SB>        Owing to a generational difference 8-), I've never seen an
  >        IMTS phone in operation.  Could one of the more experienced
  >        participants fill me in on how the system worked?  I think I
  >        saw it on "Perry Mason" on TV once, but I'm not sure.
Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS) operated primarily on the
150 MHZ band (Similar in 450 MHz).  Basically the mobile unit consisted 
of a trunk mounted transceiver with a telephone style head with (I 
believe) 11 channels. (e.g. YP, JP, etc.).  The control heads initially 
had rotary dials and used pulse dialing; but were replaced by touch 
tone pads.  They were great units.  Because of the VHF frequency, I 
could get on top of a mountain 40 or 50 miles away from my home area 
and get into my home service area avoiding toll charges and roaming 
charges.  (Don't remember for sure if there were roaming charges).  The 
two best IMTS phones that I remember were the Motorola and the RF 
Communications (later known as Harris).  The transmitter packs, as I 
remember transmitted at 25 or 50 watts of power.  The automation in the
system consisted of the unit scanning for available IMTS frequencies to 
make a call; and with the base stations sending out a call by scanning
channels to find one your unit was on.
Charles
 * 1st 2.00 ~ Dijon Vu: The feeling you've tasted this mustard before
--- QScan/PCB v1.19b / 01-0671
---------------