Is there a truly clear, noise-free speakerphone for driving

The most important cell feature for me is a loud, clear speakerphone (for both parties on the call) for hands-free driving, which seems to be the only sensible place to use a speakerphone - as you would never need it at home (you'd use your landline to avoid cell minutes) or out of the car (your hands are available to hold it to your ear, and you don't want others hearing your conversation anyway). I make 90% of my calls driving down the highway. I want a speakerphone that's loud & clear enough to be heard clearly over road noise at 70 mph. If I have to put in my earbud, or use a bluetooth earpiece, to hear clearly, then what's the point of the speakerphone feature? Also, the speakerphone must transmit my voice clearly to my listener, with no feedback or background noise. With their two newest flagships, the LG 8100 and the Moto 815, Verizon promised to deliver speakerphones that can do this, especially the LG, with it's 2 stereo speakers posted on the sides of the phone. So I tried them both.
Unfortunately, neither seem to deliver adequately on the promise, more like a tease for technology that just doesn't exist yet. I tried both phones from my car at highway speeds. Even at full volume, I can barely hear everything being said by a caller who's speaking loud and clear into their cell or landline phone. Plus, at full volume the LG speakers start distorting and rattling. And my listeners constantly complain of feedback and background noise. My wife says the Moto is a tiny bit better in the background noise department, just a tiny bit, but essentially they're both inadequate. All the Verizon salepeople say, "Use the Bluetooth (sounds equally crappy and keeps handing off the signal back to the phone, even when it's only 3 feet away), or, "Get one of those bulky speakerphone amplifiers that plug into the lighter socket". Sure, but then we're back to spending extra money on extra attachments and asking, why offer a speakerphone in the first place, it's just a tease. If none of the speakerphones on any available model can really deliver loud enough sound for the highway, without heavy backround noise to the listener, they should just tell us that honestly, and we'll know right up front that we must use some external ear device. But maybe I'm missing something...any help or suggestions?

R. Earthsong
Ojai CA

Last edited by Verizonuser82 on Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:53 am, edited 1 time in total

Well you would probably be a happy nextel customer but youre stuck with verizon so heres my advice. I hate LG. Any model from Lg that I have owned seems to be a piece of crap. They are all basically the same phone features in different shapes and sizes. Motorola is a great company. Their phones have excellent features that are different than any other phone features. I see where youre coming from with the whole speakerphone thing and i understand. Whats the point of a speaker feature when to use it to a normal extent you have to buy an accessory? So, my suggestion is trying the new Samsung. I'm guessing you want to be up-2-Date on technology so iwould suggest the samsun SCH-A950 music phone over the cheaper SCH-A850. The A950 is basically the LG VX8100 without the antenna, but there is no way a Samsung MUSIC phone can have a bad speakerphone. I TRUST SAMSUNG. They would not fake a speakerphone. The recently discontinued a890 was originally supposed to have a speakerphone and i think the original version sold had it but samsung felt it wouldnt be strong enough and they got rid of the feature to avoid commotion. Now the last thing a company would want to do is cause commotion so the last thing i would expect from either the a950 or a850 is a bad speakerphone. Now, if worse comes to worse I would have to suggest the LG 4650. I know LG is bad and everything but by the huge speaker sticking out of the phone i have to suggest it but remember. Dont trust LG or what Verizon Sales reps say!!

Interesting perspective, thank you. Why would I be a happy Nextel customer...do they have the speakerphone problem licked?
I haven't had the same experience you seem to have had with LG. Prior to my 8100 I had the 4500 for 2 years. It too had an inadequate speaker, but everything else on it, the screens, the voice commands, the call clarity when using it with earbud or just holding it to my ear, all worked fine, no problems. My wife and son both have inexpensive Samsung models, both have had many problems. I saw the big speaker sticking out of the 4650 and wondered about it, but no Verizon salesperson has ever recommended it even when I told them speakerphone loudness was most important...but I'll take another listen to it and to the A950 also. I still have 5 days left on my 15-day trade back warranty with Verizon, I'd sure like to get the right one since I'll be stuck with it for the next two years

Well, with nextel they're phones are made by motorola and they have an iden network wich enables a push to talk feature. On any of their models; they all have speaker. The first thing they worry about is a speakerphone. Even the little things like being able to purchase ringtones comes second next to speaker. Thats why you would probably be happy woth nextel. I have nothing agains early models of lg but i hate all new ones like 7000 8000 8100 9800 3300 5200 4700 4650.Also, a good speakerphone only comes from good reception. If there is little reception the speaker will sound like trying to stream a song on dial up. It will be grainy and muffled so maybe reception is something you could take into consideration.

Hey. I just purchased the LG VX 4650, and I LOVE the speakerphone. It has a specific driving mode for that reason. It's very loud and clear. I think you would be very happy with it.

Check it out

-Jen

Is there a truly clear, noise-free speakerphone for driving

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