Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsWOW! Technology in an old car!
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2019
I use Alexa in my house all the time and when I recently purchased a vintage 1994 Mercedes sl500, I lost my technology. No more Bluetooth, not even an aux port and no cup holders (Yikes!). This car still has a cassette player in the radio. Since I want to keep the car original, I started looking for Bluetooth alternatives. I found lots of cigarette lighter devices that can connect via the FM side of the radio. I found one on a stalk that had decent reviews so I purchased that one. Then I found out it didn't interfaces with the phone assistant. Hoping I could use the Alexa app. No go so I looked again and found one from the same company the did support assistants. Almost bought that one and then found this device with Alexa built in. Yahoo!. Got it it.
Got the package and it was very nice. Very easy install, just plug it into the cigarette lighter. Download the Roav Viva app, follow the on screen instructions, set the FM channel and off you go. I was dubious at first. I have had FM transmitters in the past and they never worked very well. This works very well. The quality of playing music over the Bose system in the car is as good as direct FM. But the best thing is, I have my Alexa back. She is the only female I can tell her what to do and she does it. Hey, I have a wife and 6 daughters. The nice thing about having Alexa built in to the device is, I can just talk. The other devices, you have to click and hold the call button for up to 5 seconds to wake up the assistant and then there can be a pause before you can ask your question. This is fast. Just say Alexa, wait a second or two for the boing, state what you want and she does it.
Obviously it is not all roses. You are connected to a cell phone and subject to the vagaries of that system. Driving around town there are dead spots and your music will cut off. A few seconds later, it will come back on. In this car, if you turn off the motor, the power goes off to the cigarette lighter leaving static on the radio. Other cars will behave differently. I found out though, if you are listening to Amazon prime or Pandora and just cut the power, you have to tell Alexa to play again when you reconnect. If I tell her to Pause before I turn off, all I have to do is tell Alexa to Resume when I reconnect. BTW, the reconnect is automatic and fast. Only a few seconds and your going again.
I have a 60 mile commute to my work which I haven't done yet due to the holidays. When I do that a few times, I will update with a long term use test. So far, this has worked perfectly. I have played local FM radio channels via the Alexa skills, Amazon Prime music and Pandora. The one Major complaint that I have with the Roav Viva is they do not support Spotify. Their booklet says coming soon. It better. I don't know if it is a Spotify thing or a Roav thing, but they need to get their act together.
Now, I need to buy another one to put in my wife's Yukon. Well, maybe not. I think she is jealous.
