New A6 owner - confused about bluetooth and phone preparation

[rin]

Hi all
just picked up my used (2009) Audi A6 SE TDI multitronic and now making my first post.

Very happy so far but I am confused after reading the Audi website over how to go about connecting a mobile phone to the car. I know it has bluetooth fitted because my wife's mobile phone can detect the car's bluetooth.

The website seems to indicate you need some sort of cradle in order to use the all the bluetooth facilities (inc the antenna) called phone preparation Is this right? or will it work just using the phone's bluetooth? I would really like to use the phone's contact list rather than keying everything into the car's own directory

I don't have a bluetooth phone either so can anyone recomend (a cheap android) one that works well with the A6

Many thanks

[longmanjon]

I have an 07 and recently got the cradle which goes in the armrest, do you have a black connection unit in the armrest. I use an iPhone which you can use all the addresses

[AxeMurderer]

If your wife's phone can detect the car then you don't need anything else - it will just work via bluetooth. It won't use the car's GSM antenna but the phone's one will be good enough.

The Orange San Francisco is an absolute steal at about £100, though not the best built phone ever.

[rin]

I have an 07 and recently got the cradle which goes in the armrest, do you have a black connection unit in the armrest. I use an iPhone which you can use all the addresses

There is an empty space directly under the armrest with some attachment points and three rows of terminals on it. Does this mean that if I buy a cradle I don't need a bluetooth phone? Are these sold by the Audi dealer or is there a non OEM out there - I might be able to use my trusty old Nokia 6020

[neilos100]

I have a 2009 2.0 tdie S line that also has the terminals for the cradle in the armrest......had a quick look for one that takes my phone (HTC Desire)...there isnt one and anyway the cradles seem to be very expensive.
I just use the phones bluetooth connection and it works really well. Phone book is transferred to the car automatically and making calls is quick and easy.....the sound quality is great too and the radio mutes when you make or receive a call. Yes, it does use the phone antenna but so far i have had no problems with the system.

Neil

[bennettp23]

Forget the cradle, it is very expensive and unless you intend on keeping the same phone for the next 4 years, pointless. Just get a car phone charger cable for emergencies.

[nealeb]

I use an elderly Nokia phone in my A6, just using Bluetooth. Works fine, even with the phone in the door pocket. Access to phone's directory and so on via the steering wheel controls and so on all OK - once it's paired the car downloads a copy of the phone's directory. As I remember, you can only set up pairing with the phone with the ignition on but engine not running. However, the car is happy to remember pairings with at least a couple of phones and will pair with any of them automatically (but only one at a time, I think) so there's no issue when either I or my wife drive my A6.

It's probably cheaper to buy a new Bluetooth phone than an Audi cradle

[fruitbat]

nealeb

You are correct. You can get a nice Smartphone too. The aforementioned San Francisco at Argos is £99 http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...+FRANCISCO.htm

My Nokia cradle was £105. And that's boxed, ie unfitted.

[rin]

Thanks for the info everyone. I am now trying to decide whether to by a used Nokia 6021 (standard business phone) or bite the bullet and go Android. Android entry level phones HT Wildfire S (£160)and Samsung Galaxy mini (£100)favourites. The HTC has Bluetooth profile PBAP for phonebook access from the car kit, The specifications page for the Samsung is very poor. It merely says Bluetooth so I am trying to get a response out of Samsung. The San Fransisco is good but I am under contract to Tesco (O2 carrier) for 10 months so I need an unlocked phone.