GSM and 480 electronics

Frantic · Post by **Frantic** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 2:55 am

I remember (it could be the '95 owners manual) that there was a warning
about using a GSM in the 480, causing interference on the electric circuit
Anyone ever red that or worst, ever experienced while driving and phoning?

Since the 480 electronics is pre-GSM era, I was thinking about certain
problems that might occur and difficult to find or suddenly disappeared
Moreover, mobile-phones in most cases are attached close to the midconsole,
where, in the turbo case, one of the ECU resides

About 5 years ago, while I had my first GSM, I suffered alot of interference
on my HiFi system at home, as soon as someone tried to reach me on the
GSM, causing kinda staccato buzzing sound heard through the speakers
To solve this I put socalled 'ferrite-rings' around each and every lead/wire
close to the amplifier and close to each speaker
Ferrite-rings are common use on computers and PC's, because of their
sensitivity

So there, since we have a couple of computers in the 480, maybe worth a try
to put those rings around the wiring loom close to the CEM,ECU etc.
Does it make any sense? Electronic ppl among us any ideas?

Trivia: what is the total length of all wiring used in the 480?

Sergio480GT · Post by **Sergio480GT** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 7:37 am

My german 1995 owner's manual does not mention anything about problems that might arise using a GSM in the car...
Actually, I have been using various GSM cellphones in my 480 since I own the car (3 years now) - and never experienced any problems (although I know very well about the interference you mentioned with your home stereo - but no such thing in my 480...)
And, what's more: Various Volvo catalogues mention the possibility of mounting a car-phone in the 480, and my original Volvo-CD-radio even has a "phone / mute" line-in - this makes me think that using a cellphone in the 480 should be no problem at all!!

Frantic · Post by **Frantic** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 1:52 pm

Well, in that case it must be with the older 480's
prior to '90(?)
I bought my former '86 in '93
And I'm pretty sure it was mentioned
Anyone with an 80ies model and original manual?

No doubt that later models have certain circuit protection built-in in their revised electronics, otherwise it's quite ridiculous, certainly for nowadays Volvos

But not so in the air traffic
Dunno if all, but certain airline companies forbid the use of GSMs, while in air

dragon · Post by **dragon** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 5:04 pm

I've had no problems with mobile phones in any of my 480s, which inlcudes 2 x 1989 and 2 x 1995 models...

There's no reason for a mobile phone to interfere with most common
electronics to be honest - mobile phones only use radio waves in the UHF wavelength - they are NOT in the microwave length, as many sceptics will have you believe...

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Sun Mar 14, 2004 8:16 pm

... and not that it's relevant as far as the GSM frequencies go, but I've also got a fitted bluetooth car-kit installed in my '93 480ES, and I've mounted the bluetooth receiver (little black box) which interfaces with the microphone and speakers, right next to the CEM behind the glovebox. I'm not sure what frequencies the bluetooth protocol uses to commincate, but it doesn't cause the CEM electronics any problems from interference.

Ben.