Audio Installer recommendation & BlackBerry Integration

[Saint]

Hi Guys,

I have the B7 RS4 Saloon in Phantom Black. Fantastic vehicle and I love it. Looking at the rest of the threads on this forum, I am not alone.

I have been most disappointed with the entertainment options. My car has the GSM kit but for the life of me, I cannot get my BlackBerry to sync up with the car. I am told that I have to buy an adapter for the cradle that is mounted in the centre console. I called Audi and they don't have a BlackBerry adapter! Sheesh, so now I am attending my morning meetings in my £50K car having the kit but with an annoying earpiece dangling from one ear. Anyone know of any options here to either sync up my BB without inserting it into the cradle or where I can buy a BB adapter for the cradle?

Also, the IPOD integration is, in a word, rubbish. I am getting fed up of listening to my playlists without the ability to search for specific tracks or artists. Contacted Sextons and they suggested that I install an Alpine Hub which will then enable me to add another appendage that will allow full Ipod integration. I can also add more bits later like DVD players, CD changers, TV etc. This was all well and good except they were charging me the GDP of a small country to do it. I have decided to buy the kit myself but do any of you have a recommendation for someone who can install it for me?

I live in the Reading, Berkshire area, so someone fairly close (and who knows what they are doing) would be great.

Thanks very much,
Saint.

[DuncanMac]

Which BB do you have? Not had any probs getting my 8700g, pearl or 8800 synched up! My N80 wouldnt sync nor would my old treo....

No cradle available but the bluetooth works a dream!

D

[PetrolDave]

Cradle adapters can only be bought from Audi and, as you've found, the list is woefully short. The only option is Bluetooth.

I had Surrey Car Audio in Camberley install two £5K plus Alpine sat nav and AV systems in motorhomes - so I'd recommend going to chat with them.

[sykotoy]

my IpoD kit works a treat, also out in nokia car kit , also works a treat...your hiring the wrong people by the sounds of it

[sykotoy]

and dude get a car kit with just the hidden button and mic dont nail a cradle in the middle of the dash ffs

[Saint]

Thanks for the advice. Duncan, I have the 8707v BlackBerry. I have tried sync'ing it up with the car but the menu option to entering a pairing key is greyed out (so I cannot access it). Very frustrating! I bought my car second-hand and the previous owner had spec'ed the car with the GSM preparation in the centre arm-rest and with the multi-function steering wheel so that I can answer the phone using the button on the wheel. Still cannot get it to sync though!

I have the Audi Ipod kit (no CD changer) and it works fine except you can only access 5 playlists and no track details can be found. Again, not ideal.

Thanks for your advice. I will check out Car Audio ... Any more, please let me know.

Tx
S

[craigyb]

Is your Blackberry running version 4.1 software? that is the minimum requirement.

I know plenty of blackberry users that are paired up with the Audi kit ok.

[sykotoy]

my ipod shows first 99 songs of first 6 playlist, fab sound

[PetrolDave]

my ipod shows first 99 songs of first 6 playlist, fab sound

Actually it's the first 5 playlists, and the sixth "CD" is the entire contents of your iPod.

The problem is that's all it can do.

No song titles, no album info, the iPod controls are disabled (at least with the Dension 300 & 400 the iPod controls work when you select CD 6).

The no text limitation is down to the Audi CD interface (which is where the iPod interfaces connect) so that's not solvable.

IMHO the iPod interface just isn't worth having.