Stereo Bluetooth

csyrell · 05-31-2018, 02:39 PM

I have a 2018 Ultra-Lite 2902WS. If my phone isn't within a few feet of the radio, the Bluetooth is useless. I cannot sit at a picnic table right outside the door without losing signal, even considering my RV's floor plan has the entertainment center right next to the door!!! Seriously, it's 3 feet from the door and I'm 3 feet outside, and the signal is lost. No point in having BT if you need to be within a cords length of the unit!

Is mine a bad unit, or do others have the same experience? I know these entertainment "systems" are bare-bones-junk, but geesh.

maskins · 05-31-2018, 02:49 PM

Mine has a fairly good range on it. I haven't measured the exact distance. Make sure to turn the radio off at night. I got woken up one night by music playing outside. Started cussing to myself about who is playing music at 3am. Found out it was us. The phone just started playing music. Thankfully I was at home and the phone was in the house in the bedroom on the far side of the house from where the camper is parked. I think it is a jensen unit.

kfergiez · 05-31-2018, 02:52 PM

Bluetooth is good for 30ft of clear line of sight with optimal antenna position.

You throw in a few metal door/window frames, other wires, walls, a weird interior placement of the head unit, odd antenna positioning, and you've gone from 30ft down to 10.

I just leave my phone on the counter when playing music via BT.

ben31 · 05-31-2018, 02:59 PM

A portable bluetooth speaker probably sounds better than the RV speakers, anyway. Just get one of those and take it outside with you.

csyrell · 05-31-2018, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kfergiez

Bluetooth is good for 30ft of clear line of sight with optimal antenna position.

You throw in a few metal door/window frames, other wires, walls, a weird interior placement of the head unit, odd antenna positioning, and you've gone from 30ft down to 10.

I just leave my phone on the counter when playing music via BT.

Understand. I'd just like to be able to enjoy my outdoor speakers without having to leave my phone indoors. Plus, in my picnic table scenario I described above, I'm literally right outside my doorway with not even the screen closed. It's open air between my phone and the stereo. Only issue is that it's a 90 degree angle as the head unit faces to the rear of the camper while I'm outside to the the side of the camper.

What's interesting is that my Samsung watch connects to my phone via BT as well. When my phone is inside my camper, I can walk a good 20 feet away before losing that connection. So it either has to be a super weak receiver on the head unit, or it's defective.

csyrell · 05-31-2018, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ben31

A portable bluetooth speaker probably sounds better than the RV speakers, anyway. Just get one of those and take it outside with you.

I understand, but I shouldn't have to do that should I? My rig has BT and outdoor speakers built in. Plus, I'm not looking to have an outdoor concert hall quality sound. Just would like some background music playing on Zone 3 without having to leave my phone in Zone 1.

ben31 · 05-31-2018, 03:11 PM

No you shouldn't. I was just giving you an alternative, if the BT didn't connect.

Like kfergiez said, you must leave it pretty close. It also depends on what other BT devices are in use in the area. They all use the same frequencies, so you effective range goes way down in a cluttered RF environment.

Your effective range with BT, between walls, etc. is likely about 15-20 feet. Then you add other BT devices in the area and the range goes down even more.

Nurek · 05-31-2018, 10:27 PM

Why not use a decommissioned phone as your music player and you can leave it inside and use your reg phone as needed?

I do it at home and in the TT.

csyrell · 06-01-2018, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nurek

Why not use a decommissioned phone as your music player and you can leave it inside and use your reg phone as needed?

I do it at home and in the TT.

Still doesn't solve the problem of not being able to control the music from outside. The point of BT is to not be tethered to the unit. Having to keep my music source within 3 feet of the unit means that I may as well be using a cable.

My wife, 15 yo daughter, and I enjoy playing games outside at a table with sirius streaming in the background. That's 3 distinct tastes in music, so the channel can get changed quite often. It's silly to have BT technology but still have to go back inside the camper to change the channel.

Lilharv321 · 07-12-2018, 11:39 PM

You ever figure out a solution. My 2018 21ss has the same issue. Works fine inside but if I am two feet away outside it starts cutting out. None of my other Bluetooth devices have that bad of a range.

csyrell · 07-13-2018, 05:58 AM

Unfortunately no.

Retired JSO · 07-13-2018, 06:54 AM

No more than we require a griddle, we use a grill mat on our small Webber Q.

chaps2018 · 07-13-2018, 07:12 AM

Same issue here. One thing I found works well is to have the phone volume at least 75% to make the signal strong for the RV BT to receive. Obviously reduce the Rv stereo volume accordingly. .

67L48 · 07-13-2018, 02:16 PM

Same thing here on my 2018 Mini Lite. I have to have my phone within about 2 feet of the trailer. Limits the utility a lot. I like to control my music in real time ... volume control, song selection, etc.

I end up using my Bose Soundlink for my music. I'm not a huge Bose fan for home theater, but this small bluetooth speaker sounds great. Much better lows than the trailer speaker. I know it's not the point. I too would like to be able to use my trailer's speakers. It's just not super convenient to do so.

Good luck.

Lilharv321 · 07-13-2018, 08:49 PM

I end using my sound link as well. Great little speaker but like you said, defeats the purpose of having outdoor speakers built into the trailer.

chaps2018 · 07-13-2018, 09:45 PM

So, I know I have really great taste in music. I also suspect some of you guys may be as obnoxious as me ;-). So I actually prefer the smaller speaker that sits close by me so I can hear my tunes AND you don't have to.

I have found lots of times the volume had to be pretty high on my trailer speakers in order for me to hear it down by the campfire. At some point I realize it is too loud and turn it down. I am confident you don't like my music THAT much. ;-)

Bottom line, small BT speaker results in good BT signal AND happy neighbors. I hope you would keep your music down for me as well.

Lilharv321 · 07-13-2018, 09:49 PM

I never have my music blaring. Whether it’s through the trailer Bluetooth or sound link. I would however like to be able to sit on the picnic table next to the trailer or even when I’m grilling and be able to use the trailer Bluetooth. That’s where it cuts off. When I’m by the fire I don’t mind the sound link.

67L48 · 07-14-2018, 11:48 AM

Let's not hijack this thread into a campground etiquette thread. The OP was asking for others' experiences with the bluetooth connection to their inside radio ... and if there was a solution to extend this feature.

The only other thought I had was to find a bluetooth repeater. I have no experience with such a device, but here is one example. I'd have to do more research on this before I would personally invest, as the concept of a bluetooth repeater is a bit mixed.

Good luck.

csyrell · 07-16-2018, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67L48

Let's not hijack this thread into a campground etiquette thread. The OP was asking for others' experiences with the bluetooth connection to their inside radio ... and if there was a solution to extend this feature.

The only other thought I had was to find a bluetooth repeater. I have no experience with such a device, but here is one example. I'd have to do more research on this before I would personally invest, as the concept of a bluetooth repeater is a bit mixed.

Good luck.

Thanks. That looks promising!!!

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