Getting Cingular Motorola V551, which Bluetooth Headset to get?

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MarkW - 26 Feb 2005 09:44 GMT

I just ordered Cingular service today with a Motorola V551 (actually
two of them for me and my fiancee since we have the family plan). I
have been doing tons of research and am planning on ordering one soon
but especially since I'm mail ordering I"m trying to make the right
choice.

1. Comfort. well I want something comfortable but that's probably a
matter of opinion. There's not a lot of long phone calls and I won't
wear it all day but still at times may have it on for a couple hours
while driving or so and waiting for calls.

2. Battery Time. As well, I would like at least 6 hours or so but
even 4 hours may do.

3. Charger. I have a Motorola phone so if I'm right the Motorola
models may use the same charger (car and home) as the V551. Would
any other models use the same?

4. Pairing. Since we have two phones I'd love it if I could pair it
with each device and then choose which one to use it with when needed.
I don't know a lot about these headsets but I assume that you
initially pair them with whatever phone(s) you plan to use them with
and that you only do this setup once and after that it's paired with
your phone and can then recognize it without a setup after that.

5. Noise cancellation/wind. Where I live (Colorado) it can get windy
and as well I see about noise cancellation. is this something I shoud
look for?

6. I don't know how to explain this but I have heard the complain
with some headsets that for example when it's paired with the phone
that if a phone call comes in you have to take it on the headset and
not the phone since it's 'connected to the headset'. I would like it
where when a phone call comes in or I make it I can easily decide
whether to use the phone or headset and during a call if I could
switch between the two devices. If I'm right some headsets can open
and close to turn them on and off and this sounds like a nice feature.

7. Delay time. I have also read how some headsets when a phone call
comes in for example they will sometimes have a 2-3 sec. delay wheh
you answer until the headset actually works. I don't know if the same
is true for calling out but it seems that this could be a problem.
Does anyone have a problem with this?

I have looked at the Motorola HS810 and HS820 Both seem similar, is
there a big difference?)

As well I have looked at the Jabra 250 as well as the Plantronics
M3000 and M3500. I like the 3500 except battery time seems to be
short. I'd like any opinions on these or suggestions for others.
Thanks for any help.

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Jer - 26 Feb 2005 17:34 GMT

> I just ordered Cingular service today with a Motorola V551 (actually
> two of them for me and my fiancee since we have the family plan). I
> have been doing tons of research and am planning on ordering one soon
> but especially since I'm mail ordering I"m trying to make the right
> choice.

Okay, my takes embedded below, considering my Moto V551 and Moto HS810
BT headset....

> 1. Comfort. well I want something comfortable but that's probably a
> matter of opinion. There's not a lot of long phone calls and I won't
> wear it all day but still at times may have it on for a couple hours
> while driving or so and waiting for calls.

I tried the Plantronics and Jabra BT models, and technically, all seemed
to work reasonably well. For comfort, the 810 got the nod. I didn't
particularly like the longer voice tube for driving - it bugged me.
With the bulk of the electronics behind the ear, the bulk interfered
with the spatula of my classes. The bulk of the 810 is outside the ear,
and the voice tube is short.

> 2. Battery Time. As well, I would like at least 6 hours or so but
> even 4 hours may do.

I routinely get 5 hours from the 810 - one conference call at a time.

> 3. Charger. I have a Motorola phone so if I'm right the Motorola
> models may use the same charger (car and home) as the V551. Would
> any other models use the same?

Yes, the charger is the same. In fact, I found a after-market Y adapter
allowing both to be charged simultaneously from a single charger.

> 4. Pairing. Since we have two phones I'd love it if I could pair it
> with each device and then choose which one to use it with when needed.
> I don't know a lot about these headsets but I assume that you
> initially pair them with whatever phone(s) you plan to use them with
> and that you only do this setup once and after that it's paired with
> your phone and can then recognize it without a setup after that.

I don't know about the others, but I routinely use the 810 with multiple
handsets. It maintains an internal list of the last 8 devices it's
paired with, and defaults to the most recent when opened. If I'm using
a not-so-recent phone, I put the phone in 'find me' mood, and viola.
Once paired, always paired. In fact, I short-cutted the Connections
menu to the right-scroll button (replacing that nasty AIM crap) to make
for quick access. Right-scroll once, center button three times, bang,
I'm there on both V551s have.

> 5. Noise cancellation/wind. Where I live (Colorado) it can get windy
> and as well I see about noise cancellation. is this something I shoud
> look for?

Again, the voice tube on the 810 is short, but the little hole is just
on the inside of the tip, and I think wind noise is minimized because of
that. It seems to help to shield other extraneous sounds to the side
with leaving my own test messages on vmail.

> 6. I don't know how to explain this but I have heard the complain
> with some headsets that for example when it's paired with the phone
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> switch between the two devices. If I'm right some headsets can open
> and close to turn them on and off and this sounds like a nice feature.

There have been numerous times when I wanted to transfer an active call
between the handset and headset, and it's automagic by opening or
closing the 810. All the others brands behaved the same with their
on/off controls.

> 7. Delay time. I have also read how some headsets when a phone call
> comes in for example they will sometimes have a 2-3 sec. delay wheh
> you answer until the headset actually works. I don't know if the same
> is true for calling out but it seems that this could be a problem.
> Does anyone have a problem with this?

It answers the call instantaneously, but yes, a very short delay before
one hears the 'pre-empt' beep, but not a problem if one isn't in a rush
to say 'hello'. It is my experience all work this way.

> I have looked at the Motorola HS810 and HS820 Both seem similar, is
> there a big difference?)

Again, I like the short voice tube with the shielded tip, and I can eye
it on a table from a distance and see if it's turned on or off.

> As well I have looked at the Jabra 250 as well as the Plantronics
> M3000 and M3500. I like the 3500 except battery time seems to be
> short. I'd like any opinions on these or suggestions for others.
> Thanks for any help.

Since I didn't use these other brands to any length, I can't say how
talk times compared, but I'm quite happy with a five hour 810.

One other thing, the cute little neck lanyard that comes with the Moto
makes for a really spiffy cat toy. :)

HTH

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jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

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