Bluetooth Headset Problems

[ts47]

The Samsung Droid Charge seems to have compatibility issues with some or perhaps more than some bluetooth headsets/car kits/etc.  I've spent quite a bit of time on the phone with Verizon tech support and even Samsung tech support.  I've had 2 Plantronics Voyager Pro + headsets (sold by Verizon) and 3 Samsung Droid Charge phones.  Phone number two was a dud (probably been dropped or something) and would loose the pairing as soon as I turned the phone off.  The other two phones and headsets all exhibited the
same symptoms.

There is an occasional problem where callers can't hear you, but you can hear them. There is no way to know when of if the person you call can hear you unless they are actually on the phone at the same time. Imagine leaving a message for
your wife saying you'll be home late, or for a client moving an appointment and all they hear is silence. These problems seem to grow until the phone disconnects itself from the headset. To get the phone & headset connected again, you have to delete the headset profile from the phone and go through the process to pair them again.  This whole process repeats every week or two.

It is my understanding that other bluetooth headsets have similar problems connecting or staying connected with the Charge.  According to Verizon, they won't pursue a fix with Samsung unless they get enough complaints or see enough information in threads like this one.  So if you have a problem like I do, please let us and Verizon know the details.

If you have a good headset that actually works properly with this phone, I'd like to know that too.  I may need to buy another headset.

[WCMack]

I am using a Plantronics Discovery 955 and have had no problems pairing the device and using the headset to make and receive calls. I think the current upgraded device is the Discovery 975.

[ts47]

For some reason my response posted twice.  No way to delete second post.

[JoeNe]

I have a Voyager Pro + as well.

I have not encountered a situation where the other caller cannot hear me, however I have had to delete the BT profile and re-pair once.  

I will say this, for what it's worth; I had 2 LG Revolutions which both had multiple issues.  The BT on the Revo was absolutely terrible.  Very short range, staticy and it would not keep a connection with many devices.  Part of the problem could be that these phones are BT 3.0.  Many of the headsets and BT devices are BT 2.x.  At least that's what I was told when I called VZ on the Revo.

[ts47]

Hi Joe,

Thanks for the response.  Verizon told me that the bluetooth on the Charge was not one of the known problems.  I just want them to make it one of the things they push Samsung to fix.  All this new technology is a challenge.  Hopefully somewhere down the line it becomes a benefit for us.

Here are my questions for the group...

1. What bluetooth headsets, car kits, etc is everyone using?

2. Do they work properly?

[mrmiller]

I am using a (2 year old) Motorola H721 bluetooth ...  the only problem with it is when attempting to voice dial....  every time I say "call home"  it dials a different number!!!

[Ray999]

I have tried several different bluetooth headsets on my Charge as well as my wife's Charge. I have had some issues with all of them. Mic drops and random voice dialing are the 2 big issues that I have been encountering.

1.) Plantronics Explorer 390 - Mic drops during calls frequently. Also voice dials random numbers when I try. If I use no bluetooth, voice dialing works as expected.

2.) Plantronics Explorer 240 - Mic drops occasionally, but much less frequently than 390 headset. Forget about voice dialing as it calls random numbers when you try.

3.) Motorola S10 HD - Drops Mic frequently. Voice dialing like the Plantronics 390 but at least calls someone named Sheryl when I say 'Call Sheryl Mobile' just not the Sheryl in my contacts.

4.) Jaybird Freedom - Hasn't dropped Mic yet, but does voice dialing just as bad as the others.

[ts47]

Hi Again Joe,

I'm rereading your post.  How long have you used the Plantronics Voyager Pro + with the charge?  It could be that you haven't had it long enough to notice the problems.  If you don't have problems, well, I want to know your secret.

I really wish I could find a way to not have the problems I'm having.  I've been through two of these headsets and 3 Charges trying to find one that would work.  I've heard from now 4 other Charge owners who own the same headset who all have the same problem I'm having.  I've paired, repaired, pulled batteries and even completed a factory reset.  The problem just won't go away.

[JoeNe]

ts47 - 

I bought the Pro + when I still had the Revo thinking my old headset was the problem.  I got the Charge on July 5th.  I have used the headset every M - F since.  I typically dont use it on the w/e.

Funny thing is I actually pair the Pro + to my Charge and a Blackberry Tour at the same time.  I carry the BB for work and the Charge is my personal phone.  The Pro + does an awesome job of pairing between 2 phones.  Much better than my Motorola H17.

[ts47]

Here's another problem.  I seem to keep double posting.  I wish there were some way to delete a post if there is a mistake.

[ts47]

Thanks WCMack.  This is the first bluetooth headset (other than Samsung headsets) that I've heard actually works with this phone.  I really like my Charge.  I just think Samsung needs to release a software update to address the serious lack of bluetooth profile support.  Verizon tech support told me yesterday that they are not aware of a problem.  They also said that if they saw enough evidence of a problem, they would go to Samsumg with a request for an update.

So, my personal mission is to encourge Verizon to do that very thing!  You should be able to walk into a Verizon store, buy this phone and a current technology headset and expect them to work together.  Unfortunately, you can't do this with the Charge!  I don't want to buy yet a second bluetooth headset to replace the one I already own.  And... I shouldn't have to.  Nor should anyone else.

The Charge does NOT support the Plantronics Voyager Pro +.  Verizon actually has a list of headsets that are supported.  This headset is on the supported list.  My experience and the three other owners I've spoken with say this is NOT the case.

Copied from a similar thread at androidcentral.com:

"I've had my Charge about a month and I cannot seem to get it to work reliably with ANY bluetooth. The phone says it has paired, but when I try to make a call (with Bluetooth on), it only goes to the bluetooth about 40 percent of the time. I got a new Jabra speakerphone bluetooth/music player last night. Seemed to pair just fine, but when I tried to make calls this morning, the Jabra didn't even recognize my Charge. In other words, no feature worked and I was not able to use the bluetooth at all - much less the music speaker feature. And don't even get me started on voice dialing...

Any thoughts/suggestions??

Thanks!"

[#12]

Good morning everyone!

I wanted to pop in here and thank everyone for the feedback and talking points! Samsung is currently investigating Bluetooth compatibility for the Charge. We will keep your posted with updates at they become available.

Thank you for your patience!

[55Bob901]

I own 2 Plantronics Discovery 975 headsets.  My previous phone was the Droid.  I never had any problems with the bluetooth headsets while using the Droid.  I paired them once and that was all I had to do.  I have owned my Samsung Charge less than 1 month, and on 2 occasions I have been unable to use the headsets with the Charge.  The only solution was to go through the pairing sequence again.  At this time, I can't think of anything I have done that is any different than what I did while using the Droid.

[clayartisan]

New owner (less than 2 weeks) of the Droid Charge.  Just discovered the bluetooth problems this week.  Have a Motorola H95 headset and it will not hold a connection to the Charge.

Will not automatically connect, even though it always shows it is paired.   I have to go to Bluetooth setup, do device scanning, then choose the H695 from the list, and click on the phone icon.  It will then connect.  However, within 5 to 10 minutes, the Bluetooth just turns off (unchecks itself) and the connection is lost (I watched this happen a couple of times).  When I escape the screen and then go back in, Bluetooth is again checked and working, but the headset is only paired and not connecting.

Maybe we should be posting somewhere over on Samsung as well?

[yanyan1]

I have the exactly same problem and I am used it with Plantronics Discovery 925! I love the Discovery 925 and I never have any issues with it for the past 2 years. I went to the Verizon store at the mall today and they suggest me to get the Motorola CommandOne. I got it because it is on sale and the guy said I could return it with full refund if I still have the same issues!

[ts47]

Here are two more posts copied from a similar Samsung Droid Charge thread at androidcentral.com.  This thread is active right now and what encouraged me to start this thread here in the Verizon Community.

1.  I have three different Jawbone units, Era, Icon and II and ALL of them exhibit this behavior. Pretty sad for Verizon sold headsets!

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk

2.  I just finally gave up trying. I have a Verizon/Jabra. Worked great with a Blackberry and an LG. I get nothing when I try with this phone.

I assumed it just wouldn't work with this phone because of some new phone incompatibility, so I didn't call to gripe. May need to change that since it is a known problem and they don't seem to care enough to fix it.

[ts47]

The folks at Verizon tech support hae been really great to talk to.  They deserve kudos in my opinion.  I've made a number of phone calls to them trying to figue out my phones' issues.  What I couldn't believe was when the tech support person told me I was the first person she had spoken with concerning a bluetooth issue and that Verizon was not aware of a problem. 

I've read enough threads to know there is a major bluettoth compatibility problem with this phone.  There are current threads running at androidcentral.com and androidforums.com.  There are old threads here that were marked solved - meaning the question got answered not that an actual solution was found.

What I encourage everyone to do who is actually having a problem is to post here, then pick up the phone and call Verizon tech support.  If we don't tell them there is a problem, they won't be able to ask Samsung for a fix.

I really like my Charge.  The only real issue I've found is an inability to work with virtually ANY bluetooth device.

[ts47]

Hi Yanyan,

Thanks for the response.  I'm also glad to see that I'm not the only person with a double post problem in this forum.  Perhaps Verizon has something else to fix.

[Ann154]

If you are using IE9 to post, turn on the compatibility mode. It is a known issue that hasn't been fixed yet.

[ts47]

Thanks for the tip Ann!

[JeremiahClift]

I had the charge for 3 weeks, and 2 new phones and was using the Jawbone Era. I had the same problems of myself being muted or a high screeching sound. Samsung and Verizon both didn't know what to say. I then switched to the LG revolution but I believe I will switch back due to the poor battery life of the revo.