miso@sushi.com wrote:

3) The rectangular radios probably were not cell phones. For the most
part, commercial radios are known at "bricks". That is, they are boxy.
These guys could be cops, rent-a-cops, or casino workers. It seems
everyone in Vegas has a handie talkie.

What was the status of cellular in Las Vegas in 1990?
I remember as late as 87 in Ukiah, I had a VHF brick
for a "mobile phone". Simplex PTT to an operator, verbally
giver her the number you want and you were connected
via phone patch. Shared the comms with a bunch of other
users.

And of course, those bricks, as miso suggests, would
do unit to unit comms, like any typical HT radio.

Similar situation in Hot Springs AR in the early 90's.
Lots of doctors had huge VHF bricks that an operator
would phone patch to whoever they wanted to call.
They weighed so much the docs would carry them
on a shoulder strap. Some of the snooty docs would
assign an intern or nurse to carry the radio.

When cell phones started coming in, there in AR at least,
the most popular were the mini-briefcase style with coil
cord handset and 12vdc cigar plug. Some people had
the "hand held" style cellphone that looked sort of
like a PRC-6 military radio, not much smaller. But
the briefcase phones had more power.


Lumpy
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