How to get Bluetooth on the Series one
 

What are our options on getting a cell phone to work with our Stereo/speakers in our rides?

Just got a Gphone S3 and was wondering which way might be the best/least expensive way to go.

Have a 06 Shinka with Bose.

Guess it needs some type of device, ie Bluetooth?
Which one do you recommend?

TIA

The best way, in my opinion, would be to upgrade to a head unit that supports that feature. The least expensive way would be to use an auxiliary f.m. transmitter that plugs into the headphone jack of the cellphone.

Have you looked into Parrot bluetooth? Ive never used it but Ive seen it done on a few cars. It works well.

I'm running Grom Click this link
Works great on bluetooth for music and voice calls. It even works with Siri.
I also use the 3.5mm aux input for Sirius satellite radio.
Installation requires removing the head unit and installing some connectors as well as running a microphone up beside the steering column.
All the steering wheel controls work for music as well as for answering calls and for hanging up.

Buy the basic unit and the bluetooth dongle: If you can manage the installation by yourself (plan for a couple of hours) then the total cost is around $125

I've seen one and it sounded like shit. Almost as if it was in mono.

It must have been wired wrong. The one I witnessed was def stereo.

I was thinking of installing one, but modifiying the head unit will just have myself spending hundreds of dollars, and it is not that important anyway, so I decided not to do it.

+1 for the GROM unit, I had an installer do it for an additional 70 bucks and it works great. Only downside compared to a factory unit is that if you are listening to the radio and incoming call comes in it doesn't switch to the EXT input automatically to take the call.

So anyone out there in 8 land, Texas Gulf Coast that can install it for me?
Will get item, can travel.

Where at on the gulf coast? It's fairly lengthy stretch.

And another +1 for GROM IPD3+BT

If your hands are small enough you can actually reach the external bus connector for the radio from the glove box area. Simply a matter of removing the glovebox and rooting around a little bit.

Small, yet patient, children can certainly help here too ... and the labor rate is far better than the $70 quoted above.

I can travel
 

Since I do not really work, ie do not have a day job, I can travel anywhere within 6ish hours from Corpus Christi. SA, Austin, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, and any point in between.
Am single so no children with small hands.

Post in the SARX (San Antonio Rotary group) you might get a bite there.

Pulling the head unit has a level of difficulty of 3 out of 10 and only requires a 10mm socket for the security bolt and a phillips screwdriver.
Pulling the head unit enables strapping down all the loose bits to prevent rattles.
I attached the Grom unit to the glovebox back wall and routed all the wires there. The BT dongle is strapped to some wire bundles behind the instrument panel and the mike sits just to the left of the steering column.

Interesting placement for the mic ... I ran mine up around the windshield and have it taped down right next to the rear view mirror.

Can you elaborate a little bit more on its exact location? I'm forever having to yell into mine to get Voice Activation to work.

I borrowed a R3 dash picture.
See the red circle to the left of centre beside the steering column.
I ran the wire up the column and stuck the mic down pointing at my mouth.
Seems to work well.

https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1344216820

ooo i like! I'll have to try that spot... picture is worth a thousand words.

What about firmware past 9.55?

I think it's fine between 9.55 and 10.something. Check the GROM site... they're pretty specific about it.

To find out which revision your Mazda RX-8 has, make sure the radio (FM) is turned on, then press and hold "TEXT." Then, also press and hold "1" at the same time for a few more seconds. The LCD should then report your firmware version.

radio firmware v9.55 or later
/v10.1 and v9.81 not supported/,*

Is this not misleading?
radio firmware v9.55 or later
/v10.1 and v9.81 not supported/,*

If v9.55 or later and /v10.1 and v9.81 not supported/,*
Is not /v10.1 and v9.81 a later version.

It says v9.55 or later
So v10.1 and v9.81 are later
what am I missing?

Remember I think I was dropped on my head when I was a baby.


Can't get firmware number.
If I press TEXT it shows clear
then I press 1 and it shows radio station

If I press 1 first then TEXT just shows radio station
If I press them at the same time, shows radio station

So where am I going wrong?
Am I pressing on the right buttons?

The 1 ....of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 station selections
and
TEXT lower right, below the SCAN button?

Set your system on some FM station
Press and hold the TEXT button and the 1 button together and watch the screen for revision. Mine is 9.67

The 10 series firmware is for Euro RX8 models and 9.81 I think is for 2009 and up.

I know you like pictures so here you go
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...1&d=1344255276

F the Stock bullshit. Just go Aftermarket.

it sound 10 times better and works 100 times better.

Hay Monchie - see your PMs

Mine is some weird 9.93 version and i have an 08 so it doesn't work for me.

Is there any other companies that would work?

Ok, finally got it

1. It says v9.55 or later
So v10.1 and v9.81 are later
what am I missing?

1A. Means good for v9.55 and later EXCEPT v10.1 and v9.81

2. Tried to get Firmware version this morning. Got it
2A. Press the TEXT/audio con button, but before the CLEAR shows up on the screen,
push and hold the 1 button on the radio station selector.

If I pushed and held the TEXT button too long before pushing the 1 button,
I would get CLEAR on the screen first then it would show the station that I had on button 1

If I pushed button 1 first, (no matter how long or short) then pressed TEXT button, would show
station I had on button 1

Now why could I not get this last night/morning. I was not drunk! It was around 1AM or so.
Maybe IT was the picture!

Oh my firmware is V9.73
Am posting it here, just in case I forget it. I will know where to search for it.
Thanks everyone.