Customer Reviews

Venturi FNVMS4001 Venturi Mini Bluetooth Wireless FM Transmitter

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4 star:		(2)
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2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought a Venturi Mini from Verizon. Through their "Merits" program, I got a 25% discount, it worked out to less than $100 and shipping was free. The Mini is not available in their stores yet, I had to buy it online and Verizon's tech support dept was not able to even answer the simplest questions about the product. I have a LG-vx8300 and couldn't download the phonebook, Verizon had no idea why. I was finally able to get an answer from Venturi tech support who informed me that LG blocks the ability to transfer the phonebook to their product, even though the LG connected to the Mini and I could make and answer calls. I tried my wife's Motorola Razr and the phonebook downloaded first try. The Mini also worked better and the sound through the car speakers was much more clear using the Motorola than the LG. I have had the Mini for afew days and made several calls using it, some were very clear and some were impossible to hear. I like the fact that Verizon has a 30 day return policy, it has given me a chance to try this product with no obligation.
Overall, I like the Mini. Conceptually this type of product is the way of the future as more states outlaw holding a phone and driving at the same time. I have not decided if I want to keep this product yet, other reviewers have given high reviews to the similar Satechi product. Per Satechi's tech support dept, the newest version of their product comes out in May 2008 and it is more state of the art than the current model. I would like to try that model before getting stuck with the Mini and regretting it after seeing Satechi's newest product. Luckily, I have alot of time on my hands !

The Mini worked just OK for the first several months; the FM broadcast signal was so weak that I couldn't find a frequency that would consistently work in my area (but maybe that's due to DC frequency congestion more than to the Mini) so I had to use one of those old-style tape-deck cartridges and plug that into the audio-out jack on the Mini. So everything was working OK (I only used it to play music from my PDA phone - the hands-free speakerphone didn't work so well) until it started having problems making the Bluetooth connection... the vendor that I bought it from says its not their problem since its been about 5 months, yet Venturi doesn't have a support hotline or any other phone numbers on their website - so I'm stuck with the webform-email for support, which they don't respond to!! (Furthermore, I noticed now that there is no explicit warranty in the box that it come in). Buyer Beware!

I so much wanted this product to work. On paper, its features are nearly perfect:

* Attractive, convenient and clutter-free design.

* Powers on and connects automatically to your phone when you start your car (presuming that's how your cigarette lighter works)

* 3.5mm input and output jacks

* Media controls (for phones supporting the AVRCP Bluetooth profile)

* Tune to any available FM frequency; save up to 4 presets.


Once I received the device, though, I was disappointed. (And unfortunately I bought from another retailer, that does not accept returns for this item):

* The FM transmitter is too weak to overcome static (maybe depending on your cigarette ligher location vs. your FM radio antenna) - it is nearly unusable for this reason alone.

* The microphone (also depending on your cigarette lighter location) is too far away, and there is no noise cancellation. The other party could barely hear me.

* The 3.5mm input jack does not work for standard microphones (such as those in a typical VoIP headset) - it only works with "powered" audio outputs such as the output jack in a MP3 player or cell phone. Nor is the sound transmitted to your phone (via Bluetooth) - only via FM and the "line out" jack.

* Pushing the "Phone" button (on the top right) does not do the obvious thing that most bluetooth headsets and handsfree kits do: Voice commands/dial. Instead, it redials the last number. (What were they thinking?? This could get tired in a hurry).


I ended up getting a Motorola T505 handsfree kit instead; this one does not power on/off with your car, does have to be charged now and then, and is less versatile w.r.t FM frequencies -- but at least it works (Good sound quality in both directions). That kind of happens to be the most important feature in a device like this.

The item itself is not bad compare to other products in the market.
I extremely like the scrolling button. It's a great way of playing the previous/next song while driving.

However, the nightmare started when the fuse burned out on this item.
I've been contacting this company for MONTHS and never got a reply.
The customer service is HORRIBLE.

For this reason I would not recommend purchasing this item.

Just got this I have had for about 24 hrs, and it does what it's suppose to do. No problems at all while initially startup of device, paired with iphone w/ no problem, easy to see display. Played music via 3.5 jack b/c no stereo bt on iphone. love the product calls come in cleary and callers hear me clearly too. a little low on the volume but other than that i love it. cool product for no-thinking phone sync'ing.