So, recently (before I replaced my interface module) I started having some Bluetooth interference issues with my phone and headset. This really only affects the headset.

Basically how it starts:
I get in the car, the Bluetooth of he car will not pair to my phone (Samsung S8). I will need to go through the manual connect button twice to attempt to my phone. After this the phone will be connected fine and not be an issue.

Later I will use my Bluetooth headset (Plantronics Voyager) to call someone. During the call the connection to the other person will "drop" as if the cell signal is switching towers on a back road. It'll do this every 10seconds or so.

I thought I had this figured out several times by doing the below:
-Shift the head unit to radio and, once a signal is received, turn it off. Then make phone call.
-Turn on headset before cranking car so headset connects to the phone before the car (maybe a priority issue?).
-Re-pair the headset 3x
-Re-pair the phone and car 3x
-Go to Bluetooth settings of car so it passively connects to phone (s)
-Dont Turn on headset until WAY later and on a back road/main road and not in parking lot at work.
-Ensure headset is fully charged (I notice it more when battery low, but it still happens when battery high).

I think the initial connection issue to my phone and headset call quality are related because if the phone initially fails to connect then the headset will sound terrible. I've tested this by driving a different car for several weeks and the issue never occurred on the same driving route.

Also the phone is well charged (>50%, today when it happened it was at 75%).

Any other ideas on what to try?

 

When I had an older Google Pixel device (it was about 4-5 years old), after updates/patches, the Bluetooth connection to my GS was intermittently bad. After I got a newer android device, i've never had an issue with the connection. Do you have any way to try a different/newer android device?

Also, try restarting your phone right before it connects to the car. I've noticed that a reboot of the device tends to keep the OS and the software "fresh."

 

Do you still need your car to accept.phone calls?

​​Maybe try only having the car do media, and your headset only do phone calls?

 

Interesting, but my S8 is circa 2018, so hopefully all the Bluetooth versions are matching up and it should be good. There's only been 2 firmware updates to this thing. And I bought the car in July, up until around December it was fine, so this is a recent thing really.

And no, I don't have a newer android device to try... I'm kind of one of those nostalgic hold on to old tech guys. I do have a newer iPhone from work that may be worth a shot. It could be the headset going out. My experience with voyagers is that they're are a yearly purchase nearly... with all the one's I've washed accidentally and/or living in the car year-round. I'll try the reboot first... that's cheaper.

That's an idea, it could be some sort of buffer filling up. My headset has had issues in the past before and a reboot usually sorts that. I'll try that over the next few weeks and see.
Already have it set up like that. Bluetooth is just for the music, headset is for talking.

 

I had a S8 for work a few years back. Connected it with my GS and ES. It was more solid connecting and using than my iphone. Pissed me off too because the S8 would give me messages on the car screen and voice talk them both, ways also where the iphone would not. I think as you said you have a Headset issue.

If was me I would leave the Headset home, and see if you still have the car to S8 problems you mentioned. Also one other thing. Did you go in and Delete any previous owners old Bluethooth connections?

 

Could be due to the cold. Spring is around the corner and hopefully it stops dropping out as the weather gets warmer.

 

I did go and delete all other bluetooth entries. it was the first thing I did when I got the car in July. The headset being the issue though doesn't really clarify another symptom I have, which is while connected and having this issue when I put the car in radio mode, then "off" the car will still show it is connecting and then disconnecting from the phone while I'm on the call. When my call connection is crap I'll look at the display and viola! Disconnected, connected, disconnected, connected. Which is why I set the car to passively connect... but it seems one of the three doesn't want to maintain the connection.

Lately here in the Carolinas it's been in the 50s in the morning and mid 70s in the afternoon. It's happened back to back the last two days while it was warm out. Sometimes it was fine though even though it'd be 30-40 all day. I get what you mean. It could even be a humidity issue in the headset or it's just bad. Again, it's a year old and could be getting glitchy and causing connectivity issues to the car to the phone somehow.

 

Did you try different versions in Bluetooth version in settings? Try switch to older version to see if it helps.

Like mine, I have to use 1.3 to get my car to show the metadata when playing music thru my phone.

 

That's really interesting. I didn't know that was a thing. I am currently using 1.4.

I cleared all my Bluetooth devices and re-paired my phone today (after a restart didn't work) AND turned on phone calls and media between the phone and car. He car is still passively connecting though. I did this after restarting my phone this morning before driving and this afternoon before driving.... to no avail.

I also wear a Fitbit sense. It also gets stupid and stops talking to my phone sometimes. This is the 4-5th time this month it's simply stayed disconnected all day because it's messed up again (and this is why I hate updating firmware because it's ALWAYS without bugs, right?). I'll let it be stupid for a couple more days, then I'll just switch to my Tissot for a week. If it clears up then, well, I guess I'm going to work in style from now on.

 

I don't think firmware update messed up the Bluetooth. Did you try different Bluetooth versions?

If you don't want your car receives phone call, turn it off in the Bluetooth settings.




Also do you happen to have a phone case with chrome plating around the edge?

 

Sometimes they will as far as Bluetooth security, or Android OS updates will interlock some Bluetooth connections. Even though the hardware is the same, the firmware may be different and allow different features or other background stuff.
See above posts.

Certainly not, it's a pretty thin plastic one with some rubberized edges.

 

That's really sad your phone Bluetooth doesn't work the way it supposed to.

 

If car, headset, and your smart watch all seem to have problems retaining connection to you phone, then it seems to point to something on your phone.

Maybe try clearing the Bluetooth cache. It'll clear everything and seems to be different than just unpairing. It looks to be allowable for Samsung phones. It's item 8 here:
​​​​​​https://www.samsung.com/us/support/t...g/TSG01209182/

1. To do this, open Settings, and then swipe to and tap Apps.
2. Tap the Sort icon (the down arrow with three vertical bars), then tap Show system apps.
3. Tap OK and all the system apps will appear in the list
​​list.
4. Tap Bluetooth, tap Storage, and then tap Clear data. Tap OK to confirm.

EDIT:
I just noticed your radio interface looks different than mine.
Either way, I don't know if yours does it, but mine shows a phone that's crossed out whenever phone is disabled. I know you said you already did it. But I was trying to see how system behaved with a headset connected (only set up to Phone) and head unit set up to media.


​​​​​

 

I did find one thing interesting when I got home.... my car was connected/selected to my personal phone for my music, but for phone calls it was connected/selected to my work phone... which was about 200' from me 2 buildings away and currently OFF.

So I've cleared out my saved devices again and only have my phone. This time I'll leave my S8 connected for calls/messages/media (the full monte) and see how that goes then. Leave it a week or so, then take away the phone call stuff.

I know it does, but I hope it isn't still. I'll try the cache clearing if the above doesn't work. 1 step at a time.

I've got a '14. Mine shows a "smart phone" mp3 player little block that's crossed out if the phone isn't connected.

 

Good approach on one at a time. Bluetooth in general can be funky. Hope one of the items works out.