Which hands free kit would you suggest?

[Renn Sport]

As it say in the title really. Need something simple, cheap and easy to use.

I appreciate the pointers.

Cheers

[james_tigerwoods]

Done.

Seriously though - what is it for? Me, I've got a bluetooth headset, but I've also got a visor mounted Parrot BT kit and I've had, in my last car, a Parrot CK9100 which integrated with a stereo.

I've also used the wired kind with my last Nokia that had a mic built in to the headphones.

[andy-xr]

Jawbone is the only one I'd have now, tried a few Parrots, the freebie ones that come with phones and one of those Visorblades. Dont know if it was the phone, the bluetooth or something else, but the Jawbone's been great on the old BB and now the iphone

[MrLou]

For clarity do you mean BT headsets or integrated car kits?

[Silver940]

I have an integrated one into my Alpine headunit that is good. Fitted a Parrot CK3100 in the other wagon which works really well ( better than my Alpine one if I'm honest ) and only 60quid on ebay

[chris1roll]

I had a Visorblade one which worked brilliantly with my Samsung (could even hear it in the MR2) but kept dsconnecting from my works nokia, they've just fitted me a Nokia CK600 which is great as it has a little screen so the phone can stay in your pocket or wherever, you dial and everything with the illuminated nipple and the screen.

[x type]

http://phone-shop.tesco.com/great-deals/ProductPag...

cheap ,portable and brilliant
charges from cigar lighter ,lasts around 4 weeks on 1 charge

I've tried allsorts of visor mounted / stick in ear types and that's the best

[Jem0911]

Parrot.
Had four now great every time.
Note to self, stop changing car!

[Renn Sport]

Thanks guys!

[uuf361]

Parrot.

Originally had an CK3100 which was fine, now have an MK9200 with full colour screen and it plays the IPod too, which is useful.

[MrLou]

uuf361 said:

Parrot.

Originally had an CK3100 which was fine, now have an MK9200 with full colour screen and it plays the IPod too, which is useful.

I fitted a Parrott 9200 today and so far I'm really impressed, bluetooth streaming audio from my iPhone, voice dialing based on the names stored on the phone, loads of useful features. Fairly easy to install too.

[mobileinstall]

I fitted a Parrot Mki9200 into a BMW 5 series the other day and made this little video showing what it does.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHcNS3-_gSA

If you've got an iPod or iPhone then the MKi9200 is the best kit out at the moment.

If its just a simple handsfree then the CK3100 is by far the most popular kit (and the most reliable)

My favorite kit is the THB CC9060 but it doesn't have the music playing features of the Parrot

http://bit.ly/9mWPRl

These are all pro install car kits, you can have a go at fitting them yourself but you're likely to break the dash trim removing it if you don't know what you're doing. A pro installer will use Plastic trimtools for prying off the dash panels that are just a bit harder plastic than the dash but won't mark it.

Although the sun visor type car kits which require no installation are improving, they're not a patch on a proper pro fit kit for 2 reasons

1. A Pro fit kit will use your car stereo speakers so it will sound much louder and clearer than a little flat speaker on your sun visor (and you don't need to turn off your radio when you get a call)

2. The microphone and speaker are too close together on a sun visor kit to get echo cancellation to work properly.

Expect to pay about £50 for a pro install which will take about an hour.

Parrot have a list of all their certified installers around the country here

http://www.parrotpartners.com/geolocator/V4/index....

[AsifG]

MrLou said:

uuf361 said:

Parrot.

Originally had an CK3100 which was fine, now have an MK9200 with full colour screen and it plays the IPod too, which is useful.

I fitted a Parrott 9200 today and so far I'm really impressed, bluetooth streaming audio from my iPhone, voice dialing based on the names stored on the phone, loads of useful features. Fairly easy to install too.

You can also plug in your iPhone into the dedicated lead so it charges your phone and then does all your playlists and album artwork etc too - that's what I do with my one!

[jcas]

Another vote for Parrot, just fitted a CK3100 in the wifes car as her previous kit had problems with her new Blackberry. The Parrot has no issues and works very well.

[gizlaroc]

I fitted the Parrot MKi9200 and it is a very sleek bit of kit, but the sound from the ipod or SD card was awful!!
It mutes your radio and uses its own wonderful 4w rms amp that must cost all of around £1 to build.

I swapped it for a Bury CC9060 and that is cracking, reads your text messages, the voice control works as it makes you say a few sentences so recognises your accent, and it is just a nice neat unit.

[HellDiver]

I had the original Parrot CK3000 for years (since Bluetooth started out more or less), briefly had a CK3200LS (left it in the car when I sold it), now have a CK3100. Can't recommend them enough.

[MrLou]

AsifG said:

MrLou said:

uuf361 said:

Parrot.

Originally had an CK3100 which was fine, now have an MK9200 with full colour screen and it plays the IPod too, which is useful.

I fitted a Parrott 9200 today and so far I'm really impressed, bluetooth streaming audio from my iPhone, voice dialing based on the names stored on the phone, loads of useful features. Fairly easy to install too.

You can also plug in your iPhone into the dedicated lead so it charges your phone and then does all your playlists and album artwork etc too - that's what I do with my one!

Yes, that's another good option.

The reason I don't have mine like that is that I have a satnav app for iPhone so I sometimes need the phone on it's windscreen cradle. Whilst the charging/music lead is nicely hidden in a cubby hole. If I don't need the iPhone visible then I leave it in my pocket, or on a longer journey, on charge.

The best thing about it though is that the phone call quality is excellent. My previous BT solution was unusable at motorway speed due to noise, with this one I was able to have a 30minute phone call without the other party even realising I was in the car. The noise cancelling mic is clearly very good.

All in all it's a fantastic solution and one that can be removed when the time comes to sell the car. It's not often that I'm so impressed by a piece of technology, but this one is excellent.

[K50 DEL]

mobileinstall said:

lots of good stuff

Since you appear to be in the trade I have a question for you.

I'm currently using a Nokia 6220i handset and a CK7w car kit

I would like to change to a newer Nokia, but I cannot find one with the same type of car kit.
I'll happily buy a new kit as well as a new phone, but I don't want bluetooth and I don't want wires traipsing everywhere.

I want exactly the same as the CK7w - a hard wired, fully installed h/f kit that charges the phone and gives the sound through the stereo speakers.

Do Nokia / anyone still make such a thing or is it all bluetooth now?

[Matt UK]

mobileinstall said:

If you've got an iPod or iPhone then the MKi9200 is the best kit out at the moment.

If its just a simple handsfree then the CK3100 is by far the most popular kit (and the most reliable)

I was going to get the 9200, but beware those who have specific audio system. I'm no expert but I was talked out of this system as my 5 series has some sort of upgraded business stereo.

I ended up with the CK3100 for bluetooth handfree and a Dice kit for the ipod. Works great.

Speak with these guys:
http://handsfreecar.co.uk/index.php?main_page=page...

Did a good job on the install and seem to know what they are talking about regarding what car you have.