I have a phone (cingular 2125) that is capable of transmitting stereo audio via bluetooth. The phone has a 2gb memory card and windows media player. I was wondering if I could rig up a pair of bluetooth headphones to an aux input in the car and play my music that way. The quesiton is, how would this work with handsfreelink? How would the phone behave with both the bluetooth headset and HFL in range?

 

For starters, you'd need to get an AUX in to the stereo. There are plenty of threads discussing how to do this. It seems that there is an XM bleed issue for some (if you are using XM). No way in hell could you get the audio thorugh the HFL (it barely works right for its intended purpose).

Then you would have to worry about hacking the headphones to provide line-level out to the AUX in as well as getting power to the headphones from the car. Where are you planning to stash the headphones so they can 1) Get power, 2) Get a clean signal 3) connect to the AUX in and 4) be easilly reached if you need to re-pair?

After all of this, you would need to be concerned about the HFL interfering with the BT connection to the headset. I don't think that interference would be as much of a problem as your phone being able to do HFL Bluetooth while it is also sending audio. If you already have the headphones, test it out before tearing everything apart.

I'd see if you could set up the AUX in and plug it directly to the phone. Surely it has a headphone jack. However, for the money, I'd just go and buy and iPod and figure out the AUX in (or just get an iTrip; I know FM modulators suck...).

Sorry if I seem pessimistic, but I just think that there has to be a cleaner way to get MP3 audio into the system...

 

I agree with wrd222, it's not worth trying to hack the BT.

I would figure out how to compose some dvd audio discs and burn those onto a dvd. Easier and less costly

 

IMO, bluetooth is not intended to "stream" high quality music wirelessly. It works fine for telephone quality, but you sure wont get CD quality with bluetooth.

I've paired my Jabra BT250 headset to my computer and streamed music from the computer to the headset. Its cool to be able to walk around the house listening to music without wires, but the quality is not that great.

Salden, if you seriously want to use your phone as a media player for the car, look at these popular aux solutions:I think you'll obtain better sound quality through one of these solutions than bluetooth.

 

Agreed, with BT v1.1 or 1.2 but v2.0 has a higher bandwidth and is capable of transmitting excellent quality audio up to 60ft (twice that of v1.2 which is what is in our TLs).

With a good set of BT v2 headphones you can get high quality audio from your phone.

 

Ok, let's take a step back. I am sorry I did not really explain myself fully. Yes, I am assuming I'd be using an aux input. The question is if I took a set of bluetooth (a2dp, good quality) headphones and spliced rca jacks onto where the speakers would have gone and plug those into the two aux jacks, would it work? I don't want to use a standard bluetooth earpiece (mono.) Here's an example:

http://www.sonorix.com/eng/product/product_obh0110.php

I refer you to this article where someone basically did what I want to do but they made their module portable...

http://www.grynx.com/index.php/proje...eo-in-the-car/

This was my original concern. How does my phone handle two different bluetooth "clients" that are within range. What I gather is it will be a problem since the bluetooth headphones handle the calling functions of the phone too. HFL and the headphones may try to fight over the call. I may have to find a set that are not designed to be used with a phone and just for some other type of bluetooth audio. We'll see. I am hoping that if I answer the call with the HFL, it will work through it instead of the headset rig. Same deal with calling...

I have come to the conclusion that I want to have bluetooth headphones anyway for mowing the lawn, working around the house, etc... I'll be able to see how they behave together once I choose a pair Now that I have this phone, I really see no need to own an iPod. 2GB of space is plenty for me, plus I can re-sync audio at the drop of a hat form windows media player at home or at work. This windows mobile is going to be all the rage pretty soon (Motorola Q).

 

The TL will allow you to pair up to six bluetooth phones at one time, but only one of them will be connected at any one time. One phone (I believe its the first one paired) will have priority over the others.

Now I know a little about bluetooth, but I haven't been reading into it much. This is from my personal experience.

Bluetooth has many functionalities/services: Audio Gateway, Handsfree Headset, File Transfer, PIM Synchronization, Dial-up Networking, etc. On my computer, when I want to transfer files between my computer and my phone, I will use the File Transfer service. If I want to listen to music on my bluetooth headset from my computer, I will use the Audio Gateway (or is it Handsfree) service. To send games to my phone, I will need to use PIM Item Transfer/OBEX Object Push. Different services handle different tasks. From my experience, I've been able to perform one task at a time.

I don't think the bluetooth on the TL is this fancy. Why? We can't synchronize our address books to PDAs/laptops. I think it was designed mainly for the Handsfree service.

IMHO I think this more expensive and more time consuming than purchasing the $80 PIE X3 auxilary or the $60 Blitzsafe HON/AUX and playing your music through that. Its already known that these solutions work for the TL.

It seems like you are motived to try this out. I wish you the best of luck!

 

I am not trying to pair multiple devices to the HFL or make the HFL do something it wasn't meant to do.

Picture this... I have a Cingular 2125. This phone is paired with HFL.

I buy a PIE X3 and connect a bluetooth audio receiver to it. The phone (which has windows media player 10 and 2GB of storage for MP3, etc..) transmits high quality stereo audio over bluetooth to said receiver. What this is accomplishing is that I will not need to run an audo cable to the phone. That's all. I just want to know if the phone can

a) connect to both HFL and the bluetooth audio receiver at the same time

and

b) will they interfere with eachother...

I've now been looking at this device:

http://www.theunwired.net/?itemid=2819 (ignore the headphones, just look at the base unit)

It can send OR receive A2DP bluetooth audio streams. All I would need to do is stash it somewhere I can get to it later, power it with a 12v -> mini usb adapter and run the rca patch from it to the X3. Since this seems to have no audio controls of phone funcionality, it may be worth a shot.

 

My guesses:

a) Depends on the phone, but if I take a guess, probably not.

b) They should not interfere. If the two devices are not paired, they will just see each other, but not communicate. Its like having many bluetooth phones around. You can find another phone, but you will transfer/connect to just one phone when needed.

 

Well, we'll see what happens, I found that receiver for $55 shipped. If it doesn't work in the car then I can always use it elsewhere.

Regardless, I am going to order the P.I.E. stuff from Logjam. I have an 04 navi. I need X3-HON03 harness and X-3 aux input correct?

 

the X3-HON03 harness and the X3 brain will do it for you.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

Since both my phone and the bluetooth receiver use the mini-usb plug for power, I was thinking about how to power them. The phone would only need to be plugged in if it was low on juice but the receiver would need it all the time. I was considering buying the cheapest powered usb hub I could find then use usb2mini usb cables. I'd probably need to build a 12v -> ?v regulator depending on the hub but I figure it'd be the easiest way to do it cleanly. I don't want bulky cigar lighter solutions, I want everything nice and hard-wired. Thoughts?

 

Perhaps something like this kit will help

http://www.atruereview.com/hi_phono/index.php

Either that or find a BT adapter for the Mediagate (unless it has it already) and play your cell through the BT adapter, throught the mediagate into your sound system.

 

Yeah, I saw that kit... kinda pricey and definately way more components than I needed. I have everything on order so if I'm lucky I'll be able to do some non-installed testing this weekend and then do some installation work after that. Anyone have a general ETA on how long it takes to install an X3? Assuming I am comfortable removing interior parts...

 

Installation of the X3 depends on where you plan on mounting the brain and the selector switch. Plugging the X3 into the head unit is a snap; it is getting to the plug that requires the most work.

Many members have placed the brain behind the glove box, requiring you to remove the glove box.

Check out my thread on where I've mounted mine. I just had to remove the center console.

 

Thanks for the link.

I'm actually considering _not_ mounting the selector unit until I have a second input. I don't subscribe to XM currently. I'll probably just set it to aux 1 then shove it up under the dash somewhere.

I have all the components in hand. The only missing piece is my 12v to 5v power converter. This isn't a real problem. I dunno when I'll be able to do the install because my trees were hit pretty hard by tthe thunderstorms this week so I have a lot of cleanup to do.

I was playing around with the bluetooth stuff and have run into 2 issues. 1) the phone doesn't officially support the a2dp profile so the sound is less than perfect. This should be resolved when it is officially released sometime in q4 probably. 2) the motorla receiver seems oddly quiet. I connected it to my TV and I really had to crank the volume to hear it well. This concerns me considering how limited the acura headunit amplification seems....

We'll see but for now I'll probably install the X3 and run a hardwire for the phone until the sound issue is resolved.

 

There are a few 12V to 5V adapters posted in my Mediagate threads:

Archos Car Lighter Adapter

Belkin XM Adapter

I am not sure if the plug size will work for you, but you could swap out the plug with one that works.

 

Using a Motorola Q and the Motorloa Bluetooth Stereo headphones I was able to pair the headphones with the "Stereo Headset" profile only and chose not to use the handsfree profile for an experiment.

When in my TL, my phone pairs to the car as well as the headphones, if i'm listening to music on the headphones and a call arrives the Q pauses the media player and answers the call from the TL, once disconnected from the call the player resumes play.

So it seems Smartphones can communicate simultaneously with 2 paired devices.

 

That's really good to know. When my phone supports the A2DP profile like the Motorola Q does, I'll be all set for wireless

 

Well I put everything in, the usb hub is tucked between the 2 storage compartments and the exhaust tunnel. The X3 and moto DC800 are above the under-dash panel like you have yours datmrmann. They certainly don't bother me there. Maybe when everything is exaclty the way I want it, I'll hide them better but for now, I'm cool.

I removed the accessory power from the rear console storage area and just ran my audio wire that will plug into the phone (until wireless is 100% the way I want it) along with the mini-usb power wire (other end connects to the hub).

I found it pretty easy to remove the rear console section, drivers bottom dash panels and the cover by the exhaust tunnel. The only tricky part were the trim pieces along the side. I figured starting from the back is easier, and it was, I just pried a bit where the console lid closes and they popped right up and i used them for leverage to work them the rest of the way out.

I didn't create a 12v to 5v transformer yet so I can't test the wireless out (power for usb hub). I was wondering, are there already any 5v places in the car already? I would be drawing < 1 amp.