Programming Motorola 550 Flips
by Ryan Anderson

        There are all sorts of phones out there that can be reprogrammed,
but I chose the 550 flip because it is easy to acquire on, and the software
and cabling are really easy to figure out.  This file will cover finding the
right phone, getting all of the software, and actually reprogramming the
phone.

Step 1.  The phone
        You need to find a two low number flip phones.  What do I mean by a 
low number flip?  The software revision needs to be before 9320.  
You can figure out the software revision of the phone by removing the battery from the back
of the flip.  You then need a small piece of tin foil, which you will insert
into the recessed battery contact (middle contact, lower right hand of the
phone).  Make sure that it doesn't touch any of the other contacts and slide
the battery back on.  When the phone turns on hit the # key, then hit 19#.
The phone will display a 4 digit number.
        You will also need a loader phone.  The loader phone is a flip phone
like the one described above but it's software revision is 89xx or earlier.
You need both phones to be able to reprogram other phones.
        Some tips on where to find phones.  First of all ask around on boards
if anybody is selling phones.  If that doesn't work, try the newspaper.  Just
call people and tell them you are interested, then go look at the phone and
use the tin foil on it.  In my area (Southern California), LA Cellular gave
out a lot of flip phones a few years ago (software 9308) and those turn up in
the newspaper all the time.

Step 2.  The software
        Once you have your phone, you now need the software.  Luckily I have
included G2 which will do up to 9320 phones.  You want to run this software
on a 386/25 or slower.  Anything faster than that and you will have problems.
Just unzip G2, copy the autoexec and config files to your root directory and
you are ready to go.  You will now need to make your programming cable.  I
included a file on how to make a programming cable that works.  If you follow
these directions, you will have a working cable when you are done.  Now that
you have the software and cable made, you are ready for step 3.

Step 3.  Programming the phone
        Basically this section is going to be quick introduction on how to        
use G2.  Turn on your computer and plug in your programming cable.  Then fire
up G2 using the g2.bat file.  The program will prompt you to "connect loaner"
so you hook up your loader (pre 89xx) by attaching the ground to your phone 
first (the part that connects to the third recessed contact), then plug in the cable.  After the cable is plugged
in and the phone turns on, press enter.  It will ask you for the type of 
connect and press "M".  The program will next prompt you for your ESN, so
enter your E in hex and press ESCape.  The program will now force the check
sum on the phone and change the E.  Sometimes this can take up to 20 minutes
so do not worry.  After G2 has had it's way with your loader, it will prompt
you to disconnect the loader and press enter.  Remove the loader (ground 
first, then cable) and press enter.
        Now you will be prompted to connect the phone you wish program (the
target phone).  So attach it the same way as the loader (ground first) and
press Enter.  It will again prompt you for the type of connection so enter
M.  Now you will enter your NAM information.  Leave the top three lines of
information alone and do the rest.  A few tips here.  You enter your MIN in
the format 2135-551212.  Also if you are doing someone else's phone, set the
security code to the current date (ie 061796) so that when they bring it back
and tell you that it went dead in less than 2 weeks or whatever, you can check
how long it has really been.
        After you enter in all the NAM information, press ESCape and it will
write to the phone.  Disconnect the phone (ground first) and you are done.
Congrats, you now have a cell phone that you can make all the calls what you
want on it.

Section 4.  Tips
        Always keep your phone locked (turn autolock on).  That way if some
cop wants to look at your phone, you can just tell him that you forgot your
lock code =).  Also don't call home on your phone, basic common sense there.
Change pairs about every 2 weeks to be safe.


