BT45-HON Installed and Evaluating

Mepperly · Feb 19, 2015

I just installed a BT45-HON from Autospec in my 2008 Odyssey with XM. The installation was interesting in that I had to find the XM radio behind the spare tire in the back and route the microphone cable from there all the way to the front. I am starting a new thread to ping the community for experience and thoughts regarding the BT45-HON. So far it performs as advertised with bluetooth phone calls, texting and audio streaming. I had a Parrot and wasn't too happy with it - I was actually a little happy that it died (right on scheduled according to my research). The BT45-HON appears to be a little easier to use but I don't know about its reliability. I've seen some complaints about the BT35 and none regarding the BT45 in this forum so I am cautiously optimistic.

If someone gets one and wants to discuss installation, let me know.

Thanks,
Mep

blakeas · Feb 25, 2015

I have a parrott that died - I had it installed professionally about 5 years ago (2009 EXL) so I would like to install the Honda equivalent. would appreciate instructions on how to take the parrot out and install what you have done. Thanks!

maxgrey · Mar 5, 2015

Thanks for posting.

Looking forward to hearing how the kit performs

I just went over the install instructions on the College Hills website. One question, I am interested in knowing where/how did you route the microfone wire. I need to ensure the wire doesn't show in order to get wife approval

Thanks

maxgrey · Mar 10, 2015

one additional question, does the unit support pairing with multiple phones? ie. my phone and my wife's phone paired simultaneously if we are both in the car at same time?
thanks

jimmyt · Apr 30, 2015

I just installed a BT45-Hon3 on our 09 ex-l /w/ res. Picked it up for $140 from College Hills Honda via ebay. I chose to install it at the radio instead of the XM tuner as we didn't care if we had the display or not. If you install it at the XM tuner you get text display - song info and caller id. Installation at the radio and you lose the text display. It will display song time. The sound quality is quite good. In my opinion it is better than the AUX input we were using.

I ended up putting it in the "upper glove box" for the time being. It may stay there or I may mount it behind the dash.. Just not sure yet. It fits in many places under there so I am not sure if I will leave it. The most abundant option is to mount it somewhere on the hvac ducts. Not sure how what would fare with the hot / cold air blowing. Probably would be fine. There are many places depending on how much of the dash / cup holders you want to remove. I did mine after work so I just removed the radio and dash panel with the hvac controls.

I cut a small hole in the removable cover thats on the left side of the box and ran the wire thru to the area behind the radio. If you install it at the radio you need to use the longer cable so there is some cable management that needs done - its a long thick cable. Putting the unit behind the radio is difficult because of the length of the cable and the lack of room.

It will automatically switch the radio the the BT45 when a call comes in no matter what source you were on (AM/FM/XM..) However, when you end the call you need to manually switch back to whatever source you were on. The sound is decent for caller on the other line. For the time being, the mic is mounted on the instrument cluster. I am going to experiment with different locations. There is 16 feet of mic cable, so you have plenty of options.

From what I understand, you lose the XM1 presets as well as some of the channel up / down functionality if you install it before the XM tuner. Cant verify that though.

So far its been worth it and you can only connect 1 phone at a time. I have it paired with both of our cell phones, but only 1 can connect at a time.

maxgrey · Jun 6, 2015

ok, just purchased the unit off eBay. I am on a 2007 EXL RES w/NAV
looking at the previous posts and Mepperly says xm tuner is on the driver's side (left?) and the USA Spec directions say it is on the 'right rear quarter panel'? can anyone validate please?

i was looking at some videos removing the rear quarter (the ones for trailer wiring show how to ) i'd rather not do all that work to find out the tuner is on the other side... trying to improve my odds here...

jimmyt · Jun 8, 2015

Hopefully you can read this.. but in an 09 its behind the left or drivers side rear trim just "north" of the spare tire.

maxgrey · Jun 9, 2015

thanks JimmyT !!! greatly appreciated

dvpatel · Jun 9, 2015

Please post back on how the install goes.

ti-ben · Jun 9, 2015

I was one of the first to get the bt45 last fall when it came out. I like it so far it works really good, better than the factory Bluetooth in my 15 accord.

The only thing I hate about it is the lady shouting CONNECTED every time you start the engine. If anyone knows how to get rid of it I would give the system a 9/10.

maxgrey · Jun 20, 2015

well finally got to it today. so sharing some knowledge.

jimmyt diagrams were invaluable !!! thanks again jimmyt

sound guality is great, both for phone calls and music, (I am not an audiophile streaming music from amazon to test) very pleased with that - using iphone

Instalation tips: (connecting at the XM receiver)
i have a 2007 EXL Nav ; couple of things:
- I had to remove the anchor for the seatbelts (left 2, 3rd rows) in order to pull out the panel, 14mm socket required. you may not need to pull out the whole panel actually so the 2nd row seatbelt may not be necessariy after all.
Also couple of gotcha's: unplug the 12 power outlet in the trunk section and the cable for the aux jacks below the arm rest panel as soon as you get rear portion loose.
Also you need to take out the cover of the 3rd row seat hinge in order to pull the panel out.

took me some time because i could not find the xm receiver and started to have doubts (USA SPEC is wrong) as to its location for the EXLnav till i finally figured it out. it was hidden behind the white vapor barrier.

i ended putting the bluetooth receiver behind the jack so i can continue to experiment with the switches another day

microphone: I ran the wire all the way to the sliding door opening behind the panel that we just removed (at the floor level) and then put the wire along where the panels and the carpets meet, it was easiest way i could find. with a screwdriver, push wire carefully under the trim. ,Sometimes it is easier to just push carpet down and there will be enough space to slide the wire under the plastic pieces. Then up behind steering wheel column and put microphone where the instrument panel is. Audio is good, have not yet attached it permanently, playing around with other locations, but being black it does not stick out on the base of the instrument panel so that may become its final resting place...

Now onto operations two main options
Option 1: text display no controls (just as described on the USA Spec manual however no steering wheel control)
if I follow the manual (switches 1, 3 on) the xm displays work great, song, artist, however the steering wheel controls do not work (nor do the ones on the radio). you can still answer by accepting call on the phone and audio will play thru the car

Option 2: not 'official' (i.e. manufacturer instructions dont list this) option for when plugging to XM; no text display, steering wheels control working, all switches on. this is a bit disappointing but the default mode for my wife is map so no big deal.

functionally: lose the text display but the channel +/- do work to answer/hangup. The LCD display reads "CD4 D-7" while streaming audio but no info. On the nav screen (if you go to audio mode), it shows a weird "EXT" setting on the far right, past aux.
The XM capability is lost (i am not a subscriber, used it for free preview only), the XM button on the dash basically is rendered useless and the option does not appear at all on the big screen (nav screen) when in audio
In order to put it on the bluetooth audio streaming, i have to press the DVD/AUX to select either the dvd or aux at which point the LCD display turns on the 'CD4 D-7' which is bluetooth mode.

I did try to experiment with other configuration of the dip switches (randomly, all off, only 1 on, etc.but either did not work or nothing better than the previous mode described)

so finally decided on option 2.

if anyone has figured any other ways to put the switches (connected to the XM receiver) please share

maxgrey · Jun 20, 2015

tl-ben
I am reading your post and now I am wondering if my unit is defective. (although mine seems to work same as jimmyt described)

can you get the music text to display and also the steering wheels controls working at same time? so far i can only have one or the depending on the switch configuration i select, but never both simulataneously....

ti-ben · Jun 23, 2015

Same for me, I also use what you described as solution 2.

It's great and I don't mind that much the fact it doesn't display the info. If I want to know the name of the song it's displayed on my phone even when it is locked.

I'll try get the "connected" turned off, I didn't know you had options that could be set differently other than the dip switched.

maxgrey · Jun 20, 2015

tl-ben,

on the manual on page 12, there are some instructions in terms of enabling /disabling voice prompts, its cryptic so wont try to reproduce it here, i have not tried it yet. it may onlybe for the caller ID, not sure if it will turn off the 'connected'

chusteveb · Jul 28, 2015

I have a 2007 EXL Nav/RES and an active XM radio that I use regularly.

For a bluetooth hands free solution I tried the GTA Pure Bluetooth kit as I was very happy with their iPod/AUX solution for my MDX. Unfortunately for the Odyssey, GTA's Pure BT kit wasn't what I was looking for so onto the BT45-HON3.

Install was simple thanks to previous posts on this tread. I installed it similar to how maxgrey did his install with the module accessible behind the jack compartment door. Only thing different would be that I routed the mic from the rear, along the floor forward, at the drivers seat belt up that pillar, and behind the headliner over to the center overhead console where it is stuck onto the headliner. Very clean install, no 3.5mm aux input ran.

For the dip switch settings and options, it is a little unclear as to which way to go since the instructions call for either option 1 with the vehicle equipped with a "XM/Aux" button or option 2 "CD/AUX" button and my Odyssey was neither of those. However having a "DVD/Aux" button instead I decided to treat it in the same manner as the XM/Aux option described in the manual. Unlike maxgrey and ti-ben I opted to use this first solution described by maygrey in post #11 so switches 1,3 on and 2,4 off. I am reporting the following from this option setup.

I am able to confirm that you loose XM1 functions as it is taken over by the BT45-HON3. Having an active XM subscription I noticed this immediately as the module rearrange the presets for XM1 numbering them from 1-6. Preset 4 and 6 are the only functions used, 4 for BT streaming and 6 for the 3.5mm AUX input which I am not using. XM2 presets remain functional but shows a little delay between selecting presets and showing song info. The things to note is that there is no steering wheel functions whatsoever. To answer calls, change song tracks, transfer calls to and from your device to the handsfree, all have to be performed at the head unit itself with the tune up and down function. For my 2007 Odyssey EXL Nav/RES this requires taking the very right knob and turning it to the right one click at a time clockwise or counter clockwise, depending on the desired function. This is the single and only control for the BT45-HON3 on my 2007 Odyssey. However I'm totally fine with it! At this time I get all the song/ title/ info/ caller id/ call active/ disconnected... etc. all displayed on my radio. And if audio is selected for the nav screen all info is displayed there as well. I also can answer calls, hang up on calls, deny calls, select the next song, and select the previous song, all with a single turn of the very right knob clockwise or counter clockwise.

maxgrey and ti-ben, you guys may want to give this setting a try and report back your experience. So far I'm happy! Call and audio quality is great, control is fine, ease of use is simple, and all information is displayed as described.

dabells · Nov 26, 2016

Thanks to everyone for their input. My BT45 unit went in easily. Plugged it into the XM receiver behind the spare tire. Ran the microphone wire up the side, through the dash, and up the A pillar. Microphone quality is really good. I think it's even better than my new Ford with sync. I wish the steering wheel controls worked but that's ok. Not sure why but it connects to my phone first versus my wife's and it's her van.

matttaggart · May 11, 2018

This forum post is great! Based on the info here I ordered a bt45-hon for my '08 EX-L and installed it near the existing XM receiver. Removing the right rear panel was quite a bit of work, the whole process took a couple hours. I chose to run the mic up by the steering column and mount in front of the instrument cluster.

Thanks for the good info!

whitejt55 · Oct 6, 2018

I have a 2010 Ody EXL without navigation/RES but with XM.

Install was easier due to this thread and JimmyT's diagrams. I installed it at the XM tuner and used Solution #2 where all dip switches are on. It works ok, but here are couple annoyances:

1. The volume is much lower than in radio or cd mode to the point where I'm concerned about blowing out a speaker if I don't turn the volume down before I swithch from the XM mode.

2. The right side speakers volume is very low and it sounds like the all the sound is coming from the right (passenger) side speakers.

Has anyone else had these problems?

Thanks,
JT

MOWHIZ · Nov 6, 2019

I installed mine over this weekend - I have the RES/NAV and an active XM Subscription. Also had to remove the rear seat belt anchor the get the rear panel off that contains the donut spare - I ran the mic line and placed it right to the left the rear view mirror. Set the switches to 1 and 3 on and 2 and 4 off. Once synced to it and tested it took 1 set of presets on XM 1 - the bluetooth streaming was clear and call quality is fine - also display on the NAV/Radio title and track when streaming - also shows and announce incoming phone call /number. Nice to have the integration.

BT45-HON Installed and Evaluating

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