Mini-Review: BoxWave Mobile Mounting Kit

[Jerry Raia]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2006Mar/bpd20060324034978.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2006Mar/bpd20060324034978.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I always have mobile devices with me in my truck, and have been using those sticky gel, non-skid coasters on my dash and on my center console so the devices won't slide around as I drive. The thing is that the gel pads lose their stickiness after a while and then my devices sometimes do slide off. The Delphi MyFi XM Satellite radio has a windshield mount kit, but the cradle where the MyFi sits is specific to that device, with bottom connectors for power and the antenna."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Jerrry-bwmount3.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />I always forget about these things until I am in my car struggling to find a place to hold my Pocket PC or Smartphone. Any of you use this or another type of car mount?

[edgar]

I use the Proclipusa product line www.proclipusa.com there's a good demo clip on the right of their homescreen.

A bit expensive but it has everything customed to your car and powers/audio all from one single cable. Has a nice speaker on it for the GPS etc (not for music!) I like it because its so clean and professional looking in my bimmer.

I have the expensive complete $129 system but no springs and rubber to hold it, its as tight as a cradle and hugs it nicely with a dock connector, so fast in/out. It also has custom clips to afix it in your car with no damage, no screws, no jamming/blocking your airvent. It fits under the molding in the car and holds nicely - leaves no marks if you do move it.

They have other models more in the $35-49 that dont have the speaker or built in dock connector. Closer to what you have but like a cradle/custom fitted to system.

-Edgar

[Ryan Joseph]

I have a windshield mount for my Pocket PC (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,32435), but it is very specific and won't fit any other device. For my phone, I use the old-fashioned method of proping it up...the cupholder!! :D

[hotdram]

I have a proclipsusa mount too:

http://www.riegerweb.com/Phone_Holder4.jpg

http://www.riegerweb.com/Phone_Holder5.jpg

I have since bought the SMT-5600 specific cradle since I took these pics. They offer powered mount and dual device mount options as well.

~Rob

[Kris Kumar]

ProClipUSA is best. I have it for my Pocket PC and I like it because it is not bulky and is designed specifically for my device; it is not bulky, one clamp fits all non-sense.

[edgar]

yea i forgot about their dual mount. PPC and cell both if you need it. on one power sorce, not a bunch of cables etc in the way

[Jorge Galindo]

I use Velcro

[hylton]

i tried an arkon vent mount, where the phone mount part was just like the one picutred in the OP...worked OK I guess, but the vent clips didn't work too well in my car (Audi A4)...they got stuck easily, prevented most of the movement of the vent itself...overall pretty unhappy w/ it...

In the end, once I start using a GPS more and really my phone right up in front of me, I'll probably go w/ something similar, but windshield mounted.

Chris

[Richard76]

I am using two different Arkon mounts. The first is the Powered PDA Mount and looks similar to the one in your picture except the bottom supports are two plastic dowels that screw into 2 different positions; one set closer together and one further apart.

Being a powered mount, it has a cigarette lighter adapter and a buil-in speaker. To power your PDA there is a model-specific USB cable that goes from the mount to the PDA and also a model-specific cable that runs from the speaker jack of your PDA to the speaker input jack of the mount.

It comes with a goose-neck suction cup mount for your windshield, which in itself works very well but to clean up the look a bit, I have modified the cradle to work with a self-adhesive, generic cell phone mount that swivels.

I have used this particular mount with a Dell Axim X5, Tungsten W, PDA2k, Qtek 9100 and a Treo 650. Currently its primary duty is with my PDA2k for SatNav.

I also have another Arkon mount that just came with the vent-mount adapter. Again, it looks pretty much like the one in the picture and again, not liking the way it fit my vent, I modified it to work with the same generic cell phone mount above. I use this one for my Sirius satellite radio.

And, to further clutter up my dash, next to this I have a complete generic cell phone holder (the same one I am using the bases for above) that I use for my Treo 650.

Good job I use a Bluetooth headset to cut down on the wires!

[Sven Johannsen]

I don't use a mount for my cell phone(s). I have a built-in BT set in the car for the phone. For PPC use I have an Arkon powered mount on a Proclip bracket made for my jeep. The Arkon is a universal type so I can change PPCs.

This week I have been using the windshield mount holder that comes with the PDA-N, in the rental car. It has worked very well. Glad I brought it along.