Hey Homerwest...

Well, we'll find out pretty soon how well that hands-free system works in the cabrio. My cabrio is at the dealership and will have the system installed first thing on Tuesday January 2nd. I'll let you know as soon as I pick it up!

Chuck

 

Hey Homerwest...

Well, we'll find out pretty soon how well that hands-free system works in the cabrio. My cabrio is at the dealership and will have the system installed first thing on Tuesday January 2nd. I'll let you know as soon as I pick it up!

Chuck

 

Sorry for the duplicate post the other day...my computer was having, shall we say, difficulties!

At any rate, I've got the hands-free installed, I just need to put the cartridge (adapter) in and pair the phone with the bluetooth system.

I'll report back tomorrow assuming it's a good day for topless motoring!

Chuck

 

Excellent! I have been motoring about with the little motorola bluetooth thing in my ear, and a couple of times the phone rang while on the freeway with the top down. The person on the other end said they could hear me fairly well, but when passing a semi they had a hard time hearing me.... Can't wait to see how the real system works!

Thanks Machine Gun!

 

Homerwest...

Well, I spoke too soon! There is a "cover" for the armrest portion of the system (apparently you can remove the cartridge and put it in place so that you can use the armrest compartment for storage with no damage to the connection points). I had put the adapter cartridge in with the bluetooth unit when I took it to the dealership for installation. I thought they would have installed the cartridge then, but I guess they overlooked it. I tried to get the "cover" off last night, but because I am supremely inept when it comes to things mechanical, I couldn't figure out how to remove it.

At any rate, I'm going back in tomorrow morning to have two items taken care of...I'll have them put the adapter cartridge in then. The forecast is for 60 degrees on Friday, so I should have a report.

Sorry about the delay!

Chuck

 

keep us posted! My dealer has never even heard of anyone having that installed, so it will be nice to hear how well it works in the cabrio.

 

101 Dals...

Will do! It really is installed, I just can't figure out how to get that crazy insert out of the armrest!!

The service manager has me scheduled for three small finish up items first thing tomorrow morning (I've been told they won't take more than about 35 minutes or so). What kills me is that when my MC had one of these installed, I couldn't get the damn plastic cover off either! I had to take it in and have it removed. I watched the tech do it, but it's been 4 months since he did it and I cannot, for the life of me, remember how he did it!

At any rate, barring a blizzard, tornado, tsunami, earthquake, Vanilla Ice Concert or some other tragedy, I should have a report sometime tomorrow afternoon!

Chuck

 

HomerWest, 101 Dals, Mr. President, members of Congress and my fellow countrymen:

Believe it or not, all the stars are in alignment. By that I mean that the bluetooth adapter cartridge for my Nokia phone is in place, I have paired the phone with the car and all systems are go!

Now for the caveat:

I didn't take the car out for very long. It is in the high 40s - low 50s this morning and we've had quite a bit of fog today. In other words, it's pretty cold for top-down motoring. Obviously this is going to take a lot more time in the saddle for me to make any final judgments concerning the system. Also realize that I was using a MINI wind deflector...I swear by them and I think they make quite a bit of difference as far as cabin noise (just my opinion!).

Personally, I'm pretty happy with it. I called my mother and explained what I was doing and she agreed to play the "Can you hear me now" game while I drove down city streets and also while I drove down a short portion of I-44, complete with wind and large trucks zooming by.

Out on the highway, I had to raise my voice a bit and my mother stated that she could hear a fair amount of wind in the background. Still, it seemed to work. I personally wouldn't spend long periods on a busy highway with lots of wind and traffic trying to carry on a conversation. But I think if someone was trying to get in touch with me, it would be fine. It might be a lot better if I had been out on a lonely stretch of I-35...traffic wouldn't have been such a factor.

Once I exited onto a city street (Pennsylvania Avenue for those of you familiar with Oklahoma City), my mother reported that she could hear me MUCH better. And I really didn't have to raise my voice. I am guessing that around town motoring is really the best for the universal hands free system when it is installed in a cabrio. I am guessing that this is where I'll use it the most. And of course with the top up the reception and transmission are picture perfect.

I'm not going to go out on a limb and tell you guys to run out and put one in your cabrio because I just haven't had enough time using it yet. I like it but then again I like the idea of having the ability to change out a cartridge every time I get a new phone (beats the old days when you had to change out the whole system!). I also like the fit and finish of the universal system. I've had the other bluetooth system and was not impressed with it (no offense to those who have one...again just MY opinion). I had problems with dropped calls and, of course, I couldn't use the multi-function steering wheel to control it.

So there you have it. I will post again once the weather gets a bit warmer and I can spend more time using the system. Let's just say that I'm not overwhelmed, but I'm certainly not disappointed with it.

Chuck

 

Homerwest try the jawbone. My buddy just picked one up and it picks up your voice via you cheek vibration not a mic.

http://www.jawbone.com/

 

Machinegun - thanks for the update! Is this the official Mini bluetooth kit or an aftermarket kit? Can't wait to hear how it sounds once you get more experience with it! Do you know if it works if you have the ipod adapter hooked up?

JJ - the jawbone looks pretty wicked cool! Have you used one or talked to someone who has? I tend to be a bit sceptical about ads....

 

homerwest...

It's an OEM MINI Accessory...I think you'll see it listed in the accessories catalog as the "Universal Hands Free Kit." Unfortunately I don't have the I-Pod adapter installed on my car...I opted instead for the auxillary input.

I'll try to take it out for another test run soon.

Chuck

 

I bought a Jawbone last week and have used it for many topless calls. (70s and 80s here.) It works great, even on the freeway.

 

Thanks Waterway!

I will probably wait until my cheapo motorola bluetooth dies before I buy the jawbone, that looks like a great piece of technology....

 

Reviving this old thread, because I have now acquired the ULTIMATE cabrio bluetooth headset. I've had no luck with Jawbone - the wind overpowers it for me. Nor with lots of other things. My old Plantronics with the windscreen was "OK" - but not great, and hard to hear the person at the other end (it wasn't loud enough).

Here's nirvana - if you're "man enough" to be seen wearing it...

BlueParrott B150 - also marketed as the B150TK (for truckers)
This thing is able to put the good, noise canceling, windscreened mic right up to your mouth and has virtually NO wind or background noise, even at highway speeds with the top down - it's pretty much the same voice quality for the other caller as if I were at my desk with my desk headset on. And the speaker volume goes up to "deafening" - so you can hear the other party easily... They marketed this thing specifically for long haul truckers to use in their rigs, because the noise cancellation and volume are so good. So now I have a compact, discrete headset for normal use (BlueAnt Z9) and this thing that stays in my cabrio. I don't care how dorky it looks. It works. WELL.

I'm actually looking forward to my next multi-hour concall on the road. I'll be able to HEAR for a change.

Can be had for less than $80 on the Internet...

 

Nice! Thanks for updating this old thread.

 

actually you're wrong, it still has a mic but it has a sensor to know when you are talking.

It is by far THE BEST noise canceling bluetooth headset though. I can mow the lawn while on the phone and the other person wouldnt even know it because it is so clear and quiet.

The only flaw to it is that it does not fit in your ear with any of the provided fittings... I would recommend getting a custom earmold from http://www.averysound.com/as.jawbone.html you can actually buy the actual headset from them as well.

 

We seem to have opposing views on the Jawbone.

Do you mean the earpiece isn't loud enough?

Does the earmold make it fit snug like an earplug, therefore blocking outside sounds for easier hearing?

 

Yes, the earpiece isn't loud enough. Also you still get COPIOUS wind noise at the other end when the top is down - it's good at blocking "background" noise, but doesn't seem effective at blocking wind noise while you're actually talking - at least not in my experience.

 

Wow, I thought the original thread had been forgotten to history! Thanks all. I've been making do with my little motorola ear cockroach, and it works sorta ok at best. I might try the Janet Jackson truck driver special once the current unit dies.

 

Jawbone is about the best I've heard. I tried the Playtronics 510. the jJawbone is better

 

I have the MINI Blue H9 and there is no noise reduction. Uncomfortable to wear as well. The Jawbone is great. The noise reduction actually works. It truly uses noise reduction sensing your jawbone vibrations. The H9 MINI does not use that technology. It is simply really small and cool looking but does not work all that great. Try the Jawbone because it really does work. It comes with 4 ear pieces and 4 ear connectors to get the right fit. It blocks out any sound other than your voice so the party on the other end hears only your voice. I was really so impressed, that I bought one for my wife as well. Now I can hear her. Costs $119.00 from Jawbone directly or Apple Store, ATT, etc. and comes in Red, Black or Silver