bluetooth connection

There can be several reasons why your iPod won't connect to your Bluetooth speaker. Let's go through them one by one until you get it sorted.

First of all, note the difference between “pairing” and “connected”:

• Pairing is establishing that the two devices recognise each other. Devices need to be paired first, so that they can recognise each other when there are other devices in the area. (A bit like recognising a friend in a crowd). Once your iPod is paired with the speaker, it will be able to connect automatically (subject to the points mentioned below)
• Connecting is the function that allows audio to be sent from the iPod to the speaker. You can only connect to devices that have previously been paired

Many Bluetooth speakers can only connect to one device at a time, which means that if your speaker is already connected (note, not paired, but connected) to another device, it will not be able to pair to your new iPod until

you turn off the old one. One of my speakers can connect to two devices at the same time, but once again, if two devices are on (and therefore connected to the speaker) I cannot “pair” to a third device. Most speakers can pair with up to eight devices.

So the first thing to do is turn off the Bluetooth function on any other devices that you have paired with the speaker.

Once that's done, put the speaker into discover mode. This allows the speaker to be seen by other devices, so that they can pair. (Usually, a speaker is put into discover mode by long-pressing the Bluetooth button on the speaker.)

Next, on your iPod (in Settings/Bluetooth), turn on Bluetooth and look for, and select, the speaker listed in “Discoverable Devices”. That should pair the two and then connect them as well. Note that most speakers will only stay in Discover Mode for 30 seconds so you need to pair the two devices within that time or you will need to put the speaker into Discover Mode again.

If your iPod is already paired, but won't connect, then once again note that other devices may be preventing connection. So turn off the Bluetooth on any other devices that are paired with the speaker.

Has that sorted the issue?

By the way, regarding the number of devices that a speaker can pair with: the usual practice is that if you try to pair a ninth device to a speaker, the oldest device will be dropped from the paired devices, thereby allowing pairing of a new device.