anyone else handsfree phone sound like sh&t

[MikeTV]

I've used both a Blackberry and now an iPhone 4s on Verizon. People regularly ask me where I'm at while I'm on the phone and are surprised that I'm in the car.

Speak at a normal volume, don't yell and let the microphones do the work. Roll up the windows.

 

[jpaeth]

I have noticed really poor call quality as well, but only at speeds above about 40Mph. I wonder if the people saying theirs are sounding good are testing this out sitting still. I did and experiment with my wife in which I called her at a stop light and she said it sounded great, then as I sped up it got worse and worse. To me it sounds like a white noise cancellation problem.

 

[compu_85]

I just sent a PM to jpaeth with a number of a voicemail system I run. If anyone else would like to call it so I can share their car's recording with the rest of the class shoot me a PM.

Thanks,

-J

 

[tdibigd]

I'm glad to find this thread. I posted one of my own several weeks ago. When I bought my car, I had a Motorola Atrix android phone. Everyone said it sounded excellent via the car's bluetooth. One of my dogs dropped the Atrix in the toilet, so I was forced to get a new phone, choosing the Samsung Galaxy 3. Ever since I "upgraded," people say I sound like crap - as if I'm in a wind tunnel. I've searched all through the Galaxy's settings and can't find a thing to adjust. I guess I will get the VCDS cable and adjust? Either that or leave the Galaxy out so the dog will drop it in the toilet too.

 

[compu_85]

Want to record a sample?

My IPhone 4S sounds fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[tdibigd]

Sure, that'd be great. Let me know what to do. Thanks!

 

[compu_85]

Here are tdibigd's recordings:

Handsfree: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/TDIBigD-BT.wav

Just the phone: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/TDIBigD-NotBT.wav

Quite a difference. I'll have to dig up the recordings GeekDrew and I made a while back.

Edit: here are two I recorded.

Around town: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/compu85-BT1.wav
On the highway: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/compu85-BT2.wav

-J

 

[jafische]

I tried the microphone upside down trick. DIDNT WoRk.
Want to try the dB updates for voice0 and noise-8 tweak.
Heck if there is that much effect from variations between phone mfg and types, there should be a MFD setting or setting on the RNS under phone that would allow the user to modify the dB alteration. Thing to make a great car... more greater.

 

[tdibigd]

That actually sounds better than I thought it would - at least when I'm talking. I now know what people mean, though - it's when I'm NOT talking. The first half second or so of the recording (with hands free) sounds like a jet engine. I should have put more pauses in the recording, as would be with a normal conversation. That background crap is squelched more or less when I'm talking. The other party has to contend with the white noise when they're trying to speak with me. Thanks again, J. I will need to get that adjusted with VCDS.

 

[compu_85]

If you want to make another test feel free to call the number back and make pauses

I need to check that the voicemail system isn't trying to do some sort of auto levelling though.

-J

 

[PassatSE4me]

No problems with my iPhone 5. Best handsfree I've had.

 

[allipki]

Here are tdibigd's recordings:

Handsfree: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/TDIBigD-BT.wav

Just the phone: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/TDIBigD-NotBT.wav

Quite a difference. I'll have to dig up the recordings GeekDrew and I made a while back.

Edit: here are two I recorded.

Around town: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/compu85-BT1.wav
On the highway: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/compu85-BT2.wav

-J

compu,
great job posting recorded samples,
I have same issues and I have galaxy s4,
I always have to switch to phone since I drive most on highway anyone cant hear me behind the noise.

 

[tdibigd]

Will do, probably tomorrow if it's still online. Thanks!

 

[kromicacid]

I had a terrible time with my BT microphone... The headliner was replaced because the fabric was cut short, and was showing around the weather seal on most doors. I think when the put the microphone/sunroof trim back in they broke the little tab that held it in place, along with the microphone sitting smaller than the bracket causing it to shake around. People would say they couldnt understand a thing i was saying.
I folded a piece of paper and jammed it in next to the microphone to hold it still, and used double sided foam tape to hold the microphone/sunroof trim back in place. Visually you cant tell anything is different, and the sound quality is 100% better. No more worries of people not being able to hear me while I am driving and talking.

 

[compu_85]

Here's a recording GeekDrew made at 60 MPH. You can hear how initially the handsfree has the gain cranked way up, but it lowers as soon as he begins talking:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/GeekDrew1.wav

Same speed, but using the phone's built in speakerphone:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/GeekDrew2.wav

Same speed, using the phone as a handset:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/GeekDrew3.wav

Amazing how much better the handset sounds!

Here's a longer recording from tdibigd:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/TDIBigD-2.wav

And one with Lawson and I: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26930986/VW/BT_Recordings/compu85-Veedub.wav

So the car's handsfree isn't as amazing as I initially thought it was, but seems to work OK. It's a lot better than the Pioneer system in my Jetta anyway.

Thanks,

-Jason

 

[tdibigd]

Well, like I said, mine got great reviews when I was using another phone. It was only when I transitioned to the Galaxy 3 when it took a crap. There's obviously some differences in the way various phones interface with the integrated BT system. Don't know what those are, and it doesn't really matter at this point, but it's a fact. I don't blame the VW system for this. I am probably going to ditch my phone, since it's already flogged in other ways, to a Lenovo Vibe once I can get my hands on one. Hopefully will get as good of match as with the old Motorola Atrix. Until then, yes it sucks. Got reports of it being awful as recently as this afternoon. Oh well, it is annoying but in the grand scheme it is not a big deal insofar as satisfaction with the car overall. When my old Jetta was new, I was using a flip phone and everything was dandy!