9. Bluetooth

The Bluetooth function of the Magellan Maestro 4350 allows you to use the GPS as a hands-free device for a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. Once paired with a cell phone, you can answer and dial your phone via Maestro's touch screen, and send or receive text messages.

Once connected to a cell phone, incoming calls will pop up a message, and you can decide whether to accept or reject the call. Otherwise, you can access the phone subsystem from the Main Menu other Map screen by tapping the phone icon.

Figure 99: Accessing the Phone Menu

The Bluetooth menu is accessed by tapping on the telephone icon from the Map screen, or the Main Menu.

Figure 100. Phone Main Menu

Before you can make use of the hands-free calling features, the Maestro 4350 must be paired with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone. To pair a phone with the GPS, make sure your cell phone's Bluetooth is enabled and set to discoverable. Then tap Settings.

Figure 101: Bluetooth Settings

Tap the checkbox to enable Bluetooth, and then return to the Bluetooth menu by tapping the back arrow.

Note: The Maestro 4350's default Bluetooth name is "PNA". If you prefer to name it something else, Tap Device Name to change it.

Figure 102: Paired Devices

Tap Phone Profiles to open the list of Paired Devices, and then tap Add.

Figure 103: Add a Bluetooth Device

Tap Start to begin searching for Bluetooth phones within range (about 30 feet).

Figure 104: Found Devices

Within a few seconds Maestro will display any Bluetooth enabled cell phone within range. Tap the phone you want to pair.

Figure 105: Pairing Bluetooth Device...

Enter the PIN number displayed on the Maestro on your cell phone to allow the connection.

Figure 106: Paired Devices

The Maestro 4350 is now able to connect to the device listed on this screen. To connect, tap the name of the phone ("Blackberry 9000" in this case).

Figure 107: Please Select An Option

Tap Connect to connect to the phone.

Figure 108: Accept Connection Request

Depending on your cell phone make and model, you may need to allow the connection the first time the Maestro attempts to connect. If your phone prompts you, allow the connection, and check the box the "Don't ask this again" so that the two devices can automatically re-connect in the future.

Figure 109: Phone Features

The Phone Features menu allows you to view call logs, redial numbers, save a phone number for your home, send and receive text/SMS messages, browse your phone's address book, or use a dialpad to manually dial a number.

Figure 110: Speed Dial

The Maestro 4350 also provides 9 speed dial numbers that can be assigned to your most commonly dialed numbers.

Figure 111: Keypad Dial

Keypad Dial allows you to dial a phone number manually.

Figure 112: Home Number

The first time you tap the Home icon, Maestro asks if you want to save the home phone number. Once saved, the Home icon provides a quick way to dial your home phone number.

Figure 113: POI Dial

POI and AAA TourBook entries can be dialed directly from the search screen once a phone is paired with the GPS.

Figure 113: In Call Menu

When making a call, the call screen is displayed. You can close this pop-up and return to the map so you can navigate while talking on the speakerphone.

Figure 114: Call Ended

When a call ends, the Maestro 4350 displays the call's total duration, then automatically closes this window and returns to the map after a few seconds.

Bluetooth performance was ranged from poor to mediocre. Although I was successfully able to pair my phone with the Maestro 4350, none of the phones I tried were able to transfer phone book information or call history logs. Nor was I able to make use of the text messaging features.

Speakerphone quality was not great either. At maximum volume there was so much distortion that I had to lower the volume, and callers said it sounded like I was calling them from inside a coffee can.