve them. Material from that era is hard to find, and putting together a gallery or documentary of pre-Windows hacking is becoming increasingly difficult. For example: you can't snag screenshots of old AOL clients in use anymore, because the server won't let them connect. When the AMPS network goes away, your Oki an CTEK won't have anyone to talk to! Preserve a bit of history while you can.
posted by Myself at 3:54 AM on October 26, 2006

When the AMPS network goes away, your Oki an CTEK won't have anyone to talk to!

You could always do what Phiber did, build your own telecom infrastructure so you can hack it: Project MF.
posted by scalefree at 11:20 AM on October 26, 2006

Back to the point, I'll ask around & let you know if I find one.
posted by scalefree at 11:24 AM on October 26, 2006