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Uconnect, Android, Verizon troubles...

26K views 119 replies 29 participants last post by  FloridaFeMan 
#1 ·
Hi all, this is driving me nuts. 2 problems:
1, outgoing calls have a 50-50 chance of connecting. Sometimes with instant end. I've searched and see this may be due to 4.3 Android on cdma network.
2, when streaming music or on a call the navigation volume is so low it's barely audible. My other Jeep has a Kenwood stereo and it works perfectly. I've tried adjusting volumes and everything... nothing works.

Can anyone please help? This is miserable...

I'm regretting not upgrading to the Alpine system now. Unless that's just as bad?
 
#3 ·
Hi all, this is driving me nuts. 2 problems:
1, outgoing calls have a 50-50 chance of connecting. Sometimes with instant end. I've searched and see this may be due to 4.3 Android on cdma network.
2, when streaming music or on a call the navigation volume is so low it's barely audible. My other Jeep has a Kenwood stereo and it works perfectly. I've tried adjusting volumes and everything... nothing works.

Can anyone please help? This is miserable...

I'm regretting not upgrading to the Alpine system now. Unless that's just as bad?
I just tried streaming Spotify via BT and have the same volume issue. I have the 730N and a Note 3.
 
#5 ·
Verizon/UConnect BT ideas

Verizon phones and UConnect can be a glitchy combination, but it works well most of the time. My phone is a Droid 4 with Android 4.1.2.

Read all of the UConnect documentation carefully.

First thing to try (and it sounds like you did this ), I needed to change the volume on the phone before synch to get the Stereo volume on playback using BT Streaming audio to work correctly in our 2014 JKU with the 130 series Stereo+Satellite.

A second thing to make sure of is to force the phone to update (*228). This will correct most of the dropped call scenarios, but not all of them. There are some places I suspect have cell signal jamming devices installed (loss of signal is abrupt, and consistently occurs in the same location invariant of weather).

A third thing to try would be to delete the BT device definition for the phone on the stereo, and the stereo BT device definition on the phone. Then re-synch.

These have worked for me to correct problems similar to what you've described.
 
#6 ·
1, outgoing calls have a 50-50 chance of connecting. Sometimes with instant end. I've searched and see this may be due to 4.3 Android on cdma network.
2, when streaming music or on a call the navigation volume is so low it's barely audible. My other Jeep has a Kenwood stereo and it works perfectly. I've tried adjusting volumes and everything... nothing works.
730n flawless..no issues.
Same here... no issues with the 730N.

I, too, have a Verizon Android phone. Android ver 4.2.2. Though, I am on their 4G LTE network, not on their old CDMA.

I guess I haven't had my Wrangler long enough to be on a call at the exact same time the NAV wants to speak. Its an interesting question as to which has priority. It would not surprise me that the phone gets priority, and the NAV just quietly "whispers" its notification.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thanks, We've been looking forward to this for a while, especially with all the cold and snow that we have had this winter here in MI. We'll be going to Gatlinburg, Tenn and it's supposed to be mostly in the 70's so we'll enjoy it even more.

There are differences in the audio output when being wired vs thru BT. Wired, you're going thru the phones amp and then being amplified again when passed thru to the radio. In BT there's an audio signal sent from the phone which is what the APP is sending. Uconnect has a 1 volt set audio output that goes to the input of the radio, then the radio has separate volumes adjustments within it's SW. Does your Kenwood system have aftermarket amps or is it all stock except for the radio?
Thanks for your patience and I'll look more into this when I get back.
Sounds fantastic! I love Tenn!!! Where in MI are you? I'll be in Detroit at Ace in a few weeks and sometime soon at Silver Lake!

Wired for Hyundai and other cars. BT connection for TJ with Kenwood(and has external amp), for my JK, girlfriends JK, and rental cars.
 
#10 ·
Alpine system, verizon, 430N, and Iphone. Flawless, with the exception of voice to text does not work at all.
 
#11 ·
Voice to txt is a WHOLE other issue... Suffice it to say, Apple will not play nicely in the sandbox. Don't waste your time trying to get it to work. It just won't.

Sorry! :(
 
#12 ·
Ok, played around more today and learned some helpful things:
+ when pairing the BT volumes all change! Even a message flashes and says so. So change accordingly.
+ navigation apps need media volume cranked!
+ first thing hit the uconnect button and pair
+ restarting phone in the morning
+ unpairing old bt devices

This all made for a great day of bt. Still can't figure out how to be on a call when walking to car ave get it hands free when in car... but I think it is just hitting the uconnect button and waiting for it to sync a few seconds.

Thanks all!
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Samsung has knowledge of the issue and also a fix for it when the KK (4.4) update is released. Sprint unfortunately released the KK update in early February which was too soon to add the patch that cured the issue and are currently working with Samsung on it.
We've discussed this in another thread, but I have only seen you mention this here (You may have and I just might not have seen it). My S4 has been updated to 4.4 on Verizon just last week and the problem still persists. Would you post a link to where you found the information that Samsung has a fix for this? I've searched Samsung and Verizon forums to no avail in finding that either of them acknowledge this to be their problem.
 
#14 ·
We've discussed this in another thread, but I have only seen you mention this here (You may have and I just might not have seen it). My S4 has been updated to 4.4 on Verizon just last week and the problem still persists. Would you post a link to where you found the information that Samsung has a fix for this? I've searched Samsung and Verizon forums to no avail in finding that either of them acknowledge this to be their problem. I don't think it's a Uconnect problem anymore though.
I updated too and still struggling.

My theory is that the radio is somehow controlling the phones BT volume. Here's why:
1) listening to music via spotify
2) music goes quiet and I know navigation is advising even though it's whisper quiet
3) i crank up phone volume button and it goes from 1/4 to full up and I can hear navigation but music volume doesn't change
4) music goes quiet again for more nav and again whisper quiet and again phone is less than 1/4 BT volume! WTF!

Seriously, my TJ has a Kenwood and this is simple as pie. All volumes are about the same. This uconnect seems like a bad thing I wasted my money on...
 
#18 ·
I didn't read every word, so I apologize if I miss it.

Navigation volume is tricky. It has it's own volume control on the stereo. The kicker is you can only adjust it when the navigation is speaking. I've heard the 730N has the ability somewhere in settings, but the 430N doesn't. I literally have to wait for instructions and then quickly move the knob.

So, if you're adjusting volume on the phone or when it's not giving instructions, you're just adjusting the radio or streaming volume. I hope that helps!
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
Ok, great. I just wanted to fully understand the situation.

1) Have you been able to try this with a different phone as a comparison?

2) On a side note, you mentioned a pop up that comes up when you're streaming audio. This is a normal thing. This pop up is letting you know that your phone is not the controller for your streaming audio functions. When you're streaming audio, the only real supported features by the radio is next and previous tracks. If the phone supports and sends metadata content then Uconnect will display the content (artist, song, album etc). But if you wanted to change the album, playlist artist etc then that is done by picking up the phone to make the change. Quite different than the radio's controlling features when connected to the USB cable. This is because the phone doesn't support the added features while in streaming mode.
Thanks. My girlfriend and I both have Wranglers and Samsung phones. And both behave the same (wrong) in both our Jeeps.

Thank for point 2!

I am starting to think Samsung is the common denominator...
 
#25 ·
I've been buying Motorola's for almost 10 years now, it seems I have less issues then with the others. I just wish my DROID Mini was waterproof and indestructible, because I am brutal on phones.
 
#27 ·
I will say the sound quality in my WRX was horrible compared to Jeep, but the functionality of the stereo was light years ahead of this one, I think we are just stuck with what we have.
 
#35 · (Edited by Moderator)
This problem is definitely a phone issue. It's only been seen on CDMA networks (Sprint & Verizon) not on GSM networks (AT&T & T-mobile). Is you system a factory installed system or was it installed aftermarket by yourself or the dealer?

Can you give a bit more information on this issue? Because I haven't seen this issue with an IPhone at all. If there was an issue with the compatibility between it and as many phones as you've mentioned, there'd be more complaints on the forum.
When you try to place an outgoing call:
1) how does Uconnect respond or reply?
2) does the call stay active on the phone itself?
3) can you initiate the out going call from the phone and is it then routed thru Uconnect?

Have you tried a reset of Uconnect? If not, then press and release the Uconnect phone button and say "set up, reset", Uconnect will ask you if you're sure that you want to reset.....
Say "yes".
Delete Uconnect from any other phone than a Samsung S3, S4, NOTE2 or NOTE3 that have either Android 4.3 or 4.4. Then start a fresh pairing between Uconnect and the phone.
Iphone 5 on verizon and Iphone 4 on AT&T. among others. I had a factory installed 430N and it has been replaced about 5 times.... various issues from NAV to the similar bluetooth issue but varies ever so slightly each radio replace. Always will pick up calls no issue. when I say 50/50 on making calls what happens is this. Phone is paired with radio shows on screen. when I place the call I use the phone to do it and the headset button is chosen automatically and the call is being placed... dialing but I can't hear anything via the jeep or the phone as soon as I put the phone on speaker or take it off blue tooth all together you can hear the call in progress. The radio screen does not change when it is not working and it does not connect then drop the call. out of 10 consecutive calls 3 might work then sometimes 5. Sometimes the first call then not again just seemed to depend on the radio. each time it was replaced it changed. The dealership has also replaced the bluetooth module and antenna. I have now lost count as to how many phones have been tested in this jeep and we found one to work more often then not and it is a S2 on Verizon so go figure...
 
#36 · (Edited by Moderator)
You're dead on. I'll see what I can figure out on the navigation stuff.
Thanks so much, bro! Very grateful! Btw, since this thread started I am now on Android 4.4.2.

I also tried a half dozen volume controllers and no luck. Apparently Android no longer has app specific volume controllers. Bummer.
 
#38 ·
One in three disconnect on me, droid mini verizon kit Kat 4.4.2. I notice when it drops I click Bluetooth to handset then back and it will pick up but everyone I call knows to wait before hanging up due to the issue
 
#47 ·
I have the same phone, and also have Verizon, and mine is showing 4.4 with all updates. How are you showing 4.4.2? Are the updates decided on where people live, or by the phone itself?
 
#40 ·
Hi all, this is driving me nuts. 2 problems: 1, outgoing calls have a 50-50 chance of connecting. Sometimes with instant end. I've searched and see this may be due to 4.3 Android on cdma network. 2, when streaming music or on a call the navigation volume is so low it's barely audible. My other Jeep has a Kenwood stereo and it works perfectly. I've tried adjusting volumes and everything... nothing works. Can anyone please help? This is miserable... I'm regretting not upgrading to the Alpine system now. Unless that's just as bad?
As for the navi volume.. It's a secondary volume, you need to raise that separately than the music/call volume
 
#41 ·
As I've said in this thread I raise the volume and next navigation point the volume is barely a whisper...
 
#55 · (Edited by Moderator)
Sorry for the late response, I used my bt streaming today listen to Dave Matthews, he sounds kinda whiney sometimes, but no troubles with music playing slowly.

Could you do me a favor? I had another person with the RAZR M who is saying that when he's streaming audio from the phone (not from an APP) that the music plays slowly. My buddy is away on vacation so I don't have access to the phone. If you'd try this for me I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance.
 
#58 · (Edited by Moderator)
That's great to hear.
Yep, hopefully Samsung will have that maintenance update here in the next couple of weeks.

In the last few weeks I've noticed that if I'm on a call when I start the Jeep and the call is correctly transferred to the hands free, following calls made through the hands free have a higher rate of success than just trying after starting the jeep. Anyway just a thought for some people to try instead of trying to make and maintain 2 calls at the same time.
 
#63 · (Edited by Moderator)
You really can't compare Uconnect to other devices such as ear buds, BT speakers etc. The reason being is that with those devices, their BT chip set is only concentrating on A2DP for streaming audio. A carkit has so much more going on, the phone has to work well with the carkit and be able to answer all the questions (messages) being sent to the phone. Not to mention that if some phones are having the same issue with other vehicle mfg's then it's a phone issue. Also if a phone mfg has had their phones working with a car kit and suddenly one model doesn't or it started having issues after an update, then that is also a phone issue. The Uconnect system has been out for several years and the way it the SW has been written for communications between the phone and Uconnect hasn't really changed, only supported features have been added. All of the major players have been building phones that have been working well with the system so all they really need to do is to test the phones with new model and current car kits that people already have. They have the means to test their new phones with the car kits even if they had to go rent a vehicle for testing or have the car kit companies perform testing prior to the release of the phone or SW updates. Not everything can be blamed on the car kit even though a person just spent several hundred dollars on a new "Smartphone".

I'm sorry but I am in the IT industry. UConnect straight up sucks from both a UI and an update perspective. Just as much as the mobile providers need to test so does UConnect.
 
#64 ·
Is there some kind of standard being applied to bluetooth and the commands for handsfree devices in vehicles? I would think just following the standard, and making sure backwards compatibility is maintained would be the right course of action.
 
#73 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have a question. I have a 2015 JK with the 130 a samsung s4 my only real issue is with trying to say a name to call. It always says call towing. I have tried to do the voice training several time. No matter what name I say it just says call towing. Any ideas??
 
#74 ·
I have a question for xsdbs. I have a 2015 JK with the 130 a samsung s4 my only real issue is with trying to say a name to call. It always says call towing. I have tried to do the voice training several time. No matter what name I say it just says call towing. Any ideas??
I have the same problem with my 2014 Rubi.My 2015 BMW also doesn't comprehend very well either. I think it just takes time to train the system to understand your pronunciation. Try the learning exercise with your radio.
 
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