Can't use Bluetooth audio when I'm charging my phone through USB port
 

I just recently found the USB port in the glove box and thought "Sweet! I can finally keep my phone charged while I listen to music via Bluetooth!"

Unfortunately, it seems that the stock navigation unit turns on its iPod app, and that is the only thing that is allowed to control the music player on my phone (iPhone 3GS). When I select the BT app and press play, it connects for 1 second before being paused.

Does anyone know if there is a software update for the navigation unit or some other fix/workaround for this? I have the Canadian Sport-Tech BRZ. The unit is a Pioneer, though I don't have access to the model number at the moment.

Why would you want to use the inferior wireless BT music stream when you have a direct connection to the HU?

I guess you COULD use a USB plug-in charger to the aux socket to charge and use BT, but why...???

If, by direct connect, you mean buying an extra male to male aux cable to plug into the headphone jack of my phone and the aux jack in the glove box, you don't understand that that would be a waste of money and worse audio quality.

BT transfers the bits digitally, with error correction, which are then decoded and played directly by the unit. Whereas the cable has to go through 2 jacks (headphone, aux), plus the cable between them and the cable from the aux jack to the unit, then re-encoded and then output to the speakers. Signal degradation galore.

The other reason is that, given this stupid software, I'm skeptical that I'll be able to answer BT calls from my phone in this setup.

Direct connection from USB... that IS digital. Unless I'm misunderstand the way iPod control works with your hu (I don't own any Apple products) I believe the usb connection is used for audio transfer digitally, and uses the hu DAC to decode the stream.

Also, as long as bt is connected, you'll able to answer with your car. Phone and audio are different bt connections in the hu menu as well. No matter what audio source you're using, if a call comes in, you'll get it. The hu may just be prioritizing iPod control over bt audio to the same device.

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I can plug my iPhone 4 into USB for charging and stream bluetooth simultaneously. Not sure how you're doing it.

Sorry, I misunderstood.

At first, when I saw the USB port, all I cared about was being able to charge the phone while I was using it in the car for BT audio. That would have been good enough for me. But you're right... You would think that one of their apps would read the music digitally from the phone for playback. BUT IT DOESN'T!!!

It is actually driving the speaker output on my phone. :(

So let me re-phrase my problem:

Is there a way to play audio from my phone when it is plugged in to the glove box USB jack without having to buy an aux cable to connect it to the aux input? BT seemed plausible, but the software is overriding the BT controls, so that doesn't work.

When you plug it in to the USB port, what does it come up as in the menu of the display? Maybe I'm missing something in that regard...

Well, once I plug it in, the Pandora/Bespoke options become available. I can choose either Pandora or Bluetooth inputs and get Bluetooth sound regardless. However, I am not using the USB in the glove box, I'm using the one in the center stack, and I am not using the 3.5mm audio jack, since BT audio quality is better.

OP, are you saying that your sound is gone after you plug it in?

Raul, are you sure you're getting sound over bt, and not through your usb cable? Turn off bt on your phone and plug only into usb, do you get sound?

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Yes, the sound is gone. It'll play fine over BT audio until I plug it in.

Then that's weird... Phone software update maybe? Try a different iphone and see if it's the same problem, if not, try pairing to a car at the dealership, if nothing replicates the problem, have dealer fix your hu...if problem is replicated, then your phone is the issue. That's where I would start.

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100% Sure. While my phone is plugged in through USB, I keep it on Bluetooth input. Are you using a third party cable, or an Apple cable? Also, it might be an iPhone 3GS limitation. I've used a 4 and 4S without issues now, but never tried a 3GS. Oh, and by the way... If you're streaming through Bluetooth and plug the phone in, it WILL stop.... until you press play again on your head unit. Have you tried pressing the play button after plugging it in? :P

Well fuck me, I'm so sorry, I just realized you have a BRZ. I have the Bespoke unit in the FR-S. My advice may be completely useless.

Raul, the fact that you got it working gave me more reasons to keep looking. Just spent 1/2 hour through the settings menu and I found a configuration for "iPod audio" that was set to AV1. I changed it to "none" and can now get audio via BT instead.

So it seems that when the iPhone/iPod is plugged in, it was using this setting to cut audio from all other sources.

Thanks you two!

Oh great! Glad you got it working bud!