hands free car kits

For those of you with hands free car kits..... 1) is this useless in a cab with the wind noise? 2) Do you have an external antenna or can it be "tapped in" to the radio antenna? Thanks. Tom

It's an absolute necessity if you are going to drive a stick and expect to use a phone while driving. Though I have a coupe, seems to work well even with all windows and sun-roof open. Top down cab should be noisier, though. No external antenna, just that little bump on top of the phone.

I should clarify that I'm referring to a wired in system with audio through the car's speakers. I ask of an external antenna for better signal, I find myself always waving my phone around to improve reception. Tom

Driving and cellphones do not mix!! I am for any cellphone ban in automobiles What's so important anyway HANG UP AND DRIVE

Easier said than done.

I'd guess 80% of my cell phone time is while driving. If you're not driving, who wouldn't rather talk on a land line. The new ear buds with microphone are a big improvement, but still a problem top-down. AS

Bluetooth is the best solution IMHO. I use a Parrot ck3000 . Have no problems with it with the cab top down. The mike is placed near my drivers visor on the window pilar (see pic). The radio/CD auto mutes during telephone use. The only problem if anything is ambient noise while driving with the top down.....have to turn the radio up so that I can hear the other end. This is fine until you stop at lights and everyone in the street hears your telephone call The beauty of this system is that you get in your porker with your mobile phone in your pocket, start your car and Presto! the bluetooth device is activated=. No wires, no connection, no nothing.....just have your phone on you.

Thanks everyone. Scouser, does'nt your stereo have the GAL feature?

Scouser changed his head unit, and when he got the car back they put the steerig wheel back on the wrong side Bernie, your cockpit looks like the batmobile, you've go some many extras...that bluetooth connection sounds great...would it would with a std becker headunit?

TOMDEG, what's GAL? If you mean does it auto mute, yes. It's the latest Blaupunkt DX-R70 Single DIN Sat/Nav CD/Radio and it has a connection that goes to the ck3000 device so that when you make a call or receive one everything gets muted and the call comes through the in-car audio system. NYC, yes I am a bit of a gadget freak Wot do you mean they put the steering wheel back on the wrong side! It's on the "right" side Yes, I see no reason why the ck3000 would not work with the becker or for that matter any head unit. Prior to the Blaupunkt unit I had a Kenwood, prior to that the stock CDR220 and it worked with those units fine. The only downside to this unit is that the circuitry comes in a sealed box with wires dangling from it that you have to connect up (instructions are sort of OK...french design). But this box is about 4"x 1.5" x 1" deep and it's a bit difficult to place it. I have mine carefullly wrapped in fireproof foam and shoved (very tightly) into a crevis behind the dash pod. As I asid it's a bit of pain to install. But it works great......and it has some real cool voice recognition software to boot.

Scouser, the GAL is the speed compensated volume control. I really like the bluetooth you have.... nice clean install. However, I think NYC is right....the steering wheel IS on the wrong side (LOL) Tom

Well it's amazing what you can pick up from these boards. Good one TOMDEG. I just looked up GAL in the DX-R70 user manual and would you beleive it, it isn't enabled. So I enabled it and shazam! I got speed compensated volume control. No longer have to share my conversations with the street. Mind you it's rare to have the top down in this country No! my steering wheel is on the "right" side. Your's is on the wring side

Berny, does the CK3000 give a line level input to the head unit, and the head unit then amplifies the signal? I would have that that it would give an amplified output to drive the speakers directly, and be connected in the speaker path. I say this because the majority of head units don't have a line level input.

Matt, the CK3000 is wired in series using the two ISO cables that fit to the CDR220 unit. These are found behind the unit. Here's a wiring diagram. This will tell you everything you need to know. Cheers,

Berny, I understand. It takes the head unit speaker outputs and connects its speaker outputs up to it. How do adjust the volume of the caller when you are on the phone?

It automutes. The volume of the phone conversation is adjusted by GALA. But you can override the output volume by using the vol control on the head unit.

Hi Berny, The way I understand the wiring diagram, the output from the car phone kit doesn't ever get input into the head unit, it simply sits in line with the car speakers. As I see it the speaker outputs from the head unit go into the car kit, the car kit then adds its out put to the car speakers when the phone is activated, meaning that the head unit would never have any control over the volume of the car kit.

Hmmm...... I just went to the car to try it and sure enough you are right. However, you can turn the volume up and down on the phone itself. Never noticed this. Cheers,

Berny, thats cool... Just ordered the CK3100 with 'digital display!'

Cool. Hope you didn't pay top wack. I see there are a few on ebay. I bought mine there for �60.