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 Hands-free? Not exactly Jun 22, 2010
By Gary Darling
"Geek in training"
I purchased the BLU-GM29 in June 2010 for installation in my 2007 Chevy Avalanche; I paired it with a Motorola IHF1000 Bluetooth Car Kit and an iPhone 3G. The intent was to make use of my factory OnStar equipment, whose service I don't subscribe to because I have AT&T wireless, to achieve a totally hands-free experience while talking on my phone. I only made it part way.
The BLU kit arrived first, took only 4 days to get here, so I was quite pleased with that. After a little trouble with the initial install, which I'll detail in a moment, I got it working with the immediate help of Pac-Audio's call-in tech support. I'm more than a little disappointed that I can't MAKE a hands-free call with it, which I consider to be the number one distraction of talking on the road. To me this knocked AT LEAST two stars off what could have been a superb product. Another star got knocked off for the crappy instructions, the root of my initial install problems.
First off, the kit comes with three different harnesses that have plugs on the ends that mate with popular bluetooth kits. BIG plus for that, the only other competitor's kit I found for my Avalanche just had plugs on one end; they expect you to cut and splice the other end to your brand new car kit. Dumb. Gave BLU-GM29 a star for that.
I selected the harness that mates with my Motorola IFH1000, then tried to use the BLU instructions to make my connections. I kid you not, the entire installation instructions are 3 sentences long; the rest is devoted to volume control. The connection diagram is tiny, and it is incomplete - kind of like using a stickman drawing to teach medical students to operate. There are two plugs that mate with the car kit on the BLU harness, but only one on the drawing. On top of that, none of the ends are numbered, the wire colors are completely different than the factory wires, and even the quantity of wires entering the various plugs are different. This is a big deal only on one cable; you can actually install it backward (which I did) as it uses the same plug configuration on both ends. Won't work that way.
So I called tech support, the guy walked me thru the instructions, but since the cable ends aren't numbered it took a while to discover the problem. He got a little impatient with me, not sure why since I was pretty relaxed (I thought), and I'm not the numb-nuts who forgot to number the ends. Tech support people need extraordinary patience, as my mom tells me every wednesday when I teach her how to retrieve her email again.
Another thing I noticed about their instructions is there is no standard term for the various harnesses (absent numbers you need to call them something). He kept telling me to "connect the SplitGM29 harness to the Moto2split plug". Now the BLU harness did have a "Moto2" label on one end, but I could not find this "SplitGM29" harness. Turns out that is the vehicle factory harness that plugs into the back of the stereo. Why can't the instructions tell you that? Where is the glossary?
The last thing that baffles me about the instructions is this major omission: Tech Support told me you are required to have the driver's door OPEN when you first power up the unit (turn on the ignition). Really? Why didn't that simple requirement make it into those three, short sentences?
Okay, so what about this inability to make a phone call hands free? You can do it with the factory control included with the Motorola, had I installed it - so would it be that difficult to add a 'Talk' button feature to the BLU-GM29? That's what Motorola uses. I went to the company website, www.pac-audio.com, and looked up the installation video. Sure enough, he demonstrates making a call by picking up his blackberry, surfing thru contacts, making the call, then transferring it to the bluetooth car kit. Can't say that was false advertising. But I can't tell you how frustrating this is - my state just passed a law making cell phone use a primary driving offense, so I buy this contraption thinking this is how I can use my factory OnStar equipment with my iPhone. It recieves calls just fine - but it's not distracting to me to answer a phone. It is to surf thru contacts.
So my short synopsis is:
Pros:
*Plug and Play, no wire cuts or terminations
*Integrates with OnStar whether you subscribe or not
*Less expensive than competitor
Cons:
*Only recieves calls hands-free
*Abysmal instructions
*Did I mention it's not really hands-free?
Only buy this if the hands-free issue is... not an issue. And throw away the instructions.
 PAC BLU-GM29 - BOOOOooo!! May 11, 2012
By T. McCalmont
My vehicle is a 2010 Chevy Traverse, a former Hertz rental that was ordered with no OnStar, no XM, no Bluetooth! I bought this unit, along with a Parrot CK300 Evolution, and had it installed by Techs I know to be reliable at BestBuy. When first installed, the Tech backed my car out of the bay, handed me the keys, and no nothin'! No bluetooth, no radio, and no backup sensor. He rebooted it and it eventually started working again. The next morning - nothing again - except a note in the DIC - "Parking Assist off". I took it back - he got it going. My vehicle was the only one in the BestBuy bay, so I know they weren't hurried. Later that day, I came out of a store and nothing - again!!!! I took it back today and asked them to remove Parrot and PAC units, restart car, and let the inspiring GM LAN reset itself. Then, re-install it all! It worked again until I got out of vehicle to use ATM - back in - nothing!!
I've called PAC three times over the past four days and have received no help and little interest. The BB Tech emailed them three days ago - NO ANSWER from PAC yet!!!
I would be VERY careful in thinking this module will work in your car. I'll never buy another PAC product - they're just NOT interested in serving their customer. I felt like I was talking to "Peggy"!!
 Versatility hampers simplicity, but not functionality Dec 17, 2011
By T. Smith
"Smitty'n'Texas"
Excellent plug and play (in my GM and using a recommended blue tooth kit), but the installation took twice as long. The direction pamphlet is not easily understood (is written generally and not for a particular installation). The unit is constructed to adapt to a variety of blue tooth devices, but installation is easiest when using a recommended blue tooth. Placement of unit is made easier with ample (harness) wire length.
Added 12/19/11:
The following YouTube video was valuable for proper system set-up:
[...]
Using this kit resulted in no loss of any On-Star features and it automatically uses some of the features by muting the sound system when a call comes in. The blue-tooth kit controller was not needed as mine was compatible with my steering wheel controls. But I did have to install the microphone; mine is by the sun visor. (For best microphone reception, play around with placement). When using the steering wheel controls: Answer calls by pushing the up arrow and terminate by simply waiting for the other party to hang-up or by pushing the bottom arrow. Plus, the video did not show a feature (we have) of initiate a cell phone call remotely: Using the steering wheel controls, push the source button twice, the play/pause once and answer the verbal prompts.
PAC BLU-GM29 BLUETOOTH INTEGRATION INTERFACE FOR GM 29-BIT RADIOS
defective unit Aug 23, 2011
By max
I've bought this unit with the Parrot CK3000 for my 07 Tahoe. The manual was not very detailed but everything was easily connected and I did not have to contact tech support as previos buyers (looks like PAC has updated manual and/or wiring). The problem is I don't have control of Parrot unit on my steering wheel. Everything else works well, the sound is ok, so I had to hardwire parrot control. PAC says the unit is bad and should be shipped back for replacement.
Great Product, but you better know what you are doing. Jan 30, 2011
By Broc
Great product! Flawless integration! Hides very well in my Tahoe. I installed it with the motorola blue tooth, and it works pretty good. In the car in sounds perfect and the steering wheel control is awesome. Only issue people say I sound like I am in a tunnel, but they hear me fine.
Only downside is the manual is a little slack on info. I did not have an issue because I have installed a good number of radios in my life. If you do not have any knowledge of how to install a car radio, purchase this kit and bring it to a pro. It took me about 1.5 hours to install it and everything is hidden, even the microphone and looks like a clean factory install.
Again, great product, awesome price for what it does, with the motorola it is a awesome combo, but have some one pro install it if you have limited knowledge. That should not be a downside, the people at best buy dont charge much and you will have an awesome bluetooth. Well worth the money for both self install and pro install
See all 7 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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