iOS 4.1 and Jabra ICON bluetooth range issue

Question

Level 1

19 points

iOS 4.1 and Jabra ICON bluetooth range issue

Greetings,

Did some searching here but couldn't find anything posted about the Jabra ICON bluetooth headset. I bought an ICON shortly after upgrading to the iPhone 4 with iOS 4.0 - worked great, no issues. Since upgrading to iOS 4.1, the distance that I can separate the headset and phone has dropped considerably, to the point that if I walk more than 1 or 2 ft away, the caller says "hey, it suddenly sounds like you're in a fishbowl or something." I can hear them fine, they just can't make out what I'm saying. The symptom goes away when I get close to the phone again.

I'm running the latest Jawbone ICON firmware (updated to that before updating to iOS 4.1, in fact) and I've un-paired/re-paired and rebooted the phone all with the same end result - very short range.

It's not a show stopper for me, just an annoyance mostly, as I tend to talk more while driving, and the phone is close enough to the headset for it to be a non-issue. When I'm at home and wandering around the house trying to have a conversation, that's when I notice it more.

Anyone else seen this behavior?

iPhone 4, iOS 4, iOS 4.1, Jabra ICON headset

Posted on Oct 1, 2010 8:25 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Oct 2, 2010 6:09 AM in response to J Arnold

I have the same issue with the same headset. My boss has the same one and he is also experiencing the same issue. I also have the issue when talking all of a sudden the bluetooth looses connection and then comes back. The party cant hear me at all for maybe 3-5 seconds and thinks the call has dropped. I'm running the OS 4.1.

Reply

Answer 2

Oct 2, 2010 9:03 AM in response to J Arnold

I've experienced this too. Range has dropped considerably since updating to 4.1 with my ICON. Who should we bring this up to - Apple or the Jawbone folks?

I'm currently trying to figure out why sms and email alerts don't play through the ICON 100% of the time. Part of my troubleshooting involves disabling A2DP support on the ICON. I will see if that brings my range back.

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 3, 2010 9:53 AM in response to MauiGeist

It seems that Apple has "fixed" some bluetooth issues in 4.1 and yet created or ignored some other ones.

I also have the Jawbone Icon and noticed the decreased range after 4.1, also I had to turn off A2DP on the jawbone as I want the alerts to go through the phone not the headset as I don't always wear it.

I understand A2DP is for streaming music, but come on apple alert sounds also and its inconsistant at that, and furthermore if you have a headset like the BlueAnt Q2 which does A2DP but doesn't offer a way to turn off streaming no alert sounds period when its connected.

Reply

Answer 4

Oct 3, 2010 5:01 PM in response to Covert308

Yeah, A2DP bluetooth and iOS 4.1 don't play well together when it comes to sms and email alerts. I've done some troubleshooting - sms and email alerts WILL sound off in the A2DP bluetooth earpiece only if it is active and running and not in some mysterious standby mode. Case and point - start typing a text message and you'll notice the keypad clicks coming through your earpiece only after you're well into your sentence, missing the first couple of clicks. That's the delay you get when A2DP snaps out of standby. SMS and email alerts are too quick and short, and I fear the audible tone goes to waste by being used as a "wake-up" signal only. If you keep the A2DP profile active and running, sms and email alerts sound off in the bluetooth earpiece just fine. To prove my theory, just start listening to a song on your iPhone and have someone send you an sms. You'll hear your sms arrive while your song is playing because the bluetooth is up and running and not in stand by mode.

So yes, Apple should fix this. But I also think Jawbone and BlueAnt could alter the way their A2DP headsets go into a standby state as well. I mean my BlueAnt T1 is fully capable of announcing "Message arrived" with a firmware update once woken up from a standby mode. You'd think Jawbone and BlueAnt would be a bit more eager to make their products work flawlessly with the most popular smartphone on the planet, no? Guess time will tell.

Message was edited by: applepup

Reply

Answer 5

J Arnold Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 3, 2010 8:56 PM in response to MauiGeist

I found the original thread on the Jawbone website that seemed to touch on this issue (see http://forums.jawbone.com/t5/MyTALK/Latest-ICON-update-is-broken-on-iPhone/m-p/5 188 for the thread).

I disabled my A2DP in the Jawbone ICON earlier this evening. An initial test (calling my home phone from my cellphone) seemed to show improvement in the range. So perhaps the combination of changes in iOS 4.1 in the Bluetooth stack and enabling the A2DP functionality plays into the range issue - will do more testing tomorrow when I have more time and report back.

Has anyone else who has disabled A2DP running on iOS 4.1 noticed any type of range increase at all?

Reply

Answer 6

J Arnold Author

Level 1

19 points

Oct 3, 2010 8:58 PM in response to MauiGeist

I'm guessing the primary reason behind the standby mode is to conserve as much battery life as possible in the ICON. Leaving the channel open all the time would no doubt have a negative affect on battery life. I have definitely experienced what you are referring to though, when I had A2DP enabled in the headset.

Reply

Answer 7

Nov 4, 2010 7:29 PM in response to J Arnold

Since this issue hasn't been resolved or even acknowledged officially yet, I'd like to ask if there's another way to get email and/or sms alerts to sound off while using an A2DP bluetooth. Does anyone know of an app that will circumvent this "sms alert through bluetooth" problem? I know a lot of Android people with this issue turned to the Vlingo app for a solution, but Vlingo is pretty different on Android phones compared to iPhone, and it doesn't do alerts. Any app suggestions?

Reply