My TL doesn't have the Nav system and I would like to add an aftermarket hands free kit for my Blackberry. Although I see everyone still using their cell phones while driving, I'm not one of them. I'm curious what everyone is using and if you're happy with your choice. Parrot, Audovox....etc?

 

I have a Parrot. It works well. The worst problem I have is that I drive a lot and occasionally a plug-in connection will work loose.

To install a Parrot correctly, a lot of panels have to come off. You're not going to be able to do it quickly, or easily. There is a plug-in adapter for almost every application, and that simplifies things quite a bit, but it's still not an easy installation.

 

motorola T505 here. best you're gonna get for under $80. clips to your visor and it will outlast you 18 hours of talk time on a charge

1. FM transmitter so it can use your car as a speaker phone
2. stream mp3 from your BB to your car
3. Audible caller ID (ph# only)
4. selectable FM frequency

 

What model Parrot are you using? I think the Parrot is the way I want to go and as far as installation, I would have it installed professionally. Where in your car did they mount the Parrot unit?

 

I have a CK3100. They have newer ones now so you might want to check out the newer models that do more than the CK3100.

We put the display/control on the dash board on the left of the instrument cluster, mounted on one of the uprights that are included in the kit. It's okay there, but not great. You can see the caller ID and reach the voice activation but there's no way to keep it from loosening and wobbling.

On the Ridgeline, we mounted it against the dash board so that it has a solid backing, and that does better. If you can find a way to do that in your TL, that would be better. On the Accord, it takes two finger to activate the voice control, a thumb to push the button and your index finger behind it to hold it steady. On the Ridgeline, it just takes a quick index finger because of the solid backing.

Put the microphone as close to your head as you can. Our original installation with the microphone on the steering wheel column made the microphone invisible, but it made for problems when turning the wheel or using the turn signals (your caller can hear these things). We eventually relocated it to the sun visor and this works a lot better. You'll have the visible wire over the sun visor, and to the point where you've hidden it in the rubber at the door jam, but it works better than the more invisible installation.

Although we installed both units ourselves, I have to say that you're probably wise to get someone else to do it. It's a bit of a pain.