LouS

Hey Folks,

I did see the main thread on the A900 but if someone can answer these questions, it would help me tremendously. I am getting a new Sprint phone this week and I like the A900 but the other alternative is the Katana. My questions:

For the features supported by HFL in the TL, which of these work and which don't?

Phone pairing/linking: I assuming this works...
Handsfree calling?
Incoming call?
Call Transfer?
Call Hang Up? (from what I've seen this doesn't work)
Call Waiting?
Manual Ring Tones (not sure what that even means)
receive contact?
Phonebook Import?
Any indicators?

Has anyone tried a new A900M to see if it works any better?

I've had my TL for 2 1/2 years and since Sprint didn't have any BT phones last time I re-upped, I have NEVER used the HFL in this car, ever!!

Sorry - one last thing. Is the battery in the A900 really as bad as everyone says???

Thanks for the help and sorry if this is a repost.

Lou S.

MAU1976

Hello guys

I am also interested in getting info about the Samsung A900 since we do not have many options with Sprint for Blue tooth.

Mauricio

justin1025

I actually have the A900 and I use it with the HFL. The only thing that actually works is voice dialing and picking up calls. The signal strength does not show, and there is a problem where sometimes even when you hang up with your HFL, your phone is still on the line....so the A900 is not very compatible with the Acura HFL...but either way I still use it and it comes in handy sometimes...especially because I drive the 6 speed manual

jdeec

The worst part about the A900 and bluetooth is the phantom ringing. The phone will ring a couple times then hang up. After this happens I just disable the bluetooth, as I don't want the ringing to interrupt every ten seconds.

I'd say compatibility is spotty at best. I've noticed what justin1025 has, bluetooth still active after call has ended. For this I just let the other person hang up and that usually solves it.

pohljm

I have the A900 and although the signal strength and battery strength do not show up in the MID all other features work with the exception of ..........not being able to hang up the call. which is a bit of a pain. The phantom rings are because you do not have the most current firmware installed on your phone. update the software and it will solve that issue. As far as the hangup issue goes they are actively trying to solve this problem with the Hands Free Profile software. The only time you need to hang up the phone with the actual end button on the phone is when you get an open connection like a voicemessaging system. If you actually get connected with your party and they hang up, the HFL disconnects just fine. I would not go back several generations in technology and have a much less capable phone like the Katana to solve the hang up issue, they will solve it with a software upgrade.

Oh yeah........ the battery life is not terrific but it is certainly usable. I charge mine each nite and have never had a problem. but you certainly cannot go 3 days between charging.

ccasey522

I bought my A900 in May and the only major thing that doesn't work is hanging up and that gets annoying real quick. If you are looking for a slim profile phone it's great. I'm not such a fan of it in the car. I just hook up my blackberry to the HFL instead.

*edit* in response to the battery life comment, buy a car adapter. it comes in handy more often then you will believe.

Phesto

I have the a900 great phone I like how it has a metal case...the Katana has too much plastic for me.Plus the battery is really bad you get barely a days use between charges.

LouS

Well I bought 2 Sanyo 8400's for myself and my wife and my kids both got A900M's.

The 8400's pair and work well in both my wife's 06 MDX and my 04 TL. Battery and signal strength in on MID and phone hangs up from HFL. I haven't tried call waiting yet.

For fun, I tried my son's A900M. It paired fine and got battery and Sig strength in MID. Made a call fine and it even hung up from HFL. Also transfered call from car to phone and worked. Haven't tried call waiting yet. I wonder if the HFL problems were fixed with the A900M and it's latest firmware.

vector7777

I have an A900M and it does not work nearly as well as stated above. No battery or signal strength and I cannot hangup calls using the steering controls. It is a tempermental phone overall but I like the slim design. LouS, did you try the A900M in the MDX or TL? Also what firmware do you have?

TriniBwoy

I'll have to update the firmware on my a900. I too was experiencing phantom calls and just finally decided to not use the HFL feature all together. I'll just have to get use to hanging up on the phone itself...or the person on the other end hangs up.

LouS

Please be aware that I only tried the A900M for a brief time since it is my son's phone. I tried it only in the TL and I did get the results stated above. I don't know what firmware version is in the phone but I can tell you that he just got the A900M last Friday (10/20) and as soon as he got it, he updated the firmware via the phone so he has the latest version. I can check and post this later if I remember to do it.

faxmonkey

If the new firmware has not helped with bluetooth issues. For $15 i hear you can put the A900m software into the A900. Since both phones are identical (hardware).
http://www.sprintusers.com/forum/sho...ght=a900m+a900
You may need to register to view the thread. I thought about doing this since i like the phone so much and am still under the 2 year contract, but Sprint is sending me out a new A900m due to my constant complaining.

pohljm

faxmonkey, That is the coerrect way to handle the issue. have sprint change out your phone, you will be glad you did. If you reflash it for 15$ you may as well terminate your monthly insurance coverage since it will have voided the phone warranty in the process.

faxmonkey

True, but i didn't have insurance on it and the one year warranty from the manufacturer was about to expire. I would have definitely done it for $15 if Sprint could not help. I got so used to the HFL when i had my Motorola V600 that i wanted desperately to make my A900 work the same.

asmd05

finally it works after a year...ive been waiting for this for a long time. i just upgraded my a900 on my own and did the ota firmware upgrade. now all the functions work...hanging up, signal strength, battery. im finally happy that the a900 is working like it should have when it first came out.

AL

pohljm

asmd05, by upgrading yourself, do you mean that you flashed your A900 to a A900M?

TriniBwoy

asmd05 has me thinking I should probably just flash my A900 to a A900M and not go through the hassle of having Sprint upgrade from my A900 to a A900M. According to him, everything works fine.

pohljm

I held Sprint responsible for signing me up to a contract with a phone that did not do what it was advertised to do. BT connectivity, learning T9, and working GPS. If you put it to them that way you wont have much resistance, you cannot just say the BT only works partially in my vehicle, they have answers for that. Its really worth the 30 mins of phone time to get a brand new A900M with full warranty. You can flash your phone, 1:100 chance you will brick it. But, If you do flash it you can then eliminate your monthly insurance charge because the warranty will be voided.

faxmonkey

Update...
I never got my replacement phone from Sprint... so i called to check on status. Long story short... They can't help me unless i extend my contract agreement.

I'll be paying $15 to upgrade the firmware to A900m. Sprint suxors.

vector7777

I just upgraded my A900 to an A900M and just wanted to confirm that the A900M is much more stable as far as BT is concerned. I'm getting battery life and signal, but I haven't tried to hang up yet.

pohljm

^^^^^^^hangs up just fine!

faxmonkey

I got an issue pairing my phone A900M-odified. I may have to reflash it.

pohljm

Yes try that as the stock A900M pairs fine! I tried the stock and updated firmware and It works fine

faxmonkey

reflashed and it works great. One thing i failed to mention was that before attempting to pair the phone i update the firmware completely through OTA. This time i just flashed and ran to the car to pair. Battery, signal all work.