Sio Communications Professional Handsfree Car Phone kit Installation

Pictured above is an example of one of our installations, more examples can be found in the install gallery section of the Website.

The car above is a 2003 Model Saab 9-3 Sports Saloon, The phone is a Nokia 6310i, the car phone kit is a Nokia CARK-91, the cradle is mounted on a Pod and the Audio is routed through the cars own stereo system.

In this section we will go into some more detail on the options available to you when you are considering getting a Handsfree car phone kit fitted to your car. We offer a professional Installation service in and around the east side of the Scottish central belt. Here we will provide information on the different types of installations we can carry out for you. You may also find this information useful if you are thinking about doing the job yourself.

10 Things you will need to consider in order of Importance -

Your handset type e.g. Nokia 6230, is it Bluetooth compatible or standard?
What kind of kit do you prefer? Bluetooth or standard one with a cradle?
Is there a Professional kit available for your phone type?
What kind of car do you have - Make, model, and year ?
What kind of stereo system does it have - Standard, Amplified, Sat Nav.
Do you wish to limit damage to the interior of your car?
Would you like the radio to mute and (if possible) route the audio through the stereo?
What your budget is for such an installation?
Do you want the kit Installed professionally?
Do you have the technical know how to do it yourself?

Choosing the correct mobile phone handset is the most critical thing to consider when you wish to install a handsfree car phone kit. Professional car phone kits are not available for every phone type on the market! There are currently 4 major handset manufacturers that you can get professional hands free car phone kits for. Whilst some of the other makes of phone out there may be compatible with some of these car phone kits, as a rule try to stick to Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Siemens or Motorola to be in with the best chance of getting a kit to suit your needs. Most new phones come with the option of bluetooth, some of these are compatible with standard car kits that have a cradle you plug the phone into, others will only connect via a bluetooth car kit.

If your phone is Bluetooth compatible then it is very likely that it may be compatible with quite a few different manufacturers kits. Bluetooth is supposed to be a standard format that allows one bluetooth device to connect to another, we have found with experience, most phones work best if you use the same make of kit as your handset with the exception of the Parrot Bluetooth kit range which supports many phones.

Bluetooth works on radio waves, the phone is not physically connected to the car kit, instead it talks to the kit via these bluetooth radio waves transferring data and voice to the kit and on to the person on the other end of the line. There is a lot of software involved in using bluetooth, a bit like your PC at home, often you will find (like your PC) that you may have to update the software (Firmware) on the phone for best compatibility with the kit. It is always recommended that you update your phone to the latest version before getting your kit.

Most bluetooth kits work using voice tag dialing, you record a voice tag to each number on your phone, and when you press the bluetooth activation button, you repeat the voice tag associated with the number you wish to call. When bluetooth is activated on your phone it will consume battery power more quickly, as these do not have a cradle that charges the phone you may have to use a plug into cigarette lighter type charger. Some bluetooth kits like the Parrot CK3100, have a remote display screen so you can see who is calling you. Most bluetooth kits do not use an external antenna, nor do they provide a cradle for holding the phone.

You may have a phone that does not support Bluetooth, if this is the case, you will require a conventional car kit that has a cradle for securing and charging the phone. Some phones can be used for both conventional cradle type kits and bluetooth kits.

The biggest advantage of this type of kit is that you can secure your phone whilst driving and have it charging at the same time. Most of these kits also support an external antenna which can help boost your signal when on the move. The ideal place for mounting the cradle is within the drivers field of vision and reach and not in the centre armrest of the car for safety reasons. Very few kits support total handsfree operation, you will have to push a button to initiate and end the call, having to take your eyes of the road for too long to do this is not a good idea and why we do not recommend installing in the armrest. There are is also a large range of "No Holes" mounting brackets if you do not fancy screwing the cradle into the fascia of the car.

You will see slightly more cable with this type of kit installation as the phone physically plugs into the cradle, and the cradle in turn is directly connected to the kit with a data or system cable. The advantages of this type of kit over bluetooth, in our opinion, outweigh the disadvantages as they are usually specific to a range of manufacturers handsets, there is less need for updating software on the phone, your phone is held securely and safely in place, signal strength is better on kits that support an external antenna and your phone battery will get charged whilst on the move..

Standard (Basic)	Mid - Range
Supply car phone kit - Bluetooth or Conventional type with cradle. Car kits own speaker will be screwed into the vehicle. Cradle will be screwed into fascia of car (N/A Bluetooth) No Radio mute External antenna supplied and fitted if the car kit supports one. We will recommend the best antenna choice for your vehicle type.	Supply Conventional type car phone kit with cradle. Car kits own speaker will be screwed into the vehicle. No Holes Brodit or Dashmount bracket used to mount cradle. Radio mute connected if head unit supports this feature. External antenna supplied and fitted if the car kit supports one. We will recommend the best antenna choice for your vehicle type.
Premium (No Holes)	Executive (No Holes)
Supply car phone kit - Bluetooth or Conventional type with cradle. Autoleads Telemute lead used for transferring phone audio through the car stereo system. Please note:- This may not be possible on some cars especially if it has an amplified stereo system! No Holes Brodit or Dashmount bracket used to mount cradle. (Not required with bluetooth kits) External antenna supplied and fitted if the car kit supports one. We will recommend the best antenna choice for your vehicle type.	Supply Conventional type car phone kit with cradle. Autoleads Telemute lead used for transferring phone audio through the car stereo system. Please note:- This may not be possible on some cars especially if it has an amplified stereo system! Custom made, colour coded, hand stitched leather phone pod to mount the cradle on to for that factory fitted look and feel. (If available for your car) External antenna supplied and fitted if the car kit supports one. We will recommend the best antenna choice for your vehicle type.

These leads are used when installing an aftermarket hands free car phone kit. Once installed the lead will automatically mute or switch off your radio during a telephone call and redirect the car kits audio through the vehicles front two speakers (On most vehicles).

Advantages include:

Vehicle warranty will not be invalidated.
Telemute lead uses existing power wiring.
No hands free speaker installation required.
Automatic mute facility.

These leads are available to suit the majority of modern cars manufactured after 1998, some leads are still in development for 2005 model vehicles and there may not be solutions for certain types of amplified stereo systems.

Professional Handsfree Car Phone kit Installation - What is Involved?