Bluetooth problem with Plantronics M70

Same issue -- IPhone 11, IOS 14.0.1.

Multiple sessions with Apple support (chat, phone).

I believe the M70 is a Bluetooth 3 device -- have multiple BT 4 devices that connect reliably (Bose headsets, BT speakers, Samsung Home Theater). I suspect a backward compatibility issue with Apple BT as the M70 connects reliably with a Desktop PC Asus BT 4.0 dongle.

Last phone contact with escalated Support tech was incredibly non-productive. After 50 minutes he couldn't effectively explain why the IPhone BT 5 would not stay connected with the M70, but the PC BT 4 dongle would. He kept trying to blame the M70 firmware. The IPhone BT is either backward compatible or not.

I have over 50 years successfully experience troubleshooting electronics, and understand the concept of a common point of failure. Apparently Apple techs don't.

Very disappointing -- bad form, Apple. . .

Hello,

Check for wireless interference:

If the sound from your wireless headphones cuts out or is distorted

Good luck.

Confirming this issue. I experienced it with an SE 2020 and it is common to several Plantronics headsets in the series. M70, M50 and others. It connects correctly and then at exactly 15 seconds, the signal drops. Sometimes it reconnects automatically, sometimes it has to be pushed or forced to reconnect. It is an endless loop and the phone is useless while driving.

This was tested with multiple headsets, multiple models and then each headset was immediately confirmed to be working fine when used with an iPhone 6, an iPad Air2 and other Apple and non-Apple devices. iOS 12 (on the older comparison devices) and 13 were both tested with no differences noted.

The iPhone SE 2020 has several other issues that make it almost unusable at times.

There were so many flaws with the first handset that I assumed it was defective and Apple replaced it. Most of the same issues are present with the second handset as well. I have never received an inherently defective product from Apple over 25 years of loyalty, but the iPhone 2020 in its current state is not worth of the Apple brand. I am hoping that a software upgrade to perhaps 13.6 can address these issues (or 14). If not, this phone is almost a brick to me. If others are experiencing similar issues, I would hope for some major restorative action from Apple.

Other issues with the SE 2020 include a very jittery scroll process with the screen with the document or page in ANY application jumping back rapidly to the top on a hair trigger touch.

In addition, at least one mission critical accessory (genuine Apple) that works fine with other iPhones - the lightning to headphone & power 2 in 1 adaptor is not compatible with the 2020 and one apparently needs to purchase them all over again.

Having had the headphone jack taken away when it was crucial for various Pro Music accessories, was very difficult to endure. To not only have to purchase adapters, but to have preexisting adapters that work fine with iPhones 7 through 11 but not wi the SE is an extremely disrespectful treatment of the customer base.

To Iggytoo & mjperry51

In keen-grasp-of-obvious mode, I bought a $20 New Bee BT 5.0 headset that works perfectly with my iOS 14.0.1 iPhone SE 2020. So as mjperry51 said, the problem appears to be with BT 3.0 backward compatibility, which exists or doesn't depending upon which article you read. I'm only an ME and don't understand such things, so one of you EE/CS types will have to take it from here. Thanks.

Just got a new iPhone SE 2020 and found that it couldn’t even locate my Plantronics headset, let alone pair with it.

https://www.lexair.com/blog/pairing-instructions-for-all-plantronics-bluetooth-models/

This link instructed me how to restart the Plantronics pairing mode which allowed my iPhone to both find and pair with my Plantronics headset easily. Don’t know yet how long the iPhone will maintain the connection or if I will suffer dropped calls in the near future ... ??

Confirm Rob-Findor, Iggytoo and BRG Gregor reports. Neither my Plantronics M55 nor M70 will stay paired with my SE 2020 (old iPhone 5 paired flawlessly for years).

The web is full of descriptions and remedies for iPhone-BT pairing problems, none of which appear to have worked for any Community member. Updated to iOS 14 this morning with no improvement.  This is obviously a well-established problem and it is just as obviously not being dealt with.

I bought the A/P/Pros, so my Apple dues are paid. Sometimes, however, it's simply more convenient to grab the old-but-reliable Plantronics for a phone call. Is there no way out of this??

Jim Caylor

I have recently purchased the latest IPHONE SE and I have just updated it to 13.6. My Plantronics 50 Bluetooth would not connect at all . Saw person at Apple Adelaide and he got it to connect. When I left the store I noticed the Plantronics 50 connects and disconnects every 15 seconds. Could not return to store as they were closing . The 50 works fine on my old IPHONE 6S and my IPHONE 5. Have now returned to using my 6S which is AOK. I need the Bluetooth because get all my work via Bluetooth whilst driving. I want a replacement phone or a refund as am fed up completely. The man at Apple said he had not heard of this problem despite the fact it is well displayed on this and other internet sites .

Confirming this issue between iPhone SE 2020 (iOS 13.6) and Plantronics M55/M70 BT headsets. Repeated drops in BT connection at the 15 second intervals mentioned by TurfTeddy after multiple pairing attempts and hard reset. However, BT connection with JBL Flip 4 remains viable after initial pairing through multiple OFF/ON cycles. Is there a fix? Please? Thank you.

I own two Plantronic M70 bluetooth hands free devices. Both will not stay paired with my iPhone SE 2020. I'm pretty sure it is not interference from other devices because I use it out in the field about 100 yard from any other devices and the problem persists. Does anyone have any solutions?

Skipped the Apple Store and went to Apple help. They suggested I check with Plantronics for an update for my M70 or an app from Plantronics. No such luck. Plantronics says the M70 is not updatable and the app they have is not compatible with the M70. Considering that the SE 2020 appears to be the only Apple model having the problem, it's in Apple's count.

iOS 14 does not fix it.

Seem like Apple is not going to do anything about it. Apparently it is not a big enough problem it effect Apple's market share. Or maybe this complaint has to start showing up on YouTube and other mass media.

To mjperry51 and Iggytoo:

1) If Apple does not resolve this issue, do I understand your comments to mean that a BT 4 headset should work? FYI, my JBL Flip 4 is BT 4.2 and has remained paired with the iPhone SE 2020.

2) My experience with my Plantronics M55 and M70 headsets is that either would stay connected during a call. Otherwise each would connect for 15 second intervals, disconnect and repeat. Is the 15 second window an interval during which some kind of device-to-device connection/handshake is being requested and not received after which the connection is terminated? If so, what "magic" does the call provide to maintain the connection?

Thank you.

1. Can't speak to all BT headsets; that said I have several Bose BT headsets that have no issues. Pretty sure they're BT 4 I can also connect (as I said in my original post) with several other BT devices with now issues -- suspect they too are BT 4.
2. I had another M70 that I used with an Apple IPhone 7 -- never had a disconnect problem. This is why I say the fault lies with the IPhone 11 BT 5 implementation of BT3 backward compatibility. I have no idea why an active connection would hold when an inactive one doesn't. I've had the 11 disconnect in 5 seconds, and then take over 8 minutes to disconnect. 🤷‍♂️

to caylorjb

That does describe the behavior I've experienced. Wish there was a solution. I'd get another hands free but I would hate to spend the money only to have the same issue with another brand. It sounds as if the device has to be BT 4 to work.

I just purchased 12 pro and gave my wife my XR. We both have Plantronics 50 bluetooth headsets. She used hers with her iphone 6 and I used mine with my iphone XR and never had a big issue connecting. Now, neither one, XR or 12 pro will connect. The Plantronics does't even show up in the bluetooth settings on either phone. I've tried all suggestions on the internet from reseting network, rebooting, holding the side of the headset and pushing in gets a blue blinking light but still not showing up on the phone. Any one have any ideas or having similar problem?