My Car and My iPhone 3GS, CBHSOL2, iTrip, Griffin Mount

I’ve always been a real gadget-guy. Technology opens doors and creates possibilities, facilitates what would otherwise be impossible, or illegal. I thought I’d share not only my hands-free setup, but other gadgets I’m using in the car that are making driving easier, and more of a pleasure.

First, I needed a mount for my iPhone 3GS – recently the province of Ontario joined the hands-free while driving movement, so it was necessary for me to purchase something to hold my phone up, stationary, if I wanted to control the music or GPS functions. Naturally, my local Apple Store had something for me, and I picked up Griffin’s “WindowSeat WindShield Mount” for $29.95. I decided to install it directly on my windshield. Image Below.

Second, I wanted to play the music from my iPhone 3GS through my car’s stereo; I did this with my old car by connecting it directly, through the means of a cassette tape adapter. Unfortunately, my new car didn’t have a tape player, but only a CD, so I had to go the route of the FM Transmitter.

note: FM Transmitters are devices that block out external radio stations, and broadcast a frequency that you choose, which your car picks up. So when you have your music players FM transmitter set to 92.5, and your car tuned to the same station, your car transmits music from your music player, rather than the native radio station that’s broadcasting.

Previously to purchasing the iTrip, I hated the FM transmitters, all of them. I had tried 2 or 3 of them in the past and they all worked horribly. Constant static interference, poor reception plagued proper use, so I always ended up returning them, and just keeping the tape adapter. Audio quality on the tape was also superior… it was an easy decision.

When I got the iTrip, I was pleasantly surprised with the improvements over previous models; it was smaller, with a nicer design, and because I was mounting my phone directly over my cars dashboard, it turns out that the reception from the iTrip to my car’s radio was much greater. This specific device I have has a couple buttons to control music (I don’t use them, I control my music through the iPhone directly), control frequency, and load ‘favorite’ stations. Other added benefits to this device is that it’s small and doesn’t get in the way; some may complain that it’s a little flimsy, but hey, you can’t have it all – it works great for me.

Third, I had to purchase a bluetooth hands-free solution for telephone calls. I got Scosche’s CBHSOL2 device. A hands-free, bluetooth, solar-powered, speakerphone device designed to simplify in-car use. I have another article which speaks solely to this device in a little more detail. One push button to answer and hangup on calls, turns off automatically when I leave my vehicle (with my phone), and charges automatically with the sunlight (even if there’s no direct sun) so I rarely have to charge it. It also comes with a car charger (just in case) which I’ve only had to use twice in 4 months. The device speaks the names or numbers (if they aren’t a saved contact) that are calling me, and can hold up to 1000 contacts.

Interior view of the car - iPhone 3GS, iTrip and CBHSOL2 in the top left corner.

I strongly recommend all of the products that I’m using above, as a tech geek and as regular consumer who’s extremely happy with his purchases. Any further questions can be directed to me, I’m happy to help.