The 3 Main Issues That Arise with In-Car PC Bluetooth Handsfree

[Nola111]

Originally Posted by Alok

Hey nola,

excellent post by the way, outlines the issues really well. I have a couple of quick fixes for you guys out there looking for an easy solution. Purchase a nice webcam. You may get better voice reception thru an Andrea Array mic or other mics of that sort (you will also pay $300+ for a very nice solution), but for a fairly cheap and easy solution a webcam will do. When I say nice I am saying spend between $100-$150 and you will get what you pay for. I have tested nearly 10 to 15 usb microphones and I found that webcams tend to come with fairly nice echo and noise cancellation and include a camera too! One that I particually like that I was able to find on sale for just under $100 was the Logitech Ultra Vision (SE or the normal version both work fine). I have it mounted behind my rear-view mirror that way its not in front of a speaker (prevent echo) and also is within a close range to the driver so it picks up the speech well. The camera is facing the rear window so I can take pictures/video of me and my passengers as well as see out of the back window and my blind spots (the 2MP lens has very nice clairty and can capture at 30 frames per second!). I can post some pics if you guys would like to see any...

Hey very interesting idea. I'll take a look into this. Now, I do have experience with using a webcam in the house, and maybe what I use isn't all that great, but there are still issues with delay when using a webcam because of it being USB (and therefore a separate sound device as far as Windows sees). If you have good results with the one you're using though, I'm willing to give it a try.

[Nola111]

Originally Posted by salvi

I think that this is the way to go. Have the phone connected directly to the computer instead of using BlueTooth. I really don't care to hear the conversation over the speakers, mainly for privacy issues

I just want to be able to access all my phone options through the CarPC and use my BT headset for hearing/speaking. Perfect solution!

Why are you not going this way CF!!!!!! COME ON!!!

Well the only thing here is that this type of software is right now exclusive to smartphones. What CF is doing is trying to integrate a universal solution. Basing the phone module on something like Trueconnect takes care of the Windows Mobile phone crowd. How about all the other phones all the other folks own? Bluetooth communication is the universal solution for ALL phones. I'm guessing that's why they would place priority on it.

[salvi]

As long as the solution for my Trio, I'm happy

[assault]

Originally Posted by salvi

I think that this is the way to go. Have the phone connected directly to the computer instead of using BlueTooth. I really don't care to hear the conversation over the speakers, mainly for privacy issues

I just want to be able to access all my phone options through the CarPC and use my BT headset for hearing/speaking. Perfect solution!

Why are you not going this way CF!!!!!! COME ON!!!

Not interested in this at all. If I wanted to use a BT headset, I would, as I have one, but I dont like having to drive around everywhere with an headset on.
I want to be able to jump in the car and drive and the phone connects to car PC automatically, then if a call comes through I hit a button on my screen and the music mutes and I can talk no problem.

This is what CF is currently doing for me and its exactly what I want. Just need a license for Bluesoleil and I'll be happy. Oh and contacts and sms support

[beeoll]

I have 1 of these for my system - (build stage), just use the ear crap on the job,
there are actually several other bluetooth speakerphones that clip to the visor, dash mount, battery powered or 12v..etc

http://www.hammacher.com/publish/72986.asp#

[Vanman]

I am getting very confused with all this phone stuff.
Can anyone tell me how I can actually make a call using the phone section of CF.
Forgetting the 5MB limit stuff, if I make a hands free call using CF the ECHO delay just makes a call unbearable so it's just not an option.
Is there a way to conect CF my Phone and BT earpiece together so when the phone rings the speakers mute and sound and mic are transfered to earpiece when conversation ends audio returns to speakers.

If this is not posible has anyone actually got a CF phone setup that lets them make a call without ECHO delay.
As I Drive a Van (space no problem) and have a Desktop pc installed in the rear so I can add PCI cards if needed. Does the echo cancelling board mentioned totally resovle Echo/Delay issue.

[assault]

I dont have echo. I have a small amount of delay between me speaking and the other person hearing me, but no echo.

Windows has 2 volume levels for the Mic, one for recording and one for playback.
The recording one needs to be up and un-muted and selected for recording so that the audio will comne through to the software.
The playback one should be muted as you dont want to hear your own voice when speaking and you dont want to cause a feedback loop.

The other issue will be with the person on the other end speaking and it coming through the speakers and then back into the mic and back to the person on the other end, letting them hear themselves. This will happen on ANY handsfree system where the Mic gain is too high and the audio is output to loud speakers. Its called feedback and you get a similar effect in recording studios or on stage if you put a microphone too close to the speakers.

The way to fix this is to either turn the speakers down and move them closer to the ears (usually not possible in a car) or Turn the gain of the Mic down and move it closer to the mouth. This is why headsets dont encounter the problem. Otherwise you need some very well written software with noise cancelation to calculate what is going on and cancel it out.

The only other option is to run half duplex so that the system only allows one person to speak at a time, which is really quite annoying to use.

[chixaro]

For me, Phoco had a great feature that was the ability to send commands to the phone when dial or answer. With that, I read the SMS on the phone, contacts, etc. To speak, phoco sends the keys to simulate the "handsfree" feature of the phone, so the speaking/hearing was made from the phone.

Does this new phone version has this feature ?

[salvi]

I would really want for them to enable the BT headset to be able to use as a mic. This would get rid of all the issues with hearing and echo since everything will be done via the headset. If you're driving with many people in the car, you don't want everyone to hear your conversation.

[Stang70Fastback]

Originally Posted by Nola111

Well the only thing here is that this type of software is right now exclusive to smartphones.

Is this something that could be easily integrated into Centrafuse though? If so, it would be something I'd like to see done in the long run. I connect my smartphone via USB when I'm in the car anyway to charge it and get internet, so if I could do the voice too and eliminate the Bluetooth entirely, that would be even better!