Database Users

Athena call quality issue?

I have been experiencing call quality issues with my X7501. The problem seems to occur when the other person is in a noisy environment like in a noisy car or club. The result sounds like a broken or intermittent connection, where each of us can only hear bits and pieces of our conversation.
This does not seem to occur under any other circumstances so I am wondering if it is related to the Athena's in-built speakerphone. Maybe the microphone and speaker are interacting to cause this?
I am going to experiment with the microphone AGC, try covering the microphone, adjust the volume level, etc. next time this happens to try and track down the cause.
If anyone has experienced similar issues please post here.
Thanks!

Is anyone else having this problem? 65 views and no replies makes me wonder if I have a defective unit. I have determined the following:
1. The microphone AGC has no noticeable effect
2. The voice call is broken and intermittent if either party is in a noisy environment, not just the party being called
3. Covering the microphone with a fingertip restores the conversation to normal
It's almost like the phone is not full duplex...

Update...
I have found out that covering the microphone (like with a fingertip) solves this issue. This works at either end of the conversation, wherever the noise is. Of cource this does not help if calling a conventional handset (ulesss the other party uses the "mute" button...
I am still wondering if onyone else is having this problem? Please let me know.

toyfreak said:
I have found out that covering the microphone (like with a fingertip) solves this issue. This works at either end of the conversation, wherever the noise is. Of cource this does not help if calling a conventional handset (ulesss the other party uses the "mute" button...
I am still wondering if onyone else is having this problem? Please let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have te same effect if not using headset. That is way I mostly use my Jabra stereo headset. Works well in any conditions.
The reason is that the mic is close to left speaker. Solution would be to switch it off, but I haven't heard of anybody done it.
I also use voip, but not the WM6 inbuilt one. I use Aget phone. Normaly it uses only speakerhone, but with stereo headset, incoming audio goes through headset, and my voice is picked up by mic builtin the Athena. It works well.

i do get the same problem if the person i am speaking to is in a noisy environment.
I have just got into the habit of holding the phone with my finger over the left speaker since i noticed it and it seems to be fine now.
A niggly little thing really, but not a deal beaker in my opinion. Such is the life of the gadget freak.......!

[Q] Mic volume

I am having issues with the mic on the iconia. Volume is pretty low. While using gtalk the other side can barely hear me. Has anyone else been experiencing this?

Same here. Testing Fring and using the built-in mic or a headset mic, it is impossible to hear what I am saying. There is no mic adjustment in the Fring app and I can't find one in the tablet settings? Am I missing something that should be very obvious? How do you adjust microphone senstivity?

same problem with gtalk. It's sometime hard to hear what I say

I ve been having the same issues with gtalk. Havent tried any other voip app yet.
Mic works fine in voice recording apps though, so it can't be hardware related.
Maybe honeycomb issue??

Where are the mics?

i think the mic is atthe top of the screen in the crack dead center .click the vol up and click on the/pop up the middle i think is the mic volume .if/im/wrong sorry

I have the same problem on my galaxy tab 10.1 but mic volume seems low on all apps.

Just got the a500 and have experience similar results, mic volume is extremely low.
I have tried it with various voice apps, including gtalk, voice recorder, camcorder, etc, and the voice is really low.
Im begining to wonder that this is a hardware issue.
Is this issue consistent with all a500s? or only some models?

My mic is so low volume as to be virtrually useless. I tried plugging in an external mic and that was slightly better but not enough.
When using the voice recorder app I notice that the meter hardly moves off the stop, something wrong here.

I wonder if this issue is more common than it should be?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1162054

But some people here have said their mic is fine. I am going to check a few out in the shops and see if they are any better. Really, at the moment it's not suitable for skype or google talk which is what I got it for.

I still think its a honeycomb noise canceling issue. Plug In headphones while u record and u will see the difference.

I bought a second A500 yesterday and the microphone records my voice far better than the unit I've had for almost 2 weeks. With the old unit I can barely hear what I speak, but the new one I can hear myself clearly. Manufacturing date of the old one is may, the new one is manufactured in april. It did not get the 3.1 update yet so it's still running stock 3.01. One other thing I like about the new one I just got is that the volume buttons work a bit easier and don't require as much force to push them down.
Rob

silverball.slayer said:
I bought a second A500 yesterday and the microphone records my voice far better than the unit I've had for almost 2 weeks. With the old unit I can barely hear what I speak, but the new one I can hear myself clearly. Manufacturing date of the old one is may, the new one is manufactured in april. It did not get the 3.1 update yet so it's still running stock 3.01. One other thing I like about the new one I just got is that the volume buttons work a bit easier and don't require as much force to push them down.
Rob
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the key right there.
It's a software problem not a material one.
I experienced the exact same thing as you.
Bought a new tablet and tested the mic with stock 3.0.1. The volume was fine.
Updated to 3.1 and the volume was very low.

Well, my mic sucks in a big way. I tried many times to use google talk, tango and so on with horrible results. I have to yell like crazy and they can barely hear me.
So... as a lot of ppl are complaiing and it's a software problem, is it possible they do nothing to solve it????? It shouldn't be that difficult...

dominuspaulus said:
I am having issues with the mic on the iconia. Volume is pretty low. While using gtalk the other side can barely hear me. Has anyone else been experiencing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I opened up my acer and moved the microphone to the front because before when recordingi couldnt catch a sound coming from recording eg. a person talking.
Now I can at least hear the voices of the people im filming.
For gtalk and skype and stuff i use a headphone set with a mic via the headphones jack, much nicer.
Cheers!

Johnny0906 said:
I opened up my acer and moved the microphone to the front because before when recordingi couldnt catch a sound coming from recording eg. a person talking.
Now I can at least hear the voices of the people im filming.
For gtalk and skype and stuff i use a headphone set with a mic via the headphones jack, much nicer.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't say things like these and not tell us the how's and the what's. For example, what headset did you use? How did you move the mic to front?
BTW, I'm on 3.1 and have never had an issue with the mic. Just did a recording while I was driving and talking. Still sounds pretty good to me.

goodintentions said:
You don't say things like these and not tell us the how's and the what's. For example, what headset did you use? How did you move the mic to front?
BTW, I'm on 3.1 and have never had an issue with the mic. Just did a recording while I was driving and talking. Still sounds pretty good to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is actually a thread further back if you bother to look that I opened and described everything and also uploaded a video to see the mic improvement.
Edit: Here is my thread, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1169050
Edit: Headset I used is a brand called EXIBEL Art.no 38-4061, cheap and works PERFECTLY I can hear and be heard as if in the room.

same issues. Sound seems to just stop as well after I use camcorder

Mine works well on any app except gtalk. Although I recently installed voodoo on my rooted Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the mic adjustments helped. Without Voodoo I usually just plug in headphones when I use gtalk and that solves the issue 100%.

[Q] What's going on with my in call sound?

Hi,
I have unusual problem with my motorola defy earpiece (or at least i think it's that). Bought it used, so don't know how it was before...
During calls the volume of earpiece speaker is very low, practically unusable unless you are using phone in completely silent environment. The weird thing is tho, when i turn the phone around and listen closely on the back side the volume is actually a bit higher - seems like in call sound is coming from big phone speaker on the back, just very silenty... When turned to loudspeaker mode during call - everything works as intended, i can hear loud voice on phone's back speaker. I know that people are having problems with defy's earpiece not working at all, but it's not like that for me. It actually seems that both speakers (earpiece and main speaker) are working during calls just on very low volume. No luck searching for help on internet, doesn't seem that anyone had this happen... Problem egsisted with stock ROM, so i installed CM 7.2 - nothing changed. Volume buttons work, but even max volume is just too low. Wonder if that could be software problem or the hardware is somehow ruined? Any ideas? Don't know where to turn - i'm intending to take phone apart and see what's going on in there, no previous experience so please stop me

I just got my defy today and have exactly the same problem. I flashed cm 7.2

Low microphone volume?

Does anyone else have the person they are talking to mention how low you sound to them when speaking on the phone?
It seems like I have a low microphone on my nexus 4, unless the phone is directly in front of my mouth the person can't hear me clearly, I'm thinking it might be hardware but I know with some phones this can be corrected with a custom driver that makes the microphone more receptive
Is there an app or setting that I can use that would disable noise cancellation in case that's what causing my mic to make me sound low?

mastrgamr said:
Does anyone else have the person they are talking to mention how low you sound to them when speaking on the phone?
It seems like I have a low microphone on my nexus 4, unless the phone is directly in front of my mouth the person can't hear me clearly, I'm thinking it might be hardware but I know with some phones this can be corrected with a custom driver that makes the microphone more receptive
Is there an app or setting that I can use that would disable noise cancellation in case that's what causing my mic to make me sound low?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I have the exact same problem - not sure what we can do to fix it.
If I crank up the volume fully it appears to -sometimes- solve the low audio problem.

_stefans_ said:
Actually I have the exact same problem - not sure what we can do to fix it.
If I crank up the volume fully it appears to -sometimes- solve the low audio problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it -sometimes- solves the problem then it might be a software bug. i hope some dev can be notified of this. have you tried a different ROM? if yes, have you notified the dev of the ROM?

Jamal Ahmed said:
if it -sometimes- solves the problem then it might be a software bug. i hope some dev can be notified of this. have you tried a different ROM? if yes, have you notified the dev of the ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its actually on stock, so I just rooted it, and will try with a different rom shortly.

Same thing here.. Sometimes they hear me, sometimes they don't even during the same call..

I'm starting to think the noise cancellation is playing some tricks.
While driving home this afternoon I was on headset on the freeway, where those I talked to could barely hear me.
Unplugged my headset (klipsch s4 image ii), and sound was good. After a while I plugged headset in again, still bad.
When coming off the freeway I kept the headset on while talking - and all of the sudden it was crystal clear (using the words of the guy I talked to at the time). At the same time I noticed that I had no data (outside even edge coverage), don't know if that is related or not.
Is there some way we could experiment / disable or tweak the noise cancelling?
Ps: I have had the same issues without headset also, so definitely something general software things going on
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

_stefans_ said:
Its actually on stock, so I just rooted it, and will try with a different rom shortly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same setup. I am using the Xylon (stable) 15 ROM for several days now, and SO FAR I think the microphone reception is better. I haven't heard complaint from the person I speak to on the regular. *cross fingers* hope it's 'fixed' in some way.
equi said:
Same thing here.. Sometimes they hear me, sometimes they don't even during the same call..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly how my phone was as well. I would be on one call for a while and all of a sudden out of nowhere the person I'm speaking to says I sound like I'm speaking across a room and I'm like 'wtf happened? I haven't changed positions since I started talking to you!'
I did a little testing with the person I was speaking to as well, to test the microphone receptiveness and the mic seems to pickup my voice better, I wasn't speaking directly into the mic and they said they heard me fine.
_stefans_ said:
I'm starting to think the noise cancellation is playing some tricks.
While driving home this afternoon I was on headset on the freeway, where those I talked to could barely hear me.
Unplugged my headset (klipsch s4 image ii), and sound was good. After a while I plugged headset in again, still bad.
When coming off the freeway I kept the headset on while talking - and all of the sudden it was crystal clear (using the words of the guy I talked to at the time). At the same time I noticed that I had no data (outside even edge coverage), don't know if that is related or not.
Is there some way we could experiment / disable or tweak the noise cancelling?
Ps: I have had the same issues without headset also, so definitely something general software things going on
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a sneaking suspicion It might have to do with the noise cancelation as well, I think on paper whoever designed that feature on the phone thought it would be cool but it doesn't seem to be panning out too well. I've read somewhere on this forum about how to increase microphone volume and cancel the noise cancellation using the Terminal Emulator app and/or the phone's dial codes (#*#*some sumbers*#*#).
I have the same earphones (no mic attached) and I have similar experience but I haven't taken note of it like you have since 95% of the time I have my headphones in the phone.
I also want to mention a little trick that I think seems to work when on calls. Whenever I turn the phone over, screen facing opposite of me, I hear less complaints of me sounding too low to the other person. Maybe it's doning something... i dont know.

Same issue - with headset only though
I have the same issue, people really struggle to hear me on conference calls (which I spend a lot of time on), so I have to hold the mic in front of my mouth to speak which gives awful sound quality. I don't have this issue when not using a headset (phone mic works fine).
Nexus 4 + Klipsch s4a = really quiet mic, people can't hear me at all.
Nexus 4 = No problem, phone mic works.
Note - music playback is fine, no issues there.
My klipsch headphones worked fine on my GNex, no issues, so I don't think it is a problem with them. It has been an issue from the moment I switched to a Nexus 4. Have also tried other headset (samsung one that came with Gnex) - and have the same issue of sounding very quiet on the headset mic.
I did wonder if it was an OMTP vs CTIA issue, but the button on my headset works fine to answer/hangup/skip tracks/open voice search etc. so I don't think it is that.
I also tested with another Nexus 4 handset using Soundmeter and got very similar results on both handsets, suggesting it isn't a handset issue (though not a very scientific test).
Does anyone have any ideas?

Just In Phone Calls?
Hi Folks,
Is this mic issue just related to phone calls?
I'm using the latest CM10.1 nightly build and my mic is useless for phone calls.
However, Google's voice search works just fine and if I record a video my voice is recorded just fine.

I could be wrong but I suspect the Nexus4 can not use the phone jack for incoming audio.
In my opinion when one plugs a headset into the audio jack the Nexus4 camera microphone
becomes activated, not the headset one. And the Nexus4 cam mic is really bad.
Again, I might be completely wrong. (I hope)
---------- Post added at 04:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:59 PM ----------
Ord Mandrell said:
Hi Folks,
Is this mic issue just related to phone calls?
I'm using the latest CM10.1 nightly build and my mic is useless for phone calls.
However, Google's voice search works just fine and if I record a video my voice is recorded just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OMG you have it reversed. What a mess!
I have yet to see Google Search understand anything I say and video sound is horrible. Call audio is great.

Hi guys - I am on stock android - same issue on 4.2.2 as on 4.2.1.
This isn't just related to phone calls, same issue on google search. I tested headset mic pickup volume when speaking normally with Soundmeter - around 35-40dB (what it calls a quiet whisper at 3ft to quiet residential area, Park).
I also tried moving the headset mic closer and further away from my mouth with the phone in the same position - with the headset mic virtually touching my lips it went to about 60 dB (normal conversation at 3ft) - so it does seem to be related to the headset mic. I can only guess it is either a dodgy connection in the handset or some noise cancelling functionality that is cancelling out my voice!
Any ideas or thoughts greatly appreciated

OMG you have it reversed. What a mess!
I have yet to see Google Search understand anything I say and video sound is horrible. Call audio is great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Darn it!
I knew I was an outlier.
No way I'm getting a fix for my issue then

Anyone figure out a fix? I'm having similar issues with my microphone.
Hooked as bluetooth device in my vehicle, other end hears me fine.
On phone call using speaker phone, other end hears me fine.
On phone call WITHOUT speaker phone, other end cannot hear me at all.
Using a sound recording app to record voice, playback of the recording I can hear my voice faintly if I was YELLING during the recording.
Shazam/Soundhound apps do not work.
I am rooted on rasbeanjelly/trinity kernel. I have to say this issue started a few days ago when I have done no changes to the phone. Already running the rom/kernel for weeks.
I've tried flashing back to stock rom/kernel and the same problems persist.
Any ideas?

akira112 said:
Anyone figure out a fix? I'm having similar issues with my microphone.
Hooked as bluetooth device in my vehicle, other end hears me fine.
On phone call using speaker phone, other end hears me fine.
On phone call WITHOUT speaker phone, other end cannot hear me at all.
Using a sound recording app to record voice, playback of the recording I can hear my voice faintly if I was YELLING during the recording.
Shazam/Soundhound apps do not work.
I am rooted on rasbeanjelly/trinity kernel. I have to say this issue started a few days ago when I have done no changes to the phone. Already running the rom/kernel for weeks.
I've tried flashing back to stock rom/kernel and the same problems persist.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just an update, I unrooted and reverted back to stock and the problem went away, so it was defnitely a software issue. Will be trying other roms/radios/kernels and see if the problem comes back.
I was on rasbeanjelly 4.2.2/trinity

akira112, did you get any success with your experiments?
Guys, is there any progress / comments regarding this issue?.. Microphone itself works fine when recording the voice with some app, but during the voice calls it is the mess...

My Nexus 4 is two months old and is being returned to Google due to the microphone constantly cutting me out on calls to business clients. I've tried every trick from sound apps to custom roms. No joy. I'm hoping my replacement doesn't have the same problem (although given the sheer number of postings on this issue, I suspect a Nexus 4 design flaw)...

Hello
Is there any solution to low microphone volume problem?
I have been using my N4 for a week and some people complain about my voice's volume. There was no such problem with my previous phone (Defy). There is no difference whether I use phone's mic or bluetooth headset.
My Nexus runs CM10.1 with Franco kernel.

Also keen for a solution
I just returned my first N4 due to the speakerphone cutting out after a minute or two, and getting stuck in non-speakerphone mode.
The replacement seems to not have this issue, which is nice.
But now people are telling me they can hardly hear me. It happens both with normal mode and speakerphone mode.
Ridiculous.
I will be calling Google tomorrow to see what they say, but I am not going to hold my breath for a decent response. Judging by the number of people reporting this issue online, it's not something Google has a solution for.
If anyone figures this out, I'd love to hear about it.

Have sent mine for repair because of this problem. People told they could not here me well.
Skickat från min GT-I9305 via Tapatalk 2

I have the same issue, couldn't fix it but what I noted was that any mic gain adjustments I made only applied to the phone's mic not the headset mic. That means that there is something else that modifies the headset mic, but I do not know.

[Q] Earpiece distortion

HI there guys.
Brand new to this forum.
I've searched for days and I'm unable to find a solution.
I'm experiencing a crackling or a distortion on phone calls at certain volumes. I noticed it with certain pitches in peoples voices it would cause a vibration in the ear speaker and some distortion in the sound. Kind of like the speaker is being over driven or has too much power going to it. It usually goes away if I turn the volume almost all the way down, but this is obviously not a practical option since I'm not always making phone calls in a dead silent room. The speaker phone works fine. This only happens when I'm using the earpiece. Is this normal? Is it related to the camera autofocus sensor rattle? Are the sound vibrations from a person's voice enough to set off the rattle? It's really annoying as I tend to make phone calls a lot and I don't like using speaker phone or a headset. Does anyone else have this problem?
From what I can tell, it happened and was normal in the S4. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2280930).
Please help. Im deciding if i need to return it.

..

fffft said:
It's too bad that you didn't describe it in more detail.. i.e. give us steps to replicate it. A recording of the distortion would have been helpful too. I haven't noticed what you describe but it sounds like the gain or auto gain is too high and your earpiece speaker is being overdriven.
There is a gain setting in the service mode menu but first you need to distinguish an app issue or possibly damaged speaker before messing around in the hidden settings. See if you can find an audio app that will give you a wider adjustment range for your system volume and gain.,
.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply.
If you go into the service menu, the go into the low frequency test. At 100hz and 200 hz there is a little bit of buzz in the headset reciever unless you really push it against your face (which i assume kind of tightens the spaces in the plastic and prevents whatever vibration in the speaker is occuring).
Hmm.. the vibration is akin to as if you were speaking into some cellophane wrap; like some film (maybe for waterproofing) is covering the speaker.

Oh. It's also worth noting that I cannot replicate the issue on Skype or Viber. Those sound crystal clear.

Bump. Anyone?