hands-free phone device

[paddlenbike]

With the July 1 California law requiring use of a hands-free phone device while driving, it's time that I comply. I like the idea of the hands-free speakerphone, something along the lines of this blueant. (http://www.myblueant.com/supertooth-light-bluetooth-handsfree.htm) Anyone have any recommendations?

[4x4mike]

Both my parents and my father in law have this from costco
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11281540&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1
They seem to like it but I can tell they are in the car when they call. With all handsfree devices, BT and wired, there is a lot of background road noise. I also find my self somewhat yelling so they can hear me and vise versa. I'm not sure if it's part of the learning curve but it makes the phone conversations akward. They say they are good for recieveing calls but to make a call, unless you figure out how to use the 'phonebook', you need to use your phone to do the button pushing.

I went to ebay and for 6 bucks I had a generic wired earbud thingy delivered to my door. It's basic and has a button to recieve and end calls. It doesn't have to be charged, is small and I can use it to listen to music from the phone. For me it works for now, although I don't drive much and talk on the phone while driving even less.

[Good Times]

Most all hands free headset or even speaker set doesn't eliminate the background road noise. The only one that I've seen that actually cures this problem is the jawbone bluetooth headset. It's priced at $100-$130 I believe but worth every penny. I got to test their version 1 last year and it's truly amazing.

Ken, do you have a speakerphone option on your phone right now? If so you can just continue to use that option if you want to keep in budget :) That's what I do right now until I can budget to spend $100+ on one of the jawbone headsets. I just can't justify getting one since I'm not on the phone 24x7 as much.

Mike, I've used that option too :)

[paddlenbike]

Speakerphone is worthless on my LG CU500. With the volume at 100% and the device right in front of me, I still cannot hear well enough to carry on a conversation.

I also have a wired earbud like Mike mentioned, but I feel it is dangerous to use---assuming I already have it plugged into the phone, when the phone rings, I am looking down trying to find the earbud and get it in my ear before it goes to voicemail. That's why I was hoping to use a non-earbud/headset device.

The background noise does appear to be a valid issue with the speakerphone type devices. The one I linked above has noise cancellation and a feature that turns the volume up when it detects noise, but who knows if it works. That's why I look to you guys. :P

[Tanto]

Most all hands free headset or even speaker set doesn't eliminate the background road noise. The only one that I've seen that actually cures this problem is the jawbone bluetooth headset. It's priced at $100-$130 I believe but worth every penny. I got to test their version 1 last year and it's truly amazing.


X2. Amazing voice quality. My girlfriend says that I am much clearer talking on the Jawbone rather than straight from the phone. Apparently, I can talk with the window down at 65 mph and be heard just fine.

My only complaint is that I bent the earpiece and when I bent it back, it snapped and the replacements are $7 a piece. And no, I don't walk around with it in my ear. I got it for driving so it stays in the truck :thumbup:

[Nick]

The Blueant Z9 does do the noise/voice isolation. It actually has two levels, standard and max. It competes with the jawbone quite well. I know because I've had both; the original jawbone (on which the usb connector broke after a while) and I had the Blueant Z9i (newer earpiece, flexible) which I lost after a week. Got out of my truck on the side of the freeway to check a wheel and forgot that it was sitting on my lap. Darn. I really loved that little thing.

As far as I'm concerned BlueAnt is very good company. I can say that the Supertooth is worse sound quality wise then the Z9, which I used with the windows down at 70 and they could hear 'some' noise, as opposed to not being able to hear me at all with my phone.

[reggie 00]

I can get blue ant and a bunch of others from one of my distributors.

I need to order a new set as i seem to have misplaced the one i had.

I am going to do an order next week if you want something.

That Black Z9i Bluetoothï½® Headset With Voice Isolation Max
runs me $64.

[surf4runner]

dont waste your money...
2 for 1 at the .99 store
http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/000/ba/93/95bf_1.JPG

http://p10.hostingprod.com/@spyblog.org.uk/drk/hands-free-cellphone-kit.jpg