Android 7.0 Bluetooth and car radio issues

[fmu]

Hi,

After upgrading to Android 7.0 on my Xperia X Compact the phone can still connect to other BT devices but it seems like the discovery process is not working smoothly anymore. Have to restart mobile often to find other devices when pairing.

In my car I pair the phone with VW RNS310 car radio. I can still play music (Spotify) wireless on the car stereo but I can not select previous or next number on the steering wheel nor on the radio unit itself. Also the metadata (artist, track etc.) are no longer displayed on the radio unit display. When I receive a call I can answer but when hanging up the system doesn't go back to music. Same thing if I listen to Spotify and there is a traffic announcement - doesn't return to playing music but are just muted.

Really crap as I'm using this feature a lot and appreciate the need of not having to draw attention to the phone display when driving. In my opinion Sony should roll back to Marshmellow until the BT issues are fixed.

Best regards 

[bigdave4600]

Had an answer from Sony, bit of a none answer   😞

"Hi Dave. I am sorry to hear you are facing issues with Bluetooth after updating.

This issue is currently being investigated, we have no information available to give regarding this at this time.

Apologies for any inconveniences caused. - Anna"

[jo_3]

My Xperia X compact with its Android 7 is showing the very same issues not consistently finding available bluetooth devices, or even indicating there would be none available at all. I have to repeatedly switch BT off /on to even get a chance of connecting the device I aim for.

Also, if a device is switched on, it will not be detected by the phone, only after switchin BT off and on it may have a chance at all.

Sony offered to have my device 'repaired' but I hesitate since it seems to be a general issue, so I doubt it can be 'repaired' for a singel device at all.

I find it a bit odd that this general bluetooth issue seems only to being discussed  on this forum under the "Bluetooth and car radio issues", while it actually seems to be more general for the Xperia X compact running Android 7 - I don't know it running anything else by the way.

[Jnday]

Just got new X Compact, and when playing music via Bluetooth in car no track info is displayed on car screen and can't choose next or previous track. This worked fine with previous Z3 Compact. Have seen other posts suggesting it is a Nougat problem, but not seen any official responses from Sony. And this seems to have been going on for a long time. Any ideas when it will be resolved, Sony?

[zoltanlehoczky]

 My X Compact got the 7.1.1 update, but the issue still exists: my car's radio won't display track data when playing music, nor can I select next/previous track from the radio.

[talmarsh]

Can't say if it's the same problem or even if this will stay resolved but...

I just updated to 7.1.1 and has a very similar issue, only with my Samsung smart watch (non-Android).
Where I could previously control and view track+artist, I was now getting "Unknown" and no control what-so-ever.

So, I fiddled with it. Reseting the watch, forgeting and reapplying BT etc.

I was able to get very laggy track control.

And now suddenly it's been working great for over an hour. So fingers crossed.

If 7.1.1 gives me better battery I will bite the bullet, otherwise if both go bad (i.e. battery and BT function) I will no doubt revert to 7.0.

Good luck..

[decybel]

Any Update on  this issue? I got an xz and have hade this problem since I bought the Phone. Many Updates later and the problem still exists. Really annoying. 

[Andre9]

I'd like to take this even wider.

It is my opinion that Android and Bluetooth are not good bedmates. I say this because of my experience with android and bluetooth headsets, particularly getting all audio (keypad tones, message tones etc) routed to the headset. This on both Galaxy S3 mini and Xperia X compact. It seems to me that BT Audio was treated as an afterthought and not properly integrated into the OS.

But I suspect that not all BT devices are born equally either. Some seem to have better software than others. Add to this how individual phone designers handle the OS BT interface in their firmware and we end up with all these erratic results.

Lastly, as a designer of electronic hardware and a good stint of RF design, I cringe at the complexity of squeezing so many different RF devices into such a compact package. Think about it, Quad band GSM, Wi-Fi, Blue tooth, FM Radio, NFC, all expected to work simultaneously. I'd be surprised if there is no unwanted interaction at times. For reasons of security and battery life I leave BT and Wi-Fi off unless I need them and I find no issues with reliability of connections.

Now if only Andoid would go back to square one with BT and intefrace it properly with the audio processing. When I connect an audio device I want ALL audio routed to that device. Keytones, ringtones, message tones, warning tones, alarm tones, if it would come through the speaker it must pop up in BT. PLEASE ! My lowly old Nokias, both S40 and S60 did this seamlessly upon connection, disconnection once set up properly. So it is possible.

[GrahamW21]

Same with my Seat, did you ever manage to fix this? I'm on android 7.1.1 with the software update (v. 41.2.A.7.35) which was supposed to fix bugs, but hasn't fixed bluetooth...

[decybel]

Im still having this problem, and no words from sony. 

[Zdenek92]

I have also this problem. I use much bluetooth, so this annoying me.