Bluetooth Kits - What's Hot??

[Will]

I've currently got a P900 that I've had for yonks (over 2 years!) and it's still going strong. It has Bluetooth and I'd like to get a nicely fitted Bluetooth kit installed in the A4 (maybe in the C230K too if I can actually make my mind up whether to keep it or not lol ).

What I would like to know is what's hot and what's not in the world of Bluetooth kits. Ideally I'd like a nicely fitted solution that I can leave installed discreetly, and a bit of future proofing would go down a treat (eg if I change handsets, are some kits incompatible with certain brands?)

Anyone had good/bad experiences?

Can you connect to the stereo mute function still so that it mutes the radio when calls come in? Any fancy kits offer other features - phone book etc??

Where's a good place to buy from, eBay??

All advice appreciated

Will

 

[blicky_1]

I use the Sony Ericcson BT kit with my 02 smartphone and all is ok for me, mutes the radio ok and stores about 6 different mobiles in it.

 

[nickmann]

I've had 2 Sony Ericsson Bluetooth kits and have had no problems at all. I'd recomend getting the music mute cable which uses the stereo as the telephone output. It costs about £30 on top of the kit.

 

[GrahamC230K]

From what I read, stay clear of Parrot and Sony Ericsson is the way to go for any brand of mobile.

I am still very torn - I need a new kit as my Ericsson K700i kit is not compatible with my new K750i. Do I spend ~£100 on the best bluetooth kit - future proof, will work with personal and work mobiles, won't charge phones, still need a phone cradle, or spend the same money on the K750i specific wired kit - it's actually my preferance to go wired again although I know the money is not as well spent.

 

[1998K]

I've a Nokia Bluetooth car kit, and I use it with a Sony Ericsson T610 phone. I've the following problem: a really bad "echo" (as reported by the person that is talking woth me; I hear OK). Further "mute" does not work for incoming call (work only if I start a call). Last: Nokia loudspeaker quality seems me really low (caw sound).

As far as the main problem (echo) I'm wondering if it's a Bluetooth problem due to interface between two different brand, or a problem related to Nokia the car kit.

This for your info Guys.

 

[Shude]

I've the following problem: a really bad "echo" (as reported by the person that is talking woth me; I hear OK).

I had a very strange conversation with a bloke on Friday and it turns out he was using a bluetooth headset, the "echo" as you describe it is very distracting! I don't know what causes the problem though.

 

[Rose Chap]

I might be able to help with this. In my old car I had a fully fitted cradle plus phone mute doodah for my Sony Z600. This was a wired kit, not Bluetooth.

When I first had it there was a terrible echo for people I was talking to - by the sounds of it similar to yours. The fix was to go into the menu settings for the phone, and change the Handsfree type from Basic (default) to Automatic. Give that a try and see if its any different.

 

[1998K]

Thanks for the help. I've tried different setting in my T610: there is 2 different possibility (basic or complete)...problem still present!!

I've dismantled the car kit last saturday, now I'm waiting the verdict, because it's still under warranty!

 

[Doodle]

If you're willing to spend the cash, the HCB-700 is a marvellous piece of kit, especially for owners of SE phones.

Paid £120 for mine a few months back, and it's performed faultlessly. Voice dialling (including calling out numbers to the system), phonebook and call list access, with memory for up to 5 phones. The display shows everything so you don't need to see your phone, and the sound quality is good. It even maintains a good level of compatibility with equipment from other manufacturers too.

The only annoyance is that the phonebook and call list function don't work with SE P800/900/910's, due to their PDA style phonebooks, but otherwise it's ok.

 

[turbominor]

forget the p900 and bluetooth.. i have had a hcb-30 sony kit and 2 parrot's with my p900. p900's bluetooth is awfull even with latest firmware.

I flogged mine and have no probs with a spv-c500,nokia 8910i and samsung d600 with either the sony hcb-30 in my c180

have tried various p900 with handsfree and headset profiles.

Part of my r&d job involves bluetooth and i gave up on the p900!

must say the hcb-30 is by far the best bluetooth car it i have ever used