Protect your posh phone with a €29 cool looking Blue Tooth Bargain

Daibheid · 04 March 2013, 22:28

You couldn't go far wrong with this at the price- a blue tooth headset would cost almsot as much and this would allow you leave your phone tucked away inside the cponsole or even in a waterproof case or bag.

It even looks the part.

Cobra's MR F300 BT is the loudest and clearest way to make and receive cell phone calls on your boat! Do you ever worry about getting your cell phone wet or missing a phone call? Do you have a difficult time making clear calls while underway or in windy conditions? Cobra's MR F300 BT solves all of these problems.

Nos4r2 · 04 March 2013, 23:15

Grabbed one-thanks.It'll save rummaging in the drybag or console hunting for my phone.

SeaSkills · 05 March 2013, 07:22

reviews here Cobra MR F300 BT Waterproof Handset with Bluetooth® Wireless Technology: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics aren't great

C2 RIBS · 05 March 2013, 07:35

Agree Sea Skills saw that but they are 2010 and 2011 reviews? What if any has changed

Poly · 05 March 2013, 07:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

Agree Sea Skills saw that but they are 2010 and 2011 reviews? What if any has changed

the reviews are a bit mixed so I'll wait for Nos' review. I like the idea. One person says doesn't work with iphone another says it does (possibly apple issue and a change to their bluetooth policy? or possibly user set up error). The volume issue was a concern - I don't really understand it...

...but at > £200 reduced to £30 its clearly not selling how cobra intended.

Leapy · 05 March 2013, 08:34

.....

John Kennett · 05 March 2013, 08:36

Also bear in mind the effect on battery life that Bluetooth may have on the phone in your pocket. Probably best to have somewhere waterproof in the console where the phone can be kept safely on charge.

Nos4r2 · 05 March 2013, 09:29

Well, at that price I can flog it on on ebay if I don't like it

I haven't really thought through how I'll even fit it yet.

GED · 05 March 2013, 15:46

they have now put the price up to 70 euros.....

ppenman · 05 March 2013, 16:28

You can still get one on eBay for £37.50 incl postage.

C2 RIBS · 05 March 2013, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by GED

they have now put the price up to 70 euros.....

Yep power of ribnet- luckily I have a recipt and purchase order at the first low price. If it works we can pipe in clients phones if needed as well as ours and it should also link to clients music on ipods etc if they wish. As Nos stated, if it fails, back to e bay sales

Nos4r2 · 05 March 2013, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by C2 RIBS

it should also link to clients music on ipods etc if they wish. As Nos stated, if it fails, back to e bay sales

Didn't think of that-it saves me having to change the CD

Nos4r2 · 07 March 2013, 09:49

Well, it arrived. Add a tenner for a decent stainless mic clip to the cost immediately as the one supplied is pants.

Wiring is pathetically thin on the battery cables.

Haven't fired the unit up yet.

GED · 08 March 2013, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Well, it arrived. Add a tenner for a decent stainless mic clip to the cost immediately as the one supplied is pants.

Wiring is pathetically thin on the battery cables.

Haven't fired the unit up yet.

thin wires coz it draws next to no power

got mine yesterday, fired it up and it works well with my iPhone 5.
just got to get it to sunny Corfu and fit it to the rib... any excuse

Nos4r2 · 08 March 2013, 19:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by GED

thin wires coz it draws next to no power

Yep but fragile as hell, hard to attach to any standard loom and too bloody small to crimp to properly.

Nos4r2 · 09 March 2013, 19:49

Tried to fit it to the console today.

The cable is far too long and the coils too stiff so it can't be left hanging without getting in the way. The through-console plug sticks out a long way and looks too fragile for the job as well.. The 'waterproof' cover for the plug socket is so flimsy it won't stay on for long. The supplied mic hanger is cheap and nasty hard plastic. The USB plug hasn't got anything on it to stop dirt getting in.

Then I powered it up. Pairing is easy. However, once it's turned on it's about as intuitive as walking backwards blindfolded. Dialling a number from it without it being in the phonebook is time-consuming and hideously complicated.The buttons feel cheap and nasty. The push to talk button feels like it's a thin piece of latex covering a microswitch and doesn't feel like it'll last long. The buttons are too small to use with cold hands or gloves.

For £30, it's really poor. If I'd paid the MRP of £200, I'd have followed the MD home and subjected him to vile forms of torture for having the cheek to make something so bad.

In short,DONT BOTHER. Really, don't buy it. I wouldn't fit it if it was free. It's not worth drilling a hole in the console for. I certainly couldn't use it unless it's flat calm at rest and even then I'd be so annoyed with staring it trying to work it that I'd probably throw it overboard.

Poly · 09 March 2013, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

... and looks too fragile for the job as well... ...so flimsy it won't stay on for long... ...mic hanger is cheap and nasty hard plastic.... USB plug hasn't got anything on it to stop dirt getting in... ...it's about as intuitive as walking backwards blindfolded... ... is time-consuming and hideously complicated... ...buttons feel cheap and nasty... ...feels like it's a thin piece of latex covering a microswitch... ...The buttons are too small to use with cold hands or gloves.... ....For £30, it's really poor. If I'd paid the MRP of £200, I'd have followed the MD home and subjected him to vile forms of torture for having the cheek to make something so bad.

So Cobra are sticking true to their brand values then! To be honest I'd have been surprised if your feedback had been totally different!

Nos4r2 · 10 March 2013, 03:39

I wasn't expecting much-I've had Cobra VHFs before and while they aren't great, they are easy enough to use and do the job.

This though is a new standard of badness. It's worse than the VHFs by a long way.It is to Cobra what Radio Ocean is to Furuno.

The stupid thing is, for maybe a fiver extra in production it could be worth the MRP.

Poly · 10 March 2013, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I wasn't expecting much-I've had Cobra VHFs before and while they aren't great, they are easy enough to use and do the job.

you must have been lucky!

I'll grant you my Cobra handheld was easy to use, but it also transmitted randomly without pressing the PTT and has some 'waterproofing issues'.

Quote:

This though is a new standard of badness. It's worse than the VHFs by a long way.

well I'll save my £ then. Probably as well buy something like a Defy Mini just for boat use.

biffer · 10 March 2013, 11:17

Ive got one of them Aussie waterproof bags for my iPhone and it has the 3.5 mm jack plug built into it, I just get a cheap plug in hands free and if it pisses its self I just get another one, when I'm back and forth to Portland on me own I just wind up the music and never miss a call