Phone upgrade M-B issues/queries

[BTB 500]

Currently got a nice setup, using reliable but outdated Nokia 6230i phones (Mrs BTB and I have one each).

The SL has a wired handsfree cradle. Phone charges, car antenna is used, stereo is muted when the phone is in use. Basic but OK.

The Vito has factory pre-wire, so with the cradle fitted either phone can be used in the vehicle. Full contact list functionality through the Sound 20 head unit/cluster/steering wheel, phone charges, external phone aerial is used.

The phones pair via Bluetooth with the TomTom to provide Traffic data via GRPS. This happily co-exists with the wired handsfree in both vehicles.

So ... we would like to upgrade to more modern handsets, possibly Nokia 5800s.

For the Vito I would need a Bluetooth 'cradle' costing £200-£350 ish

This would provide less functionality than I have now, in that the phone wouldn't charge. And using a cheaper HFP one wouldn't use the vehicle's external aerial, so reception would be worse. And I'm not sure whether the phone would be able to pair simultaneously with two Bluetooth devices i.e. the TomTom (for GPRS data) and the vehicle?

On long trips (e.g. to Germany) we would have to choose between having the TomTom or the phone on charge - probably neither would last the whole distance. I think the most expensive SAP module does have a USB charge port, but obviously that doesn't restrain the phone in any way. Not a problem if the phone port is in the centre console, but on the Vito it's next to the instrument cluster ... so there's really nowhere to put a 'free floating' phone. The 12V power socket is low down, under the gear selector.

So at the moment this is not looking like a good move?!

Any comments/advice welcomed!

 

[Diesel Benz]

I guess the most straightforward approach would be a more recent phone model that still has the cradle option. Unfortunately a cradle does not exist for many fresh phone models (a German list here, cannot put a direct link: Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH - Produktinformationen - Mobilkommunikation ).

Note that unlikely all phones brands support BT HF and GPRS dial up simultaneously (mainly not all allow GPRS dial up over BT).

The BT SAP adapter would be an option that allows the external antenna being used. Your phone would survive the trip to Germany even if you had a call ongoing all the way. The point is that in BT SAP mode the phone battery is not used for more than delivering SIM card data to the BT SAP adapter. But the problem with this damn Peiker implementation is that the BT SAP device is not GPRS capable. My Nokia 616 car kit was sold several years before the BT SAP adapter was released and this kit did both BT SAP and GPRS dial up over BT simultaneously (in addition it did support both BT SAP and BT HF profiles according to your choice). Even if I'm using Comand for navigation, sometimes I would prefer to use Nokia Maps from the phone, I can do that but loose all on-line features.

A BT HF profile adapter would have the same functionality as you have now. It would have the drawbacks you mention.

 

[BTB 500]

Hmm ... thanks for that.

The TomTom Traffic service isn't brilliant but somehow I'm getting it for free (I let my subcription lapse about 6 months ago, but it still works ), so worth having on that basis!

I hadn't really thought the SAP thing through. The TomTom would presumably have to pair with the BT SAP adapter and not the new handset. Even if the SAP adapter did support GPRS I bet my four year old TomTom 910 wouldn't recognise the device type when trying to pair.

After a bit of Googling it seems that with the newer TomTom Traffic HD service the satnav has a built-in receiver and SIM card ... it doesn't get data via your phone at all. So replacing my TomTom would probably be the answer - more money!

 

[BTB 500]

So replacing my TomTom would probably be the answer - more money!

Sigh. The newer TomToms don't have a remote like my 910 does. I can't reach the windscreen of the Vito, so operating via the touchscreen would be rather tricky.

 

[JasM]

Sigh. The newer TomToms don't have a remote like my 910 does. I can't reach the windscreen of the Vito, so operating via the touchscreen would be rather tricky.

A remote for the newer Tomtom's:

LINK

 

[crockers]

Are the cradles you use UHI ones? Sorry couldn't make out from the photo. If so can you not get a new phone with a new UHI cradle. Or am I missing something?

 

[Diesel Benz]

Are the cradles you use UHI ones? Sorry couldn't make out from the photo. If so can you not get a new phone with a new UHI cradle. Or am I missing something?

It is a relatively new car and the 6230i cradle did not exist before UHI, so it has to be UHI.

 

[BTB 500]

A remote for the newer Tomtom's:

LINK

Interesting, thanks. But no stock there, and it's not shown on the TomTom website (or even listed as an accessory) so possibly not made any more?

 

[BTB 500]

Are the cradles you use UHI ones? Sorry couldn't make out from the photo. If so can you not get a new phone with a new UHI cradle. Or am I missing something?

Yes it's UHI (2007 vehicle). The problem is that there are no cradles for most modern phones (esp. touchscreen ones) ... it seems Bluetooth is the only option.