Free Handsfree Solution

[onyertod]

Sorry if this is old news to some ...

Wife got new iphone and wanted to use it hands free in our Octavia.

So we bought a 3.5mm - 3.5mm jack cable at **** Smith.

Connected one end to the aux socket in the Octavia jumbo box, other end to headphone socket on iphone. Choose aux on Bolero and voila, one cheap handsfree soloution. Works well.

Off now to look for a cradle.

[logger]

Thats a good idea. Might try doing something similar on my Golf. No charge capability but keeps you legal.

[Ocy_RS_TDi_Kombi]

If you have bluetooth in your Octavia, you can play audio from your iPhone straight to the Bolero stereo via the BT-Audio option on the stereo - no cable required.

Just start playing tunes on your iPhone, and on the iPod screen a bluetooth symbol should appear in the bottom rite corner - click on this so it's blue. Go to Media on the stereo and in the top rite corner of the display a button labelled BT-Audio appears. Simply press this and music will play straight from you phone to the stereo.

Cheers

[onyertod]

. No charge capability.....

True, but for $1.97 (free postage) on eBay you can buy a USB car charger!

[brad]

Yeah, I do that with my Nokia Xpress music phone. It has a dedicated music chip (sound is excellant) so I play off the 8gb microSd & when the phone rings, the music automatically stops & the phone funnels through the 8 speakers. Heaps better sound than any other proper handsfree kit I've ever used. Just plug in a charger & it's all good.

Have also done it with my iPhone (which is fubar atm).

The downfall is that playing off the CD (loud) means you can't hear the phone.

Would prefer full bluetooth integration & MFD/steering wheel control functionality but don't get enough calls to justify the ~$500+ instal time for Skoda Bluetooth.

BTW, I initially used a 500mm cable but it was a pain. Now have a 500mm but it is on a self winding reel - much tidier.

[aarondc]

For a recent trip I bought a Garmin - it has bluetooth and connects with the phone no probs. Instant handsfree.

[brad]

For a recent trip I bought a Garmin - it has bluetooth and connects with the phone no probs. Instant handsfree.

Hows the sound quality over the tiny speaker?

I've been kind-of spoilt by the integrated bluetooth in the Outlander and the quality of the sound using this cheap method in the Octy.

[JAZ_RS]

Sorry if this is old news to some ...

Wife got new iphone and wanted to use it hands free in our Octavia.

So we bought a 3.5mm - 3.5mm jack cable at **** Smith.

Connected one end to the aux socket in the Octavia jumbo box, other end to headphone socket on iphone. Choose aux on Bolero and voila, one cheap handsfree soloution. Works well.

Off now to look for a cradle.

Did you actually get this going? Music is no drama but when I go to dial a number I just get low static since it mutes the audio. I tried it also getting the passenger to call me while I had music playing through the phone and no go

[K1W1]

Did you actually get this going? Music is no drama but when I go to dial a number I just get low static since it mutes the audio. I tried it also getting the passenger to call me while I had music playing through the phone and no go

I can't see how that solution will work for anything other than music. When the iPhone has a headset plugged in (which is what it thinks it has with that solution) it will also look for a microphone attached as part of the headset. In this case there isn't one.
I got the MDI interface on my RS and the iPhone works a treat for music through the Bolero and still connects via Bluetooth to my screen mounted GPS. Hopefully next week they will have the correct Bolero bluetooth kit for cars without steering wheel controls then I will simply use Bluetooth to the Bolero and control the phone through it.

On a separate note the MDI interface only works with the newer iPods and iPhones. My 40GB "car" v3 iPod charges via the MDI but won't play music. Rather than buy another iPod I'm simply going to get a 16GB SD card for under $100 and dump a heap of music onto that then leave it in the slot on the dashboard.

[JAZ_RS]

I can't see how that solution will work for anything other than music. When the iPhone has a headset plugged in (which is what it thinks it has with that solution) it will also look for a microphone attached as part of the headset. In this case there isn't one.
I got the MDI interface on my RS and the iPhone works a treat for music through the Bolero and still connects via Bluetooth to my screen mounted GPS. Hopefully next week they will have the correct Bolero bluetooth kit for cars without steering wheel controls then I will simply use Bluetooth to the Bolero and control the phone through it.

On a separate note the MDI interface only works with the newer iPods and iPhones. My 40GB "car" v3 iPod charges via the MDI but won't play music. Rather than buy another iPod I'm simply going to get a 16GB SD card for under $100 and dump a heap of music onto that then leave it in the slot on the dashboard.

I was going to go MDI and bluetooth, but chose to go the AVC route which now I've found won't work on Mk6 models Apparently there is a model coming Jan, lets wait and see...

[backdoc]

I was going to go MDI and bluetooth, but chose to go the AVC route which now I've found won't work on Mk6 models Apparently there is a model coming Jan, lets wait and see...

How much are the AVC models?

[kenvik_7]

Hi all,
I didn't want to new thread about the Fiscon / Kufatec bluethooh systems (which have been discussed a some extent in various Skoda & VW threads here at vwwatercooled), but I had some questions about this system.

1) My DSG RS sedan (hence multi function steering wheel) will be arriving in 3-4 weeks, and I wanted to install a fiscon bluetooth system and integrate it with the Bolero + MFD. Reading about the various features on Kufatec's website, I'm still confused about whether I need a 'Basic' or 'Plus' model. I realise that the Plus is meant for Columbus (since it integrates with the Navi system). But does the 'Basic' provide all the other features i.e. display of phone list etc on the Bolero screen, integration with the Bolero sytsem i.e. make use of the 'phone' button?, integration with the MFD and steering controls?
2) Is it better to get this system installed via the Dealer or via specialist independent installers? The price I believe will always be higher at the dealer, and my dealer is going to make use of a outside company anyway (so he will basically act as the middle man making his extra commission). So my question is, if there are warranty issues or installation troubles (I worried with how much panneling has to be removed to install the mic) - will the dealer be responsible for installation of this system, and hence its better to go through him?
3) For people who have installed the 'Basic' or 'Plus' system, can you please provide a ball-park estimate? or can I PM anyone if they don't want to disclose the pricing?

Thanks a lot

[K1W1]

1) My DSG RS sedan (hence multi function steering wheel) will be arriving in 3-4 weeks, and I wanted to install a fiscon bluetooth system and integrate it with the Bolero + MFD. Reading about the various features on Kufatec's website, I'm still confused about whether I need a 'Basic' or 'Plus' model. I realise that the Plus is meant for Columbus (since it integrates with the Navi system). But does the 'Basic' provide all the other features i.e. display of phone list etc on the Bolero screen, integration with the Bolero sytsem i.e. make use of the 'phone' button?, integration with the MFD and steering controls?

I have a Fiscon plus (manual trans no sw controls).
IMO it's brilliant, best Bluetooth I have ever used in any car in terms of audio quality.
Yes you get the Phones "phone book" on the Bolero screen to select from to make calls.
Yes it displays that name oi the person calling on the Bolero of they are in the phone book or a number if they are not if they have caller ID enabled.
The Bolero "Phone" button is used to bring up the phone controls on the screen. I believe that the button on the steering wheel of the DSG cars does the same function.
You answer or hang up calls on the screen (Again I think the sw controls can do that on DSG cars).
You can set the Maxidot to display the call info but as far as I can see if you do that you get no other info so I don't bother. It may be better with the steering wheel controls.
I have no idea what the system cost my dealer installed it as part of the vehicle purchase. From what I can see on Briskoda it's a straight forward job that any reasonably intelligent person could do themselves if they wanted to. The only "watch out" is running the mic wire up the A pillar where there is an airbag. BTW, my mic is in the top right of the windscreen not in the mic vent in the overhead light console but as I have already said it works great.
I believe that the factory mic does not connect to the Fiscon.

One thing I have noticed with the Fiscon and an iPhone. You do not need the MDI full stop.
The iPhone will send music to the Fiscon via Bluetooth so you retain full control of the iPhone which is something you loose totally with the MDI. A $20 charger will let you power the iPhone way cheaper than an MDI.
Don't forget that with the MDI you need to purchase an interface cable after the MDI cost at nearly $100 from your dealer or cheaper overseas.
The volume control on the Bolero controls the volume of calls independently of the radio volume and can be adjusted during calls. It took me a while to work out why my calls were very quiet when the radio was a normal or loud.
It's a little annoying that receiving an email or text when the phone is connected via Bluetooth causes the radio or music to mute for a couple of seconds but that's a Bluetooth thing.

[aslsw]

So is this different to the bluetooth kit offerred by the dealers? I haven't included bluetooth in my order, but when I mentioned to the dealer that I was interested he said they would fit it when the car arrived at cost price.

But if there is a better kit out there, do I need to source it separately and see if they will install it for me?

[K1W1]

As I understand things the official Bluetooth kit only works with the steering wheel controls (in the case of the vRS that means DSG cars not manuals). The Fiscon is an after market unit that is widely used in European cars.

Fiscon website here