Poor quality telephone module transmission

[OK1904]

Has anyone been happy with the quality of transmitted voice through the handsfree mic fitted as part of the 666 Telephone Module? Mine was appalling from delivery last March and has improved since the mic was replaced, but it's nowhere near the quality of the equipment in my Merc (allowing of course for greater cabin noise in the 997). I wonder if it's something to do with the mic being hidden in the steering column between the wheel and the instruments. I bet there will be an upgrade for 2007 or 2008 with the mic located somewhere else, or improved software perhaps. According to James May he can't hear Richard Hammond when he calls him from his C4S so RH hasn't sorted it out either! I'd pay to get it right. Any ideas?

 

[snarf]

Not sure but I seem to remember reading that relocation of the mic was something included in one of the post 997 launch updates. I have an 07 MY and the only complaint I've had is that voice coverage of the passenger side is poor.

 

[Rotorhead]

We've got it on a 987S and a 997GT3 and it works very well. There were some initial problems with the mic on the 987, but they were resolved by my OPC.

BTW, it's now 3 points and £60 for using a hand held phone whilst driving.

 

[robert997]

This has long been a problem on the 997. A major problem is the BOSE sound, which has a noise-cancelling microphone in the other hole on the top of the steering column. It actively cancels the sound of your voice - switching-off the AUDIOPILOT feature in the SOUND menu will improve the phone experience, but it's still rubbish and not worth anything like the money we paid for it.

The microphone has never been relocated in any facelift to my knowledge. However, sympathetic dealers have relocated the mic to other places for unhappy customers.

 

[OK1904]

To those who ARE happy, taking Rob's point, do you also have the BOSE option in your cars? I would like to hear from anyone who has had their mic relocated.

 

[Rotorhead]

Boxster has Bose and phone is fine. I think the OPC said the original problem was to do with the volume setting on the mic causing distortion.

 

[nsm3]

I have BOSE and the only complaint I get is that the other person can hear themselves feeding back, usually remedied by lowering the volume a tad.

 

[snarf]

I have Bose sound option and use it with the AudioPilot. As I said before the only complaint I've had is that it can be difficult for those on the other end of the call to hear the passenger.

 

[Ronnie C]

I have it on a very new 911 loan car (56 plate, 200 miles) I have atm.

Each time I have used it, I have been told that the quality is very poor and I constantly have to repeat myself. The car has BOSE but changing the audiopilot settings seems to make no difference.

I would agree with others who comment on this as being a waste of money.

 

[robert997]

Right, well now I'm confused ! So we've got BOSE cars that work fine, and others that don't. I can't remember how many times I've put this into the dealership, but I'm going to have to try again obviously !

For you guys where it works, do you use it even on the motorway ? My car is so noisy - road roar from the tyres - that the phone is just not an option anything over 40 mph.

 

[snarf]

ORIGINAL: princer2
For you guys where it works, do you use it even on the motorway ? My car is so noisy - road roar from the tyres - that the phone is just not an option anything over 40 mph.

I have used it while doing 110mph on a German Autobahn with no complaints (other than that re passenger). I agree that road noise can be excessive, my car came with Bridgestones fitted which I believe are more prone to road noise than the Michelin. My solution is to use ear plugs on long motorway journeys, my hearing is already shot and I need to limit any further degradation.

 

[Rotorhead]

As I said, it works fine on the Boxster (with Bose), roof up or down, subject to road/wind noise. Initial problem was with the mic sensitivity and volume setting. GT3 doesn't have Bose and also works fine.

If yours has never worked properly then it is of 'unmerchantable quality' and, if they can't fix it, you should be entitled to a full refund for the option.

 

[OK1904]

As I mentioned in my opening question I have had a replacement mic and this achieved a considerable improvement (so perhaps there has been a batch problem here) so now I think the mic location is a problem. Fitted to the steering column inside a plastic echo chamber perhaps it struggles to pick up voice amongst the background noise. The puzzling thing is that some 997 owners appear to have a satisfactory installation so what's the secret? I wonder if Oliver's GT3 mic is in the same place as mine, or perhaps there is something different inside the column/cowling. I have met another 997 owner in my village (mid-2005 car) who did actually receive a full refund for his '666' option, but personally I would rather have it working correctly. Perhaps the '666' reference number is a bad omen!

 

[Ronnie C]

ORIGINAL: oliver

...If yours has never worked properly then it is of 'unmerchantable quality' and, if they can't fix it, you should be entitled to a full refund for the option.

That's a good one Oliver. Seriously, who do you deal with at Swindon Dick Lovett to get that impression??

 

[Guest]

I have had my 06 C2S for 3 months now. I don't have Bose. I have had a lot of problems with the call quality on the hands free module. I do mostly motorway driving so would not expect it to be perfect at higher speeds with the the level of road noise you get in the cabin. I have now also found that the people have great difficulty hearing me at lower speeds (my wife has given up calling me when I am in the car []).

I called my local OPC last week and explained I was having problems. The guy listed all the symptoms I had been experiencing and said it was a known issue with the phone module and that Porsche was looking to find a solution and then there would then be some form of recall/repair.

Has anyone else been given this official line?

 

[OK1904]

Jocky, your problems mirror mine precisely. Could you give me the name and number of your OPC contact? I have not had this official line yet but to be fair it has been a month or so since I had the last discussion with my OPC and there may have been some developments since then.