Motorola StarTAC ST7897 User manual

Welcome
Thank you for choosing your Motorola TDMA digital
StarTAC™ phone from a global leader in
communications technology. All Motorola digital
cellular phones are designed and manufactured to
meet Motorola’s rigorous specifications and world-
class quality standards. During development, our
laboratory testing team took your TDMA digital
StarTAC™cellular phone through rigorous durability
tests including temperature, humidity, shock, dust,
vibration, and drop tests—and the phone still
worked!
We are confident that the phone you purchased will
meet your own exacting standards. Enjoy your
Motorola TDMA digital StarTAC™ phone.

ii
Contents
Welcome
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Safety Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Overview
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Package Content Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Phone Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Phone Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Understanding the Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Using the Battery
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
About Your Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Removing and Attaching Battery Covers . . . . 16
Installing and Removing Batteries . . . . . . . . . . 18
Checking Battery Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Charging Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Using the Phone
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Turning the Phone On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Reading the Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Standby Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Storing Your Phone in Its Holster . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Using the Smart Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Placing a Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Ending a Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Receiving a Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Switching Between Digital
and Analog Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Redialing a Number Automatically . . . . . . . . . 30
Controlling Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Using Phone Memory
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Using Your Phone’s Built-in Phone Book . . . . . 34
Storing Names and Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Recalling an Entry by Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Recalling an Entry by Memory Location . . . . . 38
Clearing a Phone Memory Entry . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Shortcuts for Recalling Phone Book Entries . . 39
Making Notes on the Scratchpad . . . . . . . . . . 40

iii
Using the Menu System
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Introducing the Menu Features . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Navigating the Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Road Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Managing Recent Calls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Road Map for Recent Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
About Recent Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Reviewing Received Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Reviewing Dialed Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Clearing Caller Line ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Managing the Phone Book
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Road Map for Phone Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Recalling an Entry by Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Recalling an Entry by Location . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Storing with the Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Storing and Placing Numbers
with Pause Dialing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Storing and Placing Numbers
for Calling Card Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Attaching an Email Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Editing a Memory Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Editing an Email Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Assigning an Individual Ring Style
to a Phone Book Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Setting theTime and Date
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Road Map for Time and Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Setting the Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Setting the Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Changing the Date Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Changing the Time Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Turning Autoupdate On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . .66
TimingYour Calls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Road Map for Call Timers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Viewing Call Timers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Displaying the Individual Timer
Automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71
Setting the One-Minute Audible Timer . . . . . . .71
Setting the Repeating Audible Timer . . . . . . . .72
Setting the Single Timer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73

iv
AdjustingTone Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Road Map for Tone Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Selecting Call Alert Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Selecting Message Alert Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Selecting a Ring Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Turning Keypad Tones On and Off . . . . . . . . . 78
Turning Scratchpad Tones On and Off . . . . . . 79
Using Lock/Security Features
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Road Map for Lock Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Activating Voice Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Locking/Unlocking Your Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Activating Priority Calling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Viewing the Lock Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Changing the Lock Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Restricting Call Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Resetting All Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Clearing All Stored Information . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
A-Key Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Customizing Phone Options
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Road Map for Phone Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Activating Pager Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Selecting Preferred Call Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Viewing Your Own Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Switching Between Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Reviewing Feature Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Activating Automatic Hands-Free . . . . . . . . . . 96
Activating Multiple Key Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Deactivating Open to Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Activating Automatic Answer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Selecting Battery Options—Status Light . . . . . 99
Displaying System Identification . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Selecting a Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Selecting a Network
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Road Map for Selecting a Network . . . . . . . . 102
Performing a Manual Network Search . . . . . . 103
Selecting a New Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Selecting a Public Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Specifying an Automatic Search . . . . . . . . . . 106
Viewing All Non-Public Networks . . . . . . . . . 106

v
Using the Message Center
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Road Map for Message Center . . . . . . . . . . .108
Voice Mail Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Dialing Voice Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109
Reading and Managing Text Messages . . . . .110
Sending Text Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Sending, Creating, Editing,
and Deleting Quick Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122
Reading and Sending Draft Messages . . . . .125
Reviewing Messages in Your Outbox . . . . . . .126
Deleting Unsent Messages from the
Outbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Editing the Voice Mail Number . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Reference Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Accessory Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136
Glossary
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138
Patent Information
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .152
Index
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155

6
Safety Information
Important:
Read this information before using your
wireless handheld phone.
Exposure to Radio Frequency Signals
Your wireless handheld portable telephone is a low
power radio transmitter and receiver. When it is ON,
it receives and also sends out radio frequency (RF)
signals.
In August 1996, The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) adopted RF exposure
guidelines with safety levels for handheld wireless
phones. Those guidelines are consistent with safety
standards previously set by both U.S. and
international standards bodies:
•
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
IEEE. C95. 1-1992
•
National Council on Radiation Protection and
Measurement (NCRP). Report 86
•
International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 1996
•
Ministry of Health (Canada), Safety Code 6
Those standards were based on comprehensive
and periodic evaluations of the relevant scientific
literature. For example, over 120 scientists,
engineers, and physicians from universities,
government health agencies, and industry
reviewed the available body of research to develop
the ANSI Standard (C95.1).
The design of your phone complies with the FCC
guidelines (and those standards). For additional
information concerning exposure to radio
frequency signals, see the statement by the FDA at
the end of this user guide.

7
Overview
To maintain compliance with FCC RF exposure
guidelines, if you wear a handset on your body, use
the Motorola-supplied or approved carrying case,
holster, or other body-worn accessory.
If you do not use a body-worn accessory, ensure
the antenna is at least one inch (2.5 centimeters)
from your body when transmitting. Use of non-
Motorola accessories may violate FCC RF exposure
guidelines.
Antenna Care
Use only the supplied or an approved replacement
antenna. Unauthorized antennas, modifications, or
attachments could damage the phone andmay
violate FCC regulations.
Phone Operation
Normal Operation
Hold the phone as you would any other telephone,
with the antenna pointed up and over your
shoulder.
Tips on Efficient Operation
Observe the following guidelines to operate your
phone most efficiently.
•
Extend your antenna fully, if applicable.
•
Do not touch the antenna unnecessarily
when the phone is in use. Contact with the
antenna affects call quality and may cause
the phone to operate at a higher power level
than otherwise needed.
Batteries
Caution:
All batteries can cause property damage,
injury, or burns if a conductive material, such as
jewelry, keys or beaded chains, touches exposed
terminals. The material may complete an electrical
circuit and become quite hot. To protect against
such unwanted current drain, exercise care in
handling any charged battery, particularly when

8
placing it inside your pocket, purse, or other
container with metal objects. When the battery is
detached from the phone, your batteries are
packed with a protective battery cover; please use
this cover for storing your batteries when not in use.
Driving
Check the laws and regulations on the use of
wireless telephones in the areas where you drive.
Always obey them. Observe the following
guidelines when using your phone while driving.
•
Give full attention to driving--driving safely is
your first responsibility.
•
Use hands-free phone operation, if available.
•
Pull off the road and park before making or
answering a call if driving conditions so
require.
Electronic Devices
Most modern electronic equipment is shielded from
RF signals. However, certain equipment may not be
shielded against the RF signals from your wireless
phone.
Pacemakers
The Health Industry Manufacturers Association
recommends that a minimum separation of six
inches (6") be maintained between a handheld
wireless phone and a pacemaker to avoid potential
interference with the pacemaker. These
recommendations are consistent with the
independent research by and recommendations of
Wireless Technology Research.
Persons with pacemakers:
•
should ALWAYS keep the phone more than
six inches from their pacemaker when the
phone is turned ON
•
should not carry the phone in a breast pocket

9
Overview
•
should use the ear opposite the pacemaker
to minimize the potential for interference
•
should turn the phone OFF immediately if you
have any reason to suspect that interference
is taking place
HearingAids
Some digital wireless phones may interfere with
some hearing aids. In the event of such
interference, you may want to consult your hearing
aid manufacturer to discuss alternatives.
Other Medical Devices
If you use any other personal medical device,
consult the manufacturer of your device to
determine if it is adequately shielded from external
RF energy. Your physician may be able to assist
you in obtaining this information.
Turn your phone OFF in health care facilities when
any regulations posted in these areas instruct you
to do so. Hospitals or health care facilities may be
using equipment that could be sensitive to external
RF energy.
Vehicles
RF signals may affect improperly installed or
inadequately shielded electronic systems in motor
vehicles. Check with the manufacturer or its
representative regarding your vehicle. You should
also consult the manufacturer of any equipment
that has been added to your vehicle.
Posted Facilities
Turn your phone OFF in any facility where posted
notices so require.

10
Aircraft
Switch OFF your phone before boarding an aircraft.
Airline regulations prohibit using your phone while
in the air. Check and comply with the policy of your
airline regarding the use of your phone while the
aircraft is on the ground.
BlastingAreas
To avoid interfering with blasting operations, turn
your phone OFF when in a "blasting area" or in
areas posted: "Turn off two-way radio." Obey all
signs and instructions.
Potentially ExplosiveAtmospheres
Turn your phone OFF, do not remove your battery
when you are in any area with a potentially
explosive atmosphere, and obey all signs and
instructions. Sparks from your battery in such areas
could cause an explosion or fire resulting in bodily
injury or even death.
Areas with a potentially explosive atmosphere are
often but not always clearly marked. They include:
fueling areas such as gasoline stations; below deck
on boats; fuel or chemical transfer or storage
facilities; areas where fuel odors are present (for
example, if a gas/propane leak occurs in a car or
home); areas where the air contains chemicals or
particles, such as grain, dust, or metal powders;
and any other area where you normally would be
advised to turn off your vehicle engine.
ForVehicles Equipped with anAir Bag
An air bag inflates with great force. Do NOT place
objects, including both installed or portable
wireless equipment, in the area over the air bag or
in the air bag deployment area. If in-vehicle
wireless equipment is improperly installed and the
air bag inflates, serious injury could result.
US021600

11
Overview
Overview
Package Content Options
Your TDMA digital StarTAC™ cellular phone is
typically packed with a transformer charger and at
least one battery. Below is a sampling of the
different package options.
Note:
Your phone and accessories may not look
exactly as pictured.
TDMA digital
StarTAC™ Cellular
Telephone
Slim Main Battery
with Battery Cover
Standard Main Battery
with Battery Cover
AC Adapter
Vehicle Power
Adapter
Holster
Headset
Desktop Charger
(AC Adapter required)
Digital
SlimAuxiliaryBattery
with Battery Cover

12
Phone Overview
See “Phone Diagram” on page 13 for an illustration
of the components described below.
Antenna—Provides superior connectability.
Earpiece—Ultra-compact phone speaker.
Accessory Connector Port—Provides the
connections for an external power supply and
vehicular and optional accessories.
Headset Jack—Connects to an optional headset.
Microphone—Positioned for convenient
conversation.
Function Keys
P—Turns the phone On and Off.
f—Acts as a “shift” key to access the secondary
functions of other keys.
r—Recalls phone numbers from memory.
s—Stores phone numbers into memory.
c—Clears characters from the screen.
e—Ends phone calls.
S—Places or answers calls.
#and *—Can be used to scroll through
memory entries and menu features.
mMessage Center Button—Allows access to
digital messages and voice mail messages.
=Smart Button—Use the Smart Button to recall
information from memory, place and end calls,
select menu features, and toggle features on and
off. The symbol Ain your display represents the
Smart Button.
<and >Volume Keys—The upper and lower
volume keys can adjust keypad, earpiece, and
ringer volume. After pressing the Smart Button, the
volume keys also scroll through memory entries
and menu features.

13
Overview
Phone Diagram
Earpiece
Battery Level
Indicator
VibraCall®
Alert Indicator
09:55
Alphanumeric
Keypad
Function
Keys
Microphone
Smart Button
Volume Keys
Power/Status
Indicator
Headset Jack
Icon Indicators
Signal Strength
Indicator
Accessory
Connector Port
Clock

14
Understanding the Guide
Key Presses
Key presses are represented in this guide using
symbols so that you may locate and use the
required sequence quickly. A sequence of key
presses may be shown as follows:
f07c
This means you should pressffollowed by 0,
7, and then c, in sequence, not
simultaneously.
Prompts and Messages
Your phone responds to key presses by displaying
either a prompt that guides you to the next action or
a message confirming that your action is complete.
Prompts and messages are represented in this
guide in LCD style, for example Reset Timer.
Short Cuts andTips
In the margins of your guide are short cuts and
useful hints and ways to improve your phone’s
performance. These are especially helpful for
experienced Motorola Users, who can find many of
the same key sequences used with other Motorola
models.

15
Batteries
Using the Battery
AboutYour Batteries
Your TDMA digital StarTAC™ phone uses Lithium
Ion (LiIon) batteries. Batteries are available in Slim
and Extra Capacity sizes.
Your phone can use two batteries at the same time.
You can use:
•any single main battery alone
or
•a main and auxiliary battery combination
to fit your needs. You can attach an auxiliary battery
at any time, without interrupting your call.
Storing and Disposing of Batteries
To prolong the life of your batteries, do not expose
them to temperatures below -10°C (14°F) or above
45°C (113°F). Always take your phone with you
when you leave your car.
To dispose of batteries, check with your local
recycling center for a battery recycler near you.
Never dispose of batteries in a fire.
Caution: To prevent injuries or burns, do not allow
metal objects to contact or short-circuit the battery
terminals.

16
Removing and Attaching
Battery Covers
Your phone’s batteries are shipped uncharged and
fitted with protective covers. Before you install the
batteries, remove these covers, and save them for
storing unused batteries. The covers prevent metal
objects from contacting the battery terminals,
reducing the risk of injury or damage from a battery
short circuit.
Removing the Main Battery Cover
1. Press in the release
latch.
2. Rotate the battery
upward and lift it out of
the cover.
Attaching the Main Battery Cover
1. Lower the edge of the
battery opposite the
release latch into the
cover.
2. Drop the side with the
release latch down until
the latch clicks into
place.
1.
2.
Release Latch
1.
2.
Release Latch

17
Batteries
Removing theAuxiliary Battery Cover
1. Hold the auxiliary battery securely.
2. Push up on the bottom of the cover.
3. Continue pushing until the cover slides free
of the pins on the bottom of the battery, and
swing the cover away from the battery.
Attaching the Auxiliary Battery Cover
1. Slide the cover’s narrow end
into the small grooved hook
on top of the auxiliary battery.
2. Push the cover firmly
downward until the base of
the cover slides past the
battery pins; then release.
1.
2. 3.
Pins
1.
2.
Pins
Hook

18
Installing and Removing
Batteries
Installing a Main Battery
1. Set the edge of the
battery opposite the
release latch into the
cover.
2. Pressthe releaselatch
side of the battery into the cover until the
latch clicks into place
Removing a Main Battery
1. If you don’t have another battery attached,
press pto turn your phone off.
2. Press the release latch
back toward the
battery, and lift the
battery out.
InstallinganAuxiliary
Battery
The auxiliary battery clips onto the back of your
phone.
1. Place the hook located
on the narrow end of
the battery into the slot
on the back of the
phone.
2. Pull the battery toward
thebottomofthe phone
and slide the battery
pins over the bottom of the phone.
3. Once the battery clears the bottom of the
phone, release it. Make sure that the pins fit
securely into place.
1. 2.
Release Latch
Release Latch
2.
1.
Hook
Pins

19
Batteries
Removing anAuxiliary Battery
1. Pull the battery
down until the pins
release from the
base of the phone,
and pull the base
away from the
phone.
2. Lift the battery’s hook out of the slot on the
back of the phone.
Checking Battery Levels
Battery Level Indicator
The three bar segments on your phone’s Battery
Level Indicator display the amount of charge
remaining in your battery. The more segments
visible, the greater the charge.
For a detailed battery level reading:
Press f4.
One of the following is displayed:
The more segments filled on the battery
gauge, the greater the charge.
Low BatteryWarning
When the battery level is low and only a few
minutes of time to talk, your phone signals you in
three ways:
•Low Battery appears in the first line of the
display.
•No bar segments are highlighted.
•A short tone plays periodically.
1. 2.
Hook
Pins
Main
Auxiliary
High
Low

20
To confirm low battery signals:
Press f4.
Power Status Messages
You may also see one of the following messages:
Charging Batteries
Tip:
You can still
place and
answer calls
while using
either the
internal
charger or the
vehicle power
adapter.
Rememberthat
talking on the
phone requires
energy, so
charging takes
more time. To
place the
phone in
charger-only
mode, turn off
the phone by
pressing p
once.
Using the Internal Charger
Your phone has a built-in battery charger. Using
either the AC or vehicle power adapter, you can
plug the handset directly into a power source to
charge any attached batteries.
To charge:
1. Plug the AC
adapter or vehicle
power adapter
intotheaccessory
connector on the
bottom of your phone as shown, with the
release tab facing up.
Auxiliary Auxiliary and/or main batteries fitted;
phone is operating from auxiliary
battery.
Main Auxiliary and/or main batteries fitted;
phone is operating from main battery.
Charging
Auxiliary Auxiliary and main batteries fitted;
auxiliary battery is being charged.
Charging
Main Auxiliary and/or main batteries fitted;
main battery is being charged.