Bluetooth Headsets

[halfdome, Danny]

The Gods in Olympia have decided all drivers use/wear a blue tooth device if talking on their cell phones when operating a motor vehicle. I have no problem with complying but what were they thinking? Today I received my 3rd device to try and it doesn't work either. I tried a visor speaker phone that Costco sells and it sounds like garbage so I returned it. They have had lots of those returned. Next I tried a Motorola device from Walmart that hooks over the ear and it sounded like noting but static and very low volume even with the volume turned to maximum. The new one is a Samsung WEP500. It won't stay put in the ear but it will pair up with my Samsung phone . Got to test it. Maybe put a wad of gum on it to keep it in the ear . I rarely talk and drive anyway but I wanted to be ready if a call came through. Guess I'm back to my simple old earphone that plugs into the phone. I could have saved the expense and effort of purchasing a new phone with Blue tooth and just used that thing . We watched a cop drive for several miles holding a cell to his ear while driving. Guess the law only applies to regular folk. Danny

[TheBizMan]

Jane,

I got a 'BlueAnt' from Radio Shack. A little pricey ($80) but it works great. Fits and stays in my ear. Has good sound, both ways and was no problem with the setup. They are smaller then the BlueTooth.

[halfdome, Danny]

Figured out why the new one wouldn't stay put in the ear. The directions were exactly backwards , maybe it was printed in the southern hemisphere. . It still feels loosey goosey but so far it's staying put. They need to make these things with a case or a leash so you can hang it from the gear shift knob or something so it doesn't get lost or stepped on. Danny

[QuietOutdoorsman]

Danny,

In the 7 years I've lived here in WA I have witnessed on the highway: a woman putting on make-up (mascara & eye liner, not something simpler like lipstick); driver reading the newspaper (multiple times); and a man doing office paperwork (pen pushing the paper into the center of the steering wheel). This is just ignoring how many times I've seen people with cell phone in one hand, latte in the other, trying to weave through rush hour traffic at 70 mph when everyone else is doing 35-50 mph. I'm sure all this goes on pretty much everywhere in the country, but I'm of the opinion that collectively, Seattle area drivers are some of the worst I've come across. I am all for having to use a hands free device on the cell phone while driving.

I have two cell phones, my personal one and one for work. My personal one is not bluetooth capable, so I had to go buy a corded earplug/mic thing. Miserable thing never stays in my ear. The one for work has a bluetooth headset that works well. I have to keep track of two phones, two headsets, six total chargers (1 auto & 2 wall chargers for the personal phone, 2 wall chargers for the work phone & 1 for the bluetooth headset).

[Keith]

Hi Danny,

The same law went into effect here in California on July 1st. Law enforcement is exempt from the law here. I don't know if it is any different up there.

Keith

[tinksdad]

New York has been hands-free while driving for several years. L.E.O. were exempt there as well. It really didn't seem to matter though, I don't recall once instance of the law being enforced there.

I have to agree with Danny on the Motorola headsets. They were the poorest sound quality, and their usual life span was only about 6 months (if that long). The best sound quality and comfort level I have personally encountered are the Jabra models.

Here is a link showing the individual states cell phone driving laws:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html

According to the information listed on the site, there are 5 states, +Dc and the Virgin Islands that I can't drive in while using my current cell phone. It's not blue tooth and doesn't have a plug for a wired ear piece.

[BPFox]

In Michigan they haven't exactly outlawed cell phone use, instead they tried to come up with a law against "distracted driving". My position is that all driving is distracted driving. I guess they are just going to have to outlaw teen aged girls on ten speeds. Talk about distracting!

[caseydog]

I wish Texas would pass that law. I am tired of getting cut off by people talking on the phone. Maybe with hands free, they would be a little less distracted -- maybe not.

Now, on topic, I received dozens of BT ear devices at the magazine, and most of them sucked.

The one I actually kept was a Jabra unit. It worked well, and wasn't too uncomfortable.

It looked like this one, but I don't recall the actual product number...

http://www.jabra.com/Sites/Jabra/NA-US/ ... T2020.aspx


CD

[asianflava]

I installed a DVD/Nav unit in my truck. I also installed the optional bluetooth unit. Now, the screen on the nav will show who is calling, mute the radio, and play the call thru the radio's speakers. I have been playing around with the mic placement but I haven't found the ideal spot yet.

[halfdome, Danny]

I bought my vehicle used and it came with a small antenna on the window and a speaker & microphone in the headliner. It also has a black box under the seat with connecting cables. I asked around locally if it could be used with a cell phone but nobody knew. My new Samsung blue tooth ear thingy works just fine when stopped. I can barely hear a voice when the car is moving. More good money thrown away. Danny

[george09]

I don't know about law in South Carolina.

However, I have been using bluetooth headsets since long and I'm quite comfortable with it.

[Eunice]

I bought the earpiece from Motorola and it works fine for me. No problem with sound. Kind of loose on the ear but has never fell off or been a problem
I got Kenny the speaker on the visor from Motorola and he likes it as well.
When we are talking to each other there is sometimes an echo but other than that we are very happy with Motorola bluetooth. Our phones are Motorola.

[packerz4]

i have a jawbone by jabra i think... works great but is kinda hard to fit in the ear...

i find i end up using my plug in one more.... (like an earpiece for an ipod) it works better for me. i don't like to talk on the phone by holding it up to my ear.

tk

[swissarmygirl]

I have a Jabra, and it works OK.

My only problem is that I guess I have little ears. Anything designed to fit over an ear never stays put on mine. The Jabra had an adjustable ear hook, but I adjusted the heck out of it until I broke it.
I improvised and made one out of craft wire. Not the most comfortable thing in the world, and I do feel slightly ghetto about it, but it works.

[halfdome, Danny]

These evaluations of Bluetooth headsets and speaker phones are great, keep them coming.
I'm thinking of ordering Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset . Any comments? Danny