Is the Garmin 2820's mp3 player Bluetooth stereo?

[Greg Masters]

I can't find reference either on Garmin's website or in the manual.

I'd have hoped that it would work to the Bluetooth A2DP standard.

Michael?

Greg

 

[PanEuropean]

Greg:

The music player provides stereo output (very high quality stereo output, by the way) from the jack on the left hand side of the device.

It provides mono output (quite good quality also, but mono nonetheless) from the pins on the back - meaning, the 8 pin connector that also provides power to the GPSR.

Bluetooth output is mono, and does NOT support the A2DP standard. I had some discussion with the software guys about this. A decision was made to not support this standard 'right off the bat', however, they have not ruled out providing support for it in the future, although it is not a high priority issue. The rational is as follows: The thing already provides great quality stereo via the jack, and the number of users who would require great quality stereo via A2DP is pretty low.

FYI, the BMW WCS-1 helmet communication system does support A2DP, and compatibility between the BMW Nav III and the WCS-1 was a big consideration during the design process. I have listened to stereo on the BMW helmet using A2DP (from a source other than the GPSR), and to tell you the truth, it's not much of an improvement. The little speakers in the helmet are designed for voice communication (rider to passenger intercom, and GPSR voice directions, speed camera warnings, stuff like that), and there is not much of a change in sound quality between the existing mono over Bluetooth, and stereo over Bluetooth using A2DP. The weak link in the chain is the size of the helmet speakers, not the sound output from the music player of the GPSR, or the Bluetooth transmission process.

Michael

 

[Greg Masters]

Michael

As you might have guessed, it was a bit of an academic question.

FWIW, I think that 'in-helmet' speakers miss the mark in all respects unless you spend all your time cruising at 50mph or less. I have in-ear 'monitors' and these transform one's listening pleasure on the move.

I did have my mobile telephone hooked up to my Autocom via Bluetooth and this worked pretty well (when it wasn't raining - the handsfree activation button wasn't waterproof).

However, I'm thinking about upgrading my mobile phone. The item I am considering has both an .mp3 player and A2DP Bluetooth. If I upgraded the handsfree kit on my bike to A2DP too, this would be an optional route to listening to .mp3s on the hoof.

For the time being at least I'll stick with my 2610 and my hardwired .mp3 player. However, I'm sure that the Garmin techies know that there are one or two geeks around that will look for cutting edge (but not bleeding edge) technology. I appreciate that the market size will probably make the 2820/A2DP not yet commercially viable, but I'd guess that within a couple of years it'll be the way to go.

Michael, as ever, thanks for taking the trouble to find the answer.

Greg

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Greg:

My personal guess (not based on any inside information) is that A2DP support will follow along in the not too distant future.

As for phones - to tell you the truth, I'm actually thinking of going in the OPPOSITE direction, which is to get the simplest phone I possibly can that supports Bluetooth. For years, I used a Sony-Ericsson T68, which was tiny, simple, and trouble-free. When this new 2820 came out, I bought a Q-Tek 9100, which is a top of the line Windows Mobile 5 device, with built in camera, MP3 player, Outlook, electric shaver, and corkscrew. After a few weeks use, I started thinking "Why did I blow all this money on this complicated gadget that is such a PITA to figure out how to use?" So, I'm going to put this Q-Tek 9100 up on eBay, and go back to the nice, tiny, simple Sony-Ericsson T68.

I think that a lot of these 'all in one' devices really don't deliver benefits. They may be crammed full of 'features', but shit, the learning curve on an Airbus 380 is shorter and less steep than the learning curve on the Q-Tek 9100.

Michael

PS: anyone want to buy the latest and greatest Q-tek phone? Have I got a deal for you... It slices, it dices, it does everything you could ever want it to do, and twice as many additional things that you probably would never want it to do.

 

[skellum]

Hi Greg:

My personal guess (not based on any inside information) is that A2DP support will follow along in the not too distant future.

As for phones - to tell you the truth, I'm actually thinking of going in the OPPOSITE direction, which is to get the simplest phone I possibly can that supports Bluetooth. For years, I used a Sony-Ericsson T68, which was tiny, simple, and trouble-free. When this new 2820 came out, I bought a Q-Tek 9100, which is a top of the line Windows Mobile 5 device, with built in camera, MP3 player, Outlook, electric shaver, and corkscrew. After a few weeks use, I started thinking "Why did I blow all this money on this complicated gadget that is such a PITA to figure out how to use?" So, I'm going to put this Q-Tek 9100 up on eBay, and go back to the nice, tiny, simple Sony-Ericsson T68.

I think that a lot of these 'all in one' devices really don't deliver benefits. They may be crammed full of 'features', but shit, the learning curve on an Airbus 380 is shorter and less steep than the learning curve on the Q-Tek 9100.

Michael

PS: anyone want to buy the latest and greatest Q-tek phone? Have I got a deal for you... It slices, it dices, it does everything you could ever want it to do, and twice as many additional things that you probably would never want it to do.

Michael

I use a Motorola V3iM and it seems to work fully with the 2820 - I haven't tried voice dialing yet, although as the phone supports it, I guess that should work as well if all else does.

Tony

 

[PanEuropean]

Hi Tony:

The Bluetooth support that the 2820 (and Nav III) provide for phones is generic, in the sense that it conforms to the specifications of the Bluetooth SIG (Special Interest Group), which is the industry standards organization.

It is possible for Garmin to create 'scripts' that go beyond the basic functions of Bluetooth control, and further exploit specific features that different models of phones offer. It appears that Garmin have written a few scripts for a small number of different phone models. My guess is that they then found that it really was not necessary to provide scripts at all, because most of the phones out there work just fine using the standard industry guidelines.

It is, of course, possible that the scripts were written because those specific models of phones did not conform to Bluetooth SIG specs, and it was necessary to write a script to support them.

In principle, though, any phone should connect and work just fine - I don't think there is any advantage to having a phone that is specified in the list that appears in the GPSR.

Michael

 

[araspitfire]

I'd like it if there were an FAQ up that lists phone that work and don't work...

I tried for quite a while to get a Siemens S55 Phone to connect and though it would initially connect after a cold start of the GPS, it would just do a connect/disconect cycle once anything was done, like dial out, recieve a call, look at recent calls list.. etc..

A couple days later I got great functionality out of a Sony/Ericson phone...

Al...

 

[Dale]

A couple days later I got great functionality out of a Sony/Ericson phone...

Al...

Al,

Which Sony are you using? I have a W800i and for the life of me cant get the thing to talk to the 2820.

They both seem to connect no problem but after about 15 seconds or so the 2820 tries to access the contact list (phonebook) on the phone and the phone freezes. At first I thought there were too many contacts (around 450), so I deleted all but 10 of them and the problem persists.

Phone is about 1 year old and talks to my PC via bluetooth just fine. Had thought about trying to pair the GPS to the PC just to see if the BT module is working, but am not sure that is a great idea (not sure what that connection might try to do!!)

Dale

 

[lesliek]

Same problem too with my SE K750 - connects and then goes bonkers and eventually freezes up. I've so far managed to get the 2820 paired up with a Blackberry 8700 and Motorola V3i with none of the same problems. What gives?

 

[araspitfire]

Wasn't my phone... I'll have a look on the web... Looked a lot like the S700i, though can't be sure...

Sounds a bit like Michael is righish about older phones working better with this bluetooth interface... It's got me twichy about what phone to buy anyways...

Al...

 

[PanEuropean]

Guys:

Something you need to keep in mind about portable phones is that they, too, are subject to firmware updates from their manufacturers. In the case of mobile phones, the firmware updates are almost always released for the sole purpose of solving problems, not to add features.

Normally the process of flash-updating firmware in a mobile phone can only be done at an authorized phone service center (normally this is NOT a retailer), and rarely, if ever, by the end user. Although the phone manufacturers don't impose a charge for the software, the service centers typically impose a charge - one way or another - for the update. The most common line you will hear is this: "The update is free - just leave the phone with us for three days. Or, if you want it done while you wait, we offer an express service for $35."

You might want to check around on the user forums frequented by the mobile phone geeks (Estato is one place, perhaps, to start) and see if other users are having the same problems with Bluetooth pairing to other devices. While you are there, you will probably trip across information about firmware upgrade status - what the latest release is, and how to find out what version you are running.

The whole process (phone software updates) is not a pleasant one... and might give you some insight into why I am less than impressed with the current generation of 'do it all' mobile phones.

As for the StreetPilot and Bluetooth connectivity - the GPSR itself is innocent. It adheres strictly to the Bluetooth SIG specifications, and is a relatively simple device - basically, the phone thinks that it is not much more than a Bluetooth headset.

Michael

 

[Dale]

Seems Michael is right again

I downloaded the latest version of firmware for the W800i and now talks quite happily (and well) to the 2820. It has a strange way of dealing with names in the contact list; it sometimes seems to get first and surnames confused - I'll post some findings once I've had a chance to play with it a bit more if anyone is interested.

For those of you with SonyEricsson phones, go to www.sonyericcson.com and look for the section entitled "I have a Sony Ericsson mobile phone" and then go to "product updates" from there. It's not the easiest process in the world (took me 3 attempts to get it right), but does work. You will need to download an application which you then install and this in turn accesses the www to look for updates. The PDF instructions that accompany the dowload are confusing - in the end I ignored them and followed the screen instructions of the update app.

Dale