bluetooth music issues after iOS6 update

deepcover wrote:

I don't have any inside knowledge and I'm basing this on what AVRCP is suppose to do. From Wikipedia:

The fact that iOS 6 AVRCP still works on all stereos that I know of, but only provides basic remote control commands for some of them, would suggest that those stereos are only utilizing the 1.0 functionality when 1.4 profile is used.

Thanks. Makes sense. Just wasn't sure if you had found anything documented from Apple or a stereo manufacturer.

I guess it's also possible that the head units are recognizing and "seeing" AVRCP 1.3 but the data itself is lost in translation, if that makes sense. Would be nice to know.

<Edited By Host>

Because technically it is not Apple's issue. Just because Apple fixed their code to comply to the standards does not make it their problem. Yes, I am upset about this issue as well, I have been affected with my brand new stereo (at the time of the update it was a few days old). Yes, it would be faster and easier for Apple to fix the issue, but then they have the same issue of the code not being standard again. I would like this issue fixed as well and I believe that each stereo manufacture releasing a firmware update would be best, then everything is made under the standard rather then what works. Maybe after the updates, they would be able to use some of the new Bluetooth features as well, such as the messages.

Or better yet maybe Apple should just start making headunits and solve the whole issue that way, I at least think that would be very interesting to see how Apple would push the market.

Would that be the same Ford Sync system that has worked flawlessly with my iOS 6 phones in multiple model year 2012 and newer rental cars?

Apple implemented the latest standard, and some device manufacturers did not properly implement that standard. (For example, a majority of people here having issues are having them with devices made directly or indirectly by one of three electronics manufacturers - Alpine, Clarion and Pioneer. Yet many other manufacturers' devices have had zero issues with iOS 6 Bluetooth. Funny, that.)

We've seen this happen several times before, so it's not at all surprising it's happened again.

Apple likes logs so that they can diagnose your particular problem and, if they determine it's a manufacturer's issue, they can go to the manufacturer and show them they sent a compliant stream but their devices went out to lunch.

Please post the directives from Ford and Dodge stating that any issues with their head ends is due to Apple's non-compliance with Bluetooth protocols. If they had, the links would have already been posted here ad nauseum.

But that's OK, dismiss me as a fanboy if it makes you feel better - but what will you do when Android someday supports AVRCP 1.4 and it doesn't work with those same head ends, either?

In order to get your Bluetooth audio to work, you have to manually select Bluetooth as the source on these Pioneers, otherwise I think it defaults to iPod (USB). The Bluetooth phone capability is separate and should work no matter which mode you have it in. It works, keeps fiddling with it.

Pioneer DEH 6400 BT

IPhone 5 on IOS 6.01

Just did the update, took a fair while for me as it failed a few times. Paid off in the end though. Music controls are back on the steering wheel and auto start has returned.

HU kept saying waiting but file never went. Finally got he 2 to speak but the file transfer failed at around one third the way. Did it again and got same result, though HU still said waiting. One occasion it started but

hen HU said 'error' and file failed.

On the last attempt the head unit finally said 'updating' and the file got to the end before the pc again said the file had failed to transfer, but I left the HU alone and it finally said 'completed'. Looked over to he laptop that was still saying the file had failed and fingers crossed I turned the HU off and on before trying the iPhone with it.

Trying to pair through the iPhones old pair was a no go (I only tried it to see if it would work but didn't expect it to).

Told iPhone to forget the connection and repaired.

I now have auto start back, and steering wheel controls are back as well so skipping forward and back is now a lot safer than it has been since iOS 6 broke it. No metadata, so no track list info, but I don't care about that, it would have been nice to have tracklist info, but functionality is more important and I am just glad to have control of the music on my phone through the steering wheel controls again.

I still think apple suck, but kudos to pioneer for fixing things.

I just updated my US AVH-4400BH with the EU firmware this morning. I didn't quite follow quattrod's steps, but if you are using a Mac I highly recommend pairing the devices after you delete all the existing configuration, and then checking "remember this device/pairing". I tried about three times before doing that and it seemed to keep timing out. Once I had them successfully paired I only had to upload the firmware once.

I've been lurking here since the IO6 debacle started and my Pioneer headunit's BT function went south (Meta Data and controls vanished). I tried the firmware upgrade last night on my AVH P2400BT. After hitting up friends and family looking for a laptop with both Win7 and bluetooth (which is completely effing ridiculous in and of itself) I followed the instructions to the letter. My blue tooth functionality is now completely bricked, not even an option any longer. Looks like I'll have to perform some type of hard reset on my head unit. My warranty expires on my head unit in 2 weeks. I'll be raising **** with Car Toys (where I purchased / installed the unit) and Pioneer in the mean time for a replacement / refund.

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Using iOS 6.1, I followed Pioneer's instructions to the letter, except they required Windows 7 for the file transfer and I was able to do it with Mountain Lion instead. It worked for me.

I also made sure that I deleted my Bluetooth profiles on the Pioneer stereo and the the Pioneer profile on my phone prior to starting.

The firmware update instructions say:

This firmware update may be used only with the following 2012 Pioneer products:

CD Receivers

• DEH-P8400BH
• DEH-P9400BH
• DEH-80PRS

DVD Receivers

• AVH-P2400BT
• AVH-P3400BH
• AVH-P4400BH
• AVH-P8400BH

I updated my Pioneer AVH-P3400 to the latest firmware and I have a couple of questions regarding Pandora control. I have an iPhone 5 running IOS 6.1 and when streaming Pandora, shouldn't I see the album cover for the current track and more importantly, shouldn't I be able to change stations without touching the phone? I also noticed that the "thumbs up/thumbs down" feature isn't available through the Bluetooth but I have read that this was the case before the iOS 6 debacle happened. I'm able to do all of these features when connected through the cable so I'm not sure why I lose these features when using Bluetooth.

I can confirm that I managed to get this to work. It did not go without problems. I had a Win 7 laptop and a Bluetooth dongle. I could not get it to connect with file transfer as an option so was immediately hitting a brick wall.

My Bluetooth dongle was getting on a bit being a Bluetooth 2.1. I decided to try a new one. I purchased a Trust Bluetooth 3.0 as it matches the BT version of the audio unit at least. I tried again and this time all of the relevant options showed up including file transfer.

I followed the instructions and got the file folders to show and put the stereo into FW update mode with waiting on the screen. I dragged and dropped the downloaded file into the update folder. The transfer started and then stopped less than half way through saying 'not authorised' as the reason for failure. This happened several times.

I then pressed back on the stereo and disconnected the BT connection between the stereo and laptop then put the stereo back into FW update. I then click on connect on the PC (I think it says audio next to the button you click on, it's below the headset icon that windows 7 gives it anyhow). It connected and I then double click the headset icon again to show the folders and dragged the file into the update folder and this time it transferred. As soon as it completed transferring, the stereo displayed 'updating do not touch.....' In less than five mins it changed to 'update complete press any button'. You need to press back. Turn off the ignition and turn on again, then re-pair the phone and all was well.

In summary, for me the purchase of a new BT V3.0 dongle solved it. (£14.99 in Maplin in the UK)

My stereo was the Alpine CDE-133BT. Hope this helps some people.

Update to my Previous Post

I've just finished updating the bluetooth firmware. Following the guide word for word did not work for me. I tried to use a Lenovo laptop on windows 7 with builtin bluetooth. The transfer always said it had worked but the unit stayed stuck on the Firmware Updating message. After trying again and again I gave up and used my Mac, which worked! I think I remember someone else in a previous post suggesting this.

Finally all my issues with this headunit have gone. I don't think I'll ever be buying Alpine again.

Yup, but it would have been handy if Apple had actually announced they were going to upgrade to the newer Bluetooth standard rather than just quietly lipping it in between the last public beta and the release version? Especially given that it doesn't seem to be backwards compatible.

Ok so I'm a bit late to the party but it seems like the issue is still around. I have the Alpine IVE-W530BT and I'm running an Iphone 5. I had the ussual meta data and headunit control of Bluetooth music issue. I updated to Firmware 27 which resolved this by using a windows 7 HP Laptop.

However the persistent problem for me is the terrible sound quality while making calls on the head unit. It imporved marginally with Firmware 27 , I have also updated to firmware .35 which i got from the Local South African Alpine distributor but this still does not resolve the issue.

Before the 530 BT I had an ALPINE CDEW235BT running with a IOS5 Iphone 4s and LOVED it.. a while ago I Connected a simple Nokia to the unit and sound quality was remarably better..

I'm ready to chuck either the radio or the telephone in the ocean..

That's great that Alpine is supporting the consumer on this.

Has anyone received any word from Kenwood? My BT852HD is still a mess. All I can do is get music to play through it via bluetooth. I have no skip controls and little or no track information displaying.

Amazingly I can still make calls... fwiw.