Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown

Cracking Open the Motorola Advisor Gold pager (1997)

\n\tIn the mid- to late-1990s, cellular phones were rapidly replacing pagers in the personal communication market. Still, it wasn’t uncommon for people to have both a mobile phone (particularly in their car) and a pager. In 1997, I was such a person.

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\n\tI had a phone in my car and carried this Motorola pager. Nearly 15 years later, I decided to dig it out of storage and crack it open. Follow along as I take a look inside the Motorola Advisor Gold pager (circa 1997).  

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: With case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: In belt case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Case clip

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Still works

\n\tEven after nearly 15 years, this Motorola Advisor Gold pager still works–provided it had service.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Battery cover removed

\n\tThe Motorola Advisor Gold pager was powered by a single AA battery.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Battery removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Releasing the back cover catch

\n\tThe Motorola Advisor Gold’s back cover is held in place with several plastic clips. The main clip is located inside the battery comparment.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Popping loose the back cover

\n\tWith the back cover’s main clip released, we can continue popping loose the Motorola Advisor Gold’s back cover.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Loosened back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Back cover removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Back cover

\n\tThe Motorola Advisor Gold’s large vibration motor is located inside the back cover.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the vibration motor

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Vibration motor removed from back cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Vibration motor - Front

\n\tThe Motorola Advisor Gold’s vibration motor is significantly larger than the motors found on current smartphones.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Vibration motor - Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Inside the case

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Disconnecting the antenna PCB from the main PCB

\n\tThe Motorola Advisor Gold pager has two PCBs–a main PCB and this one that has the antennas. The two PCBs are attached with a connector. Using a plastic spudger, I gently detached them.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the antenna PCB

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Antenna PCB removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Antenna PCB - Top

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Antenna PCB - Bottom

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Motorola chip 79Z71-06 VORTEX XAF9703

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Motorola B01 4476000 T9705

\n\tThis metal component is likely one of the Motorola Advisor Gold’s radio transmitters/receivers. It has the markings – B01 4476000 T9705.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Assembled 02/19/1997

\n\tAccording to the date printed on this sticker, the antenna PCB in this Motorola Advisor Gold pager was assembled on February 19, 1997.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Motorola 37B09 T9704

\n\tAnother radio transmitter/receiver with markings – Motorola 37B09 T9704.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: With antenna PCB removed

\n\tWith the Motorola Adivsor Gold pager’s antenna PCB removed, we find a formed, rubber cushion separating it and the vibration motor from the main PCB.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing internal rubber cushion

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Internal rubber cushion removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Internal rubber cushion - Front

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Internal rubber cushion - Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Main PCB still attached

\n\tWith the internal rubber cushion removed, we get our first good look at the Motorola Adivsor Gold’s main PCB.
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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the case ring

\n\tA thin rubber ring site between the Motorola Adivsor Gold’s back cover and front cover.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Case ring removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the main PCB and display assembly

\n\tAt this point, I was able to easily detach the display and main PCB assembly from the front cover.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Main PCB and display assembly removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Main PCB and display assembly - Back

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Inside the front cover

\n\tThere’s a lot of dust inside this old Motorola Adivsor Gold pager.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Main PCB (with display) - Front

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Motorola SC428253PU IC

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: NEC D43256BGW IC

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: System battery

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Speaker

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the front Up and Down buttons

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Display

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Display cable attached to main PCB

\n\tUnfortunatley, the display cable is permanently glued to the Motorola Adivsor Gold page’s main PCB.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Underside of display ribbon cable contacts

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the front button contacts

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Front button contacts removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Removing the front cover from the display assembly

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Front cover removed

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Display and main PCB assembly

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Main PCB without front cover

\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler

Motorola Advisor Gold Pager (1997) Teardown: Completely disassembled

\n\tThis Motorola Advisor Gold pager was a reliable device that served me well for many years. And, it’s no wonder. After cracking it open, I found it to be well constructed and contain sturdy material. I only wish all current smartphones were as rugged.

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\n\tPhoto by: Bill Detwiler / TechRepublic
\n\tCaption by: Bill Detwiler