2012 Honda Pilot Touring: Initiating phone calls using voice tags: Can anyone do it?

[SpokaneJim]

We are having problems with initiating a phone call using assigned voice tags to phone numbers stored in our speed dial numbers. Is anyone experiencing the same, or can actually use the system as described below? (2012 owners in particular, but perhaps late 2011 owners as well?)

We recently purchased a 2012 Honda Pilot Touring. We are the initial owners of this brand new vehicle. While going through the dealer checkout / familiarization of the vehicle, this problem cropped up.

The Details:
We successfully pared the Pilot’s Bluetooth HandsfreeLink system with my wife’s iPhone 4 running IOS 5.0 and populated the phonebook. We were also successful assigning three phone numbers from the phone book as speed dial numbers, in the process successfully assigning each of them a voice tag. However, we have not been successful at initiating a call using the voice activation system by saying for example “Call Jim’s Cell Phone” where “Jim’s Cell Phone” is one of the assigned voice tag names. On a subsequent trip to the dealer to continue to work through such problems, our dealer told us that Honda took away this feature on new Pilots and Odysseys. Instead, they said one can now only refer to the priority number assigned to the phone number on the speed dial listing when initiating a call with voice activation. Example, to call the second phone number on your speed dial listing, you need to say “Call Two”. This does not make any sense to me since the owners manual (page 477) specifically states you can use custom assigned voice tags. Also, what good is allowing you to assign a voice tag, but then not use it? The manual also specifically says to not use short voice tags such as the word “home”. (Page 478) Isn’t “one” or “two” shorter than “home”?

Can any 2012 Pilot (or Odyssey) owners with the Bluetooth HandsFreeLink system reading this make voice activated calls using custom voice tags as we have unsuccessfully tried to do as described above? Or can anyone corroborate the reason for our difficulties as the dealer told us? FYI, neither of the methods worked (either the “Call Jim’s Cell Phone” or “Call One” methods.) I fear our dealer is starting a run-around on the issue. Please help me prove him wrong if it is indeed the case.

[LanceHS]

I have a 2012 EX-L Nav and I can use voice tags with my iPhone running iOS 4.2.1. From the Nav Phone Display, I can basically say "Call Home" and the system will find the associated number and ask if I want to make the call. So, short tags will work. I would suggest that voice tags be recorded while somewhat facing the overhead microphone. That may help. Also, I have heard of quirks with iOS 5 and the Honda Bluetooth HandFreeLink system...it "could" be related to slight compatibility issues with the more recent revision of Bluetooth embedded in iOS 5 versus the Honda version. As a test, you could perhaps pair another Bluetooth phone to your Pilot and see if voice tagging works with that one.

[AcuMarino]

I no longer use the Nav to direct my iPhone, I've been using either the native iPhone voice control or Siri (4S) via the Bluetooth. I had issues download my address book, so I use this technique to access my phone book and messages.


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[SpokaneJim]

After much time today, I finally came up with something that works to allow me to initiate phone calls by voice. Here is what worked for me:

From any screen (map screen, audio screen, phone screen, etc.):
1) press the talk button and say "Call"
2) press the talk button and say the voice tag associated with the speed dial number you are trying to call.
3) press the talk button and say "Dial"

Is it just me, or should this be MUCH simpler? Even the instruction manual says all you should do is say "call 'voice tag' " after pushing the talk button. Do any of you successfully make handsfree calls using this simpler way???

[LanceHS]

Yep...takes me 3 steps from any screen but the phone screen to place a call...I agree that is really not user friendly...our '08 Accord has a call initiate button where the Pilot's pickup button is on the steering wheel and it only takes 2 steps to call a number using a voice tag...I was a little confused at first trying to place calls with the Pilot until I realized they took away that capability...


Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

[LanceHS]

To clarify:

If you are already on the Phone Screen, it is two steps (page 167 in the Navigation manual):
1) Call (voice tag), then
2) Confirm selection (Dial)

The 3 steps you indicated are required from any screen other than the Phone Screen (page 479 in the Owner's manual). If you tap the pickup button on the steering wheel, it will take you to the Phone Screen.

And, yep, if anyone knows of a better way, that would be great.

Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

[1YESfan]

I get my bodyguard to make my calls. ;-) Too much technology is too much trouble at times. I like to think of my vehicle as an escape.

[Flyguy405]

I push the "phone" button on the steering and it prompts me for the tag. Then it dials it. I had to setup the tags on the Honda BT and not on my phone.