tivoboy

but rather over the constant analogue system, or possible digital that is most always installed. For example, I disconnected one of the TDMA phones, timeport, but of course everything else still worked fine.

I also don't think the V60 has GPS itself. the car is just pulling it from the gps receiver, and then sending it on over one of the cellular channels (builtin analogue, or digital or the users phone) don't know the priorities on this one.

Wolfman

What I am referring to has nothing to do with the car's GPS system and there is nothing to test.

What I am referring to is that in the US there is a law that requires Cell phones to behave similarly as wired phones for 911 calls. On wired phones, the police is given the location of the caller, which wasn't the case with Cell phones. Every new cellphone on the market now has this GPS capability to the best of my knowledge. It's used for this E-911 service.

I believe that the law was already implemented a couple of years and there is a phase out period of these old phones over time. This is done by not allowing these phones to be activated on new accounts.

There are a couple of V60's that have that capability, but everything before doesn't...

Wolfman

tivoboy

Correct, I do'nt know how stongly the law is implimented, or if poeple have to change, or if ALL phones sold today have e911 capability.

I can say, I have activated two older, four years old timports and some even older mot's lately. Don't ask me why, and the carriers turn them up no problem.

Wildbill

Mik has the mik box ready for the Timeport PSE.

I was wondering has anyone mounted a motorola hang up cup in the armrest compartment? Did you have to drill new holes in order to screw/mount the hang up cup in the armrest compartment?

Bora20

I will await his email for my order!

jmartinacevedo

Mik,

Hi,
WIll this work with my 2005 C230K? This sheet I got from the dealer when they located the car indicates that the car comes in " with standard telephone pre-wiring option code 387." (or something like that).

My phone is a CDMA Mercedes V60 (Verizon) which I kept from my 2003 C240 which I had ordered with the cellphone option.

Let me know,
Martin-

cody

Do you have any of hte Cell phone equipment in your 2005 CLK? It may be 'pre-wired' but you need all the other equipment, the microphone, the speaker, the antenna, the PSE, the booster amp and the cradle for you phone. You need this already in your car in order to use a MixBox.

Mik

The mikbox will NOT work in
-W211 E class
-W220 2004 and later
-any 2005 Mercedes


...in other words: It only works in cars that have the D2B fiber system.

scorchie

Why doesn't it work in the 2005 M-class and G-class?

-s-

cody

Because 2003+ cars replace the DB2 fibre optic system that is standard in 1999-2002 with the newer MOST system.

AMIL

is the mikbox ready for the i730?

wonk

mik...you have mail...

while im waiting for his reply...

do any of you know if there is support for an i830? I saw someone mention nextel...so im hoping im in luck.

hphan

Finally finished my install (I've been out of the country). The Mikbox works perfectly, it's so nice to have my carphone back! I switched providers back in January and didn't want to pay for another MB branded phone, so I just went without (was using the MB V60 on AT&T). I'm now using a V710 on Verizon, I switched from an LG VX6000 so I could use the Mikbox.

I'm mechanically incompetent, so I fumbled my way through the install. But I'm guessing that for someone who knows what they're doing, the mikbox should probably only take about 15-20 minutes to install, and same for replacing the cradle.

Thanks Mik!

Dan Wang

I'm about to go through the same thing...

Did you use the V710 cradle?

Dan

cody

What phone did you have originally. I reallly want to know what PSE you have. I've got a StarTak PSE in a 2000 W210 and want to use a V710

eddieo45

hphan, what was your total out of pocket for necessary parts (excluding phone, of course), and how would you rate the "ease of use" factor of the 710 vs. the LG6000?

hphan

Yes, I used the V710 cradle. The old V60 cradle's screw pattern on the base is different than the V710's, so you'll have to drill a bit to attach the new cradle.

My car is a 2002 W203, I have the MB V60 factory option. Not sure what the model # on my PSE is.

I originally paid $266 for the Mikbox + V710 cradle + shipping&handling.

Having never laid eyes on the hardware, I thought I could rip apart my V60 cradle and use the existing cable. Mik has a pic you can use as a diagram in order to do this. As I mentioned, I'm not very mechanically inclined, so I messed that up and had to order the cable from Mik (C-1010 Generic Motorola car cable) which added another $57 to the cost ($49 + shipping). Overall out of pocket: $323

I think that the interface of the V710 is pretty well thought out. Much improved over other Moto phones I've had. I thought the VX6k was pretty intuitive, the V710 in my opinion is similar in ease of use. But the V710 feels more solid to me materials/construction-wise. If "extras" matter to you, it's also nice having a 128MB sandisk card in there too, for taking photos/videos and playing MP3s (purchased separately, $33 @ amazon.com). The phonecam (1.2Mpix) is actually decent for what it is, but only in good outdoor lighting conditions. Forget about taking pix inside.

If you use the speakerphone at all, it's definitely an improvement over the VX6k. And the Moto voice activation is VERY well done. With the VX6k, you had to record your voice for each entry you wanted voice dialing, then the phone compared the mic input vs your recorded voice saved on the phone. With the moto, it actually compares your voice input with a computerized phonetic reading of your phonebook entry, so you don't have to record your voice for any entries. It just "reads" the entries in your phonebook.

I do have a few complaints about the V710 though:

1. max earpiece volume is pretty low. no big deal at home or in the office, but not so nice when you're out and about on town. using a headset fixes this.

2. crippled bluetooth functionality (no OBEX, so no file transfer without the cable or sandisk card).

3. Vibrate mode is VERY weak compared to all other phones I've had. If it's on vibe and clipped to my pocket, I won't notice while I'm walking, only if I'm standing still or sitting.

Hope this helps guys.

Mr. Big

Let's encourage Mik to come up with a Bluetooth solution, seems to me that it would work for a broader range of phones with different carriers. Although certain features such as scrolling through the phone's address book might be lost, the advantage of never having to dock the phone to a cradle would far outweigh that. Go Bluetooth!

Mik

The features of the phone that can be used over BT depend on what type of profiles the phone has implemented, and if it only implements the mandantory functionality, or also all the optional features. Motorola for example likes to only go with mandantory. On the other side, the SonyEricsson t610 has a headset profile and serial profile. It has also a very extensive and openly documented AT command set that can be used over that serial profile, so anything is possible with that one, including phonebook, SMS, data and WAP.

I am right now working on integrating the StarTac PSE. After that it will be Nextel integration.
Bluetooth needs more time and money (mostly money). The development kit and embedded protocol stack that is needed for this type of interface is expensive, and I can't effort it right now. If someone wants to donate one, or has access to BT proto boards or kits, I will be happy to start working on it.

shorthair

Where did you get the v710 cradle from? I am itching to do the same thing...

Dan Wang

From Mik.

actionreaction

I use a motorola RAZR V3 and would be EXTREMELY interested in a bluetooth capable unit for my 1999 C230 kompressor sport sedan.

Any eta??

SUNILP

i think Mik may be able to get a hardwire on this phone before bluetooth.

scorchie

I asked about the 2005 M-class and G-class, which have D2B.

1999 S-class does not have D2B.

So how does it work in a 1999 S-class, and not the two trucks?

-s-

Mik

I have no customers with any of those cars. I wasn't aware that the 2005 G and M still have the D2B, so I guess it will work in those cars as well. About the older cars... right now it only works with cars that have the D2B fiber, because it only works with the StarTac, Timeport, and V60 PSE, which all use the D2B as far as I know. Physically it hooks up to the DB25, so its possible that later on it will work with older PSEs as well. My next step is the 682-0418 PSE, which was used for the old analog phones from 1999.

Since Motorola used that DB25 pinout for all kinds of cell phone integrations, it might actually work in other car brands as well.
If anyone wants to experiment - drop me a mail