PCM Phone quality

[Guest]

I'd be interested to hear of other people's views regarding the sound quality of the PCM hands free phone. To be honest I really don't use it much but noticed that people were often saying that they were struggling to hear me unless I was parked up.

I then did a bit of a trial by calling my office voicemail going to work this morning and just chatted to myself as I was driving along at 70mph, then off a slip road and to a stop. Have to say that the phone does a good job of cancelling out the background noise, but I can barely hear myself on the recording and it sounds very bad indeed unless I really shouted (which I did a few times to try different loudness levels)

Other people I know with aftermarket car kits that cost a fraction of the PCM phone module have perfect quality in their Vectras.... Is it just my installation that is faulty, or are they all bad?

 

[Rotorhead]

Pardon

 

[Guest]

Can only agree the quality is cr*p no one can hear you . If it hadn't have had the phone built into the dash i would have not gone for the phone module

 

[Guest]

On my previous C2 996, I had the PCM1, and I have to say it was bad. I was hoping with the new kit it would be considerably better. It's not!

Having a dual sim card, I use the hands free a lot, but get asked consistently to revert to the normal handset for greater clarity.

So for important calls "¦handset[8|]

Unimportant, can't be bothered to listen calls "¦ hands free[]

ps Keith, have you any pics of the car?

 

[Guest]

No not yet

 

[Guest]

Have got to say ther same re the Cayennes phone module, echo problems seem to be the most common. It's been into the OPC but came out just the same.

 

[Guest]

I use mine a bit and I reckon it is alright.
It comparable to most other carkits.

The gain on the mic is a little low, but that's partly to accommodate the fact that it is not the quietest interior.
When on the move, since you are not just wafting along, you need to speak up a bit, but if you do it is OK.

If you get echo, you need to back to volume off a little.
I find the phone audio is a little loud compared to the music audio, so turn the phone down slightly when I am in a call.

When stationary I talk relatively normally.

The location of of the mic is not quite ideal, but not a disaster either, plus you ought to have the window closed if you are going at a reasonable speed.

 

[pwebb]

Tim
Tend to agree - found that quality varies with PCM and while most people have no problem hearing normal speech, sometimes need to shout! The Cayenne seems better than the 997S, probably due to the interior background noise levels, as has been said. Also the Cayenne system sometimes loses all the phone book listings, and then magically reappears later - v. strange.

Peter

 

[Guest]

Shame its not bluetooth aswell. Becker may sound ok, but the PCM navi is dreadful ( both the cayenne and the 997 navi tell you to turn after you have already taken the turning for example) and Becker seem very slow to adopt new technology. Try a disco 3 for an example of a good navi / phone integration - clear mapping, high quality sound touch screen navi.

 

[dixhuit]

Perhaps its just your instalation. I live in Devon and reception when travelling irrespective of the network you choose can be bad as you travel up hill and down dale but quality both transmitting and receiving is very good. It is far better then my blue tooth handsfree I use in my old VW golf. Worth having it checked.

 

[Guest]

I have to agree this by far the worst car kit I have had for people hearing you, I can hear them OK. Have a built in car kit with my E 320 and it works no problem, can only put it down to the cabin noise in the 997.

 

[Guest]

Spoke to a Friend of mine at Reading yesturday and it seems that they have had faults on the Car kit Microphones have a new one on order now so will let you know if any better when fitted .

 

[robert997]

Absoltley agree. Phone is awful. Same problems people can't hear you on handsfree at anything over 25mph. They can hear the bloody indicator though ! Bear in mind this is an 8watt install, not 2watts like a normal handset and car-kit and it should be far better. I've got the Merc with phone too and it's utterly brilliant - exactly what the PCM should be. Have had 3 visits to sort this - basically upgrading software etc. Also re-prog as a cabriolet to reduce background noise further but still not good. Going on Derek's 997 trip to reading this weekend so hope for more news and resolution - another disappointment with Porsche service.

Rob
997S

 

[Guest]

My phone is absolutely awful. I can hear the calls fine, but I get a lot of complaints of either people hearing themselves (I turn the volume down - which rectifies the issue) or that they can hardly hear me. I have a car kit fitted to my Audi and you can not tell that I am on hands free. Saying all that it still does not detract from the enjoyment I get from the car.

PS. Big Regret - I should have gone for BOSE sound system. I really do not rate the quality of the standard sound system.

 

[Guest]

Went to pick up my car from the factory. Travelling on Swiss and French roads at 110mph my wife could hear me perfectly ok on the hands free. The UK roads are dreadfull compared to France and generates enormous amounts of cabin noice. I find travelling on the M25 at 90mph more painful on the phone than at 110mph in France which was a bliss albeit the heavy toll fees.

James
997 Seal Grey Carrera S

 

[jonathanw]

My experience with the phone is excellent. While driving at about 80mph topless could hear and be heard perfectly well. I have no problems with the system.

Jonathan

 

[P996997]

In that case there must be a serious fault with mine, I have given up using trying to use the useless thing, the only way people can understand what I'm saying is if I rest my chin on the steering wheel airbag and raise my voice.
I find it safer hand hold mobile and hate having to do it.
In my Mercedes nobody has a clue I'm hands free and conversations are relaxed with perfect clarity both ways, people often assume I'm in the office.
In fairness I have not had a chance to return the car yet, but it would seem I'm not alone with this problem.

James

 

[Delbox]

75 mph, roof down in 3 lane motorway traffic and no problems speaking to, or hearing, my wife - and, yes, we were using the telephone to converse!

 

[graham m]

Just had a Nokia CK-1 Bluetooth kit fitted - dead neat install with the microphone positioned in the interior light module and an auto mute relay fitted so that the call comes over the car speaker system. When recieving/transmitting, the audio screen changes to read "External Phone connected". If on navigation, the voice is muted but pressing the right button brings the map back on.
Dead chuffed as this gets over the problem of having to have two sim cards which neither O2 or Orange won't support.
Nokia kit costs 65 & install (with mute relay) 120.
Graham

 

[Sunil]

Update:

Apparently the resonant frequency for either the microphone or its enclosure is hit when the car is travelling at about 65mph - or some such explanation like that.

Porsche is aware of the problem and are trying to come up with a fix. Apparently they will contact everyone with a phone once they have something.

I can see it now ... "I'm sorry officer but I was speeding because I was on the phone ..." []