Transmitters

[Guest JohnP]

I have a 100W short wave thru VHF transceiver fitted (hands free) in my Galaxy and have very little trouble with the installation - electrically nice and quiet on the radio and no discernable interference with the car management systems. I'm curious to know, particularly in the light of the Oct 2002 regulations on the fitting of such equipment, whether this is common to the marque and what problems people are having....

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Have used PMR within the car with no problems - don't laugh :D the children use it to communicate from front row to rear row of seats!

[Guest neil_wiles]

I have a taxi radio fitted in the console just below the stereo system on my 99 TDi operates with data transmission to a head unit mounted on the top of the speedo binacle and with voice through handheld microphone.

 

No problems or issues that I know of but stragely enough my dash and heater control lamps dont seem to last very long (may have b*&^

[Guest JohnP]

Ivor - my kids too! Perhaps one day we'll pass on the Motorway and our kids will be talking to each other!

 

Neil - not entirely far fetched - depending on the transmitter's frequency, power output and the length of the wires to the bulbs, it is just feasible that the transmitter could be responsible for the premature aging of the bulbs.

 

Whilst operating my handsfree on the A14 tonight on the way home, I passed a fellow motorist struggling to text someone on their handheld, leaning over the steering wheel whilst driving, all over both lanes at 20-25mph slower than the other traffic - this is what the 'phone laws were meant to catch!

 

OK, off the soapbox now....

[Ivor_E_Tower]

When I took my daughter swimming a couple of weeks ago, turned into the last side road leading to the sports centre to be met head-on my someone driving on the wrong side of the road on their hand-held mobile! The law is just not working, some people will not obey. Have seen many people on hand-held mobiles since the law came into force last December, and the fact that police patrol cars have fallen by 12% in the last few years (as I recently read somewhere) does not help. Speed cameras are not catching the real idiots!

Rant over

[Richmond]

someone driving on the wrong side of the road on their hand-held mobile!

Now that is a good trick.

 

The new law doesn't seem to have made the slightest difference to the number of morons using (hand held) mobiles while driving. Interestingly (?) all the research I've seen reported suggests that it makes little or no difference whether the 'phone is hands free or not; it seems to be the distraction which causes accidents rather than the physical difficulty of holding the 'phone. Why speaking on a 'phone should be different from chatting to your passenger I don't know; perhaps it's the topics discussed and the perceived need to listen carefully to a business call.

[Guest Andyjflet]

Im a hands free user in my Galaxy frequently, I however do find it distracting when talking to customers or the office, trying to discuss financial work matters or other issues means I sometimes have to pull over to be able to think about things fully. I have taken wrong turns etc whilst on the hands free. I also used to find when out with my boss and talking business, once again I would soemtimes miss turnings or not be fully concentrated on the road.

[ridway]

I agree wholeheartedly that mobiles should not be used while driving. I do think that mobile phone styles don't help either. I have often wondered just how many accidents have ocurred while actually trying to dial while driving rather than having a conversation; the digits are so small!! Bet you the latter is smaller.

 

Since the new regs about using phones in cars I have re installed my old Nokia 5.1 complete with its hands free kit; had trouble getting a decent battery though. It works great and i'm not too afraid to leave it in view when i'm out the car, not a particularly modern attractive version.

 

The phone on its cradle really does interfere :lol: with the radio when it does its data handshakes with the cell transmitters, but has no affect on any other digital bits in the Gal.

 

Don't know how the gals' digital bits would cope with a badly matched 200 Watt ssb/am CB burners from 20 years ago? :D There was a lot to be said for points and coils then I suppose.

 

Rich