Greetings! My query has to do with using wireless phone in the Element. Up front, I want to say that discussion about talking on the phone while driving, while worthwhile, isn't what this thread is about...
I'm interested in what types of hands-free systems or applications some of you may be using now or contemplating for the future. Using the information that Brendan so helpfully includes in his signature, I was fascinated to learn more about Parrot and their Bluetooth solutions. Presently, and ever since I started using a wireless phone in a car, I've always found hands-free to be the best method, causing little disruption to my driving concentration. But the wires suck. They are cumbersome and they aren't very durable... especially when closed in the door or the dog chews on them. So please share your experiences with whatever you may be using for those who are considering wireless. Here's the link in reference to Brendan's set-up:
http://www.driveblue.com/

Thanks!

I really like my parrot CK3000. Since it outputs speaker-level (not line-level), it's easier to interface to a DX or LX vs. an EX, though.

The newer CK3100/CK3300 models look even cooler.

-brendan

Since it outputs speaker-level (not line-level), it's easier to interface to a DX or LX vs. an EX, though.

Thanks, Brendan... And the T610 is really nice, too. Did you have to do anything unusual for the audio or mounting? And although you may have posted before on this subject, I'd love to see PICTURES!! :D




8)

At the moment my solution is somewhat less sophisticated. I have a Sony-Ericsson T616 and an Actiontec Bluetooth (http://www.actiontec.com/products/broadband/bluetooth_headset/bluetooth_headset_overview.html)headset. While it isn't connected to the car, it's a nice, simple hands-free approach (and while it looks like something from Star Trek or Minority Report, it has the benefit of allowing me to step outside of my E and continue the conversation.)

[quote:d0095bab19=" "]Did you have to do anything unusual for the audio or mounting? And although you may have posted before on this subject, I'd love to see PICTURES!![/quote:d0095bab19]

Mounting: The sticky thread on aux & sub wiring (in mobile electronics forum) includes a picture (2nd to last?) of most of my stuff pulled out of the dash. The larger parrot box was still inside the dash, since I (sensibly) zip-tied it to the outside of the E's double-din sled (behind the driver's side dash) so it wouldn't roll around behind the driver side instrument cluster. It's a box about half the size of a VHS tape (if you split the tape along the longest dimension).

Audio: yeah, I had to use my head unit's speaker outs into the Parrot, then use a speaker-to-line-level converter to connect the parrot's outs to the honda harness (which expects line level for the EX's separate amp). Also, for non-cut related reasons, I added some additional ISO male and female harnesses in there.

It might be better to bypass the amp for the four door channels (and therefore skip the converter), but I didn't want to deal with running my own wiring to the doors. Depends what kind of work you are comfortable with.

I've got a bunch of pictures I took of the construction months ago, but it'll take me a few hours to put it all together.

[quote:d0095bab19=" "]At the moment my solution is somewhat less sophisticated. I have a Sony-Ericsson T616 and an Actiontec Bluetooth (http://www.actiontec.com/products/broadband/bluetooth_headset/bluetooth_headset_overview.html)headset. While it isn't connected to the car, it's a nice, simple hands-free approach (and while it looks like something from Star Trek or Minority Report, it has the benefit of allowing me to step outside of my E and continue the conversation.)[/quote:d0095bab19]

I used the Parrot for doing in car conference calling (all passengers and my dad) on sunday. That was cool. :)

-brendan

I think My solution is the best.. no one ever calls my cell so I think I am hands free...it just sits there in teh little console I think it if rang I would crock of a heart attack. :twisted: :twisted:

lol... my solution is ultra-low-tech! It's a cell phone dash mount and i use a wired headset while driving. still cool though! ;)

http://e-shen.com/element/e-mounts03.jpg

I use the Jabra Freespeak. Bluetooth wireless, weighs less than an ounce, sits nicely behind your ear. If the phone rings you tap your ear to pick up. You can also dial by speaking (if your phone supports it).

http://store.info-motion.com/jafrfsbl.html

I think I need to turn off the wordspotting->activation feature on the Parrot, or make the 'magic' word something with more syllables like "hippopotamus" which'd make it less likely to misfire: every few hours or so of travel, it thinks I said the word "telephone", mutes the stereo and waits for me to speak the name of the person I'm dialing. That's sort of annoying, because for a moment, I'm not sure if it misheard roadnoise/conversation/music as "telephone" or if I have an incoming call.

It's not much more difficult to just hit the green button on the dash and then speak the name of the person I'm calling, plus that problem would go away.

-brendan

All: I bought a Motorola Hands Free system for my E. It's an IHF1000 car kit with a mic, speakers, blah blah blah.

Q: Have any of you reading this installed this or a similar device and if so, would you share the details of how you set it up in your Element?

Many thanks! :)

All: I bought a Motorola Hands Free system for my E. It's an IHF1000 car kit with a mic, speakers, blah blah blah.

Q: Have any of you reading this installed this or a similar device and if so, would you share the details of how you set it up in your Element?

Many thanks! :)


Bring it to the Mod meet! I would like to see it! I am on the road way too much, and I hate holding my phone must less talking while driving!

I bought this unit last week and have been very impressed with it. Why mention a GPS unit?

The C550 is not only a GPS, but also an excellent hands-free wireless phone solution (assuming you have a Bluetooth phone with a hands-free profile).

Once the unit is running the phone icon on the lower left of the unit screen indicates your phone is paired with the unit.
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/gallery/pt-SP-c550-CF-lg.jpg

When you press the phone icon, this screen is presented. In my case using a Motorola V3M, I can dial via touch-screen, invoke Obeymoto and Voice Dial, my phone's address book is available on screen to dial, and Call Home. There is also POI (points of interest) dial too. If you receive a call, a screen will pop up with the Caller's Name and Number.. press accept or reject. Whatever choice you make, the unit will turn to navigation mode and if you accepted the call you can continue talking while navigating. Call quality is excellent on both sides, people do notice that you are on a speaker phone, but both parties can understand each other without a problem. Speakers are located on each side of the unit. The unit can hold an 8 hour charge and comes with a car power adapter.
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/gallery/pt-sp-c550-RT-lg.jpg

This navigation screen has a red phone icon on the lower left screen. This indicates that you are using your phone while in navigation mode.

Another very cool feature, while navigating to your destination, you can look up resturants, lodging that is along your way. Select the place you are interested in, you are presented with the address and phone number. Press the phone number and the C550 will dial it for you.
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/gallery/pt-sp-c550-LT-lg.jpg

The C550 is not cheap, but since you might be spending some $$$$ on a hands-free system, you might want to consider spending the additional money and get the best of both worlds.

I just use a Motorola HS820 bluetooth headset and call it a day. I've set up my RAZR V3 with voice dialing, so in theory, I never have to pick up the phone to dial or recieve calls. Plus the mic boom flips to close and the battery life lasts for a few weeks if you close it every night.

I feel lost without my bluetooth headset while I'm driving. Keep in mind I never use outside the car. I think people look like tools when they have them on in supermarkets and stores.

I bought this unit last week and have been very impressed with it. Why mention a GPS unit?

The C550 is not only a GPS, but also an excellent hands-free wireless phone solution (assuming you have a Bluetooth phone with a hands-free profile).

Once the unit is running the phone icon on the lower left of the unit screen indicates your phone is paired with the unit.
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/gallery/pt-SP-c550-CF-lg.jpg

When you press the phone icon, this screen is presented. In my case using a Motorola V3M, I can dial via touch-screen, invoke Obeymoto and Voice Dial, my phone's address book is available on screen to dial, and Call Home. There is also POI (points of interest) dial too. If you receive a call, a screen will pop up with the Caller's Name and Number.. press accept or reject. Whatever choice you make, the unit will turn to navigation mode and if you accepted the call you can continue talking while navigating. Call quality is excellent on both sides, people do notice that you are on a speaker phone, but both parties can understand each other without a problem. Speakers are located on each side of the unit. The unit can hold an 8 hour charge and comes with a car power adapter.
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/gallery/pt-sp-c550-RT-lg.jpg

This navigation screen has a red phone icon on the lower left screen. This indicates that you are using your phone while in navigation mode.

Another very cool feature, while navigating to your destination, you can look up resturants, lodging that is along your way. Select the place you are interested in, you are presented with the address and phone number. Press the phone number and the C550 will dial it for you.
http://www.garmin.com/products/sp550/gallery/pt-sp-c550-LT-lg.jpg

The C550 is not cheap, but since you might be spending some $$$$ on a hands-free system, you might want to consider spending the additional money and get the best of both worlds.

I have the same unit and I love it. It's an MP3 player and USB storage device too.
You can plug it into the aux jack on your E and play music, hear directions and phone calls over the radio speakers. You can find it online for around $650.

I bought the IHF1000 model because while driving on base you're only permitted to talk on the phone via certain types of hands free devices, and headsets were not included in the DoD definition. So...

---------
This car kit is equipped with voice operated control features together with high quality audio output allowing you to drive truly hands free from your cell phone. The car installation kit comes with chrome keypad, directional microphone, bluetooth module, wiring connectors, 5watt external speakers, mounting hardware including user manual and installation guide.

The simple voice menu prompts and the controller make it easy to:

Answer incoming calls
Dial by name with up to 20 locally stored contacts
Dial by number or by the mobile phone keypad
Request system help
Phone dependent features (for phones with the "hands free profile")
Make calls using voice tags or name dial (as many as the mobile phone supports)
Transfer in and out of privacy mode
Transfer audio to hands-free
Toggle between multi-party calls

Get several 1000ft spools of CAT 3 cable......

Rocket,

How did this unit work for you? I'm thinking seriously about installing this in my E. Are you pleased with it?

This is integrated with the audio system, right?

I'm looking at the harness that Crutchfield sells, thinking this would be an awesome and extremely easy mod.

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-v9GdW4mgLSc/cgi-bin/ProdView.asp?g=287550&I=120BT1721A




All: I bought a Motorola Hands Free system for my E. It's an IHF1000 car kit with a mic, speakers, blah blah blah.

Q: Have any of you reading this installed this or a similar device and if so, would you share the details of how you set it up in your Element?

Many thanks! :)

"Mr. Wet Blanket" checking in here, merely to toss out a tiny "legal" reminder:

Multi-tasking is one thing, but...

If any of you cellphone and/or GPS-users are involved an an automobile accident, your cellphone and any-and-all other electronic record-keeping devices are subject to "discovery" by opposing counsel. It's legal in all 50 states. Nothing impresses a jury so much as the actual sound of an impact recorded in a cellphone conversation... :lol:

I'm happy with the hands free unit. I bought it because I thought, and still believe, it's less of a distraction to talk on a hands free device than it is to hold the damn thing up to my ear. DoD regulations require an integral hands free device in order to talk while driving-blue tooth headsets don't count on base.

As I recall I bought mine for about $175 and it cost another $120 to install. The installation included a relay that mutes the radio when an incoming call is received. The unit I have is voice activated so you can dial a number by saying it into the mic. There are similar Motorola devices without the voice activation for about $85.

You might search Bizrate or Pricegrabber to find a better deal. "Best Buy" had the same unit for $385 (and no, the price did not include installation) Hmmm...

"Mr. Wet Blanket" checking in here, merely to toss out a tiny "legal" reminder:

Multi-tasking is one thing, but...

If any of you cellphone and/or GPS-users are involved an an automobile accident, your cellphone and any-and-all other electronic record-keeping devices are subject to "discovery" by opposing counsel. It's legal in all 50 states. Nothing impresses a jury so much as the actual sound of an impact recorded in a cellphone conversation... :lol:

you are so very good at seeing all perspectives.......:)
jurn