No suitable place for cellphones, suggestions?
 

Hi guys, I've been thinking about how to best place the cellphone within reach in the 8.

Currently I have a nokia 8390 and I wedge it below the cigarette lighter. The handle end of the lighter piece sort of presses between the lower keys on the phone (8 and 0), thus holding it in place.

Not exactly an elegant solution, but at least I can see it when the phone rings.
I wonder if anyone else as a different solution. I don't want to put it in the cup holder/bread maker since it is can move around and get baked in a long drive.

The central compartment is too far back to easily reach for it when it rings.

And the side door pocket is too deep and out of my visual and aural range.

I recently started using the ash tray and lighter area, but I made a bit more room by removing both. I also tried the cup holders in the back, but its a long and blind reach.

I have the Nokia 6610 and run into the same problem..i have to have 24/7 contact and so my phone must be visible at all times so I can be reached....i have been wedging it sideways in the ashtray but sometime it dislodges itself and ends up under my feet....then I just resort to putting in in my lap...great when the vibrate ring is on...

The area behind the ashtray is pretty big and open. If you go ahead and pull it out, it's pretty easy to make a small box out of say, Lexan, and fit it back there. That way you have a really large space for anything you might wanna put in there.

If your more enterprising you can cut out the back of the ashtray and keep the lid so you can close the box off.

I use the aux. power jack in the console for my cell phone charger and simply place the phone in one of the cup holders. Works fine for my Nokia 3360.

Does anyone use something like this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...category=43275

It's a holder that clips in the vent slots. I've thought about something like this because when I have my radio on there's no way I'm hearing the phone but if it's mounted on the vents I *might* see it flashing when there's an incoming call. ;)

Actually, I kinda engineered something like that vent clip cellphone holder thingy for my hiptop . . .

http://x31.org/object/hiptop_vent.jpg

All I did was take a piece of shoestring, attach velcro to either loose end and thread it through a little clip eye. It works really well for me, even if it isn't the most beautiful thing technically speaking, because I can see it flashing and getting all excited when it rings, and the velcro makes it really easy to just rip it out of there when a call comes in.

Of course, it *might* not be as useful with your phone, since it's vertically oriented and not horizontally as mine is, but its really cheap to try and see if you like it, my main piece of advice would be to cut the lace to fit your phone very snugly, and don't leave much play on the clip. That way it doesn't bounce around when you hit speedbumps or go around corners quite as desperately.

Of course, alternatively you could just, um, keep the phone in your lap . . . but what fun is that? ;-)

Cheers!

soundoftoday, won't that config. scratch up your dash surface with sway/swing?

It doesn't really sway much at all -- I keep the string verrrry taut -- but then I wouldn't care even if it did. I should put that caveat in that I drive a late 80s Ford wagon with pretend wood paneling and, uhh, its not a big concern of mine if things get scratched up a little. In fact, I doubt I would notice. Heh.

I could see adapting it with, like, a piece of fabric on the back or something, but maybe that's taking jerry rigging of a solution just a weeeee bit too far . . .

Here's an idea, put the cell phone in the glove box, lock it, and drive instead of talking on the phone ;)


now if it's bluetooth, you can do that and get a handsfree. But really people, both hands on the wheel and focus attention to the road.

well if it's on vibrate and you get alot of calls......

I use a tension holder that clips to the vent.

Not the most elegant solution, but highly functional.

without phone

i have a headset from plantronics that has an answer button on it. I just leave my phone on my belt and press the button on the cord to answer it. It beeps in my ear when i have a call.

The new acura TL has bluetooth built in. Even if your phone is in the trunk, when it rings, it displays the caller info on the NAV screen and you answer it by pressing a button in the steering wheel.

greese

gee I never knew that was an option.

thanks! I'll give it a try tomorrow.

me too...i think i feel like getting fired...

Your phone might be smaller than mine, but my nextel fits nicely next to the seatbelt doohickey.. In my old car that was the perfect place for beer bottles.

O.K., nobody wrote this in yet (if I read right) so I'll bite...

There are places that install car kits for phones. Usually come with a charger/cradle, a handsfree mic hidden on the A-pillar or the like, a speaker (or routing through your stereo), external antenna, and if you want, a handset for private conversations.

No headsets, wires around your neck, etc. Downsides exist: costs more money than velcro, if you change phones (esp. manufacturers) you'll probably have to do it over. But that will do everything you are asking for, and you get better reception.

I have one but not on an 8-- I don't have an 8 ...yet. Works very well.

Bluetooth is great stuff folks! I have the Sony Ericsson T610 phone and the Sony Ericsson HBH65 (Bluetooth headset) as well. I keep my phone in my coat pocket or briefcase and the phone rings in my earpiece when I have a call. The sound is clear and loud. I keep my hands on the wheel and talk on the phone, I can also initate a call from the headset. I never need to touch my cell phone!

yeah, and i saw these at walgreens for $5.99, bought one but my nextel doesnt fit in it. :p

I normally use the cup holder, but here is what I did last time both cup holder places were being used.

http://www.gingersrus.com/RX8/CellPhone.jpg

It only works if the belt clip is on the phone to keep it from sliding through. Does not interfere with 6th or reverse.

I knew there HAD to be a reason Mazda designed the emergency brake like that!

Hey NEWireless, that's what I'm talking about. Thanks! :cool:

I mounted a Motorola car kit for my v60i phone in my RX-8.
The thread is here and I have since connected it to the stereo system so that it mutes the stereo when the phone is active as well as routing the phone audio through the stereo system. The thread for this is here

I don't think it displays the info on the Nav screen, but on the MID screen.

GRIN... I used to do this also, but I found myself missing more and more calls lately.. I think I'm not as sensitive down there as I used to be.. maybe I need some viagra.. But I can see how the vibration effect can really be affective means of getting your attention, especially for females.

Seeking venture capital.
 

I am in the process of patenting this hands-free kit.
- Compatible with any phone.
- Your phone will never fall on the floor again.
- Keeps your ear warm in winter.
- Can easily hold your private phone on one side and your business phone on the other side.
- The kits will come in many colours including velocity red, winning blue, etc.

Ahh the eternal problem of where to out the cell phone....I bought one of those jelly sticky pads and placed it on top of the dash, right in the middle, above the radio display. Works great, clings tight to the dash contour, and holds my cell phone at the right angle in case I get an incoming call. Works for sunglasses as well. Best $5.00 I ever spent. I've seen them at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Office Depot, Office Max, etc..

http://www.handstands.com/Retail/stickypad.html

-G

garyna, good idea. hmmmm maybe if you cut one the size of the ash tray lid, you could turn the phone sideways and place it there......

I'm sure that would work. I actually bought another one and cut it to fit in the little ledge whenever I'm using the nav system / screen.

Here's another option: this company makes sticky stuff you actually apply on your phone. Haven't used it, just an fyi.

http://www.egrips.com/catalog/default.php

-G

I saw a slick looking non-damaging holder in the audio / electronics area on the forum. The company's in England, and if they don't make a specific phone holder that attaches to the dashmount, I'm sure fab'ing your own can't be that hard.

http://www.dashmount.co.uk/mazda.htm

I was thinking about it for an ipod mount, but it'd certainly work great for a cell.

wow, way too pricey for my blood

where is the 2nd power supply cause i thin the left mine out i only have the cig lighter

i put mine in the glasses compartment, along with the garage door opener.

The best place for a cell phone is in your pocket with the power off - in my opinion.

I wish someone started a campaign like Drink Driving Kills - maybe Blabbing Drivers Kill!

Most places have enacted, or are about to enact, laws that require that a cell phone be operated hands free.

I don't know about everyone else here, but I think any activity for which the state has the presence of mind to mandate the use of both hands, should involve your brain as well.

I personally advocate euthanasia for all drivers that use communication devices while driving, but that is just me.

there's a few good ideas in here as well, i have pictures up of the system i got:

https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.p...ght=cellphones

I personally do not see a problem with people talking on the phone while driving...what are they going to next, tell you that you cant talk to any passengers in your car?? Cmon guys, this is rediculus.

I had the exact same problem, no place to put a phone or my toll transponder. If i can get my digital camera back from my friend I'd post a pic. I just got my car in January and I got the survey today. Then in my satisfaction survey is this thin foam like pad. Has the Mazda logo on it and everything. I don't have a NAV, so i just place it in that spot. No glue no tape nothing, it just grips on by gravity, and it doesn't move, not even on sharp turns. Anybody know what I'm talking about?