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Massive Bluetooth Skipping Issues

A

aloshka

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Aug 30, 2009
1,439
744
I'm on my second phone, a friend is on his first, all the same issue. iPhone 7+ AT&T. Bluetooth audio breaks, constantly. Tried 4 different headsets, 2 different cars. Same issues. Will work, all will be fine, then it will start skipping like a scratched CD.

Can't figure out what causes it because sometimes it just comes back. It's not a WIFI issue or streaming issue. Specific to bluetooth. And with no headphone port on my new future phone, I have no other way of listening to music or even audiobooks.

I read some stuff here and there about BT issues with cars, but this is any A2DP streaming. Worse in cars. Anyone else having this issue? Any hopes to get it resolved?
 
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aloshka said:
I'm on my second phone, a friend is on his first, all the same issue. iPhone 7+ AT&T. Bluetooth audio breaks, constantly. Tried 4 different headsets, 2 different cars. Same issues. Will work, all will be fine, then it will start skipping like a scratched CD.

Can't figure out what causes it because sometimes it just comes back. It's not a WIFI issue or streaming issue. Specific to bluetooth. And with no headphone port on my new future phone, I have no other way of listening to music or even audiobooks.

I read some stuff here and there about BT issues with cars, but this is any A2DP streaming. Worse in cars. Anyone else having this issue? Any hopes to get it resolved?
Click to expand...

I've got this issue and have had it since day 1. I have an appointment with Apple on Friday to see what they have to say. Not sure if it's software since it has been present on every version of iOS my 7+ on ATT can run. All public releases and betas have had this issue for my phone. Maybe I'll get lucky and they will replace the phone and that will solve the issue?
 
Unfortunately, this isn't an issue with your equipment at all and it's a known issue with the GSM model. I found this out the hard way after going through 3 different pairs of Jaybird X2's, powerbeats3, multiple bluetooth speakers and my car. I was convinced it was the phone and swapped it out a week or two after launch and it started back within the week. I stumbled on a thread on reddit where everyone has the exact same issues. There is one fix, disable LTE. That proves, at least to me, that it's an issue with the Intel modem since I've yet to find one person with this exact issue on the CDMA/Unlocked version.

I've talked to Apple multiple times and was referred up the chain. I have an email where they acknowledge the issue and say that there is not a fix right now. I asked to swap to the Unlocked version as apparently the CDMA/Unlocked version isn't having this issue. So far, I've not had so much as an email back in the past couple weeks from the Apple rep I was speaking to. Seems they don't want to acknowledge the issue with this or poor Intel modem performance in comparison to the Qualcomm one.
 
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I wonder if I can figure out how to recreate it in store @ the genius bar and go through 20 phones until they admit there is an issue. I just wish I knew this earlier. Would have never bought a "courageous" phone that I cannot use to listen to music. I heard about the intel/qualcomm debate, but didn't realize it affected bluetooth indirectly.

Sigh, any other ideas what to do? I kind of want a working phone.. Outside of moving to android of course..
 
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aloshka said:
I'm on my second phone, a friend is on his first, all the same issue. iPhone 7+ AT&T. Bluetooth audio breaks, constantly. Tried 4 different headsets, 2 different cars. Same issues. Will work, all will be fine, then it will start skipping like a scratched CD.

Can't figure out what causes it because sometimes it just comes back. It's not a WIFI issue or streaming issue. Specific to bluetooth. And with no headphone port on my new future phone, I have no other way of listening to music or even audiobooks.

I read some stuff here and there about BT issues with cars, but this is any A2DP streaming. Worse in cars. Anyone else having this issue? Any hopes to get it resolved?
Click to expand...

This might help:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/iphone-7-plus-6s-plus-bluetooth-issues.2004009/
 
Thor_1 said:
Zero issues with 5 T-Mobile phones, 7 or 7+ versions running cheap amazon bt headphones.
Click to expand...
I really don't want to switch from AT&T to just get bluetooth working.. Sigh. This isn't a cheap phone, how would QA let something like this slip by? Sounds like a massive amount of people are having the issue.
 
suddenlyissoon said:
Unfortunately, this isn't an issue with your equipment at all and it's a known issue with the GSM model. I found this out the hard way after going through 3 different pairs of Jaybird X2's, powerbeats3, multiple bluetooth speakers and my car. I was convinced it was the phone and swapped it out a week or two after launch and it started back within the week. I stumbled on a thread on reddit where everyone has the exact same issues. There is one fix, disable LTE. That proves, at least to me, that it's an issue with the Intel modem since I've yet to find one person with this exact issue on the CDMA/Unlocked version.

I've talked to Apple multiple times and was referred up the chain. I have an email where they acknowledge the issue and say that there is not a fix right now. I asked to swap to the Unlocked version as apparently the CDMA/Unlocked version isn't having this issue. So far, I've not had so much as an email back in the past couple weeks from the Apple rep I was speaking to. Seems they don't want to acknowledge the issue with this or poor Intel modem performance in comparison to the Qualcomm one.
Click to expand...

If this is true, this is extremely frustrating. When I was buying my 7+, I wanted to get the unlocked CDMA version since I was paying full price for it. This wasn't possible since I didn't have a Verizon account and they weren't selling it yet to people without associating a mobile account to the sale. I'm still going to my appointment on Friday and we'll see what they say. If they really don't have a fix for it and don't have one on the horizon then I'll be an unhappy camper. I'm far out of my return window so I guess I'll be SOL.
 
TitsLegendary said:
If this is true, this is extremely frustrating. When I was buying my 7+, I wanted to get the unlocked CDMA version since I was paying full price for it. This wasn't possible since I didn't have a Verizon account and they weren't selling it yet to people without associating a mobile account to the sale. I'm still going to my appointment on Friday and we'll see what they say. If they really don't have a fix for it and don't have one on the horizon then I'll be an unhappy camper. I'm far out of my return window so I guess I'll be SOL.
Click to expand...
It's true. Note that you can tell by context he's referring to the GSM version, not the CDMA. He's not been the best Apple Support person I've dealt with, I'll say that much.

http://imgur.com/a/f8mWc
 
My AT&T 7+ does not exhibit BT problems when using my Bose wireless headphones. I do not think they have missed a beat and I use them multiple times a week.

I am not so sure about "a massive number of people" who are having an issue.
 
Newtons Apple said:
My AT&T 7+ does not exhibit BT problems when using my Bose wireless headphones. I do not think they have missed a beat and I use them multiple times a week.

I am not so sure about "a massive number of people" who are having an issue.
Click to expand...
It seems to happen more if you're streaming video/music and if you're around other bluetooth/wireless devices. For example, my biggest issue happens while at the gym but it only rarely happens if I'm working in the yard at my house.
 
Newtons Apple said:
My AT&T 7+ does not exhibit BT problems when using my Bose wireless headphones. I do not think they have missed a beat and I use them multiple times a week.

I am not so sure about "a massive number of people" who are having an issue.
Click to expand...

I think just you not having the issue doesn't constitute it not being a massive amount of people. Search for this issue on reddit, reviews, even here on macrumors. Even the amount of people that popped into this thread should say that just because you don't have an issue with your single set of headphones, doesn't mean those with cars, multiple headphones, multiple phones, and even other wireless devices around the house are not having issues.

I went around and asked all my coworkers, friends that have AT&T. And EVERY SINGLE one of them said they had issues with skipping that their previous iPhones or android phones did not. They thought it was a fluke, but when I brought it up to them, they said, it happens often, they just thought they are holding the phone wrong, or that something was wrong with the car or the headphones they were using or it was a low battery or they were just in a "bad area". You, I'm sure know, there is no such thing as a bad signal area for bluetooth.

So you are officially the only person that I know, that says he doesn't have this issue with your special edition bose headphones. I've asked about 25 people now, excluding everyone complaining here and in reddit. I'd say, it's a widespread issue, and seeing how in reddit there are over 50 pages of "me toos" and how the only fix seems to be getting an unlocked phone constitutes it's a problem. Who knows, maybe this is why we are still not seeing the airpods released. People buy those things, more of these complains surface as more people will start using bluetooth audio. The last statement is of course a funny conspiracy idea.

Glad whatever special conditions you are in is a winner for you. The rest of us are not so lucky to have this very perfect combination of location, hardware, other devices, not having bluetooth in our cars and LTE coverage and other bluetooth devices in the area that causes basic bluetooth to not work.

Had my phone replaced today, and this one exhibits the same behavior. Like all the redit users and a few here, it seems LTE being in use or having many bluetooth devices within range makes it really bad. Tech said, he received 3 returns today with the same issue and he has the same issue on his phone. He says he is not sure what is causing it but gave me some suggestions which work. Airplane mode with only bluetooth on seems to work great, as well as turning off LTE altogether or cellular data.
 
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Verizon? That's interesting. Most people have issues when on GSM. Car, headphones?
 
I have the iPhone 7+ AT&T and have had Bluetooth audio breakups every day when using it with my car stereo. This did not happen with the iPhone 6 or the 5. It makes me wish that I had bought the Verizon model, but I did not know when I bought the 7+ that the chips were from different companies.
 
theres a huge thread on the apple forums about people having this issue, its spread out through both models
 
aloshka said:
I think just you not having the issue doesn't constitute it not being a massive amount of people. Search for this issue on reddit, reviews, even here on macrumors. Even the amount of people that popped into this thread should say that just because you don't have an issue with your single set of headphones, doesn't mean those with cars, multiple headphones, multiple phones, and even other wireless devices around the house are not having issues.

I went around and asked all my coworkers, friends that have AT&T. And EVERY SINGLE one of them said they had issues with skipping that their previous iPhones or android phones did not. They thought it was a fluke, but when I brought it up to them, they said, it happens often, they just thought they are holding the phone wrong, or that something was wrong with the car or the headphones they were using or it was a low battery or they were just in a "bad area". You, I'm sure know, there is no such thing as a bad signal area for bluetooth.

So you are officially the only person that I know, that says he doesn't have this issue with your special edition bose headphones. I've asked about 25 people now, excluding everyone complaining here and in reddit. I'd say, it's a widespread issue, and seeing how in reddit there are over 50 pages of "me toos" and how the only fix seems to be getting an unlocked phone constitutes it's a problem. Who knows, maybe this is why we are still not seeing the airpods released. People buy those things, more of these complains surface as more people will start using bluetooth audio. The last statement is of course a funny conspiracy idea.

Glad whatever special conditions you are in is a winner for you. The rest of us are not so lucky to have this very perfect combination of location, hardware, other devices, not having bluetooth in our cars and LTE coverage and other bluetooth devices in the area that causes basic bluetooth to not work.

Had my phone replaced today, and this one exhibits the same behavior. Like all the redit users and a few here, it seems LTE being in use or having many bluetooth devices within range makes it really bad. Tech said, he received 3 returns today with the same issue and he has the same issue on his phone. He says he is not sure what is causing it but gave me some suggestions which work. Airplane mode with only bluetooth on seems to work great, as well as turning off LTE altogether or cellular data.
Click to expand...

You post was so predictable. Guess I am lucky as I am listening to my music right now while half reading your post and having a great morning. It is great being special!
 
I'm having the exact same issue! I really thought that was was just a fluke and was quick to want to blame my car's audio system and not the phone. I have a 7+ 128gb ATT phone. I don't have bluetooth headphones so that only way I use bluetooth audio is through my car. I do notice that the audio seems to "skip" more when I get notifications. Because of this, I've turned off a ton of notifications and only kept the super important ones. It still happens a ton though and is really really annoying. It's disappointing that a fix hasn't been found though.
 
Newtons Apple said:
You post was so predictable. Guess I am lucky as I am listening to my music right now while half reading your post and having a great morning. It is great being special!
Click to expand...

I really wish I could do the same. My bro got an unlocked iPhone 7 plus CDMA version.. it's flawless. I'm ordering one and selling the AT&T one on eBay. I'm sure eventually Apple will admit it's a problem, but I kind of like to listen to music before they admit there is a problem or have a fix.

I will SOON join your luckiness and enjoy music out of the box while being connected to a cell tower, getting notifications, driving and walking :) Basically, I'll soon be able to use normal bluetooth that I have been enjoying for many years now before I upgraded to the 7.
 
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Same issue here, and it's so annoying. I never had a problem before, but I have since I got my 7 Plus. Both actually, as I had one and exchanged it for a different color, and both had/have the issue (both AT&T models). I've been paying attention to when it happens most. I drive 52 miles each way to work, and I notice the massive skips tend to happen more predictably through several specific places along my route, although they also happen randomly at other places as well. I'm thinking it has to be some sort of interference.
 
infamous84 said:
theres a huge thread on the apple forums about people having this issue, its spread out through both models
Click to expand...

FYI - Apple deleted this thread today. This was the link to the discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/message/31042912

B7DngkU.png


----

Anyway, my contribution on this:

I also have this issue. Going on 75 days with an open ticket with Apple regarding this problem and have had zero resolution. In fact, the reps have stopped returning my contact when requesting updates on the case. I have been cooperative and even helped to collect logs from the phone to send to the engineers, complete with timestamps of the problem.

Today, I discussed the problem with ten people. Six of said people had GSM phones which they purchased locked to their carrier. Four had either a CDMA (Verizon/Sprint) or SIM unlocked phone. One interesting correlation was found - only the GSM users had the choppy Bluetooth audio streaming. On all problem phones, disabling LTE seemed to temporarily remedy the situation. It is my belief that Sprint, Verizon, and SIM-free phones will likely not have this issue.
 
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Robbbbbbbbb said:
FYI - Apple deleted this thread today. This was the link to the discussion: https://discussions.apple.com/message/31042912



----

Anyway, my contribution on this:

I also have this issue. Going on 75 days with an open ticket with Apple regarding this problem and have had zero resolution. In fact, the reps have stopped returning my contact when requesting updates on the case. I have been cooperative and even helped to collect logs from the phone to send to the engineers, complete with timestamps of the problem.

Today, I discussed the problem with ten people. Six of said people had GSM phones which they purchased locked to their carrier. Four had either a CDMA (Verizon/Sprint) or SIM unlocked phone. One interesting correlation was found - only the GSM users had the choppy Bluetooth audio streaming. On all problem phones, disabling LTE seemed to temporarily remedy the situation. It is my belief that Sprint, Verizon, and SIM-free phones will likely not have this issue.
Click to expand...


wow! thats crazy they deleted that thread
 
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