MPx FM Radio accessory - Review with pics (not 56k friendly)

[Guest Matt Kirby]

When I bought my MPx case (my http://smartphone.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=108039>review), I noticed that Motorola were also doing an http://www.motorola-shop.co.uk/dextra/default.htm>FM Stereo Headset (£22.99 ex del), which I decided to give a go.

First impressions:

The headset has two ear-buds, a mic / “Smart button” bobble (which is also used to turn the radio on and off), the radio itself, and a battery compartment (which takes 1 x AAA which is supplied).

The whole thing does feel a bit plasticky and chunky for what it is, and it’s a shame that the battery couldn’t be smaller and incorporated into the radio itself.

Two things to note – Moto’s website states that the “FM radio [is] powered by [the] phone” and that you can perform “Channel selection and set-up using the phone keypad and display”. Both of these statements are wrong. The radio is self-powered and is unable to be controlled by the phone.

Using the radio:

The radio switches on by holding the “Smart button” near the head phones for three seconds, and switches off with one press. The radio is one of the scan types – to change channels you have to press up or down to scan for the next station. Fortunately it does remember the last station used so you don’t have to retune it if you listen to the same station all of the time. It’s a great shame that this isn’t incorporated into software on the phone (as stated on the website), it would be great to be able to store your favourite station frequencies on the phone and use the up/down buttons on the radio to change between them.

Volume is controlled by a wheel on the radio rather than by the phone.

Sound quality is what you would expect from a portable FM radio, and reception is acceptable with no noticeable interference in good signal areas. The ear-buds are quite good as well, and seem to fit in the ear better than the weird looking ones supplied with the phone.

Using it as a hands-free:

When the phone rings you can hear both the ringing and the radio simultaneously which seems a bit odd, it doesn’t automatically mute the radio. Another odd thing is that the radio is playing in stereo in both ears, but the ringing and subsequent call only appears in the left ear. Pressing the “Smart button” doesn’t answer the call as you would expect (and as the website & manual says it should), it merely switches off the radio. Presumably because a headset is attached opening the flip doesn’t answer the call either, you have to press a button on the phone to answer the call. Once the call is finished it would be nice if the radio returned, but since you had to switch it off to take the call you have to switch it back on yourself.

The headset works adequately as a hands-free during a call (after all, it aint rocket science!), but it is quite disconcerting wearing two ear-buds but only having sound coming through one.

Annoyingly this also happens when listening to music from the phone, it only works in mono. Bizarrely Motorola have supplied this headset with a 3-pole plug, rather than a 4-pole one, which means that it can only be used as a mono headset with the phone and is only stereo when you switch the radio on.

Overall:

It seems absurd to me that Moto are offering an add-on radio for the MPx which effectively offers no benefit over a stand-alone radio. There is no integration with the phone aside from the provision of a 2.5mm plug – to answer calls you have to switch off the radio, open the flip and then press a button. The “smart button” is apparently not supported by the MPx, although this radio is listed on Motorola’s website as a MPx accessory. I’m sure that this radio is a good idea for some of Moto’s phones, but it is next to useless for the MPx.

Interestingly the packaging and manual makes no mention of the MPx, and also says inside that “for safety reasons, the hands-free functionality is available using one ear-piece only” – what safety reasons would those be then?! Why is the headset supplied with the MPx OK to do hands-free in both ear-buds but not this one? Very odd.

If you want a radio to use on the move I would suggest buying a separate unit with the features that you need and use that; this unit offers no additional benefits to the MPx200 user. This unit only works adequately as a radio and offers nothing more.

Scores (out of 5)

Features: :D

Value: ;)

Overall: :lol:

Radio.JPG

Tuner detail.jpg

Radio Headphones.jpg

[Guest Vector]

nice! :D

wonder why if this would work on E200....no reason why not is there? :?

[Guest ferret]

Should work aslong as the phones have the same headphone jack (4 pole, 2,5mm)

[Guest Vector]

on second thoughts.... i don't think i would actually use it :?

i have 512mb of MP3's available to me and i could stream radio, no need to spend £22+ on a radio :D

[Guest Matt Kirby]

This radio only has a three pole plug- not sure what the E200 needs but I think that it is four pole.

Considering how there is no intergration with the MPx OS I see no reason why it wouldn't be equally as useless on an E200 :D !

[Guest Vector]

hehe, maybe it would be better if it had a digital interface on the phone...but another things that puts me off is that i like my own earphones :D

[Guest mcwarre]

It won't work with the E200. They have the same connectors but the pins are configured differently

[Guest Maverick]

Nasty stuff.. Cant u just return it and get ur money back..

[Guest]

It's going back to Moto first thing Monday!

Posted from my SmartPhone!