Bluetooth sounds "too far away"

[CHL]

Hello,

I have a 2007 hatchback model with the bluetooth option. I love making calls with the steering wheel control but the person on the other end always says that I sounds "too far away." I sound clear but soft. Does anyone have any solution for this problem. The mic is on the ceiling which I presume is the problem. The bluetooth option was a feature that led me to the car but now I feel a bit let down by it.

Any firmware update or aftermarket fixes or mods?

Thanks,CHL

[matt_a]

Hi and welcome to the forum.There really isn't too much that you can do to make the Bluetooth sound better than it does. I installed an after market hands-free BT kit in my wife's last car and it sounded horrible. The mic picked up tons of background noise and I could barely understand her when she would call me from it. The BT in her new Versa sounds MUCH better than her old after market kit, but yeah...it does sound like she's "far away". The thing is, I don't think it sounds any worse than when someone uses a speakerphone from an office or house phone. I don't think you'll ever get a hands-free bluetooth system that sounds 100% perfect while a car is going 65 MPH down a highway, but the one in the Versa does pretty well compared to others I've heard.

[KimberKenobi]

when they first advertised the V, they (being Nissan) advertised the mic as being in the steering wheel... I think that would have been better... but then Nissan appeared to favor the 'everybody-being-able-to-talk'ness of the ceiling mount... eh. I've found it's worse if I have the cover to the sunroof pulled back instead of closed (obviously when the sunroof is closed as well... if the sunroof is open, you may as well not bother with the BT.)

[michelkenny]

It also depends on the bluetooth implementation of your phone. Before when I used my Samsung M500, people said I was "far away". When I switched to my Blackberry Pearl, people said it was much better.

It would indeed have been much better to have the mic on the steering wheel.

[generic808]

You gotta start yelling when you speak

[matt_a]

...It would indeed have been much better to have the mic on the steering wheel.

That would be fine while you were driving straight. But can you imagine how that would sound if you were speaking to someone while making a turn?

[BillyBeaneBall]

I got that complaint too at first. Now I just talk REALLY LOUD and that takes care of the problem...

[michelkenny]

That would be fine while you were driving straight. But can you imagine how that would sound if you were speaking to someone while making a turn?

When I'm making a turn or anything else that is not driving straight, I tell the other person to hang on while I concentrate. Don't want to get into an accident now do you

[matt_a]

When I'm making a turn or anything else that is not driving straight, I tell the other person to hang on while I concentrate.

I can't say that I do that. But I also don't feel as though my having a hands-free phone conversation compromises my ability to drive safely. If it did, I wouldn't do it. I live in a residential neighborhood that requires several turns and stop signs before I get out onto a "main" road. I have been on the phone many times while leaving or entering my neighborhood. If the mic for the BT was on the steering wheel, I imagine that would sound really funny on the other end.

[CHL]

I love the BT implementation. Listening to the other speaker is 100% fine for the driver but it leaves a lot to be desired for the person on the other side. They could've used a more powerful mic or placed the mic on dashboard perhaps. I don't it would be strange to make a turn if the mic was near the center of the steering wheel.

I just got my parents a BT Jabra SP5050 speakerphone and it clips on the driver side visor. The speaker phone is big, probably about the size of a pack of cigarettes. But the mic picks up the passenger with no problems. Seeing that the little tiny hole on the roof is the mic input, I can see why it has trouble picking up voices.

BTW, the Jabra 5050 is about $50 and a good alternative for non BT cars.

CHL

[Acecool]

Do not use your phone in the car!!!!!! Unless it is parked..

[matt_a]

This argument has been brought up several times before. We could go 'round and 'round about it forever. You could use accurate logic and site "studies" that were done. The bottom line is that I know what distracts me and what doesn't. I do not eat or drink while driving because it occupies my hands and creates an unsafe situation. I can carry on a conversation (with a passenger in the car, or on a hands-free phone call) and I am fully aware of my surroundings. My wife drives the Versa. My car doesn't have built-in Bluetooth so I spent $30 on a BT headset. It works great and I am able to drive and use my phone safely.

[Mlody]

in my 2008 hatch, I took both my nephew and niece (both are 5) out on rides and they spoke with people on the phone with no problem, one of them being my dad who is partly death. Being that the kids have soft quiet voices I was surprized that the person on the other end heard them without a problem, and without the kids screaming.

It is possible that the quality of the phone makes a big difference for the other person. Or that in the one years since initial production Nissan addressed this concern.

[KimberKenobi]

one of them being my dad who is partly death.

O.O

on a more serious note...

This is a possibility... I may need to go investigate at the dealership.

[Mlody]

woops deaf .. yes