Database Users

[Q] Bluetooth on Nexus 4 woes

Trying to connect the N4 to a car Bluetooth audio (2012 model car, relatively new, only 9 months old).
(1) I had a very hard time getting the two paired: lots of "connection failed" attempts until they finally connected.
(2) The phone does not send artist/track info which is surprising as I have an older LG phone running Android 2.3.4 and that sends all the info.
(3) Without any music being streamed to the car audio, if I make a phone call via the car bluetooth, when the call ends the music player on the N4 starts automatically. This is very annoying, not sure if it's a problem with the car implementation sending a "play" command at the end of the call or the N4 doing something weird. I tend to blame the N4 as two other phones, an iPhone and the older LG mentioned above do not do this.
(4) The car has a play/pause toggle that it can send to the bluetooth player. Pause works, the player on the N4 pauses, but then play doesn't work, I have to hit play on the device.
(5) After I use bluetooth on the N4, I find that sometimes the widget toggle can no longer turn bluetooth on/off until I reboot the phone.
(6) After I use bluetooth on the N4, the phone sometimes randomly reboots. Not sure if it's really related or just a coincidence. Given (5) above I suspect something is going on.
Anyone else having such a hard time with the bluetooth part? Potential hardware issue or simply buggy software that we can hope to get addressed at some point?

I have experienced the issue with track information not being sent. Also random changes in volume during playback. Seems there's still some work that needs to be done in 4.2 regarding blue tooth.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk HD

sirxdroid said:
(2) The phone does not send artist/track info which is surprising as I have an older LG phone running Android 2.3.4 and that sends all the info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this an issue that can be addressed by flashing a custom ROM or perhaps using a different music player than stock or is there more to it, deep down in the bluetooth drivers and it would need a fix from Google in the form of new drivers?

Yeah I have had a few issues too. My track/artist/album names do not send where my S2 sends them. Also the headunit I have has buttons for shuffle and repeat and these do not show up at all (I assume because it detects they aren't supported). I haven't taken a call yet or tried turning BT off after streaming but I'll give it a shot and see.. My nexus 4 also randomly shuts down for no apparent reason sometimes (rarely atm). I think it's just 4.2.1 problems - I doubt a different music app will fix it (I tried one), custom ROM may work though..

My N4 is paired with an Alpine 135BT and it's worked very well so far. I initially had some trouble connecting but once they were paired I didn't have any additional connection issues. The N4 does automatically play as soon as it connects to the unit. I've got BeyondPod and Spotify installed and for whatever reason it always defaults to BeyondPod instead of Spotify even if I had BeyondPod closed and Spotify open. Not a big deal to me though.
Are you running the stock rom or a custom rom? I had my EVO LTE hooked up to the same head unit. It worked perfectly on the stock software but gave me all kinds of trouble when I started using custom roms. Otherwise, it could just be that the N4 and your particular head unit just don't play nicely together.

sirxdroid said:
Trying to connect the N4 to a car Bluetooth audio (2012 model car, relatively new, only 9 months old).
(1) I had a very hard time getting the two paired: lots of "connection failed" attempts until they finally connected.
(2) The phone does not send artist/track info which is surprising as I have an older LG phone running Android 2.3.4 and that sends all the info.
(3) Without any music being streamed to the car audio, if I make a phone call via the car bluetooth, when the call ends the music player on the N4 starts automatically. This is very annoying, not sure if it's a problem with the car implementation sending a "play" command at the end of the call or the N4 doing something weird. I tend to blame the N4 as two other phones, an iPhone and the older LG mentioned above do not do this.
(4) The car has a play/pause toggle that it can send to the bluetooth player. Pause works, the player on the N4 pauses, but then play doesn't work, I have to hit play on the device.
(5) After I use bluetooth on the N4, I find that sometimes the widget toggle can no longer turn bluetooth on/off until I reboot the phone.
(6) After I use bluetooth on the N4, the phone sometimes randomly reboots. Not sure if it's really related or just a coincidence. Given (5) above I suspect something is going on.
Anyone else having such a hard time with the bluetooth part? Potential hardware issue or simply buggy software that we can hope to get addressed at some point?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(1) Haven't had any connection issues so far on my vehicle or my wife's.
(2) Currently stock Android uses AVCR v1.0 which only only allows you to control via Bluetooth (play, pause, etc) but not send track info. Other manufactures that customize Android (LG, Samsung, etc) will sometimes use v1.3 that supports track info. That's why your old phone did it.
You could install a custom Rom that has v1.3. I think cm10 does.
(3) Again, not happening on my two cars. The only time the music starts after a call is if it was playing before the call. I'm wondering if you have another music/podcast player that is taking over Bluetooth controls and causing problems. I use the stock player and Player Pro. If I don't disable the headset/BT controls in Player Pro I have control issues.
(4) I have the same issue. To get around this I cheat and push the track advance button on the radio to play the next track.
(5) This is an issue I've had on all of my previous android phones. I haven't noticed I my N4 because I never toggle off Bluetooth anymore.
(6) Not having this problem but maybe try solution in (3).
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

got the sony mw600 for bluetooth audio.. no id tags on display.. on every musicplayer (play music, poweramp, cm musicplayer..) the same.
dont know why, but today even the start/stop, forward and prev. buttons didnt work! the only thing i can use is volume control..
anyone an idea?

Any luck with this?
I want to buy one but couldn't find it in Sri Lanka so planning to order one via ebay & need to check if it works. Running cyanogen mod 10, heard that the bluetooth stack was updated on CM which supports most of the features since stock rom only has older stack version which can have issues!
clsmn said:
got the sony mw600 for bluetooth audio.. no id tags on display.. on every musicplayer (play music, poweramp, cm musicplayer..) the same.
dont know why, but today even the start/stop, forward and prev. buttons didnt work! the only thing i can use is volume control..
anyone an idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

dark5un0 said:
... that the bluetooth stack was updated on CM which supports most of the features since stock rom only has older stack version ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
using the actual cm10.1 nightly with franco r53

Wow, maybe I'll wait for a few weeks & see if it works out for you..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

dark5un0 said:
Wow, maybe I'll wait for a few weeks & see if it works out for you..
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well.. Sound and controll works.. even headset-function works for telephone calls.. only thing not working now is id for tracks

Awesome! Thanks for the reply! I hope it worked out soon!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

I also have the track name issue. This is a massive let down. I like to just get in my car and flip through tracks with my phone in my pocket. My iPhone did this, my s3 did this. Why not the nexus 4? Come on Google. Sort it out

TrickyTree1984 said:
I also have the track name issue. This is a massive let down. I like to just get in my car and flip through tracks with my phone in my pocket. My iPhone did this, my s3 did this. Why not the nexus 4? Come on Google. Sort it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my impression is that almost nothing involving Bluetooth functions as it should currently on the N4. I can't even get a mouse to work. what a shambles! it's not as if BT is some new technology. this all better get sorted out in 4.2.2.

If I'm not mistaken Google moved to a new Broadcom b/t stack. Yeah, good move! And I agree, b/t has been around for like what at least 10 years now? You'd think that getting track info should be a given by now. I have a crappy old LG phone running Gingerbread and it has no issues at all.

Bluetooth
When I got the N4, I connected my helmet headset to it and everything seems to work fine. My headset supports ad2p music and phone. Both connected and both worked, including play controls. Not sure about the audio quality, I didn't test it long enough After I flashed Jellybro (CM 10.1 Kang) Music connects, but phone goes on a connect/disconnect loop. Audio needs further testing, can't tell if the left side is off because of the bluetooth or not. Controls work most of the time, every now and again playback will decide to pause itself and sometimes the play command doesn't work. Haven't had a chance to flash stock CM 10.1 nightly yet either.

Play/Pause Works Inconsistently
Has anyone had this issue?
I am on stock 4.2.2, I connect with my car stereo no problems. I use to be able to just hit play/pause on my car stereo and it would just play music from Google Music. Now, sometimes when I hit the play/pause button on my stereo, it won't play. I have to manually hit play from my phone. After initially doing that, then I can hit play/pause and the control is there. I haven't had the problem since I got my phone on Nov 14th, this issue just started to happen. I notice this after installing Light Manager, but I have uninstalled it and still the issue is there. It is inconsistent, but the issue is more often than not.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Just reiterating, stock Android does not show artist/track info, it is not in the protocol, but you can skip tracks or go back to previous tracks. If it is important to you, you should root and get a custom ROM, not sure which ones for N4 has it though, been too happy with stock to root.

About time, Google:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...vrcp-1-3-coming-to-android-with-api-level-18/

Is anyone else having problems wit Bluetooth audio streaming in car? My music sounds like it's speed up a tiny bit. Kinda like chipmunks voices. Is this a ROM issue?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Q: Default bluetooth profiles

Previously i had an S3 that would automatically connect call audio and media to my 11 wrx. This worked perfectly as i listen to pandora on my way to and from work.
My new s4 only automatically connects the call audio and not media. I have to manually connect the media everytjme the car turns on.
Is there any way to change these defaults?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

bluemax189 said:
Previously i had an S3 that would automatically connect call audio and media to my 11 wrx. This worked perfectly as i listen to pandora on my way to and from work.
My new s4 only automatically connects the call audio and not media. I have to manually connect the media everytjme the car turns on.
Is there any way to change these defaults?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm having similar issues. I cannot change the default profiles and the phone doesn't autoconnect at all. If I turn off the bluetooth and turn it on, the media will connect.
On my Galaxy Nexus I had no issues, both profile boxes were checked and the phone would connect to hpne and media as soon as I turned the car on.
This is frustrating because one of the primary uses for my phone is music in the car and I really love the way the bluetooth works with calls in the car.

^so any ideas on a fix?

bluemax189 said:
^so any ideas on a fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the opposite - connects to Media but not to phone

I also have a 2011 Subaru WRX and have difficulty with my SGS4 auto connecting. As stated by the original post, upon turning on my car, my phone connects the "phone" portion and not the "media." Any help would be appreciated as this is quite annoying. I was previously with an HTC DNA...which auto connected with ease in both aspects, yet didn't display song data. Now, my situation is reversed in a sense...haha....

subiescott77 said:
I also have a 2011 Subaru WRX and have difficulty with my SGS4 auto connecting. As stated by the original post, upon turning on my car, my phone connects the "phone" portion and not the "media." Any help would be appreciated as this is quite annoying. I was previously with an HTC DNA...which auto connected with ease in both aspects, yet didn't display song data. Now, my situation is reversed in a sense...haha....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe the issue is actually with the car. I have a 2013 Subaru Legacy

I'm sure your setup is the same as mine but thought I'd share. I never touched the settings when I first paired the phone to my '12 civic.

bobbydsiu said:
I'm sure your setup is the same as mine but thought I'd share. I never touched the settings when I first paired the phone to my '12 civic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have this but not automatically, I must manually pair first

subiescott77 said:
I also have a 2011 Subaru WRX and have difficulty with my SGS4 auto connecting. As stated by the original post, upon turning on my car, my phone connects the "phone" portion and not the "media." Any help would be appreciated as this is quite annoying. I was previously with an HTC DNA...which auto connected with ease in both aspects, yet didn't display song data. Now, my situation is reversed in a sense...haha....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome another suby driver! I have a 12 sti.
Sorry I dont have a good answer for you other than the stock headunit is a pile. I pulled mine out a week after owning the car.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

bobbydsiu said:
I'm sure your setup is the same as mine but thought I'd share. I never touched the settings when I first paired the phone to my '12 civic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After manually connecting by hitting both those checkboxes repeatedly, it will eventually look like that.

[Q] Hands free bluetooth issues (Merc B Class)

Hi all
Sorry if there is another thread with this already but I am at the end of my tether!
I have a Galaxy S4 with Android 4.2.2 and am having problems when paired to my Merc B200 with Audio 20.
I believe this may be a common problem but I just need confirmation from someone in the know.
ISSUE:
I can pair with the head unit no problems, but when I make and receive calls, there is no audio. Apparently the other end can hear me, but I am unable to hear them.
Audio is on max, both on the phone and the audio 20.
Any ideas? Is this a software issue?
I did contact Samsung, who obviously told me that this was down to the car manufacturer and MB told me to buy an older phone (great advice!).
My wifes Iphone 5 works flawlessly, as did my Iphone 4s.
MB seem to be under the impression that a car firmware update will no resolve the problem and basically I am scuppered. Surely bluetooth should be backwards compatible!!!
Cheers
Andy

I got a blackberry to work with a mb car kit a while ago, not sure of the symptoms the user was seeing but he was pairing from the phone to the kit. I tried pairing the phone from the car kit and it then started to work flawlessly.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk (how ironic is that eh)

might be a similar issue
Not sure if it's the same thing but I'm at a loss as to what to do. I bought the Jaybird SB2 bluetooth headset. I've read elsewhere others have had issues connecting to Mac's (I have the same connection problem with my Macs) but they worked fine with my old Galaxy S2 (when it had pre-jelly bean rom). As soon as I upgraded the sounds cuts out after a couple of minutes although the player says the music is playing. I can get it to work again for another couple of minutes by disconnecting then reconnecting the bluetooth. I then flashed a custom JB rom (supernexus I think) on the old S2 and everything worked perfectly. I've just got my stock S4 and the same problem with the bluetooth keeps happening.
I can only think it's a software problem since the headphones work perfectly with my Nexus 7 and my old S2 with this custom rom but I can't find anything online elsewhere recording the problem. Not really sure where to turn for help since I doubt Samsung will care.

Unsure if 100% related, but I've had some issues with BT on my Subaru Outback ('13).
When I am (simultaneously):
1) Charging
2) Connected to my car stereo via Bluetooth
3) Playing music (using default GS4 music widget)
4) Navigating w/ Google Navigation
The Google Navigation voice cuts out half way through giving the direction.
"In 250 feet, turn right onto" ... ... ... ... nothing
It's really horrible, especially because this is the PRIMARY use for my phone (car audio & nav).
Update:
Winamp doesn't interrupt nav, but I lose BT controls on steering wheel.
AVia doesn't either and keeps BT control functionality.
All music players I've tried, however, just seem to crash at random...
They either stop altogether or think the music is still playing but no audio is on.
All of this is resolved by using Aux instead of BT.
This is what leads me to believe it is BT related.
Anyone with experience or help here, that'd be awesome...

I've had a breakthrough with mine
I installed an app called 'Soundabout' from the playstore that reroutes any audio to a BT device, this did the trick, I now have audio both when making and receiving calls.
It also works for a2dp streaming issues.
The odd thing is though, I deleted the app afterwards just on the off chance that it fixed anything in the background.... And it did! My BT audio is now working seamlessly without the app!
I am currently running a flashed stock rom (XXUAME2).
Hope this helps others
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Hi,
I have the same issue.
I have just got my new Galaxy S4, everything is working fine except the Bluetooth. I am having trouble to use the Bluetooth on my 2011 Toyota Car corolla. I am able to connect to the Bluetooth, and play music but problem with starting to make a call. when I say "starting to make a call" means I can make a call, but the receiver can't hear me and I can't hear them neither. I was able to answer the call or hang up, everything is working fine except no voice come out from the speakers.
The funny is it will work if I use Apps to make a call, such as Skype, viber.
I can't find any solution so far.
Jordan Xu

Do you have 'Soundabout' in your app store? Solved my problems.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Hi,
I did try that, didn't work.
May I ask your setting on your Soundabout?
4ndynic said:
Do you have 'Soundabout' in your app store? Solved my problems.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
---------- Post added at 07:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 AM ----------
Hi,
forgot to mention, my phone is not rooted.
4ndynic said:
Do you have 'Soundabout' in your app store? Solved my problems.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

4ndynic you're a legend! My wife got an S4 and it didn't want to work properly with our Mercedes with the native bluetooth. I installed Soundabout (non Pro version), went into Bluetooth Behavior, turned on (Dynamic) Media Audio Usage, and now it works perfectly!! I especially love the fact that the alerts for SMS etc still come through the phone.

aussiewan said:
4ndynic you're a legend! My wife got an S4 and it didn't want to work properly with our Mercedes with the native bluetooth. I installed Soundabout (non Pro version), went into Bluetooth Behavior, turned on (Dynamic) Media Audio Usage, and now it works perfectly!! I especially love the fact that the alerts for SMS etc still come through the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are welcome mate! Was a great find after being told by Mercedes that it will never work!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Jordan Xu said:
Hi,
I did try that, didn't work.
May I ask your setting on your Soundabout?
---------- Post added at 07:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:37 AM ----------
Hi,
forgot to mention, my phone is not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Set phone call audio... To bluetooth mono
My phone is not rooted either, had to remove it for certain apps. I'm running XXUAME2 stock
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

Thank you, mate. it works after I restarted my phone.
4ndynic said:
Set phone call audio... To bluetooth mono
My phone is not rooted either, had to remove it for certain apps. I'm running XXUAME2 stock
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

It appears that the setting may revert if you turn bluetooth off and back on again. After doing that, I had to go back into soundabout and untick then retick that box. Can anyone else confirm this behaviour? It certainly appears to be a default setting in the operating system causing the issue, which means it may be possible to fix with a patch, and Samsung should certainly be able to fix it in a future update.

aussiewan said:
It appears that the setting may revert if you turn bluetooth off and back on again. After doing that, I had to go back into soundabout and untick then retick that box. Can anyone else confirm this behaviour? It certainly appears to be a default setting in the operating system causing the issue, which means it may be possible to fix with a patch, and Samsung should certainly be able to fix it in a future update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do some testing and let you know, I deleted the app and it carried on working until I rebooted so kind of the same thing! Defo something that could be fixed with an update, just need Samsung to listen! If only I knew a little more about Android development!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2

my i9100 only works with rom based on Android 4.1.2
4ndynic said:
Will do some testing and let you know, I deleted the app and it carried on working until I rebooted so kind of the same thing! Defo something that could be fixed with an update, just need Samsung to listen! If only I knew a little more about Android development!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my i9100 only works with rom based on Android 4.1.2 (stock or custom), with the rom based on 4.2.2 and 4.3.1 the phone connects perfectly with audio 20 mercedes but you do not hear anything.
thanks you are my last hope
sorry for my bad english.

4ndynic said:
You are welcome mate! Was a great find after being told by Mercedes that it will never work!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great worked for me too and I spent a while looking

ChrisJB123 said:
Great worked for me too and I spent a while looking
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought Mercedes would contact the SoundAbout email address about getting that to work, but alas....I've gotten no email yet.

it might be your rom version, tried it here with 4.2 and 4.3 and works without any issues and no need to install additional software.

S4 bluetooth reconnection issue

Friend of mine has a new s4, and is having some trouble with his phone and auto reconnecting, he has to manually select media, but it does automatically pick up the phone part of the connection.
It is a 2011 subaru impreza for what it's worth, with the standard factory head unit.
I have the same car, and a note 2, and mine will reconnect but I lose the steering wheel control unless I disconnect and reconnect to the car. I am not sure if that information is helpful at all, but maybe it will identify the issue. In both cases an iphone 4 worked fine, and in my car an xperia ion as well, so we can only assume it isn't all on the car.
I apologize if I missed anyone covering this before, I searched and didn't find anything relevant.
Thanks in advance!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app

Same here. S4 reestablishes call audio with Avantree Cara, but not media audio. Have to toggle bluetooth to reconnect.
Reconnection works fine with Bluebuds X however. They'll hopefully patch that in an update.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

Same for me

Same, there are quite a few threads on this.

Thanks for the replies. I apologize, I searched via xda app and I didn't come up with anything.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Looking for auto Bluetooth app

I am trying to find an app that will recognize when I am in proximity to a Bluetooth host and will automatically enable Bluetooth on my phone. I've seen several apps in the play store but I don't know if any if them will do what I want. I'd like my phone to turn on Bluetooth when I get in the car and turn it off when I get out of the car. (It would be nice if it would play Pandora too but I am not completely lazy!)

You should look into NFC tags. You could, for example, have one in a car mount for your phone, with an NFC app set to turn on Bluetooth and Pandora when the phone detects that tag.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk

jonstrong said:
You should look into NFC tags. You could, for example, have one in a car mount for your phone, with an NFC app set to turn on Bluetooth and Pandora when the phone detects that tag.
Sent from my VS980 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I took your advice a bought a few tags and installed an app. It works great, better than I expected. Thanks for the suggestion!
Sent from my LG-VS980 using Tapatalk

almahix said:
I took your advice a bought a few tags and installed an app. It works great, better than I expected. Thanks for the suggestion!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent! Glad to hear it. I have to start playing with them more -- lots of potential!