2006 Prius and Bluetooth Battery & Signal meter

Kross · 05-10-2006, 08:29 AM

Hi everyone,

I currently have a Nokia 6256i on Verizon. I have it paired with my Prius and it works (for the most part); I was able to push over my address book with it (one contact at a time). As far as the phone itself is concerned, I HATE IT. It is completely counter-intuitive and I always have a weaker signal (regardless of how many bars show) than other Verizon phones, not too mention an insane amount of dropped calls. And I know it's because of the phone because I was using an older (less fancy) phone before this in the very same area with no problems (it just didnt have BT) In addition to all this, it does NOT show anything on the Bluetooth Battery/Signal meter on the Prius' screen.

Keeping all the above-mentioned facts under consideration, I am getting myself another Verizon phone. I don't need anything exceedingly fancy and I don't really require that it be able to push over the address book (although it would be nice) since mine is already in the Prius. All I need is a phone that will work efficiently with the Prius and ALSO SHOW the battery and signal status ON THE PRIUS.

Since Verizon is notorious for disabling many BT features on their phones, I realize I will most likely not be able to get a phone that can do both: update the BT Status bars on the Prius Screen AND be able to push over the Contacts. Also, I do not want to get a Motorolla Razor...Too many people I know have it.

So to all those who are currently using Verizon phones...if yours can do what I am looking to do above, PLEASE let me know! Thanks!

pabhouse · 05-10-2006, 08:47 AM

I have the lg vx9800 and it will show the signal meter. On all of the phones that I have had even non verizon the battery has never been displayed. Maybe they added that feature in the 06 prius but I have never seen it in the 04.

ttabbal · 05-10-2006, 12:55 PM

In my 2006 I have tried the RAZR and the E815. Both show the BT/Signal/Battery bars just fine. Those are the only phones I have direct experience with. Neither can transfer the phonebook in stock form. I have Alltel firmware on my RAZR, so I can do it one at a time, just like your Nokia. I have used it once, I generally find it eaiser to type them in on the MFD.

YBLee · 05-10-2006, 04:29 PM

I have a Blackberry and it works great! After the initial paring which was very easy, it has worked flawlessly! The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to download my Address Book to the Prius. I probably haven't spent enough time reading the "How To"!

Kross · 05-11-2006, 10:09 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(pabhouse @ May 10 2006, 08:47 AM) [snapback]252688[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have the lg vx9800 and it will show the signal meter. On all of the phones that I have had even non verizon the battery has never been displayed. Maybe they added that feature in the 06 prius but I have never seen it in the 04.
[/b]

Maybe they did add the battery meter on the 2006. Do you even have that little battery icon on the BT bar that shows up on the top right side of your MFD when the phone is connected?
I have always liked the VX9800...maybe I will go with that... quick question about that while I'm at it. You have it on Verizon I presume...can you browse the web on it (when it opens up on that horizontal screen), and if you can, does that ONLY cost you airtime minutes? I don't really have a data plan in place but end up with tons of extra airtime minutes every month. Thank you!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ttabbal @ May 10 2006, 12:55 PM) [snapback]252854[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

In my 2006 I have tried the RAZR and the E815. Both show the BT/Signal/Battery bars just fine. Those are the only phones I have direct experience with. Neither can transfer the phonebook in stock form. I have Alltel firmware on my RAZR, so I can do it one at a time, just like your Nokia. I have used it once, I generally find it eaiser to type them in on the MFD.
[/b]

Thanks ttabbal! Its good to know that they do show the Batt/Signal meters.
Also, yeah, that one contact at a time does seem to get a bit tiring...How did you get Alltel firmware on it though? Does that affect how you use the phone on Verizon at all? Just curious...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(YBLee @ May 10 2006, 04:29 PM) [snapback]253044[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I have a Blackberry and it works great! After the initial paring which was very easy, it has worked flawlessly! The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to download my Address Book to the Prius. I probably haven't spent enough time reading the "How To"!
[/b]

I was hoping my work would give me a blackberry, but as it turns out, they won't, so I'll probably just be getting a phone for now. I am interested to see if you would be able to transfer all your contacts over at once. Knowing Verizon, they probably disabled that on your blackberry as well, although I had always thought that the PDA phones usually kept all their features. Well, good luck either way!

ttabbal · 05-11-2006, 02:57 PM

For installing the Alltel firmware there is a wiki linked at howardforums.com in the Motorola section of the Verizon forum. It's a bit involved, but everything seems to work fine. The big difference is that I don't have the stock Verizon menu, it's the Motorola menu now. As a result, the phone is much faster and has all the capabilities of the other RAZR phones from other carriers.

If the situation hasn't improved with Verizon crippling phones when my contract is up, I may have to reconsider them. They have the best network, but the phones are starting to become "least common denominator" with all of them having the same menus and features.

samkusnetz · 05-13-2006, 03:54 AM

my sony phone displays signal and battery, but i'm on cingular... are there any sony phones on verizon?

cheers

AzizaVFR · 05-13-2006, 04:06 AM

I work for Verizon and I get to see all the internal reports of customer service and what we are doing right/wrong. If you are looking for the phone with the best signal and longest battery life, the Motorola E815 is the best one we currently offer, if you do not require a PDA/Smartphone.

I have helped a couple of people pair their phones with their cars, including a VX8100 to a Prius, a Motorola Razr V3c to a BMW X5, and my Prius to the E815. Of all of them, the Prius to the E815 gives the best signal strength and battery life. Not to sound like a salesman, but that phone is now available for $50 after the rebates. I bought it, at the employee price, when it was $150 and I still feel it was well worth the money.

Now if I could just get my concession phone switched over to an E815 or the upcoming Motorola Q.....

Kross · 05-16-2006, 12:16 PM

Quick update... I ended up getting the LG VX9800 (called the "V" by VZW). I love the phone so far! The signal strength is great (compared to the 6256i, even though this one doesn't have an external antenna!). Also, it shows both the battery and the signal strength on the Prius MFD. I didn't really test to see if it will push over my contacts because I already have them on my Prius from the 6256i.

The only thing the VX9800 has going against it is its size, since it is quite thick, even for a candy-bar phone. BUT I really don't need a small phone; the VX9800 fits fine in my pockets.

So all in all, I am happy with my purchase... thank you to all those who helped!

madams · 05-16-2006, 01:15 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AzizaVFR @ May 13 2006, 03:06 AM) [snapback]254650[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I work for Verizon and I get to see all the internal reports of customer service and what we are doing right/wrong. If you are looking for the phone with the best signal and longest battery life, the Motorola E815 is the best one we currently offer, if you do not require a PDA/Smartphone.

I have helped a couple of people pair their phones with their cars, including a VX8100 to a Prius, a Motorola Razr V3c to a BMW X5, and my Prius to the E815. Of all of them, the Prius to the E815 gives the best signal strength and battery life. Not to sound like a salesman, but that phone is now available for $50 after the rebates. I bought it, at the employee price, when it was $150 and I still feel it was well worth the money.

Now if I could just get my concession phone switched over to an E815 or the upcoming Motorola Q.....
[/b]

Maybe you can answer a question, I got a Razr about 2 months ago and once in awhile while driving if a call comes in the off-hook button on the Prius doesn't work. If I open the phone it immediately hooks through the speaker system and I can close the phone and continue the conversation. Does this sound like a Prius or Razr problem to you?

05-13-2006, 04:06 AM	#8
AzizaVFR Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 48 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: #7 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I work for Verizon and I get to see all the internal reports of customer service and what we are doing right/wrong. If you are looking for the phone with the best signal and longest battery life, the Motorola E815 is the best one we currently offer, if you do not require a PDA/Smartphone. I have helped a couple of people pair their phones with their cars, including a VX8100 to a Prius, a Motorola Razr V3c to a BMW X5, and my Prius to the E815. Of all of them, the Prius to the E815 gives the best signal strength and battery life. Not to sound like a salesman, but that phone is now available for $50 after the rebates. I bought it, at the employee price, when it was $150 and I still feel it was well worth the money. Now if I could just get my concession phone switched over to an E815 or the upcoming Motorola Q..... __________________ ------------------- Enjoy, Randal - Two fish are in a tank. One says to the other, "You drive, I'll fire the cannon."

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05-10-2006, 08:29 AM	#1
Kross Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsbugh, PA Posts: 88 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Hi everyone, I currently have a Nokia 6256i on Verizon. I have it paired with my Prius and it works (for the most part); I was able to push over my address book with it (one contact at a time). As far as the phone itself is concerned, I HATE IT. It is completely counter-intuitive and I always have a weaker signal (regardless of how many bars show) than other Verizon phones, not too mention an insane amount of dropped calls. And I know it's because of the phone because I was using an older (less fancy) phone before this in the very same area with no problems (it just didnt have BT) In addition to all this, it does NOT show anything on the Bluetooth Battery/Signal meter on the Prius' screen. Keeping all the above-mentioned facts under consideration, I am getting myself another Verizon phone. I don't need anything exceedingly fancy and I don't really require that it be able to push over the address book (although it would be nice) since mine is already in the Prius. All I need is a phone that will work efficiently with the Prius and ALSO SHOW the battery and signal status ON THE PRIUS. Since Verizon is notorious for disabling many BT features on their phones, I realize I will most likely not be able to get a phone that can do both: update the BT Status bars on the Prius Screen AND be able to push over the Contacts. Also, I do not want to get a Motorolla Razor...Too many people I know have it. So to all those who are currently using Verizon phones...if yours can do what I am looking to do above, PLEASE let me know! Thanks!

05-10-2006, 08:47 AM	#2
pabhouse Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 6 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have the lg vx9800 and it will show the signal meter. On all of the phones that I have had even non verizon the battery has never been displayed. Maybe they added that feature in the 06 prius but I have never seen it in the 04.

05-10-2006, 12:55 PM	#3
ttabbal Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 69 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	In my 2006 I have tried the RAZR and the E815. Both show the BT/Signal/Battery bars just fine. Those are the only phones I have direct experience with. Neither can transfer the phonebook in stock form. I have Alltel firmware on my RAZR, so I can do it one at a time, just like your Nokia. I have used it once, I generally find it eaiser to type them in on the MFD.

05-10-2006, 04:29 PM	#4
YBLee Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 42 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I have a Blackberry and it works great! After the initial paring which was very easy, it has worked flawlessly! The only thing I haven't been able to figure out is how to download my Address Book to the Prius. I probably haven't spent enough time reading the "How To"!

05-11-2006, 02:57 PM	#6
ttabbal Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 69 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	For installing the Alltel firmware there is a wiki linked at howardforums.com in the Motorola section of the Verizon forum. It's a bit involved, but everything seems to work fine. The big difference is that I don't have the stock Verizon menu, it's the Motorola menu now. As a result, the phone is much faster and has all the capabilities of the other RAZR phones from other carriers. If the situation hasn't improved with Verizon crippling phones when my contract is up, I may have to reconsider them. They have the best network, but the phones are starting to become "least common denominator" with all of them having the same menus and features.

05-13-2006, 03:54 AM	#7
samkusnetz Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 85 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	my sony phone displays signal and battery, but i'm on cingular... are there any sony phones on verizon? cheers

05-16-2006, 12:16 PM	#9
Kross Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsbugh, PA Posts: 88 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Quick update... I ended up getting the LG VX9800 (called the "V" by VZW). I love the phone so far! The signal strength is great (compared to the 6256i, even though this one doesn't have an external antenna!). Also, it shows both the battery and the signal strength on the Prius MFD. I didn't really test to see if it will push over my contacts because I already have them on my Prius from the 6256i. The only thing the VX9800 has going against it is its size, since it is quite thick, even for a candy-bar phone. BUT I really don't need a small phone; the VX9800 fits fine in my pockets. So all in all, I am happy with my purchase... thank you to all those who helped!