It sounds like if the problem were with an amp and not a headunit, the solution would be some sort of ground loop isolator. Unfortunately, that does not look like something that can be done on a headunit. I noticed that when dialing out, while the phone was ringing, there was all sorts of faint whines, clicks, and pops and general hissing/noise while the thing was ringing. It's definitely a problem with hardware as the software side works pretty damn well. Hopefully this can somehow get resolved through firmware update. (Maybe some sort of gain adjustment?) It can not be the microphone as the voice control for iPod on my 700 was spot on every single time.

Mine does the same thing... Hisses, pops, etc. Even sometimes when I call, I don't hear the rings. Most of the time I do though.

As far as a firmware update, they think nothing is wrong. Atleast what the one pioneer help desk guy said

well heres another thing to consider....could be useful, may not...but when the car is just on, not running, it has a 12 volt current...when the car is started it has a 14-15 volt current...like i said may not even be related to the quality but itd make sense somehow.

well heres another thing to consider....could be useful, may not...but when the car is just on, not running, it has a 12 volt current...when the car is started it has a 14-15 volt current...like i said may not even be related to the quality but itd make sense somehow.

Very true. The increased voltage to the system has to be causing this. Hopefully a firmware update can lower the voltage going into the Bluetooth portion of the unit. Otherwise a resistor may be in order. Or it could very well be the increased voltage to the onboard amps causes the interference with the bluetooth. It really could be anything.

yeh....not tryin to hijack this thread but it is related....when i did the hard drive swap from a z1 to an unlocked z3, it was supposed to have the bluetooth update on it....but the quality is still horrible.

Okay, here's the question. Is the D3 mic shielded (electrically) whereas the Z and F mics are not. If so, then this is 100% the problem. It's not so much engine noise as it is electrical (noise) coming from the engine.

Just curious, to everyone with mic issues.

How much of the wire for the mic are you using? What are you doing with the rest of the mic cord?

I ask because in the interest of keeping the wires tidy, I bet a lot of folks are rolling the extra wire into a loop and tucking it into the dash.

Bad idea if that is what you did. Shielded or not, a looped wire is an inductor, and as such, any eletromagnetic noise in the car (there will be a lot in modern cars) will induce a small amount of current in the wire. That small amout is usually incidental to speaker wires (and to a certain extent rca pre-amp signal cables). But your mic channel is very sensitive to that noise. 'Tis the nature of a microphone.

So, If you are having mic issues, and have your mic cord wrapped up, stretch it out and try it. Just a thought.

Just curious, to everyone with mic issues.

 

How much of the wire for the mic are you using? What are you doing with the rest of the mic cord?

 

I ask because in the interest of keeping the wires tidy, I bet a lot of folks are rolling the extra wire into a loop and tucking it into the dash.

Bad idea if that is what you did. Shielded or not, a looped wire is an inductor, and as such, any eletromagnetic noise in the car (there will be a lot in modern cars) will induce a small amount of current in the wire. That small amout is usually incidental to speaker wires (and to a certain extent rca pre-amp signal cables). But your mic channel is very sensitive to that noise. 'Tis the nature of a microphone.

 

So, If you are having mic issues, and have your mic cord wrapped up, stretch it out and try it. Just a thought.

Another excellent thought.

so the main cause could be, idk the right term....electrostatic feedback im gonna guess? from the engine or a rolled wire....BRILLIANT!!!

another suggestion to help with the quality, u ever see mirophones at a recording studio? they have a film over them to prevent air/wind-like noises from being recorded....could be a nice addition to your microphone.

so the main cause could be, idk the right term....electrostatic feedback im gonna guess?

I would call it inductive noise or feedback. If you have it looped up right next to the head unit, there could be a lot of noise.

Never coil wire unless you are actually building an inductor.

Okay, here's the question. Is the D3 mic shielded (electrically) whereas the Z and F mics are not. If so, then this is 100% the problem. It's not so much engine noise as it is electrical (noise) coming from the engine.

I thought this was the case, unfortunately for my situation, even sometimes when the motor is off it sounds like crapola....

Has anyone else with mic problems tried the motor on motor off test?

Okay, here's the question. Is the D3 mic shielded (electrically) whereas the Z and F mics are not. If so, then this is 100% the problem. It's not so much engine noise as it is electrical (noise) coming from the engine.

 

I thought this was the case, unfortunately for my situation, even sometimes when the motor is off it sounds like crapola....

 

Has anyone else with mic problems tried the motor on motor off test?

when i first linked the phone my engine was off. i called my mother to see how itd work and she said it worked perfectly. the same day when i was on my way to my fiance's house she said i sounded far away and there was alot of echoing.

The engine is not the only source of noise.

If your mic wire is rolled up near the head unit, the head unit itself could be interfering.

Never hurts to try. Basic troubleshooting, try to eliminate as many variables as possible.

The engine is not the only source of noise.

 

If your mic wire is rolled up near the head unit, the head unit itself could be interfering.

 

Never hurts to try. Basic troubleshooting, try to eliminate as many variables as possible.

if that was directed at me then

1. ive suggested other methods aside from the engine

2. my mic wire is run in and out of compartments to eliminate bunching it up.

3. ive done much more than basic troubleshooting so dont lecture on how to go about different problems.

if that wasnt then, oops

One post up...

Not here to lecture anyone about anything.

It's just that these NAV units are essentially little PC's, and I have seen electronics leak a lot of EMR. Add in airbag controls, ECM, blower motors, even instrument clusters... Inside a dash is an awful unfriendly place for a microphone lead.

when i first linked the phone my engine was off. i called my mother to see how itd work and she said it worked perfectly. the same day when i was on my way to my fiance's house she said i sounded far away and there was alot of echoing.

Just curious, does the BT phone output only come out of the LF speaker? If so, you say the engine was off, was that door open by chance?

Possible imaging/sound path distance issue?

Just trying to help.

when i first linked the phone my engine was off. i called my mother to see how itd work and she said it worked perfectly. the same day when i was on my way to my fiance's house she said i sounded far away and there was alot of echoing.

 

Just curious, does the BT phone output only come out of the LF speaker? If so, you say the engine was off, was that door open by chance?

 

Possible imaging/sound path distance issue?

 

Just trying to help.

im sorry for the blowup i thought u were criticizing my knowledge of this stuff.

no, i have it balanced between L&R. the doors were also closed. it works fine for me whenever the cars just on. but it makes you wonder, cars that come stock with say onstar, dont have any echoing and such and you can use it while driving but with the BT and mic the quality's just not good.

update::

i just went and relocated the bluetooth piece to the top of my windshield

i started the car and called my fiance'. she said she echoed like crazy so i lowered the speaker volume and she said it sounded perfect.

Just a shot in the dark here, but has anyone tried otherwise shielding the mic cable? If it's a matter of induced interferance, a little shielding might go a long way to help the problem.

I have a Z2 and it was notorious for mic problems. Afew things that helped up in the Z-series forums were:

1) when pairing the phone, make sure the volume is turned less than 1/2 way on the phone

2) set your output to come from the left side only

3) dont turn the output for the voice very high, it can ricochet off the other door and into the mic, causing an echo for the caller on the other end.

Try these things and if they dont work, dig around the Z-series forums. Alot of things were tried and there's plenty of info there.

putting the bluetooth adapter on the windshield was a good idea, but a lot of people like the hidden look and I personally think that it'll make your car more likely to get broken into. Im happy it worked for your, though!

putting the bluetooth adapter on the windshield was a good idea, but a lot of people like the hidden look and I personally think that it'll make your car more likely to get broken into. Im happy it worked for your, though!

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.

I have had my f90bt installed since Saturday the 14th and I have had many problems with the unit many of them have been discussed on this website, the Bluetooth is not one of them. The quality has been pretty good. I have my unit synced with a Samsung i760 and I'm driving a 2007 Mercedes-Benz C280 4matic. I have placed my microphone underneath the steering wheel, so the only complaint that I got was is when the air is on to high they can hear the air rushing across the microphone, but they can still hear me fine and I have no problems hearing the caller on the other end. I am using Verizon. I would think that if you have a high level or road noise that would have a negative effect on your Bluetooth experience, also the service that you use (I.E Signal). My contacts transferred to the phone quickly and without any events. I have not tried to stream media to the unit, even though my phone asks to set up that profile. I just want to use it as a hands free device. Currently I'm in the process of compiling a comprehensive list of the pros and cons of the unit. By the way for the people who are wondering I have Windows mobile 6.0 right now, waiting for 6.1 should be out sometime this month. One of the big things is Threaded text messages. I have not received a text message while I was in the car so I don’t know if they come up or not on the Avic.

In summary there are many problems with the unit, nothing I don't think that firmware will not update, but the Bluetooth operation is not one of them. Hope this helps.

I did one test with the Engine OFF and it sounded great. I then did 5 calls with the engine running. Idle at a stop or driving. ALL terrible.

My wire is indeed looped together next to the HU in the dashboard. I will try "unwinding it" and see what it does.

BTW, My unit is a f900BT

The theory or the voltage going from 12V to 14V is very interesting. I wish someone can try that on a bench. My unit is installed now and I can't really try this easily.

putting the bluetooth adapter on the windshield was a good idea, but a lot of people like the hidden look and I personally think that it'll make your car more likely to get broken into. Im happy it worked for your, though!

 

I don't care who you are, that's funny right there.

hillarious. except you cant see it thru the black mesh thats there..

The theory or the voltage going from 12V to 14V is very interesting.

not just a theory lol

ENGINE OFF::

ENGINE ON::