Bluetooth phone with analogue/speaker-phone/phone-book x-fer

I'm looking for a Bluetooth-enabled phone that has analogue
reception. Mostly I need great reception because I use the phone in
fringe areas, and great sound quality.

I have a VZW phone that has served me wonderfully (a Toshiba rebranded
as Audiovox) that I got because it has great reception and sound
quality. When I got it, I didn't think I'd use the phone much, so I
didn't care about the awkward user interface or other drawbacks of the
phone.

Now I'm looking for a phone that will sync with my Palm's address book
and support Bluetooth (headset/hands-free and address sync). A
speakerphone would be really nice. I don't care about cameras or
games etc.

Basically, I'm looking for a really good phone, not a toy camera and
game machine.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

-Joel

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Either a Nokia 6256i or a Motorola 710. The v710 may require some
hacking to get the Bluetooth to work (if at all) but the analog
reception AFAIK, is much better.

The Nokia 6256i has only mediocre analog reception and there is no
ability to hook up a hardwired external antenna.

Nokia 6256i has fully enabled BT support, I use it with my Mac and
Phonedirector software. For PC the free Nokia suite should suit your
needs. Check Howardforums.com verizon then Nokia phone sub forum
there's quite a bit of info and tips there.

I've also had a Audiovox 9500 which gets excellent fringe analog
reception, only so-so digital reception. The audiovox 9500 accepts an
external antenna adapter and then any kind of external antenna for the
BEST analag reception possible.
The Nokia 6256i will NOT work with the external antenna adapter sold on
EBAY. It's also quite possible to break the phone when sticking an
external antenna adapter into that little port, unlike the older Nokia
that had a REAL antenna adapter port.

-
Dave

I agree with you completely, based upon my experience with all three of
those phones. Great advice for Dr. Hoffman.

"David L" <davlindi@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1137470482.502457.82120@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> Either a Nokia 6256i or a Motorola 710. The v710 may require some
> hacking to get the Bluetooth to work (if at all) but the analog
> reception AFAIK, is much better.
>
> The Nokia 6256i has only mediocre analog reception and there is no
> ability to hook up a hardwired external antenna.
>
> Nokia 6256i has fully enabled BT support, I use it with my Mac and
> Phonedirector software. For PC the free Nokia suite should suit your
> needs. Check Howardforums.com verizon then Nokia phone sub forum
> there's quite a bit of info and tips there.
>
> I've also had a Audiovox 9500 which gets excellent fringe analog
> reception, only so-so digital reception. The audiovox 9500 accepts an
> external antenna adapter and then any kind of external antenna for the
> BEST analag reception possible.
> The Nokia 6256i will NOT work with the external antenna adapter sold on
> EBAY. It's also quite possible to break the phone when sticking an
> external antenna adapter into that little port, unlike the older Nokia
> that had a REAL antenna adapter port.
>
> -
> Dave
>

Dr. Joel M. Hoffman wrote:
> I'm looking for a Bluetooth-enabled phone that has analogue


What the **** does that DR infront of your name stand for? I know it
cannot be Doctor, because Doctors usually know how to spell simple
words like analog properly. I mean I'm **** not the smartest **** on
the block, but I am really smarter then you stupid **** asshole that
cannot spell worth ****, you are one of the dumbest ****s to ever have
****ed in this group. You are nothing but a vealot **** that cannot
spell. the DR I think stands for Dick Retard, the hell stupid spelling
is analogue or do you just add ****ing add a ue on all your words?
perhaps you will understand this sentince better, as I'm ****ing going
to speak in your Dick Retard language: Hiue Iue a ****ingue restardue
fromue ****villeue. how how ****ing stupid is that? about as ****ing
stupid as putting a ue at the end of analog. ****ing learn how to spell
you ****ing vealot chode.

Cletis.

>Either a Nokia 6256i or a Motorola 710. The v710 may require some

Thanks! I'll try and find a store where I can look at these.

>I've also had a Audiovox 9500 which gets excellent fringe analog

That's what I have now, and its reception is outstanding. Frequently
I can make calls when others cannot. But it doesn't have bluetooth.

-Joel

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>Either a Nokia 6256i or a Motorola 710. The v710 may require some
>hacking to get the Bluetooth to work (if at all) but the analog
>reception AFAIK, is much better.

And, sadly, I can't get the v710. VZW has replaced it with the E815,
which doesn't have analogue.

Sigh.

-Joel

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Nokia 6256i supports ring and vibrate at the same time.

The Nokia is 100% quiet in silent mode. No errrant beeps when touching
the side keys or turning off and on.

On the other hand the Nokia's 25 voice activated dialing locations (and
the 8 or so voice activated menu functions) are minimal, compared to
the entire phonebook of speakable contacts on the Mot that require no
pre-programming. I wonder how accuracy holds up? There always seems to
be some voicedialing errors.

The Nokia's Voice Dial is fairly accurate compared to the increasingly
hit or miss Audiovox 9500's 100 voice dial locations, as the AVX voice
dial location numbers grew over 40 or so.
Not sure what the exact cause for increased mistakes on the AVX 9500.
Seems part user and part voicedial software.

I had a Mot v276 for a short time and with no need to program the
unlimited voice dial function, it was one of the best features I've
used. I'll miss the Motorola speakable phonebook.


The Nokia 6256i uses a regular headset jack or BT, and calls can be
originated while only using the On/Off button, for totally handsfree
dialing, like the AVX 9500. But the cut in Voicedial locations is a
noticeable loss of a very important feature for handsfree call
origination, compared to the Mot.

The phonebook in the Nokia is very easy to search...nokia only
organizes contacts alphabetically, except for the 1-9 speeed dial
locations, which is fine for me, since I organized that way, almost
exclusivley.
Nokia has no numbering of contacts, even if one wanted to, which
strangely was the default mode in the Audiovox contact list.

-
Dave

>Nokia 6256i supports ring and vibrate at the same time.

Thanks!

I tried to get it, but the VZW stores have --- amazingly! --- never
heard of it. Two VZW stores and an authorized dealer swore to me that
there are no tri-mode BT phones.

I got the MOT E815 on spec (I have 15 days to evaluate it). It's
okay. I can't get any of my phonebook names voice-dialed, no matter
hard I try. I *love* the digit dialing, though. To me, that's the
most useful feature.

Other major drawbacks:

- No simultaneous ring/vib.

- No speakerphone or handset use while a BT device is paired; no
transfer of calls between handset and BT.

- No shortcut to pair/unapir the BT device.

- Too many toy features (splash screen, with noise, etc.)

- Weak BT transmitter. About 15 feet away reception starts to suffer.

- (Really bad camera, but whatever. It's a phone, not a camera.)


I'm going to try to find the Nokia. I'll miss the voice digit
dialing, but I can live with that.

-Joel

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Dr. Joel M. Hoffman wrote:
>>Nokia 6256i supports ring and vibrate at the same time.
>
>
> Thanks!
>
> I tried to get it, but the VZW stores have --- amazingly! --- never
> heard of it. Two VZW stores and an authorized dealer swore to me that
> there are no tri-mode BT phones.

VZW doesn't sell it directly. I think you can only get it through
indirects (like Radio Shack used to be).

> I got the MOT E815 on spec (I have 15 days to evaluate it). It's
> okay. I can't get any of my phonebook names voice-dialed, no matter
> hard I try. I *love* the digit dialing, though. To me, that's the
> most useful feature.

Sometimes it is helpful to turn on voice readouts as you scroll through
the contacts, so you know how IT thinks the name should be pronounced. I
don't recall where that is on the 815; on the 710, it is under
Personalize/Sound Settings.

> Other major drawbacks:
>
> - No simultaneous ring/vib.
>
> - No speakerphone or handset use while a BT device is paired; no
> transfer of calls between handset and BT.

To transfer from the headset to the handset while in a call, click on
the Menu key; one of the menu items will be "Use Handset". To go in the
other direction, that same menu item will say "Use Bluetooth" (or do a
quick click on the headset button). This is for the V710; it may be
slightly different on the E815, but the functionality is there.

> - No shortcut to pair/unapir the BT device.

Are you talking about establishing a connection, or doing the one-time
pairing, where you have to enter a 4-digit code? For the former, just go
to Connection/Bluetooth/Handsfree, and set up your own shortcut by
pressing and holding the Menu button and specify the digit when
prompted. Then you can go there by (OK)<digit>.

>> I tried to get it, but the VZW stores have --- amazingly! --- never
>> heard of it. Two VZW stores and an authorized dealer swore to me that
>> there are no tri-mode BT phones.
>
>VZW doesn't sell it directly. I think you can only get it through
>indirects (like Radio Shack used to be).

Does that mean there's no way to upgrade to that phone, only to start
with it anew?

>Sometimes it is helpful to turn on voice readouts as you scroll through
>the contacts, so you know how IT thinks the name should be pronounced. I
>don't recall where that is on the 815; on the 710, it is under
>Personalize/Sound Settings.

Great! Thanks. So I guess the good news is that you don't have to
train the phone. The bad news is that the phone trains you.

>> - No speakerphone or handset use while a BT device is paired; no
>> transfer of calls between handset and BT.
>
>To transfer from the headset to the handset while in a call, click on
>the Menu key; one of the menu items will be "Use Handset". To go in the

"Switch Audio." Thanks.

>> - No shortcut to pair/unapir the BT device.
>
>Are you talking about establishing a connection, or doing the one-time
>pairing, where you have to enter a 4-digit code? For the former, just go
>to Connection/Bluetooth/Handsfree, and set up your own shortcut by
>pressing and holding the Menu button and specify the digit when
>prompted. Then you can go there by (OK)<digit>.

Right. But I get the error message, "Shortcut not allowed for this
item."

At any rate, many thanks.

-Joel

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Dr. Joel M. Hoffman wrote:
>>>- No shortcut to pair/unapir the BT device.
>>
>>Are you talking about establishing a connection, or doing the one-time
>>pairing, where you have to enter a 4-digit code? For the former, just go
>>to Connection/Bluetooth/Handsfree, and set up your own shortcut by
>>pressing and holding the Menu button and specify the digit when
>>prompted. Then you can go there by (OK)<digit>.
>
> Right. But I get the error message, "Shortcut not allowed for this
> item."

Do you have the desired headset highlighted on the Handsfree menu? When
I have "Look for Devices" highlighted, I get the above message, but when
I have the specific headset highlighted, it works. And the shortcut that
gets set takes you to the specific device, not the list.

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 03:49:00 GMT, CharlesH <hoch@exemplary.invalid> chose
to add this to the great equation of life, the universe, and everything:

>Dr. Joel M. Hoffman wrote:
>>>>- No shortcut to pair/unapir the BT device.
>>>
>>>Are you talking about establishing a connection, or doing the one-time
>>>pairing, where you have to enter a 4-digit code? For the former, just go
>>>to Connection/Bluetooth/Handsfree, and set up your own shortcut by
>>>pressing and holding the Menu button and specify the digit when
>>>prompted. Then you can go there by (OK)<digit>.
>>
>> Right. But I get the error message, "Shortcut not allowed for this
>> item."
>
>Do you have the desired headset highlighted on the Handsfree menu? When
>I have "Look for Devices" highlighted, I get the above message, but when
>I have the specific headset highlighted, it works. And the shortcut that
>gets set takes you to the specific device, not the list.

I put in a shortcut to Bluetooth Power On/Off, then went to my shortcut
list and discovered that I already had a shortcut for that.

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