Gsm v bluetooth phones

[Gmw76]

Hi hope someone can advise.

I am new to the forum studying all the great information on here to home in on an ideal car. Considering my07 v8v.
Can someone let me know the main drawback if any of the gsm phone kit v bluetooth. I read on one post that dual simwas available to keep the same number but not sure about other featues.
Is the gsm fully voice integrated etc?

Many thanks
Mark

[Colesie]

Hi Mark

My '07 had the GSM integration. Main drawbacks over the BT for me were that it didnt include the steering wheel control and that it was a PITA having to swap the SIM card between the phone and the car (especially if you have an iPhone where you have to ae about with a fiddly little tool to remove the SIM.

I guess if your provider offers a dual SIM option it gets round that though.

Now have the BT option and it's far more slick.

[Baron Von Alders]

Bluetooth every time.

I've got mine paired with my personal & work mobile phones plus the Mrs and daughter's phones, so whoever is in the car it automatically picks up their phone to use through the hands free.

[brakedwell]

My DB9 is fitted with a GSM phone without a multfunction steering wheel. The switchery is fiddly and distracting so I prefer to use my £37 Parrot Minikit Slim, which fits neatly on the narrow sun visor. I am assured my Parrot calls are much clearer than the GSM.

[Slarti]

Bluetooth all the way. My 997 had a sim socket and it was a total pain - I gave up using it. Bluetooth is a breath of fresh air in comparison. Make sure you get Bluetooth!

[mikey k]

Bluetooth with phone integration to the tracker system solves two problems!

[Gmw76]

Thanks guys

I think I hear Bluetooth !

I have an A5 at present so I am sort of getting my head round losing good bluetooth, sat nav etc etc. But picking up something very special instead. I guess 07 with better gear change, bluetooth, satnav and 700w ice would be good.

I am digesting Grant's excellent book to help me home in.

Thanks for your friendly advice.

Mark

[V8 Animal]

mikey k said:

Bluetooth with phone integration to the tracker system solves two problems!

Picking up on this thread if you don't mind, Do i have to phone tracker to get them to match or is it done when i gave my details?
Euro-Watch have my phone number as ive had a text message but not sure if the 2 are connected or the benefit of this.
If someone could clear this up for me that would be cool.
Sorry for the hijack but they are sort of linked

[mikey k]

You need to get Eurowatch to link the tracker and the phone via bluetooth.
This will invovle having the car with the phone and contacting them ot pair them.
You will also have to set up a user account and PIN code.
Kicked it off (again) on my new one today.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

You guys seem to be knowledgeable abnout BT, so here goes...

My phone pairs with my car successfully and I can call and receive hands free, but the phone's contact list doesn't download into the car's memory. So I have to punch in the phone number to make a call, however once I have made a call, the car remembers the calls I've made, and then I can recall that number. But that's pretty cumbersome. So why won't the phone auto download? Is that ability specific to only certain brands/types of phones?

[Murph7355]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

You guys seem to be knowledgeable abnout BT, so here goes...

My phone pairs with my car successfully and I can call and receive hands free, but the phone's contact list doesn't download into the car's memory. So I have to punch in the phone number to make a call, however once I have made a call, the car remembers the calls I've made, and then I can recall that number. But that's pretty cumbersome. So why won't the phone auto download? Is that ability specific to only certain brands/types of phones?

AIUI you can dial the last number dialled easily (double tap one of the phone buttons on the steering wheel. Can't recall which. Think it's the top one).

It won't share phonebooks with a lot of phones. I think it might with some, but it depends on the bluetooth profiles and the Aston system is far from tolerant in this respect.

You can put a bunch of numbers in the car's memory manually (I think 20 numbers) and record the name with your own voice. At the main phone menu (when the lady says "say a command" or some such) you can say "call <name you recorded>" and in theory it should dial out. It's not always perfect though unless the names recorded are all very distinct.

Alternatively, if your phone has voice dialling you can access this using another command you speak at the main menu (I think it's "phone voice name"), you wait for the beep (your phone getting ready) and say the name. Depending on the phone, it will dial out.

I'm fairly sure all of this is in the manual. It's clunky, and far from perfect. But better than the SIM option.

[drcarrera]

Also, with some phones/systems it depends on whether your contacts are on the phone or on the SIM. A previous car, can't remember which one, had this issue - once I'd copied the contacts from the SIM to the phone (or vice versa - can't remember that either!) they displayed in the car OK. May be worth trying.