SL/R230: what is Mercedes thinking?
12-07-2004, 07:54 PM
#1
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SL500 and A-CLASS
what is Mercedes thinking?
Today I got a call from my salesman. I do not know to cry or laugh. I was told that the V600 phone will not work in a 2004 SL or lower. The V600 phone will only work in a 2005 SL or higher.
I was told that the wiring in the 2004 SL will not work with the V600 GSM phone. I am thinking why would Mercedes design wires for a particular technology knowing the fact that technology changes every 6 months.
I would like to do this to the Mercedes team in charge of the phone.
I was told that the wiring in the 2004 SL will not work with the V600 GSM phone. I am thinking why would Mercedes design wires for a particular technology knowing the fact that technology changes every 6 months.
I would like to do this to the Mercedes team in charge of the phone.
12-07-2004, 09:28 PM
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SL500 and A-CLASS
Well,
The problem is that Cingular in my area only uses GSM technology. The V60 phones will not work in my area. Maybe the Verzion V710 phone will work in my SL. I will check tomorrow.
The problem is that Cingular in my area only uses GSM technology. The V60 phones will not work in my area. Maybe the Verzion V710 phone will work in my SL. I will check tomorrow.
12-07-2004, 11:37 PM
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4 wheels
The newer V600's with .2FR or later firmware and flex are quite flawless. It was the .2DR phones that had a majority of the bugs. So I am sure that the MBZ V600 will be a variant of a newer flash and flex that Motorola currently has.
12-08-2004, 04:05 AM
#5
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Originally Posted by MB Fanatic
The newer V600's with .2FR or later firmware and flex are quite flawless. It was the .2DR phones that had a majority of the bugs. So I am sure that the MBZ V600 will be a variant of a newer flash and flex that Motorola currently has.
These phones were stopped and new phones are starting to be issued flashed with upgraded software and firmware.
12-08-2004, 08:19 PM
#6
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Originally Posted by tiggerfink
Today I got a call from my salesman. I do not know to cry or laugh. I was told that the V600 phone will not work in a 2004 SL or lower. The V600 phone will only work in a 2005 SL or higher.
I was told that the wiring in the 2004 SL will not work with the V600 GSM phone. I am thinking why would Mercedes design wires for a particular technology knowing the fact that technology changes every 6 months.
I would like to do this to the Mercedes team in charge of the phone.
I was told that the wiring in the 2004 SL will not work with the V600 GSM phone. I am thinking why would Mercedes design wires for a particular technology knowing the fact that technology changes every 6 months.
I would like to do this to the Mercedes team in charge of the phone.
I was talking to my dealer parts manager and she told me today that the V60 is being discontinued. She personally had no idea what phone would work for the 04's so if you don't have a phone, I would try to get one of the V60's as soon as possible.
Don't know if this is true but I was also told that some of the late model 04's will take the new phone.
12-12-2004, 12:32 PM
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SL500 and A-CLASS
There may be hope for me to get a Cingular phone in my SL500. I asked them if a T720 will work, because wife does not want to give up her phone. Is a V600 better than a T720?
http://www.mikbox.com/install/R230/index.htm
http://www.mikbox.com/index.htm
http://www.mikbox.com/install/R230/index.htm
http://www.mikbox.com/index.htm
Last edited by tiggerfink; 12-12-2004 at 11:54 PM.
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12-12-2004, 12:56 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by tiggerfink
There may be hope for me to get a Cingular phone in my SL500. I asked them if a T720 will work, becuase wife does not want to give up her phone. Is a V600 better than a T720?
http://www.mikbox.com/install/R230/index.htm
http://www.mikbox.com/index.htm
http://www.mikbox.com/install/R230/index.htm
http://www.mikbox.com/index.htm
I have the Motorola T720 installed in my Navigator and it is just fine. The first phone in this line to come out was the T710 and that phone you do not want. The T720 has many sofware and firmware upgrades that improves reception. I originally had the T710 in the Navigator and when I put in the T720 there was a huge improvement. They take the same cradle.
If you can put in a T720, then you are doing just fine.
12-12-2004, 01:27 PM
#9
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Originally Posted by tiggerfink
Today I got a call from my salesman. I do not know to cry or laugh. I was told that the V600 phone will not work in a 2004 SL or lower. The V600 phone will only work in a 2005 SL or higher.
I was told that the wiring in the 2004 SL will not work with the V600 GSM phone. I am thinking why would Mercedes design wires for a particular technology knowing the fact that technology changes every 6 months.
I would like to do this to the Mercedes team in charge of the phone.
I was told that the wiring in the 2004 SL will not work with the V600 GSM phone. I am thinking why would Mercedes design wires for a particular technology knowing the fact that technology changes every 6 months.
I would like to do this to the Mercedes team in charge of the phone.
12-14-2004, 01:47 PM
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SL500 and A-CLASS
My co-worker had to rub it in. My co-worker invited me to lunch and his friend pick us up in a brand new Chrysler 300. He put his phone on the seat and made a phone call, by saying dial. I was hot.
You can get a blue tooth phone system on cheap *** Chrysler 300.
You can get a blue tooth phone system on cheap *** Chrysler 300.
12-20-2004, 06:31 AM
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GL320CDI / C63 Edition 507 Coupe (EDP) / E63 S (on order) / G500 / Smart Brabus
Originally Posted by LovinSL600
tigger,
I was talking to my dealer parts manager and she told me today that the V60 is being discontinued. She personally had no idea what phone would work for the 04's so if you don't have a phone, I would try to get one of the V60's as soon as possible.
Don't know if this is true but I was also told that some of the late model 04's will take the new phone.
I was talking to my dealer parts manager and she told me today that the V60 is being discontinued. She personally had no idea what phone would work for the 04's so if you don't have a phone, I would try to get one of the V60's as soon as possible.
Don't know if this is true but I was also told that some of the late model 04's will take the new phone.
I don't believe the V60 is being discontinued too soon as there are new versions and cradles out for it now.
Looking at the parts system, it doesn't appear any 2004 cars will take the new MBUSA phone system; the cars can use the new phones, but require a custom system to be installed. It's much more cost effective to use the UHI standard installation and a compatible phone, but if you're set on a phone like a V600, then custom would be the only way to go.
-s-
12-21-2004, 12:31 AM
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I think I am an expert now.
I am waiting on a response from BenzNL for a Mercedes UHI PSE kit that will work with a V600. Steve from BenzNL said he might have a solution for me in two weeks. Mercedes in Europe uses UHI PSEs and MBUSA uses MHI PSEs. The UHI is a better option because it allows you to use any phone, as long there is a cradle for it. Just plug the cradle into the UHI connector. These cradles will cost more because of the phone dependant electronics in them. Mercedes should of used UHI in the first place.
Mikbox is also a good option because it allows you to use any phone with your MBUSA V60 PSE. His kit will work with most Motorola phones. Just plug one end of the mb/mot cable into your phone and the other end into a RJ48 connector. I love this option because I can use my T720 or V600 with the same connector cable and Mikbox kit. Mikbox does not recommend using the connector cable without a cradle. So I may purchase a cradle and connector cable for a T720 and another cradle and connector cable for a V600. These cradles cost about $49 bucks and made of plastic with no built in electronics.
Hers are some terms.
PSE Portable support Electronics
D2B Domestic Digital Bus (old fiber optic audio network aka Digital Data Bus)
MOST Media Oriented System Transport (optic audio network)new fiber optic audio network)
MBenzNL wrote:
The UHI kits should be available with a few (selected) cradles, to support some of the phone available. ALL CRADLES MADE BY MERCEDES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FROM MBenzNL... this is to reduce the number of kits required and to lessen support requirements.
Supported cars will be:
W202 1999-2000
W208 1999-2003
W203 2001-2004
W209 2003-2004
W210 1999-2002
R230 2003-2004
W463 2002-2004
Kits will be "self install", meaning the kit includes the parts necessary for installation and you are responsible for installation. Installation will be available in some areas and may support more vehicles than in the list (for instance, W220).
The kit consists of:
- UHI PSE
- UHI clip
- UHI cradle (varies by phone)
- middle console floor (depends on model)
- cradle wire harness
- antenna adapter
The following phones will have kits available:
Nokia 6100/6610/7250
Nokia 6200/6220/6230
SonyEriccson T610/T616/T630/T637
Siemens S55/C55/M55/S56/C56/M56
Siemens CX55/CX66
Motorola V620/V600/V525/V300
Also note that if you choose the Motorola Vxxx kit, you are on your own... there are a lot of problems reported with this kit/phone combo, so we will not provide ANY support for it. It is just available for those who just HAVE to have a V600.
Hey Thomas,
Here is how it works:
It doesn't matter what Mercedes claims the PSE was "designed" to work
with, because CDMA, TDMA, GSM, AMPS, iDEN are just names for modulation
schemes, protocols, or technologies that the phone uses to communicate
with the cell tower. The PSE has nothing to do with it. What the PSE is
designed to do is to communicate with the phone on one side, and the
head unit (throught the fiber optical bus), and microphone on the other
side. The communication consists of data and audio. The audio of course
is the transmit and receive path of the conversation. The PSE
implements
echo cancellation and filtering circuitry for that. The data path
controls the phones functions like dialing, answering, SMS, phonebook
access, caller id, etc.
Each PSE is designed to work with a specific phone. The mikbox pretends
to the PSE to be just the phone that it expects. For example, if you
have a StarTac PSE, the mikbox will pretend to be a StarTac phone. So
if
you connect a V600, the mikbox will translate the V600 data to the
StarTac PSE. In other words, the mikbox builds an abstraction layer
between phone interface and car interface.
Now, I don't know what phone you have right now, or when your contract
is up for renewal, but here is what I usually tell people: If you have
the choice, go for Verizon. They have a great coverage, and the CDMA
phones (like V710) cause less interference, which gives you better
voice
quality. GSM phones claim to have the "international advantage" but
this
is not so much an advantage anymore. If you go oversees you are better
off buying a local prepaid phone. Its cheaper and gives you better
voice
quality. In any country.
But back to the mikbox, it doesn't matter if you have a StarTac,
Timeport, or V60 PSE, you will be able to use all supported phones, no
matter if TDMA, CDMA, GSM, or (soon) iDEN.
-Mik
1. I do not think the phone will fit in the cradle
with the leather cover/belt clip on the phone. Is
that true?
Yes
2. Can I just not use the cradle and just plug in the connector cable?
Yes - but - takes longer to do this. And you have to be careful. Its
more of a strain to the connector. The cable costs $49 to replace. But
its very possible.
3. The same connector cable will work for a V600 and
T720?
Yes
4. Will the blue tooth devices of the V600 work when
the phone is in the cradle working with the MB
Command?
Don't know. My guess is "yes" but again, my guess is as good as yours.
5. If I use the blue tooth devices like ear phone and
speaker, will I still hear the telephone conservation
through the car speakers?
Same as 4
6. Does your connector kit supply power to the phone?
Yes, it charges the phone. There is also an option to bypass the phone
battery and run the phone off the car power without charging. Nobody
has
wanted this so far, bbut I just throw it out as an option...
7. What is UHI connector that MLBENZ is selling?
UHI is the next generation phone interface from MB. It has a control
unit that communicates with the car's audio system, and the actual
phone
dependent circuitry is part of the interchangable cradle. Its very
nice,
since it is all OEM, as long as MB delivers the cradles for popular
phones. If you install a kit from scratch, this might be a better
solution than the Mikbox, although it might be more expensive too. I
have never played with it myself, so I can't really make a fair
comparison.
8. How do I place the order?
Check out [link removed at request of author] then tell me what you need and for what
year/model car, and I will email you the total price, payment options,
and expected shipping date.
9. Will you have a bluetooth interface kit?
Don't know. Definitly not any time soon.
I am waiting on a response from BenzNL for a Mercedes UHI PSE kit that will work with a V600. Steve from BenzNL said he might have a solution for me in two weeks. Mercedes in Europe uses UHI PSEs and MBUSA uses MHI PSEs. The UHI is a better option because it allows you to use any phone, as long there is a cradle for it. Just plug the cradle into the UHI connector. These cradles will cost more because of the phone dependant electronics in them. Mercedes should of used UHI in the first place.
Mikbox is also a good option because it allows you to use any phone with your MBUSA V60 PSE. His kit will work with most Motorola phones. Just plug one end of the mb/mot cable into your phone and the other end into a RJ48 connector. I love this option because I can use my T720 or V600 with the same connector cable and Mikbox kit. Mikbox does not recommend using the connector cable without a cradle. So I may purchase a cradle and connector cable for a T720 and another cradle and connector cable for a V600. These cradles cost about $49 bucks and made of plastic with no built in electronics.
Hers are some terms.
PSE Portable support Electronics
D2B Domestic Digital Bus (old fiber optic audio network aka Digital Data Bus)
MOST Media Oriented System Transport (optic audio network)new fiber optic audio network)
MBenzNL wrote:
The UHI kits should be available with a few (selected) cradles, to support some of the phone available. ALL CRADLES MADE BY MERCEDES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FROM MBenzNL... this is to reduce the number of kits required and to lessen support requirements.
Supported cars will be:
W202 1999-2000
W208 1999-2003
W203 2001-2004
W209 2003-2004
W210 1999-2002
R230 2003-2004
W463 2002-2004
Kits will be "self install", meaning the kit includes the parts necessary for installation and you are responsible for installation. Installation will be available in some areas and may support more vehicles than in the list (for instance, W220).
The kit consists of:
- UHI PSE
- UHI clip
- UHI cradle (varies by phone)
- middle console floor (depends on model)
- cradle wire harness
- antenna adapter
The following phones will have kits available:
Nokia 6100/6610/7250
Nokia 6200/6220/6230
SonyEriccson T610/T616/T630/T637
Siemens S55/C55/M55/S56/C56/M56
Siemens CX55/CX66
Motorola V620/V600/V525/V300
Also note that if you choose the Motorola Vxxx kit, you are on your own... there are a lot of problems reported with this kit/phone combo, so we will not provide ANY support for it. It is just available for those who just HAVE to have a V600.
Hey Thomas,
Here is how it works:
It doesn't matter what Mercedes claims the PSE was "designed" to work
with, because CDMA, TDMA, GSM, AMPS, iDEN are just names for modulation
schemes, protocols, or technologies that the phone uses to communicate
with the cell tower. The PSE has nothing to do with it. What the PSE is
designed to do is to communicate with the phone on one side, and the
head unit (throught the fiber optical bus), and microphone on the other
side. The communication consists of data and audio. The audio of course
is the transmit and receive path of the conversation. The PSE
implements
echo cancellation and filtering circuitry for that. The data path
controls the phones functions like dialing, answering, SMS, phonebook
access, caller id, etc.
Each PSE is designed to work with a specific phone. The mikbox pretends
to the PSE to be just the phone that it expects. For example, if you
have a StarTac PSE, the mikbox will pretend to be a StarTac phone. So
if
you connect a V600, the mikbox will translate the V600 data to the
StarTac PSE. In other words, the mikbox builds an abstraction layer
between phone interface and car interface.
Now, I don't know what phone you have right now, or when your contract
is up for renewal, but here is what I usually tell people: If you have
the choice, go for Verizon. They have a great coverage, and the CDMA
phones (like V710) cause less interference, which gives you better
voice
quality. GSM phones claim to have the "international advantage" but
this
is not so much an advantage anymore. If you go oversees you are better
off buying a local prepaid phone. Its cheaper and gives you better
voice
quality. In any country.
But back to the mikbox, it doesn't matter if you have a StarTac,
Timeport, or V60 PSE, you will be able to use all supported phones, no
matter if TDMA, CDMA, GSM, or (soon) iDEN.
-Mik
1. I do not think the phone will fit in the cradle
with the leather cover/belt clip on the phone. Is
that true?
Yes
2. Can I just not use the cradle and just plug in the connector cable?
Yes - but - takes longer to do this. And you have to be careful. Its
more of a strain to the connector. The cable costs $49 to replace. But
its very possible.
3. The same connector cable will work for a V600 and
T720?
Yes
4. Will the blue tooth devices of the V600 work when
the phone is in the cradle working with the MB
Command?
Don't know. My guess is "yes" but again, my guess is as good as yours.
5. If I use the blue tooth devices like ear phone and
speaker, will I still hear the telephone conservation
through the car speakers?
Same as 4
6. Does your connector kit supply power to the phone?
Yes, it charges the phone. There is also an option to bypass the phone
battery and run the phone off the car power without charging. Nobody
has
wanted this so far, bbut I just throw it out as an option...
7. What is UHI connector that MLBENZ is selling?
UHI is the next generation phone interface from MB. It has a control
unit that communicates with the car's audio system, and the actual
phone
dependent circuitry is part of the interchangable cradle. Its very
nice,
since it is all OEM, as long as MB delivers the cradles for popular
phones. If you install a kit from scratch, this might be a better
solution than the Mikbox, although it might be more expensive too. I
have never played with it myself, so I can't really make a fair
comparison.
8. How do I place the order?
Check out [link removed at request of author] then tell me what you need and for what
year/model car, and I will email you the total price, payment options,
and expected shipping date.
9. Will you have a bluetooth interface kit?
Don't know. Definitly not any time soon.
Last edited by tiggerfink; 12-21-2004 at 12:35 AM.
12-23-2004, 04:06 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by MBZFAN55
I have had a hands-free voice recognition phone in my last 3 S-Classes and my 2004 is the LAST one. I started with analog and paid dearly to switch to digital EVEN with some aid from MBUSA. On another "S" I switched service from Cingular to Verizon and paid $500 for the antiquated V60 handset. The even worse news is that most people who hear me on the "hands free" ask me if I'm in a barrel. MB has gotten their last 3 grand for a phone system. I'll keep my car "number" and use bluetooth !
12-23-2004, 07:38 PM
#15
Super Member
Verizon vs Cingular
"Which" phone network is better is truly a subjective matter and
probably depends greatly on your location. I am on the east coast and
Verizon is the dominant player. I had Cingular for years but service
declined greatly during much of 2004. I was told they were developing
their GSM network and the exisiting TDMA/CDMA? network in my market
was being ignored. Whatever was the actual truth was unimportant as
the switch to Verizon was a great move. They seem to be a smidgen
more expensive, but the customer service is first rate. Overall, I
find Verizon to be a much more professional company and I'd have to be
offered one hell of a deal to go back
probably depends greatly on your location. I am on the east coast and
Verizon is the dominant player. I had Cingular for years but service
declined greatly during much of 2004. I was told they were developing
their GSM network and the exisiting TDMA/CDMA? network in my market
was being ignored. Whatever was the actual truth was unimportant as
the switch to Verizon was a great move. They seem to be a smidgen
more expensive, but the customer service is first rate. Overall, I
find Verizon to be a much more professional company and I'd have to be
offered one hell of a deal to go back
12-25-2004, 07:58 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by bollar
Great job getting all of this information in one place!
Verizon will have 5 new cell towers in north Mississippi by the end of 2005. I decided to go with Verizion with the Mercedes V60 CDMA phone because of voice quailty. My wife has a GSM T720 and half the time the voice quality is bad.
I currently use a Cingular old TDMA phone for work and very impress with the V60 phone.
After all my research I discovered that some of the new Mercedes in Europe have BlueTooth, and it will be about 3 years before the cars that are sold by MBUSA will have Bluetooth. Bluetooth is on the new E500s in Europe.
https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-electronics/92729-bluetooth-set-up.html
Last edited by tiggerfink; 12-25-2004 at 08:02 PM.
