Parrot CK3300 GPS Car Kit

• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 10 stars

  Over a year of use and NO problems

  by BillTR on February 6, 2009

  Pros: Excellent combination device...fully functional hands-free mobile Phone and GPS as well. I use it with a PPC-6700 Pocket PC and iGuidance GPS software. Phone voice commands are especially nice as they render the device virtually hands free.

  Cons: Technically tricky installation. I have the advantage of being both a qualified Elctronics Technologist and a computer specialist; so it wans't too difficult for me. However, it would take a knowledgeable tech to install it properly.

  Summary: I first installed a Parrot CK-3300 in my GMC Safari van in the spring of 2006, because we haul a travel trailer with it and I felt the GPS would ...

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  Summary: I first installed a Parrot CK-3300 in my GMC Safari van in the spring of 2006, because we haul a travel trailer with it and I felt the GPS would be especially useful there. However, the GPS functions and the hands-free versatility impressed me so much that I purchased a second unit for my Dodge Caliber car in December of 2007.
  Both units were purchased via eBay for less than $250.00 USD each and I added a car holder/charger unit in each installation for an additional $19.95 USD. Of course, there is also the cost for the "matching" cable set to the car stereo that is vehicle-specific, but they both were available online for less than $50.00 USD ea. The final cost was for the iGuidance GPS software I elected to use; but even that was just under $100.00 USD.
  Of course, I use the same 'phone and GPS software with both units, so the second installation was cheaper because I already had those items.
  The installation is technically complex, but not too difficult for a skilled electronics technician...just do not expect your average mechanic to understand how to do it.
  The transfer of the phone directories and programming the voice commands took a bit of time; especially so because the PPC-6700 does not properly support downloading the contact list. I found it more expedient to do a Bluetooth transfer name by name for my contacts so that the Parrot would store each contact correctly with multiple numbers (cell; home; office; ETC.)
  I also found that setting favourite destinations in the GPS software saved considerable time and frustration in finding my way back to a camp site when we had been sightseeing. One can simply register a new location in the "Favourites" section of the GPS software before leaving the camp site and when you want to return, you simply select the destination from your "Favourites" list again.
  The hands-free 'phone feature is especially efficient as it uses custom installation cables to connect between the car stereo and the speakers, thus eliminating the necessity of cutting any cables. This also means that once the 'phone is "off the hook" to make or receive a call, the stereo is muted and the incoming voice comes through the stereo speakers. With voice commands to select a contact and THEN to select "Home"; " Work" or "Cellular" numbers when applicable as well as to answer a call or hang up, one truly does not even have to touch the phone while driving. The noise-cancelling microphone gives excellent results and hearing the other party over the vehicle's stereo speakers makes for a stress-free means of accepting or making calls while driving.
  As for the GPS functionality - My Mother fell terminally ill last spring and I had to make a quick trip from Calgary, Alberta to London, Ontario by car. I simply set her address into the GPS, told it not to use toll-roads or ferries and to find the shortest trip distance. It took us down into the US, through Chicago (with all its' confusing expressways) and back into Canada at Windsor. The whole trip, I never even looked at a map, and anytime I deviated from the route to get gas or to stop for a meal, it would simply recalculate the route, get me back to the right highway and set me back on track again. Well worth every penny I spent on it!!
  
  As an aside, it has been my experience that in most cases, when one has problems with devices like these, it is because they were installed incorrectly in the first place. It is quite possible for an inexperienced installer to actually damage the device itself (or your vehicle) by making the wrong connections.

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• 1 stars

  BAD - Real bad experience!

  by Reporter125 on December 17, 2007

  Pros: nothing good to say about Parrot or the company they keep

  Cons: Product did not work - Poor customer service - asking me to update firmware

  Summary: Ordered Parrot ck3300 from shipdog.com, product did not work. Parrot sent me wires to update firmware. Very complicated. Bought TomTom software to get this working, but computer does not ...

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  Summary: Ordered Parrot ck3300 from shipdog.com, product did not work. Parrot sent me wires to update firmware. Very complicated. Bought TomTom software to get this working, but computer does not recognize the phone when plugged into computer. TomTom has real BAD customer service and so does Parrot. Not to speak of ShipDog.com - never buy anything from that dog!
  
  System not yet installed after 1 year!!!
  
  My full story below:
  I bought a system called CK 3300 from ShipDog.com. Both the box the product came in and the advertising on ShipDog where misleadingly showing a phone with a map on it and a large GPS logo. I did not find out until I attempted to have the system installed that I would have to buy an additional software called tomtom Navigator 6.
  
  On February 6th I had a daughter born and got real busy… On June 15, 2007 I finally had the system installed. The system worked “off and on” for 1 week. The screen started to go blank in 3 or 4 days and ended up being blank all the time, within 1 week of installation. Before I realized that I would have serirous problems with this device I unfortunately threw more money after bad by buying tomtom Navigator 6 from MobilePlanet.com – I never did install this software on my phone as the telephone features of the Parrot never really worked.
  
  Shortly thereafter I called Parrot and asked them for help. They told me the “brain” in the system needed to be updated. They sent some wires and things to my auto mechanic. The mechanic gave me those wires and told me he did not know what to do with this. Some time later on November 1st, 2007 I had a professional car alarm and stereo installer take a look at the system. He updated the system without using the wires sent from Parrot and again the system worked, but only for 20 minutes. Then the screen went blank again. I was then told that the reason for the meltdown of the system was not the firmware but the screen itself. He told me I should return the whole thing to Parrot and get a new system.
  
  My wife got seriously upset about me spending over $600 on things that don’t work when I should be spending my money on things for my new born daughter! I agree! Here is a list of what I spent on this system:
  
  ck 3300 $ 230.00
  Navigator 6 $ 160.00
  brakets to hold phone $ 50.00
  Installation $ 84.00
  Installation - again $ 90.00
  total $ 614.00

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• 9 stars

  outstanding performance

  by madcop911 on September 13, 2006

  Pros: easy to use and easy to pair

  Cons: install is a bit tricky (pro recommended)

  Summary: I have had the 3100 for 6 months now and have had nothing but good things to say, I dont know how I lived without it.

  Summary: I have had the 3100 for 6 months now and have had nothing but good things to say, I dont know how I lived without it.

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