[RicoVerde]

With the new law going in effect in a couple weeks, what are you using for cell phone use in the FJ?

Do you already have a bluetooth headset?

Just using the wired earbud that comes with your phone?

Bluetooth hands free visor mounted type speaker phone?

Bluetooth wired through the stereo speaker phone?

I cannot decide. I don't like headsets or earbuds, don't like having to put them on and off as I get in and out of the rig and don't like to walk around looking like I have a grub crawling on my ear.

I am leaning towards a visor mounted self contained unit like the Parrot, but am concerned about whether the speaker will be effective against the road noise of the FJ.

Any thoughts?

 

[DominicG]

Speakerphone I refuse to spend $80+ on an earpiece.

 

[Hanselhoff]

my friend has the visor mounted one and likes it. i have the one that came with the phone so i wont be spending any morre money. but my tinting is dark enough so i think i can get away with not using one

 

[AliciaMarie76]

I almost never talk on my phone; usually text!!! I know; I know; not safe at all. But I assure you I can text without looking at my phone so I can keep my eyes on the road. hehehehe

 

[FunJunkie]

My garmin is bluetooth equipped, one of the very few options I like on it.

 

[RicoVerde]

My garmin is bluetooth equipped, one of the very few options I like on it.

Mine is too, but the speaker is inadequate, I cannot hear the caller unless I am at a dead stop. I like the feature that broadcasts directly to my stereo, but finding a blank station here in SoCal. Also hate having to switch to the station when making or recieving a call and then back to the radio, CD etc.

So, typical for me, I asked this question to get advice before making a purchase and then headed out at lunch and bought without waiting for comments.

I got the Parrot MiniKit, it is the visor mounted model without a screen or anything and does not need to be wired into the stereo. After one call on it, my review is thumbs up, great volume and sound and apparantly sounds good on the other end. Paired up with my RIZR instantly, so far so good.

I will comment on the features after I have had a chance to work it out a little.

 

[Guest]

Waiting for Rico's review.....

 

[skersfan]

I have the Parrot and the Jawbone, and the motorolla blue thing. Neither work for crap. I am looking at one from Kenwood with their high end stereo, dvd, entertainment system, it is the 8120. But it is well over a 1200 bucks.

I have the one in the GMC and it works perfectly, but the minutes are so damned expensive. I am at a loss as to what to tell you.

The parrot worked fine for about a week, took it back and they got it working again, but then I had to re pair it everytime I got in the truck, now it will not work at all, can not pair for some reason.

The jawbone is Verizons military type ear bud. Well I had a string and coffee cans, when playing army as a kid, pretty much the same as I see it.

Good luck Rico, I honestly have no suggestions

 

[CADavebert]

Waiting for Rico's review.....

x2....plus....where'd ya get it and what kind of deal did you get?


Is Thugasaur on here? I wonder if they've got these at Best Buy.

 

[mattmainster]

Im using a nice Motorola Bluetooth headset I picked up on eBay a while back for $25

 

[Fjamming]

Motorola 820.

 

[mattmainster]

That's the one I have, Tony.

 

[Sanderhawk]

I hardly get phone calls while i`m driving so speakerphone for me also. So have the price off bluetooth stuff gone up since it is becoming law?

 

[Guest]

Actually, I've seen some nice bluetooth stuff at Costco pretty cheap.

 

[wards08tt]

Costco got some deals, I just picked up a Garmin Nuvi 760 has bluetooth and the Navi works really good, seems to be working good, plus if you don't like it you can return it to Costco with no questions asked.

 

[SoCalOcFj]

Plantronics handsfree. On sale @ bestbuy for 39 or 2 for 33. Works good w/my motokrzr.

 

[boboso]

I too have the Motorola T305 visor / speaker / flashing blue light thingy... (not bad for an IT project manager huh?) It works okay and sounds good, but when the battery needs charging it can sound like poop... and there is no indicator of what the battery level is. I have had it in the FJ on the visor for up to a week before a charge was needed however...

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Self-Install-Car-T305/dp/B000JHH8AE

 

[RicoVerde]

Ok, I have had the Parrot MiniKit for a while now so here is the quick review:

It is very similar in form to the Motorola pictured above. Mounts to the visor with a clip like your garage door opener. One small button on the side towards the rear for power on and off, two lighted, (dimmly), buttons on the front for starting/answering calls and ending calls. These buttons are on either side of a knob that sets volume, selects menus and scrolls through menu items. There is no display so the menus names and then items are read outloud by the little woman who lives inside the unit.

I have a Motorola RIZR that paired with the unit instantly and reconnects every time I get in the car and turn the unit on. It turns off automatically while in standby to save battery power.

Initial use, dialing via the phone was very easy so I was able to use it as soon as I bought it. Setting up voice tags later on took a little time. You basically have to send each contact from your phone via bluetooth to the unit and then record a voicetag in the unit for it. This is somewhat time consuming but very easy to accomplish. Voice recognition is very good. Some times I think it anticipates my choice before I have finished saying it as it repeats it back so quickly.

Answering a call is as easy as pressing the green button. If it is a call from an unblocked number that you have a voice tag for it announces the caller via the voice tag you recorded. Otherwise it just tells you that there is a call coming in.

Dialing calls via voice just requires the press of the green button and then stating who you want to call when prompted.

Press the green button during a call and you go to private mode, the speaker is off and you speak and listen via the phone.

Press the Red button to hang up.

Overall, I like the unit. Functionallity is simple and it works every time for me.

Unfortunatley, one of my cheif concerns was realized. It is just not loud enough. The visor in the FJ is a long ways away compared to most cars. Moving the unit closer to your ears would help, but between the moan of the CAI and exhaust and the rumble of the MTs on pavement and my old, too many punk shows damaged ears, it is a strain, close, but too much of a strain.

I am going to go with a hardwired unit and give this one to my girlfriend.

 

[FJVP]

I too have the Motorola T305 visor / speaker / flashing blue light thingy... (not bad for an IT project manager huh?) It works okay and sounds good, but when the battery needs charging it can sound like poop... and there is no indicator of what the battery level is. I have had it in the FJ on the visor for up to a week before a charge was needed however...

http://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Self-Install-Car-T305/dp/B000JHH8AE

Same and a blue tooth headset

 

[CADavebert]

Nice write up, thanks. One idea.... maybe get the side window visors, so you can put it right above your head. Just an idea. Thansk again for the write up!

Ok, I have had the Parrot MiniKit for a while now so here is the quick review:

It is very similar in form to the Motorola pictured above. Mounts to the visor with a clip like your garage door opener. One small button on the side towards the rear for power on and off, two lighted, (dimmly), buttons on the front for starting/answering calls and ending calls. These buttons are on either side of a knob that sets volume, selects menus and scrolls through menu items. There is no display so the menus names and then items are read outloud by the little woman who lives inside the unit.

I have a Motorola RIZR that paired with the unit instantly and reconnects every time I get in the car and turn the unit on. It turns off automatically while in standby to save battery power.

Initial use, dialing via the phone was very easy so I was able to use it as soon as I bought it. Setting up voice tags later on took a little time. You basically have to send each contact from your phone via bluetooth to the unit and then record a voicetag in the unit for it. This is somewhat time consuming but very easy to accomplish. Voice recognition is very good. Some times I think it anticipates my choice before I have finished saying it as it repeats it back so quickly.

Answering a call is as easy as pressing the green button. If it is a call from an unblocked number that you have a voice tag for it announces the caller via the voice tag you recorded. Otherwise it just tells you that there is a call coming in.

Dialing calls via voice just requires the press of the green button and then stating who you want to call when prompted.

Press the green button during a call and you go to private mode, the speaker is off and you speak and listen via the phone.

Press the Red button to hang up.

Overall, I like the unit. Functionallity is simple and it works every time for me.

Unfortunatley, one of my cheif concerns was realized. It is just not loud enough. The visor in the FJ is a long ways away compared to most cars. Moving the unit closer to your ears would help, but between the moan of the CAI and exhaust and the rumble of the MTs on pavement and my old, too many punk shows damaged ears, it is a strain, close, but too much of a strain.

I am going to go with a hardwired unit and give this one to my girlfriend.