In-car hands free mobile phone kit

JimmyTheWig

Hi,

My wife wants a way of legally using her mobile in emergencies while driving. I don't know what to search for!
I've heard that some can be wired into the car (Halfords are charging a fortune to fit them, so presumably fairly complicated) and others transmit in FM that the car radio can then pick up. I'd rather go for one of these solutions than one that has its own speaker.

Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Jim

AndyPix

My car came with a Parrot device that somebody had pre-installed.


It works well and i can recommend it although im not aware of the competition that may or may not be better.


It connects to the cars AV system and a little mic is fitted up near the rear view mirror. It connects to my phone via bluetooth and when someone rings, it overrides any radio/cd that may be playing and the caller comes through the cars speakers.


Mine is the same as this one :-
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Parrot-CK3100-Advanced-Bluetooth-Car/dp/B000621SN0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1482232382&sr=8-2&keywords=parrot+handsfree


Hope this helps
Andy

JimmyTheWig

Thanks Andy.

So that needs wiring into the car stereo / speakers and may or may not come with the right wires to do so. But does look like it is good.

What I don't understand is what is wrong with the FM transmitter ones like this:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01AW9JZ1I?psc=1
Significantly cheaper and much earier to fit.


ETA: This one isn't much more than the last one I linked to and looks like a better piece of kit: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MXRVV8C?psc=1

baaluo

I've bought a SuperTooth bluetooth car kit for the same purpose and it works great.
You can find it on Amazon.

martinthebandit

You might want to look at the one star reviews for the second bit of kit you listed.

If your wife is going to keep the car for a few years them, as has been previously recommended, parrot is the kit you want.

uknick

I bought this a couple of years ago.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004YHCZW6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


I took a gamble after reading the 1* reviews but it works OK for me. It connects to an iPhone for hands free use, including voice dialling, without any problems.

It could be louder but, I can hear it OK in my car, a sports car with loads of interior noise, so I guess it should work OK in a quitter car with no problems. The people I speak to have no problems hearing me.

AndyPix

I cant comment from experience on any of the posted devices but it looks to me that with the FM transmitter ones, you have to have your car radio tuned to the FM frequency of the kit.


What happens if you are listening to a CD when someone calls ?
Do you have to faf about with the radio and put it on the right station before you can hear them ?


I dont know - but if you did, that would put me right off


I think the devices you linked to would be good for streaming music from your phone etc, but be a poor solution for hands free calling

knightstyle

Does she want it to mute the radio when the phone is in use? This useful feature makes the installation more complicated. If not a simple stand alone unit will work OK. About £10 on Fleebay.

AndyPix

you would not have to mute the radio, but rather tune it to the FM frequency that the device was transmitting on.
You could use a preset button on your car stereo though I suppose


Iv suppose its a toss up between ease of fit and ease of use ..

DoaM

OP - what car does your wife have, and what year? Does it not already have Bluetooth capability built in?

(Obvious question, I know. But let's rule out the obvious before OP buys something that's not needed).