Car Audio - specifically Bluetooth

ButterCheese

Sorry if long message.  We have a Renault Captur 2014, the Media Nav system uses Bluetooth 4.0.  Our phones use 5.3 but other phones we've had in the past have had the same issue - I don't know what BT version they were.

The Bluetooth sometimes connects perfectly, syncs with phone audio, phonebook etc.  But 50-60% of the time doesn't connect at all (says "problem connecting, and won't work again until the next day despite switching stereo on/off and doing the same with phone BT multiple times).

So I want to buy a new 2 DIN head unit.  I don't care about the factory screen, I just want a stereo that links via BT to the phone every time.  I don't want wires (but am willing to test things by plugging into USB etc if required).

Looking at the Captur forum, the MediaNav units are awful.  They have improved them in later models but they are expensive and I don't like touch screen anyway.

So I'm going to try a BT receiver (which I have already) which connects perfectly 100% of the time to my phone, despite it being a £10 no name brand, it's been working for over 7 years.

Second option is to get a new head unit, but I don't want to spend out (and fit) that if I'm going to have the same problems.  The head units I'm looking at use BT 5.0

So I guess my question is:

Are car head unit BT modules generally worse because they are surrounded by a metal cage and loads of wires, causing interferance?  Or is the mis-match between BT versions causing it?  In which case why does my home stereo, headphones etc never have the same issues?

TIA

MyRealNameToo

BT is backwardly compatible so the fact your phone operates up to 5.2 means it will work fine with a 4.0 but won't get the efficiencies of the later connections. 

Have you only paired your phone with the device or do you have a partner or other who's also paired it with the device?  Most devices can only sustain a few connections at the same time and there can be limits of the type of connections for example before v5 an iPhone could only connection to one audio device at a time but since BT 5.0 they can connect to two. 

In my car always preferred a cable connection, its more robust, means the phone is charged as its playing rather than using more battery with a BT4 connection etc. Some devices are simply more problematic in my experience whereas some work seamlessly. Certainly checking the right item is attaching to the right device can be a challenge, more than once the Mrs has gone to take a call so I turn on a BT speaker to listen to music whilst she's out but her phone connects to the speaker instead so I get her call rather than my music. 

ButterCheese

MyRealNameToo said:

BT is backwardly compatible so the fact your phone operates up to 5.2 means it will work fine with a 4.0 but won't get the efficiencies of the later connections. 

Have you only paired your phone with the device or do you have a partner or other who's also paired it with the device?  Most devices can only sustain a few connections at the same time and there can be limits of the type of connections for example before v5 an iPhone could only connection to one audio device at a time but since BT 5.0 they can connect to two. 

In my car always preferred a cable connection, its more robust, means the phone is charged as its playing rather than using more battery with a BT4 connection etc. Some devices are simply more problematic in my experience whereas some work seamlessly. Certainly checking the right item is attaching to the right device can be a challenge, more than once the Mrs has gone to take a call so I turn on a BT speaker to listen to music whilst she's out but her phone connects to the speaker instead so I get her call rather than my music. 

It happens to both of us when driving separately, but we never both try to connect at the same time.  It does seem to work better if the phone BT is on when you switch on the ignition, but even then sometimes it says "problem connecting".  We also prefer using a separate (cig lighter) fast charger for charging, as the stereo ones are only 1.5w or something and very slow. So we don't want more wires than are necessary.  I'm just baffled how car stereos (and previous ones I've had in different cars) seem to be way more sketchy than BT things at home which work perfectly all the time.

Anyway, I will try the cheap fix (BT receiver designed for home audio) and if that doesn't work will get a new head unit that at least uses the newer BT version 5.0 or better

GlitterMedusa

What happens if you try to connect to the car BT by manually picking it from the BT connections list on your phone?

I have a 2012 Yaris Hybrid so definitely using old BT tech.
Basically for maybe 6 months a few years ago, I'd occasionally get a 'can't connect' type message on the head unit and when trying to reconnect by picking the car BT on the list of BT connections on the phone, the head unit would pop a message asking to allow access for phone calls and then a second message for access for audio. So clearly the authorisation was randomly dropping, and obviously re-authorising would fix it for a while. Other than those roughly 6 months, I've never had issues before or since.

ButterCheese

GlitterMedusa said:

What happens if you try to connect to the car BT by manually picking it from the BT connections list on your phone?

I have a 2012 Yaris Hybrid so definitely using old BT tech.
Basically for maybe 6 months a few years ago, I'd occasionally get a 'can't connect' type message on the head unit and when trying to reconnect by picking the car BT on the list of BT connections on the phone, the head unit would pop a message asking to allow access for phone calls and then a second message for access for audio. So clearly the authorisation was randomly dropping, and obviously re-authorising would fix it for a while. Other than those roughly 6 months, I've never had issues before or since.

Thanks.  I've had no such messages.  I always select the media-Nav on my phone and it often says "problem connecting".  I have also tried selecting the phone source from the head unit and it doesn't seem to make any difference.  I have found, however, that if I have my BT switched on before I start the car, it seems to connect better.  Rather than starting the car (and thus the stereo) and then turning my BT on.  I think I will get a new unit anyway, as I want to install a subwoofer under the seat.  If we get the same trouble with the new head unti, I guess we haven't lost much.  I'm still trying to persuade my partner that on any new unit we do not need to see recent calls/call lists.  not to mention it's dangerous and illegal, one can just say "Google, call Bill" and it'll do it on whatever stereo we buy with BT