MotoROKR T505 – have we reached perfection?
Posted by Jack Cook on 02/28/08 in Mobilitysite Reviews, Motorola, Wifi / Bluetooth
I have this thing with accessories that make your device better than the way it comes from the box. In particular, I have been looking at several Bluetooth car kits over the past few months and have found most to be very good, a few have been excellent and one that was what I would consider near perfect. But the quest continues to find that perfect solution.
So what do I want in a Bluetooth Speakerphone for the car?
I have a basic list of features that I look for which are: Easy paring, clear sound as I listen to a call either driving or standing still, adjustable volume controls that work, I want the other end of a call to hear me clearly, the ability to use a voice command feature, and I want the ability to listen to my music.
Design is important in selection of a car kit. Not only do you want it to look pleasing to the eye but size is also important. If it is too big, it probably won’t work to well on your visor and if it’s too small, control of feature buttons can be difficult. So trying to find that happy medium of size, good looks and having that key set of features is sometimes a daunting task.
When I first saw a picture of the MOTOROKR T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone I was impressed. .. It just looked good. I liked its size and the list of features impressed me, especially the ability to transmit not only music via your FM radio but your incoming calls as well.
The Package
A window on the package greets you with the MOTOROKR T505 looking out at you. It is almost the size of a hockey puck in diameter and about half as thick. It is grey in color with a small shiny silver Motorola logo neatly placed on the top of the device. As you look at it, you notice a “square-ish” center portion that is raised from the body of the device. In fact this is a covering slightly above the speaker of the In-Car Speakerphone.
There are a few simple facts printed on the box and a concise statement at the bottom – Clip, Tune and Go. It sure sounds simple and gives the impression that within seconds after removing it from the box, you will be up and running. It was sort of like a challenge for me so I decided to take it on.
Contents
I was surprised as I opened the box and found the MOTOROKR T505, a very slick looking DC charger and a very simple set of directions. That’s it … that’s all there was. Cool! Admittedly I was surprised that there was no AC charger but truth be told, the device will remain in your car most of the time so I would expect that is where you would charge it. I would have liked an AC charger though. In the North East, it gets pretty cold at night and I rarely leave electronics in the car during the winter. If I had an AC charger, I’d top it off in the house.
So what does it look like?
Holding the device in your hand for the first time tells you that it is a quality crafted product. A molded plastic case that is covered with that new rubberized material we now see in so many cars. It is dark gray in color and just has a great feel to it. There is a metal (yes, I said metal) clip that attaches to the back of the device that is used to clip onto your visor. The clip can be removed so you can rest the device on your desktop if you choose to use it there. It does look good and would complement any desk top area.
As you look down on the top of the device, a silver Motorola “M” is embedded into a raised rectangular shield that covers the top of the built-in speaker. The shield not only serves to protect the speaker but more importantly channels the sound away from the device for better sound clarity. A small LED light located towards the front left serves as an indicator for the FM transmission.
The front has a black plastic oval with a Motorola logo in the center that has an intermittent blue glow when the device is on. The call answer is to the left and the play/pause to the right. The microphone is a tiny hole located just above the Motorola Logo.
The sides have the volume controls (Left side is - volume, right side is + volume) and the rear has a smaller oval with the input for the charger centered and the Power On button to the right and the FM Transmitter power to the left.
There is nothing on the bottom other than some printed info and the channels the metal visor clip slides on and locks into place. It is a nice locking metal clip … a small but nice touch to a great overall design.
Pairing
It could not have been simpler! I powered on the MOTOROKR T505 by pressing and holding the Power button for approximately three or four seconds. The main indicator light began to flash, there was an alert tone indicating the device was powered on and the light was steady indicating the T505 was in pairing mode.
I enabled Bluetooth on my phone and began the process to add a Hands Free device. It quickly found the T505 and I was asked if I wanted to set it up for a Stereo Headset connection as well. Very cool! I was prompted to add a PIN:0000 by a British sounding female voice from the T505. I entered the PIN and I was connected.
So I was connected and I immediately called home by pressing the Phone button on the T505. It initiated my Voice Software, asked me for the command, I gave the name I wanted and it connected. The sound reproduction from the built-in speaker phone was excellent providing clear, crisp sound that was pleasant to listen to. A feature I liked was that you can redial the last number dialed by pressing and holding the call button.
I made several calls; some to landlines and others to cell phones. All of my calls except one cell call were excellent. The one call I had difficulty with was because of the poor cell connection on the other end. Over the past several weeks the results on call quality have been excellent providing me with a rich hands-free experience. People on the other end have all said I sounded fine but they knew I was on a “speaker phone”.
FM Connection
Not only do you have the ability to get your calls via the speaker on the MOTOROKR T505 but you also have the ability to get them transmitted via your FM radio in your car (or even via the FM radio you have in your office).
To hear calls and/or stream music over your FM car radio, you just press FM button on the rear of your MOTOROKR T505. There is an FM indicator light (on the top) that flashes in white, and then it turns solid white when connected and that little woman trapped inside the T505 tells you the previously used frequency (or will find a new clear channel) so you can tune it in.
I find it really enjoyable to listen to the audio from calls and from my streaming music via the radio … better speakers and clearly better volume. If you are listening to music, you can change the track playing by pressing either the Volume + or – to go forward or back a track.
So what happens if a call comes in while listening to music? The music pauses, the ringer sounds via the MOTOROKR T505, announces the call and you can choose to press the phone button to accept the call (or you can reject the call by tapping either Volume button). When you’re done, press the phone button again and the call disconnects and the music resumes. It is very cool!
Pressing the FM button will turn off the FM transmitter and return broadcast to the built-in speaker. You can press the power off button and sound will return to your device.
User Manual
It is a simple device to operate and the instructions clearly show you how to set it up and use all the features. There are some excellent diagrams to get you familiar with the device and clear steps to follow to use it.
There are also a series of features and functions mapped out on one side of the directions to make reference to easily. Topics like LISTENING TO MUSIC, MAKING CALLS, USING FM BROADCAST, MAIN INDICATOR LIGHT, AUDIO TONES, and some ADVANCED FEATURES are there for quick reference.
It is a well done manual … simple easy to follow directions and explanations to get you up and running easily.
Charging
With the supplied DC charger, you just plug the Motorola charger into the mini USB port on the rear of the MOTOROKR T505. The indicator light on the front of the device will turn yellow (or red) while it is charging. After a few hours, it will turn green.
The supplied DC charger is really slick in its design. When it is plugged in, a clear plastic disc at the top glows indicating that power has been applied. How long it takes to charge depends on battery drainage. I’ve been charging as a matter of course once or twice a week when I think of it. So far, after the initial playing around with all the functions, I have had great battery life with my daily usage.
Of course if you ever ran out of power you can charge and use it at the same time so that is a direct benefit of having an in-car charger.
Conclusion
I have been searching for the “perfect solution” and I imagine that the search will continue but this solution from Motorola has without question been the closest to perfect so far. I like the size and the feel of the device. The functions are what you would expect from an in-car charger but the added feature of FM transmission is a huge plus.
A couple of times I seemed to have lost the ability to connect. I’m not sure if it was user error or if my phone had an issue but to repair and connect was a simple process. Considering that it happened twice in the first week of use and it was after multiple on/off cycles during testing, I tend to believe it might have been caused by user error.
The only issue I have is if you need to use the device and close the sun visor at the same time. Although you can still be heard, it is not conducive to a quality call. On my “wish list” would be better (bigger) buttons on the rear of the device for easier control of the On/Off and FM when attached to the visor.
Yup, I like it … a lot! It’s darn close to being perfect!
Pros
Great quality case
Excellent sound reproduction
FM transmission
Cons
Microphone placement when visor is down
Better rear buttons
No AC charger
You can read more about the MOTOROKR T505 Bluetooth In-Car Speakerphone here
Written by Jack Cook · Filed Under Mobilitysite Reviews, Motorola, Wifi / Bluetooth
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