Finally, a Bluetooth solution that works!!

[British-Audifan]

Hello all,

I thought I would share my latest install, a little Bluetooth adapter made by Himbox, model HB01. It's designed to plug into a 3.5mm Aux input, but as you know, we don't have one of those in our cars :-( At first I used the cassette on a wire to connect this thing to my car, just to test it out. And I was impressed with the sound quality! Both hands free phone calls, and screaming music from my HTC One mobile phone!

Here is the link to the product on Amazon :- http://www.amazon.com/iClever-Himbox..._cd_ql_qh_dp_t

I then set about installing the HB01 on a more permanent basis. On my 2004 A6, I have the factory Sat radio installed, but I don't use it. So I tapped into the audio cables feeding into the back of the factory head unit, and just switch the input on the HU over to Sat, and I can then use my BT adapter
I then connected an inline cigarette lighter style socket under the dash to a switched power line, via a fuse holder, to allow me to use a double 12 volt to USB plug to power the BT adapter and my HTC One docking station.

So now when I turn ignition key to on, it powers up the HB01 and automatically reconnects to my phone! And when I dock my phone, it puts the phone into 'car' mode and charges at the same time All you can see is the little round button unit, which houses the mic as well. I can press the main button to answer a call, or to dismiss a call. You can also hold done the button and use Siri, if you are unlike enough to have an iPhone! But it works with Google voice commands to

The volume from the HB01 is almost the same as the radio or CD player, so very pleased about that! So I have managed to keep the factory look in my car, apart from the little button unit. I also use my phone to listen to my music, and TuneIn radio and my GPS! I programmed all of my local radio stations into TuneIn radio app', so I don't need to use the radio in the car anymore. So after months of trying to get hands free phone calls, now that my A6 is manual, I'm finally there. Here are some photos of the install...

Drivers view:-




HB01 unit:-




Hardwired HTC One docking station:-

[rollerton]

I like it. And props for finding another cheap and viable option.. my problem with it is now you have 3 interfaces for music / phone? You've got the "himbox" thing, the head unit, and the phone. And the stereo is OEM and still looks fine, but you have other stuff all over the place: phone on a dock by the windshield, round button by the cluster, USB cord going to cig lighter..
So..you navigate music from the phone? Operate bluetooth/ and operate music from the interface? Not a bad option..not bad.
I have to say I like this thing better:
http://www.amazon.com/ViseeO-WMA1000.../dp/B00B52LLJ6
If you have an Ipod dock (which you can get for super cheap nowadays) you just snap this on the end. Auto connects. Disconnects/pauses when phone rings and I just tap speaker on my phone.
Retains steering wheel controls if you have them. Plays music and has text display in the cluster. Also uses normal music library and has playlist/artist/genre/etc etc navigation.. all selectable via head unit.
But..no cords, not a single thing visible to anyone.
The phone-call bluetooth you arranged would be a little more convenient though ..and it's cheaper!

[Castor Troy]

http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AU2.html

that is a little more money, but it leaves no evidence that you have installed a bluetooth unit in the car other than the mic

[vlangs]

I know the himbox needs to be out so that you have a mic, but I'd probably like something a bit more discreet.
In my C5 I have a black interior and black headliner so I got this http://www.amazon.com/Kinivo-BTC450-...th+car+adapter

I mounted it behind my rear view mirror and then into my headliner all the way to behind my symphony II where the fatbox used to be plugged into (sat) can't tell it's there and works great. I can push the button on the back of the mirror or I usually keep my phone where the handbrake it and just answer it that way

On my old E39 M5, the rear view mirror started leaking everywhere so instead of paying like 200$ for another bmw one, I just got this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Car-Rear-vie...item4d15848595

it has an fm transmitter but i hate fm quality so i wired it with 3.5 just the same way I did my C5 and plugged it in the rear aux. It's not bad, it tells you who's calling on the mirror and it can display song information too. I'm all about as OEM looking as possible and no one ever really noticed it was an aftermarket part

[Nogaro Nitwit]

http://enfigcarstereo.com/DENSION_GBL3AU2.html

that is a little more money, but it leaves no evidence that you have installed a bluetooth unit in the car other than the mic

I agree on the Dension. Works great. I have one installed in all 3 of my vehicles

[British-Audifan]

Thanks for the replies guys. It wouldn't matter which system I used, I would still have to mount and power my mobile phone. And as I use my phone for navigation, it needs to be in view. There isn't much on view of the Himbox either, so I'm happy with that. And when I spoke to Enfig, Chris told me the Dension unit would not work on my car!! So I didn't go down that road! I was going to, but was talked out of it. I paid $29.99 shipped for the Himbox, and I've been very impressed so far. I might upgrade the whole sound system in the car one day, if I find a HU that looks good in our cars. But not seen one that does yet....

[vlangs]

all for the cheap fixes!

If you're ever in the market for a plug and play that works well, this one is a near perfect match

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-...889328259.html

I've seen a few of these in older D2s and they work great

I have the RNSE ready to install into an S6 i'm 85% likely going to buy this weekend and I debate buying one of these every other day haha

aliexpress is really the only place to buy china goods btw, the stop is deliver free and fast (1 to 2 weeks) and you're not liable for items that you don't receive

[British-Audifan]

vlangs, interesting that you bring this unit and company up! As I have been working in China and Taiwan a lot this year, I have seen these units a lot in taxis! All different makes of cars. And when the drives spoke good enough English, I asked them all how good the head units were. Pretty much every single one said the same thing, a 100% reliable with great spec's! It seems that a few years ago that wasn't the case! The software was a bit slow. I found a huge car HiFi and electronics store that sold the units, but they were 3 time the price there as they are to buy here!! BUT, the price includes installation and life time software support/upgrades!
But I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on one too. I had rejected the idea after reading about them on here, but now having seen the first hand, I'm pretty surprised just how good they are.. Just need to decide which style to go for....

all for the cheap fixes!

If you're ever in the market for a plug and play that works well, this one is a near perfect match

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2014-...889328259.html

I've seen a few of these in older D2s and they work great

I have the RNSE ready to install into an S6 i'm 85% likely going to buy this weekend and I debate buying one of these every other day haha

aliexpress is really the only place to buy china goods btw, the stop is deliver free and fast (1 to 2 weeks) and you're not liable for items that you don't receive

[A62TURBO]

Sorry guys but this is the best BT solution (if you have a tape deck) http://www.ionaudio.com/products/det...pter-bluetooth

[British-Audifan]

Haha! I tried one of those too! But with no microphone, it will only stream music! Your phone will not see a mic, so when your phone rings, the phone is then used to make the phone call, not the BT cassette! This was my first attempt at a cheap and easy solution. Plus the charging of the unit could be a pain if you're on a long road trip. Just my opinion.... But it did stream music very well. But no mention of a built in mic in the link you supplied, but it does state it works for phone calls, but the one I tried didn't....

Sorry guys but this is the best BT solution (if you have a tape deck) http://www.ionaudio.com/products/det...pter-bluetooth

[vlangs]

vlangs, interesting that you bring this unit and company up! As I have been working in China and Taiwan a lot this year, I have seen these units a lot in taxis! All different makes of cars. And when the drives spoke good enough English, I asked them all how good the head units were. Pretty much every single one said the same thing, a 100% reliable with great spec's! It seems that a few years ago that wasn't the case! The software was a bit slow. I found a huge car HiFi and electronics store that sold the units, but they were 3 time the price there as they are to buy here!! BUT, the price includes installation and life time software support/upgrades!
But I'm pretty close to pulling the trigger on one too. I had rejected the idea after reading about them on here, but now having seen the first hand, I'm pretty surprised just how good they are.. Just need to decide which style to go for....

yeah I was ALWAYS weary of them, especially when they were running windows CE because I mean something with the specs of 2005 Windows Mobile device was going to be slow no matter what.

But when I saw the one running android and using a Coretex A9, which is pre snapdragon (think 2011/2012) but still enough to run the basic things this does.

Don't try and browse the web and play 3D games on it...but then again why would you be doing that stuff anyways?

Also the nice thing is that there is a p decent group of people who make roms for these on xda so i wouldn't be too worried about not having upgrade support. there's already a kit kat rom

[Castor Troy]

Sorry guys but this is the best BT solution (if you have a tape deck) http://www.ionaudio.com/products/det...pter-bluetooth

No.

[IsaidWOT]

I'm just going to go with this. Besides I want the extra features.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...140606191634:s