Cell Phones and a C5

[Black 03 Z06]

I swore after leaving work I would never have one of these devices again. Maybe I spoke too soon. A couple of events occurred lately when the ability to have a cell phone would have been a help.

In Ontario you cannot use a cell phone without some type of hands free system while driving. The C5 does not have the ability to do that within the current electronic system. What is required to have a cell phone and hands free that is legal in Ontario?

Any help would be appreciated, just don't make it too technical I am still trying to perfect my semaphore flags.

Murray

 

[Nik]

I swore after leaving work I would never have one of these devices again. Maybe I spoke too soon. A couple of events occurred lately when the ability to have a cell phone would have been a help.

In Ontario you cannot use a cell phone without some type of hands free system while driving. The C5 does not have the ability to do that within the current electronic system. What is required to have a cell phone and hands free that is legal in Ontario?

Any help would be appreciated, just don't make it too technical I am still trying to perfect my semaphore flags.

Murray

Hey Murray,

Lots of options depending on what you actually want to do and how much you want to sink into it.

You can do any of the following with varying degrees of cost/complexity:

1. Cheapest/easiest - wear a bluetooth headset on your ear when in the car. Legally you can operate/talk on a phone with those. They cost anywhere from $40 to $200 for the ultra high end models. I've used all manner of integrated bluetooth tech and nothing beats the quality of a decent headset in the car.

2. Get a bluetooth in-car with an FM transmitter (like the below) - this will allow you to talk and listen via radio/fm frequency. Quality is not the greatest but it works for the odd occasion and there's no 'installation' or wiring involved

3. Get an aftermarket harness that would work with factory headunits like PAC HFKGM1 harness and add a Parrot bluetooth kit like the CK3100. This gives you a more factory look and feel. Cost over $200 + installation cost/time.

 

[Rruuff Day]

Like he said!

 

[Black 03 Z06]

Thanks guys at least it gives me something to consider. I think Nik's first suggestion might be the best because I need my 12 volt adapter for another purpose. The draw on that use is maximum, I tried using one of those double plugs once and melted it.

Appreciated.

 

[Nik]

Thanks guys at least it gives me something to consider. I think Nik's first suggestion might be the best because I need my 12 volt adapter for another purpose. The draw on that use is maximum, I tried using one of those double plugs once and melted it.

Appreciated.

Yeah for sure it's the simplest. For good quality headsets look at plantronics and jabra. Plantronics makes hands down the best over the ear headset, jabra makes good in-ear ones. What you choose is definitely personal preference and fitment so get yourself to bestbuy and try some out.

Best deals are usually on amazon.

P.S. I actually may have a few headsets that I've discarded and are still usable. If you shoot me your address I can pop one in an envelope to you and maybe one day in 2 years time Canada Post can deliver it. I get through around 2-3 per year.

 

[YFCvii]

Before having vehicles with built-in Bluetooth, I had a visor-clipped Jabra Freeway type device that worked exceptionally well (a bit cumbersome for when visor is needed for the sun ). I then switched to a Bose in-ear that didn't feature that mic across the cheek and it was absolutely awesome (but now obsolete ) and I see Jabra has something close to it though (although these require a discipline for recharging).
I'm watching your post with interest to see how this works out for you as, although I don't need a vehicle resolved, I am searching this same need for my Boat
with no cables, avoiding plug-ins, little fuss ... (I was too quick to resell my Bose in-ear on eBay)

 

[Black 03 Z06]

Yeah for sure it's the simplest. For good quality headsets look at plantronics and jabra. Plantronics makes hands down the best over the ear headset, jabra makes good in-ear ones. What you choose is definitely personal preference and fitment so get yourself to bestbuy and try some out.

Best deals are usually on amazon.

P.S. I actually may have a few headsets that I've discarded and are still usable. If you shoot me your address I can pop one in an envelope to you and maybe one day in 2 years time Canada Post can deliver it. I get through around 2-3 per year.

Nik, very kind of you. I will send you a PM with my address.

Should I look for a cell phone with a rotary dial or are the push button ones better.

 

[Malcolm]

You could do like me and just let calls go to voice mail while driving and then review messages and texts when you are stopped somewhere.Works for me.

 

[Rruuff Day]

I think I may have an old Motorola Bag phone around the office somewhere Murray... but no one had heard of blue tooth back them... or if they did, they took the ballpoint pen out of their mouth and ran for the toothpaste....

 

[Malcolm]

Nik, very kind of you. I will send you a PM with my address.

Should I look for a cell phone with a rotary dial or are the push button ones better.

Think you should go with the push button one, probably a pain texting with the rotary.

 

[Black 03 Z06]

I kid about the technology, well maybe not. I found a picture taken in 1989 at a sales meeting. My boss who always had leading edge technology was off the side and on his phone. It was as Trump would say Yuge. I think it was a Motorola as well but you needed an assistant to help carry it. At the same office they also use a teletype machine for order entry and they kept it till 1994. It is just amazing to me how quickly things change in the world of technology.

And yet Graham (Nascar 03) has an incredible collection of reel to reel tape recorders and turntables that apparently work very well. Some would say better than what is currently available. Just look at our cars and how quickly they change? What is standard in a C7 was un thought of in a C3 or even C4.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Movie Muscle]

A more costly option is available but it does have benefits. However not as costly as you may think. Option is to replace the stereo head unit with a Bluetooth system.You can spend just a few hundred and get a very capable unit with voice command , nav, Bluetooth, touch screen and the ability to stream music from phone or online etc. Here is just a quick example Amazon product ASIN B00TSUFH5Q
You can find ones that will work with the factory dimensions in the dash also. Manufacturers keep this in mind when designing as their systems are upgrades to stock in most cases. I would recommend shopping a place called Gibbys in St. Catherines. Unreal sales sometimes. I have done deals too good to be true from them.

 

[MikeysZ06]

You could do like me and just let calls go to voice mail while driving and then review messages and texts when you are stopped somewhere.Works for me.

I agree. In my job you guys wouldn't believe what I see motorists doing in their cars. I've been hit lightly twice by cell phone users.

Leave your phone on the seat. Nobody's life is worth a phone call. I have Bluetooth in my car. I've never paired it with my phone. Can't be bothered.