Poor man's bluetooth retrofit.

rubik · 01-29-2009, 01:13 AM

Hi All,

Just want to share my recent experince with members of this forum. Owners of non-bluetooth capable cars might find this interesting. I recently got a hold of a iTech bluetooth hands free device. The difference between the iTech clip style head set is that it has a detachable headphones and uses standard 3.5mm aux in/out type connector. I decided to plug it into my aux-in under the arm rest and therefor using it as a bluetooth receiver. Paired it up with my Windows Mobile phone, and tested out the hands free. Works awesome, sound quality is great and people can hear me without any problems. I placed the headset in the center as shown in the pictures when using as handsfree to talk. Otherwise, i just keep it inside the arm rest.

I also tested streaming music from my phone to my car's stereo system and it works nicely !

Of course, this works with any car/stereo that has aux-in. So now we can all get bluetooth for our cars without expensive retrofits and best part is there is virtually no installation required.

I also turned on the Garmin GPS on my phone and all the voice routing instructions now comes out of my car speakers !

Here's a link to iTech bluetooth headset. http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/produ...id=1&pid=02050

2kaccordocoupe · 01-29-2009, 08:11 AM

Pretty slick, how is the voice quality on phone calls? Does the person on the other end hear alot of background noise?

I guess you could always clip it to your shirt / seatbelt or whatever if you needed to improve the voice quality.

ToadHollow · 01-29-2009, 09:29 AM

I never would have thought to try something like this. Great idea and thanks for sharing!

rubik · 01-29-2009, 11:54 AM

2kaccordocoupe,

Voice quality is great. No one complained of any noise and people on the other end can hear me clearly without any echos. I'm surprised at that because i placed the BT receiver in the center. It does have noise cancellation tech and i'm guessing a very sensitive mic.

2kaccordocoupe · 01-29-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubik

2kaccordocoupe,

Voice quality is great. No one complained of any noise and people on the other end can hear me clearly without any echos. I'm surprised at that because i placed the BT receiver in the center. It does have noise cancellation tech and i'm guessing a very sensitive mic.

uuni · 01-29-2009, 05:15 PM

Good find man. How about when you enter car and turn that bt receiver on will it automaticly connect with your phone or do you need do something (of course you have paired it with your phone at first time)?

So when call comes in you just switch to aux mode (from steering wheel of course) and click some button on receiver?

How much is that receiver and where did you buy it? Sorry for having so much questions.

rubik · 01-29-2009, 09:10 PM

Unni,

It works like any BT handsfree set. When i get in the car, i reconnect it by pressing a button on the receiver once, then all calls and sounds go to through it because i have set it up as a "Wireless Stereo" and "Hands Free" profile. To answer a call, just press the button again once.

Not sure about where to get it in Finland, but here in Malaysia, they are readily avalible in all retail outlets.

Here are a list from the manufacturer's website on the avalible stereo BT headset models
http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/produ...t_en.asp?cid=2

I notice that in the newer models, it says you can charge it via USB cable (optional cable). Since some e90's have a USB port next to the aux-in port, you can use it as a charge port and never have to take it out of your car , perfect !

uuni · 01-30-2009, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rubik

Unni,

It works like any BT handsfree set. When i get in the car, i reconnect it by pressing a button on the receiver once, then all calls and sounds go to through it because i have set it up as a "Wireless Stereo" and "Hands Free" profile. To answer a call, just press the button again once.

Not sure about where to get it in Finland, but here in Malaysia, they are readily avalible in all retail outlets.

Here are a list from the manufacturer's website on the avalible stereo BT headset models
http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/produ...t_en.asp?cid=2

I notice that in the newer models, it says you can charge it via USB cable (optional cable). Since some e90's have a USB port next to the aux-in port, you can use it as a charge port and never have to take it out of your car , perfect !

Ok, thanks for answering my question but i have some more now

Its not available in Finland nor Germany and UK which I did some searching also.
Could you give link to some webstore in Malaysia which has this receiver and has English site, and preferably would be reliable?

I will go stores in here Finland and try to find similar thing but I highly doubt that I will find one.

In that manual it doesn't say what kind of charger it has (non usb because I don't have it) can I charge it from car's 12v outlet?

Hope you have time to answer all these new question. Btw Penang's Georgetown is nice place

rubik · 01-31-2009, 02:31 AM

uuni ,

Go to this website, it list all the authorised distributors and is your safest bet.
http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/partners_en.asp

I see from the manufacturer's website that the latest model can now support 2 bluetooth devices at the same time. That would mean i can pair up a separate bluetooth portable mp3 player and use at the same time with the phone !

I'm not sure about the car charger, but the latest model as shown on the website says you can have a usb cable for usb charging too.
(this website review, says it comes with the usb cable for model Clip Music 801: http://www.ppcsg.com/index.php?showtopic=104586)

I might purchase the latest model and hand the older model i have to my wife

Hope that helps.

PS : Yes Penang is a nice place and seems to be a tourist paradise

uuni · 01-31-2009, 08:20 AM

Thanks. I did find one place in Hong Kong which seemed good place and I ordered from there 72$ us.

Thanks again for your infos.

rubik · 01-31-2009, 10:33 PM

Unni,

Which model did you get ? Are you using a Windows Mobile phone or does everyone in Finland uses Nokia

? Yesterday i tried the program "Voice Command" on my windows phone, which gets automatically launched when i press the button on the headset. I was then saying things like "Call Home", "Play Music" and it was working nicely !

One more important thing i forgot to mention, to listen to stereo and all it's goodies, your phone must support the Bluetooth A2DP profile.

uuni · 02-01-2009, 04:29 AM

I did get this one http://www.accessoryjack.com/-strse-...dio/Detail.bok

Mainly people use Nokia's here, me too

I have now N95 and I am considering the upcoming N97 to be my new phone.

I am pretty sure my N95 has A2DP support. Those voice commands are nice extras hope I can get those working also.

Edit: I found this which propably will work nice with i.Tech http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0421

rubik · 02-01-2009, 10:39 AM

I got one of those lighter/usb converted to charge most of my device in my car. But as i said, newer e90's comes with USB port next to the aux-in port for direct charging which is nice !

Check out http://www.boostaroo.com/ , micro amplifier !

Unni, i did go shopping today and found other brands of stereo headset ,

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ctiveda3040-21 , this one has a microusb connector for charging
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorola-Sou...PZTET6Z9VGBGHA
http://www.motorola.com/consumers/v/...008806b00aRCRD

uuni · 02-02-2009, 10:31 AM

Good to know that adabter works. I will order one tomorrow.

Do you need that amplifier or is the quality etc. good enough without it?

rubik · 02-03-2009, 04:58 AM

It's a bit soft, but turning up the Aux volumn, phone volumn & headset volumn does bring it up to "normal" volumn. It's acceptable to me right now. I just bought the same iTech D-Radio which you did and am testing it now. It does come with a USB cable for USB charging. It also has Bluetooth 2.1 , which has a nice feature of being able to reconnect just by bringing the device close to each other, according to BT 2.1 specs.

uuni · 02-04-2009, 03:19 AM

Ok, im gona try it without that amplifier, it might be too low sound in summer when driving top down but we will see that in 3 month time:

If you find some nice tricks etc. from that i.Tech be sure to let me know so I can also test those features

rubik · 02-06-2009, 03:41 AM

I have just ordered one of these inexpensive, usb-rechargable headphone amp after reading some good reviews on it.

http://blogofwishes.com/mp3video-pla...nes-amplifier/

Will let you know how it works out. Have your received your iTech ? Any reviews from your side ?

On the subject of headphone amps, i have been looking and reading some stuff about them on the net and it there are some pretty amazing inexpensive set ups ! Check out some of them :

http://techrack.blogspot.com/2007/09/pa2v2.html
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/rev...dition-252802/

uuni · 02-07-2009, 06:00 AM

Ok, let me know how is that working for you. My unit will leave tomorrow from hong kong so it will be week to 2week before I get hands on it

I hope I can live without an amp my center box is almost full now so I don't how I can fit more stuff there

jgeorge58 · 02-11-2009, 09:37 AM

Has anyone tried this with a Motorola S605 or S705 or any other stereo Bluetooth clip headset? Looks like it should accomplish the same thing if the iTech is tough to find locally...

mike-y · 02-11-2009, 10:28 AM

LOL, brilliant!

So when your phone rings, you just hit the stereo input on the steering wheel and switch it to Aux, and everything works, right?

rubik · 02-12-2009, 08:59 AM

mike-y,

Yeah that is pretty much it. All the features from the phone seems to work nicely.

rubik · 02-14-2009, 09:24 AM

uuni,

Finally got my portable amp, FIIO E5. Tested it and it's nice. The streamed music sounds better with noticably more bass and louder volumn now.

Attached picture of my "rig"

Review of the FIIO E5
http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/fiio/e5/275212

01-29-2009, 01:13 AM	#1
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Poor man's bluetooth retrofit. Hi All, Just want to share my recent experince with members of this forum. Owners of non-bluetooth capable cars might find this interesting. I recently got a hold of a iTech bluetooth hands free device. The difference between the iTech clip style head set is that it has a detachable headphones and uses standard 3.5mm aux in/out type connector. I decided to plug it into my aux-in under the arm rest and therefor using it as a bluetooth receiver. Paired it up with my Windows Mobile phone, and tested out the hands free. Works awesome, sound quality is great and people can hear me without any problems. I placed the headset in the center as shown in the pictures when using as handsfree to talk. Otherwise, i just keep it inside the arm rest. I also tested streaming music from my phone to my car's stereo system and it works nicely ! Of course, this works with any car/stereo that has aux-in. So now we can all get bluetooth for our cars without expensive retrofits and best part is there is virtually no installation required. I also turned on the Garmin GPS on my phone and all the voice routing instructions now comes out of my car speakers ! Here's a link to iTech bluetooth headset. http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/produ...id=1&pid=02050 Attached Images
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01-29-2009, 08:11 AM	#2
2kaccordocoupe Brigadier General 1274 Rep 4,703 Posts Drives: Former ///M Driver Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The 6ix iTrader: (2)	Pretty slick, how is the voice quality on phone calls? Does the person on the other end hear alot of background noise? I guess you could always clip it to your shirt / seatbelt or whatever if you needed to improve the voice quality.
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01-29-2009, 09:29 AM	#3
ToadHollow Once upon a time ...... 276 Rep 5,048 Posts Drives: 2008 JB E92 - SOLD 5/2010 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Asti, Italy & Austin, Texas iTrader: (16) Garage List 2008 E92 335i [8.00]	I never would have thought to try something like this. Great idea and thanks for sharing! __________________
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01-29-2009, 11:54 AM	#4
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	2kaccordocoupe, Voice quality is great. No one complained of any noise and people on the other end can hear me clearly without any echos. I'm surprised at that because i placed the BT receiver in the center. It does have noise cancellation tech and i'm guessing a very sensitive mic.
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01-29-2009, 05:15 PM	#6
uuni First Lieutenant 72 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Space iTrader: (0)	Good find man. How about when you enter car and turn that bt receiver on will it automaticly connect with your phone or do you need do something (of course you have paired it with your phone at first time)? So when call comes in you just switch to aux mode (from steering wheel of course) and click some button on receiver? How much is that receiver and where did you buy it? Sorry for having so much questions.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-29-2009, 09:10 PM	#7
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Unni, It works like any BT handsfree set. When i get in the car, i reconnect it by pressing a button on the receiver once, then all calls and sounds go to through it because i have set it up as a "Wireless Stereo" and "Hands Free" profile. To answer a call, just press the button again once. Not sure about where to get it in Finland, but here in Malaysia, they are readily avalible in all retail outlets. Here are a list from the manufacturer's website on the avalible stereo BT headset models http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/produ...t_en.asp?cid=2 I notice that in the newer models, it says you can charge it via USB cable (optional cable). Since some e90's have a USB port next to the aux-in port, you can use it as a charge port and never have to take it out of your car , perfect ! Last edited by rubik; 01-29-2009 at 09:30 PM.. Reason: added link
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01-31-2009, 02:31 AM	#9
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	uuni , Go to this website, it list all the authorised distributors and is your safest bet. http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/partners_en.asp I see from the manufacturer's website that the latest model can now support 2 bluetooth devices at the same time. That would mean i can pair up a separate bluetooth portable mp3 player and use at the same time with the phone ! I'm not sure about the car charger, but the latest model as shown on the website says you can have a usb cable for usb charging too. (this website review, says it comes with the usb cable for model Clip Music 801: http://www.ppcsg.com/index.php?showtopic=104586) I might purchase the latest model and hand the older model i have to my wife Hope that helps. PS : Yes Penang is a nice place and seems to be a tourist paradise Last edited by rubik; 01-31-2009 at 02:55 AM.. Reason: spelling
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01-31-2009, 08:20 AM	#10
uuni First Lieutenant 72 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Space iTrader: (0)	Thanks. I did find one place in Hong Kong which seemed good place and I ordered from there 72$ us. Thanks again for your infos.
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01-31-2009, 10:33 PM	#11
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	Unni, Which model did you get ? Are you using a Windows Mobile phone or does everyone in Finland uses Nokia ? Yesterday i tried the program "Voice Command" on my windows phone, which gets automatically launched when i press the button on the headset. I was then saying things like "Call Home", "Play Music" and it was working nicely ! One more important thing i forgot to mention, to listen to stereo and all it's goodies, your phone must support the Bluetooth A2DP profile. Last edited by rubik; 01-31-2009 at 11:53 PM..
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02-01-2009, 04:29 AM	#12
uuni First Lieutenant 72 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Space iTrader: (0)	I did get this one http://www.accessoryjack.com/-strse-...dio/Detail.bok Mainly people use Nokia's here, me too I have now N95 and I am considering the upcoming N97 to be my new phone. I am pretty sure my N95 has A2DP support. Those voice commands are nice extras hope I can get those working also. Edit: I found this which propably will work nice with i.Tech http://www.usbgeek.com/prod_detail.php?prod_id=0421 Last edited by uuni; 02-01-2009 at 10:00 AM..
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02-01-2009, 10:39 AM	#13
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	I got one of those lighter/usb converted to charge most of my device in my car. But as i said, newer e90's comes with USB port next to the aux-in port for direct charging which is nice ! Check out http://www.boostaroo.com/ , micro amplifier ! Unni, i did go shopping today and found other brands of stereo headset , http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...ctiveda3040-21 , this one has a microusb connector for charging http://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorola-Sou...PZTET6Z9VGBGHA http://www.motorola.com/consumers/v/...008806b00aRCRD
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02-02-2009, 10:31 AM	#14
uuni First Lieutenant 72 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Space iTrader: (0)	Good to know that adabter works. I will order one tomorrow. Do you need that amplifier or is the quality etc. good enough without it?
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02-03-2009, 04:58 AM	#15
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	It's a bit soft, but turning up the Aux volumn, phone volumn & headset volumn does bring it up to "normal" volumn. It's acceptable to me right now. I just bought the same iTech D-Radio which you did and am testing it now. It does come with a USB cable for USB charging. It also has Bluetooth 2.1 , which has a nice feature of being able to reconnect just by bringing the device close to each other, according to BT 2.1 specs.
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02-04-2009, 03:19 AM	#16
uuni First Lieutenant 72 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Space iTrader: (0)	Ok, im gona try it without that amplifier, it might be too low sound in summer when driving top down but we will see that in 3 month time: If you find some nice tricks etc. from that i.Tech be sure to let me know so I can also test those features
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-06-2009, 03:41 AM	#17
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	I have just ordered one of these inexpensive, usb-rechargable headphone amp after reading some good reviews on it. http://blogofwishes.com/mp3video-pla...nes-amplifier/ Will let you know how it works out. Have your received your iTech ? Any reviews from your side ? On the subject of headphone amps, i have been looking and reading some stuff about them on the net and it there are some pretty amazing inexpensive set ups ! Check out some of them : http://techrack.blogspot.com/2007/09/pa2v2.html http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/rev...dition-252802/
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-07-2009, 06:00 AM	#18
uuni First Lieutenant 72 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Space iTrader: (0)	Ok, let me know how is that working for you. My unit will leave tomorrow from hong kong so it will be week to 2week before I get hands on it I hope I can live without an amp my center box is almost full now so I don't how I can fit more stuff there
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02-11-2009, 09:37 AM	#19
jgeorge58 New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: Black 2006 330i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Has anyone tried this with a Motorola S605 or S705 or any other stereo Bluetooth clip headset? Looks like it should accomplish the same thing if the iTech is tough to find locally...
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02-11-2009, 10:28 AM	#20
mike-y just another bmw douche bag 195 Rep 3,640 Posts Drives: 1.9L of fury Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (4)	LOL, brilliant! So when your phone rings, you just hit the stereo input on the steering wheel and switch it to Aux, and everything works, right?
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02-12-2009, 08:59 AM	#21
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	mike-y, Yeah that is pretty much it. All the features from the phone seems to work nicely.
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02-14-2009, 09:24 AM	#22
rubik Enlisted Member 9 Rep 41 Posts Drives: 2006 325i TiAG Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	uuni, Finally got my portable amp, FIIO E5. Tested it and it's nice. The streamed music sounds better with noticably more bass and louder volumn now. Attached picture of my "rig" Review of the FIIO E5 http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/review/fiio/e5/275212 Attached Images Last edited by rubik; 02-14-2009 at 10:15 AM..
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