ToonArmy

Yes, scorchie was answering my question about whether the phone voice dialing would work if I didn't have thr VCS kit installed.

How useful do you find the VCS? Do you use it for anything other than voice dialing? I have read very mixed reviews of it.

Finally, regarding the phone choice - I gave up on waiting for Cingular to release the 6230b, and wasn't keen to pay EBay prices, so settled for the T637. I'm not looking for all the extra gadgets, I just want a good 850/1800/1900 phone with a small form factor. I'd have loved an 850 version of the Nokia 6100. I haven't had the opportunity to compare the 6230 and 637 side-by-side, but from the specs on the web site, the S-E (102mm/43/17) is slightly smaller (especially thinner) than the 6230 (103/44/20). I prefer Nokia's menus and UI, but the S-E is certainly usable (and streets ahead of Motorola).

scorchie

Yeah, what sunman said is right. Voice Control System works fine with UHI (in my tests).

The use of a Bluetooth phone with the car kit is apparently phone specific, some phones allow it, some do not.

And a word on the Sony Ericsson phones... I carried around the T637 for a few days as we were doing this testing. I must say that ... it sucks. I don't care for the interface (like how the "hang up" softkey changes to "internet" right after hanging up, so a double press connects you to GPRS), and although the RF performance appears to be much better than the T616 (and naturally the T610/T630 due to 800MHz band), it seems to still be a notch below what we are used to seeing in Nokias--the 6310i and 3650 obviously being much better, but even my "standard carry" 6820 performing better.

My suggestion on phone for people looking for one is to get the Nokia 6200. This phone is pretty full featured, fairly small, a really good performer, and cheap from AT&T. The 6230 has even more "stuff" on it (like camera and MP3 player), but the usefulness of those features might be more suited to someone who takes a lot of mass transit, rather than someone looking for an appropriate phone for a Mercedes car kit. Not to mention, the 6230 is pretty expensive, and many bugs are reported on this model in the forums. Caveats for the 6200 are that it does not have Bluetooth, so to use its EDGE data capabilities with a laptop requires using IR or a cable; and the screen is still passive like the SE T616.

So everyone needs to decide what feature set is important for himself, and make an appropriate decision... but I would assume (possibly incorrectly) that RF performance is high on everyone's list.

-s-

Yang1815

T616 is 850/1800/1900.
T610 is 900/1800/1900.

I like Nokia's better than SE's too... But the T610's FULLY integrated with my powerbook... (besides syncing phone numbers/names, you get caller ID, battery, signal to display on the laptop, also you could make calls from the laptop use the internal microphone/speaker, and also send/receive SMS text message right from the Addressbook program in Apple)

scorchie

I wrote that the T637 RF is better than the T616, and it is naturally better than the T610/T630 due to the 800MHz band being on the T637. It seems you are just repeating it, or am I missing something?

-s-

CitronC230K_03

im with sunman on this. ive had several motorla phones in the past: V60, V70, T720, V400, V600 as well as several Nokia phones: 5100, 6100, 8100, 8860, 3300, 6560. My avg. timespan of keeping a phone is about 6 months. T720 was only a month and a half.

Motorola phones have wierd bugs in them. My V600 is not the best phone, but much better than the worst ive had, the T720.

Im going to go with the 6230 myself. I've been to NokiaUSA.com and read the specs on both the 6200 and 6230. im more of a gadget freak so the MP3 players for super ringtones and the camera are pretty much a must for me.

Yang1815

sorry I thought you meant the T610 has 800 band... My bad.

wblynch

Question....

Do the phone's ringtones come through the car's system when the UHI is installed?

Or is there a generic ring tone that sounds off?

Thanks, Bill

CitronC230K_03

i was thinking the same thing. i wonder if it is the ringtone that is set for the car/headset setting for the car that rings thru, if one does ring thru at all.

scorchie

The phone's ringtones come through the car's system, depending on the phone you are using. Also note that the phone ringtones often can be set for a "car" profile, which MAY differ from the other profiles used.

-s-

wblynch

Thanks

I went to the MBenzNL site but there still is no information about preordering this kit or the pricing.

I thought I read above that the pricing had been posted..

scorchie

Hate to state the obvious, but if it is not on the site, it has not been posted yet.

-s-

wblynch

Sure... I guess this posting had lead me to belive that it had...

Perhaps ridicule is the tone of the day around here?

Thanks.

CitronC230K_03

its cool, im changing over to the 6230b anyhow. cingular is releasing their version in about 4 weeks. pricing will be $199 if you are eligable for an upgrade.

scorchie

Sunman was referring to a post in a thread on the W203 forum that included an estimated price... so it was "posted", just not on the site! Hope that clears that up.

-s-

CitronC230K_03

these UHI kits are going to be awesome.

weinschela

Will UHI be available at some point for W211's?

scorchie

At some point, yes. When, I don't know. It may require removal of TeleAid from the vehicle. Not sure yet.

-s-

SUNILP

the new 211's may come with TELEAID low cost version which will be a seperate unit than the phone PSE. Time will tell.

scorchie

That is correct... however cars with the integrated PSE will likely not be able to retrofit to a new-style TeleAid until the GSM version comes out.

-s-

scorchie

I need to update this... on some phones, the ringtones come through. On some phones, SOME ringtones come through. On some phones, the ringtones don't come through.

The matrix is way too complicated to list all the possible combinations (I noticed that some ringtones did not come through the Sony Ericsson UHI kit).

So, if this is REAL important to you, you will need to research it yourself. Otherwise... live with what you get.

Without research, you should probably assume that the ring will be "ring ring" unless you have empirical evidence to suggest otherwise.

-s-

974AGK

Will the Ericsson kit available for T610/T630 not fit the P900 ,as the standard house chargers etc are all universal & my son can charge his T630 with any of my P900 chargers.If these are available can you put me in the right direction appreciate any help.

Regards Eck
CLK 270 CDI 245Bhp 03/03
Obsidian metallic black
full factory fit amg kit
18" Amg factory fit alloys
Full Command/ Sat nav + Tv [ Courtesy of Steve from N/L]
Linguatronic
Auto climate control
Full memory seats /Steering
Automatic/Tiptronic
Full leather napa/two tone
Brabus Twin chrome tail pipe
Tinted Windows
Bi xenon
Rain Sensitive Wiper's
Keyless go
Tuning Chip

Other toy Mv Agusta F4 Fully Tuned

SUNILP

No, the sony ericsson kit is for the t610/t616/t630/t637. I don't believe there is any plan to introduce a kit for the p900 phone. Benz has to do a feasability study and there just aren't enough users.

974AGK

Okay I thank you for your comments & await to see if the situation develops.

CLK 270 CDI 03/03 245Bhp Obsidian metallic black , full factory fit amg kit , 18" Amg factory fit alloys , Full Command/ Sat nav + [Tv Courtesy of Steve from N/L ]
Linguatronic , Auto climate control , Full memory seats /Steering , Automatic/Tiptronic , Full leather napa/two tone , Brabus Twin chrome tail pipe , Tinted Windows , Bi xenon , Rain Sensitive Wiper's , Keyless go , Tuning Chip , Other toy Mv Agusta F4 Fully Tuned .

RajS

Two questions:

1. Anyone how a ROUGH idea what the price might be for the UHI kit for a R230 (SL500 - 2003) ? I know Scorchie has said to wait for the official pricing -- which Steve will post at some point on his website.

2. I am not technically inclined (at least as far as this stuff goes) ... so can any place that does stereo type work install this stuff easily or do I / should I wait till Steve comes back to the east coast ?

Thanks for any input.

regards

- rajs

scorchie

ABOUT $850 but I am not sure, it may vary by car because of some of the different parts involved. This is being researched after Steve returns home tomorrow.

As far as installation goes, you may wish to look at the install bulletins for your car on Paul's website at http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/ and see what you think of it. Although this is for the Motorola kit and some things will change (such as installation of the UHI clip, or the PSE being differently sized, and the omission of the compensator), it gives you an idea of the component locations and how difficult it is to get to them (easy on R230 actually, plus the center armrest is pretty easy to work with as well with no exposed wiring).

-s-