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Phone-to-Aux connectivity w/out BT

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by zenMachine, Feb 27, 2009.

  1. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    I discovered something unexpected today. Wonder if anyone's noticed something similar when using their MP3 phones (e.g. iPhone):

    1. My G1 phone was NOT connected to BT (I typically leave it paired with my wife's iPhone by default).
    2. The G1's audio output was connected to the Prius' Aux IN via an adapter cable and its MP3 player was piping music to the car's sound system.
    3. A call came in; the music paused and the ringing and the caller's voice came through all speakers (and it sounded AWESOME!)
    4. Too bad I didn't have my G1's external mic with me at the time, so the person at the other end couldn't hear me at all (I assume the internal mic is disabled when the adapter cable is plugged in) so after a few "hello, hello..." the caller hung up.

    Nevertheless, here's what I found revealing: if this is how MP3 phones can work in the Prius then this is another hands-free option besides Bluetooth. Hence, if you buy a base Prius w/out Bluetooth, you still can do hands-free calls (provided your phone has Aux Out and the Prius has Aux In).
     
    #1 zenMachine, Feb 27, 2009
  2. stephen2002

    stephen2002 Junior Member

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    Yup, I have a Package 2 Prius, so no Bluetooth. I have an audio adapter for my phone that takes the 3-ring headphone jack and turns it into a standard 2-ring headphone jack. The adapter has a built-in mic. If a call comes in I can used the answer button on the phone and then the voice is over the car speakers and the caller can hear me from the phone's position down near the cupholders. Once the call ends my internet radio resumes.

    I also use my phone as a GPS and with the line in I can hear the GPS prompts and my music over the speakers.

    This same thing could be done with any phone that has a headset jack + an adapter. No fancy smartphone or MP3 phone required.
     
    #2 stephen2002, Feb 27, 2009
  3. ilusnforc

    ilusnforc Member

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    I have a Sprint Mogul (made by HTC) and I got an mini-USB to 3.5mm audio adapter and plugged it into the Aux jack to play mp3 in the car. The first call I tried to place I didn't realize would be affected by having the audio cable connected, took a few seconds after dialing and only hearing silence... then I quickly unplugged the mini-USB connector on the phone and finally over the bluetooth I could hear the person I was trying to call saying "hello, hello?" and I was able to talk to them. So it seems that not only my mic was disabled but the audio out through the mini-USB quit working and the audio did not go out over bluetooth either. Strange, but just have to disconnect the audio cable when making, receiving calls which is not too often, so not a big deal to me.

    I have been interested in finding a stereo bluetooth receiver with a 3.5mm audio out jack for headphones, often they have a lanyard to wear around your neck and you just plug earphones into it, but if you had one in the center console with an audio cable connecting it to the aux jack you could stream the music over bluetooth to the aux jack which would be nice, but it's just so much less expensive and really not a big deal to me to just plug it in. I'll wait for the 2010 Prius with built-in streaming stereo bluetooth.
     
    #3 ilusnforc, Mar 4, 2009
  4. zenMachine

    zenMachine Just another Onionhead

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    I believe that if you have the phone paired with the Prius Handsfree then the car's Bluetooth audio overrides all other audio input (e.g. radio, CD, MP3 phone, etc.). Thus you cannot hear any music when a call arrives, but that's not because the audio out on your phone quit working.

    Try this experiment: turn off BT on your phone while it's plugged into the Aux jack, and play your music normally. If a call comes in your phone should pause the music player and answer the call. Except in your case, if your adapter doesn't have a mic then you can only hear the caller but they can't hear you...

    I wonder if the sound quality of BT streaming would be as good as a direct cable connection...
     
    #4 zenMachine, Mar 4, 2009
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