| V8
Mobile Phone Option Fitting a hands free mobile phone in a classic car needs some care because most enthusiasts want to avoid an installation which uses permanent brackets or adhesive pads that would damage the dashboard or trim. Well we think we have found a universal hands free kit and a mobile phone holder which can be used together. This combination forms an effective and portable option costing less than £35 which will appeal to many V8 enthusiasts! (15.6.04)  The combination comprises two parts - the first is a Pama Clip-N-Go hands free system which is "universal" in the sense it uses a sprung clip which contains a microphone which simply covers the earpiece on the mobile phone and picks up the speech which is sent to a speaker unit plugged into your cigar lighter below. So this system can be used with any phone - you do not need cables with special plugs or adapters for individual mobile phone types. The second part of the combination is a mobile phone holder which fixes to the windscreen with a suction pad. The holder is on a flexible stalk so is infinitely adjustable. It's available from Halfords as an own brand item which is made in Germany. Pama Clip-N-Go hands free system The Clip-N-Go is a universal hands free system which is "universal" in the sense it can be used with most mobile phones with the minimum of effort as it does not need special cables with special plugs or adapters to connect it to a speaker or microphone. The diagram below shows how the parts of the kit are connected together.   A Pama Clip-N-Go universal hands free kit is available at £19.99 from Earphone Warehouse. Halfords mobile phone holder with a suction pad and flexible stalk 
The Suction Pad Mobile Phone Holder is available at the modest price of £14.99 from Halfords. What
is the total cost of this kit and where can you get one?
The Pama Clip-N-Go kit is available from the Carphone Warehouse at £19.99. A very similar kit is available from Halfords at £30.00. The Suction Pad Mobile Phone Holder is available as an own brand item from Halfords at the modest price of £14.99. So your total outlay is £34.98 for a universal and portable hands free mobile phone system. 
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 V8 Register - MG Car Club V8
Mobile Phone Option explained
 A Clip-N-Go sprung clip covers the earpiece of your mobile phone with a foam rubber pad which contains a microphone that picks up the speech and sounds you would normally hear when using the phone next to your ear. This sent to the speaker unit. You need to ensure the acoustic pad on the clip is located exactly over the earpiece so that it collects clear speech at a good volume.  The speaker unit plugs into the cigar lighter which powers the unit. It has a volume control and a green power indicator light to reassure you it is functioning. The speaker unit has a hinged joint between the round speaker portion and the straight section which is inserted in the cigar lighter. That joint enables you to angle the face of the speaker towards the driver for optimum performance. Incidentally, the Pama kit comes with its own mobile phone clamp holder which is fairly basic with an unsatisfactory fixing arrangement. This holder clips into the air vent grilles oon the fascia or you can use an adhesive pad to attach the holder firmly to any convenient flat surface. Not options many V8 enthusiasts will want to adopt! A far better option is to use a holder attached to a flexible stalk which is attached to the windscreen with a suction pad. The
Halfords mobile phone holder fixes to the windscreen with
a suction pad. The holder is on a flexible stalk so is infinitely
adjustable. The suction pad is simply pressed firmly to the screen
and then a lever arm on the fitting is moved down which creates
the suction. The mobile phone is placed between the padded jaws
of the holder and then pressed together to hold the phone.
 There is a side button to release the jaws to remove the phone. So
how do you use this hands free kit?
Well simply place your mobile phone in the holder, press the expanding clamp together and allow the foam cheeks to squeeze tight on your phone. Fix the sprung clip of the Clip-N-Go over the earpiece on your phone, and then plug the speaker into the cigar lighter. To make a test call, simply press the keys on your mobile phone - which is held firmly in the clamp holder - and the voice of the person receiving the call should come through very clearly on your speaker. In fact it may be so loud you will need to adjust the volume control - but do remember that when setting the volume you will have to allow for a high level of background noise should you plan to take calls when you are on the move in a V8! If you plan to make an outgoing call from the phone whilst on the move, it is best to have the number already in your recent numbers list so you need only press a single key. This is a sensible safety precaution. Performance Using this Halfords mobile phone holder in conjunction with a Clip -N"-Go universal hands free kit is straightforward. You will need to locate the sprung clip carefully over the earpiece because 
the quality and volume of the reception through the speaker is sensitive to the exact positioning, but with practice you soon clip on with ease! With the microphone in the sprung clip placed over the earpiece of the mobile phone held in the suction pad holder, it is far enough away from the speaker to avoid the "feedback screech" effect. The volume level is adjustable on the speaker unit. A convenient feature of this mobile phone holder using the windscreen suction pad, is both the mobile phone screen and keys are easily seen but are not in your field of view from the driving seat. |