• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

car mount recommendations please

Good Old Bakes said:
Got one of these on order.

1
HTC DESIRE DEDICATED SUCTION CAR HOLDER CHARGER KIT on eBay (end time 23-May-10 10:55:35 BST)

I'm sure someone on here has posted pics of something very similar if you search.
Click to expand...

That item is not available anymore!
 
denno69 said:
How are you getting on with this Enoch? I was thinking about getting it. A review would be great :)
Click to expand...

Well first things first: You need to think carefully baout where your cigarette lighter is in your car. Mine is just below knee level, so with the "gooseneck" stand, the phone is now positioned just below my left hand on the steering wheel. It takes some getting used to if you are used to the screen (for sat nav) being in your eyeline.

Also, the full weight of the stand and your mobile will have to be borne by your cigarette lighter. Not a problem when its plugged in and not moving, but over bumps etc, there can be a fair bit of movement, so I am not sure if after a year it may loosen the socket. Just raising it now as a potential issue.

It comes hardwired with a 3.5mm and 2.5mm jack for headphone socket - tempted to cut off the 2.5mm one altogether. It also comes with a USB socket into which you plug a short cable which has both micro and mini USB. Which means you can charge the Desire (using micro) and something else using the more common mini jack. I haven't tried charging both - I just assume you can though I am sure it will be a "half charge" for each.

Anyway, the charging itself to the phone is good. I did find that with CoPilot running and the music player, I still lost about 3% over 45 mins. Individual results may vary, of course! :) With just satnav running though, the charger did keep the phone topped up.

So far so good - the weak bit: FM transmitter.

The transmitter works the moment you plug the stand in. You cant turn it off whilst using the holder. In terms of sound quality, it is ok in the sense that it is no worse than the three other FM transmitters I have tried. Not going to be crystal clear sound by any stretch but passable.

The key is to make sure you pick a freq that is relatively clear. In my area (Chilterns) that seems to be at the 106-108 end of the spectrum. This ensures the transmission is at its clearest.

One thing to note - if you do use the holder but just want to use your car's radio, then the holder can cause interference if its transmitting on a freq too close to the one you are listening to. So, for example, if I am listening to Radio 4 (about 93.5) then I have to make sure the transmitter is at least at 99MHz or more to make sure there is no interference.

It comes with three buttons: up and down shift freq by 0.2 MHz steps. There is also a "SQ" key which (as there are no instructions) I am guessing scans freqs and finds one that is quite clear. One press and it seems to jump randomly to a freq, so I assume there is some kind of scanning going on.

Design flaw - the display for the freq is on the top of the holder, which means it points away from you! You will need to lean forward a fair bit to look right over the top to find the freq if you change it.


I have to say its quite nice (for those of us not lucky enough to have integrated satnavs) to have your music playing (all 8Gigs in my case) and having the sat nav come over the car stereo.


All in all, I am reasonably pleased with it. I would have preferred the same kind features in a windscreen-suction-mount version with the normal cable running from the lighter socket to the transmitter unit. But this will do for now!

</2 cents>
 
Newth said:
That is the same one I have. Very good dock & very movable.

Can't comment on the charging ability of the car charger though, other than it works.
Click to expand...

My only concern is that if the mount becomes unmounted, and you have had to take a case off to make it fit . . . . . .
 
Thanks for the review Enoch! A great read.

I think my initial worry when I looked at it that it would be like wobbling around like a fat lady on trampoline when moving along in the car.

Also my experience with FM transmitters has been poor previously.

I might just give it a go tho and it doesn't suit me I can slap it on fleabay.
 
denno69 said:
Thanks for the review Enoch! A great read.

I think my initial worry when I looked at it that it would be like wobbling around like a fat lady on trampoline when moving along in the car.

Also my experience with FM transmitters has been poor previously.

I might just give it a go tho and it doesn't suit me I can slap it on fleabay.
Click to expand...

Think this is the same one as you got Enoch but slightly cheaper than amazon.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HTC-Desire-Ca...UK_Mobiles_Accessories_RL&hash=item2c548377b1
 
brad-short said:
My only concern is that if the mount becomes unmounted, and you have had to take a case off to make it fit . . . . . .
Click to expand...


Unmounted? You means comes off the sucker cup thing? Mine hasn't as of yet & the sucker seems very good. Time will tell.

As for the case, I don't use one, so I again, I can't comment I'm afraid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom