Interesting Observation: Choppy audio with CarPlay and 18.4 / 18.4.1

[majorgearhead]

I have had the choppy audio issue with CarPlay for a while now. At certain places on any given trip, Siri stutters her directions and audio is choppy. I can consistently get this issue when starting a route from my driveway.

I have had all of the module updates prescribed by the various TSB’s for this issue and nothing has helped. I also had high hopes that iOS 18.4.1 would fix this, but it didn’t.

What I did find as a “fix”, which is strange, is that if I turn off the WiFi in the Truck, I.e., the ability to connect your truck to WiFi for updates etc, this stuttering goes away. We all know that wireless CarPlay utilizes WiFi after making the Bluetooth connection. My theory is that the trucks internal WiFi resources conflict with wireless CarPlay and causes the choppy audio. Additionally on my trips where it happens on the road, I think it has to do with the onboard WiFi trying to find networks it can suggest I connect to. Note I have left my internal hotspot on and active for this test.

For now I am going to leave WiFi off to see if this continues to hold up. I am also going to test leaving it on, but turning off the setting where it looks for new networks.

Anyone else experiencing this willing to give this a try?

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[TaxmanHog]

Being an android user, my situation may not be much help, I think I have the option for alerting me of new networks turned off, I'll check later this morning to confirm.

 

[jallen]

Interesting. I’m still on 18.3 and just today my Siri wasn't working and CarPlay cut off in middle of a phone call. Neither of those has happened before.

 

[Radar]

Yeah, I uploaded one this morning. It’s still kind of choppy.

 

[majorgearhead]

Update I found the only way to make the choppy audio go away was to turn off WiFi altogether. I can keep the hotspot on just fine, but if I turn on WiFi and connect my truck to my network, audio is choppy. Additionally having WiFi on while driving causes the same choppiness when I am around other strong WiFi networks. There seems to be a conflict in Fords implementation of Sync WiFi. For now I will keep it off. The only thing it is used for is vehicle updates, and I believe those still come through over the cellular modem.

 

[Scorpio3d]

I have had the choppy audio issue with CarPlay for a while now. At certain places on any given trip, Siri stutters her directions and audio is choppy. I can consistently get this issue when starting a route from my driveway.

I have had all of the module updates prescribed by the various TSB’s for this issue and nothing has helped. I also had high hopes that iOS 18.4.1 would fix this, but it didn’t.

What I did find as a “fix”, which is strange, is that if I turn off the WiFi in the Truck, I.e., the ability to connect your truck to WiFi for updates etc, this stuttering goes away. We all know that wireless CarPlay utilizes WiFi after making the Bluetooth connection. My theory is that the trucks internal WiFi resources conflict with wireless CarPlay and causes the choppy audio. Additionally on my trips where it happens on the road, I think it has to do with the onboard WiFi trying to find networks it can suggest I connect to. Note I have left my internal hotspot on and active for this test.

For now I am going to leave WiFi off to see if this continues to hold up. I am also going to test leaving it on, but turning off the setting where it looks for new networks.

Anyone else experiencing this willing to give this a try?

Yes
I have noticed this as well in the past generally when I am leaving the house so I figured I was just reaching the edge of my Wi-Fi range or possibly it was switching from home Wi-Fi to truck Wi-Fi? I have not noticed it as much after that, but I know it has happened on occasion on the road.

 

[TaxmanHog]

Being an android user, my situation may not be much help, I think I have the option for alerting me of new networks turned off, I'll check later this morning to confirm.

 

[majorgearhead]

This is one of the scenarios I tried, thinking perhaps it was the notification settings, but it stuttered. When I flip the WiFi switch shown to off everything works and Siri is clear as a bell.

 

[rtk11226]

I’ve experienced this problem several times over the last year in only one location. When I go across the I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge. The stutter starts, WAZE locks up, and stays non functional until I’m a 1/2 mile or so away from it. I always assumed there was some sort of radio transmitter mounted somewhere on the bridge causing the interference but now with these reports, I’m not so sure.

 

[majorgearhead]

Checking back in. I guess it was too good to be true. I was driving around Charleston today and it was stuttering even with WiFi off. I guess back to the drawing board. The only thing I have not tried is using wired CarPlay.

 

[majorgearhead]

I’ve experienced this problem several times over the last year in only one location. When I go across the I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge. The stutter starts, WAZE locks up, and stays non functional until I’m a 1/2 mile or so away from it. I always assumed there was some sort of radio transmitter mounted somewhere on the bridge causing the interference but now with these reports, I’m not so sure.

I have hit that in the same place, funny enough. We experience this when driving to San Antonio, TX from SC earlier this year. Figured it was some loss of signal event. Not sure now as well.

 

[chl]

BlueTooth is definitely susceptible to interference from wifi or other signals.

Both BlueTooth and WiFi use the 2.4GHz frequency band so interference can cause the choppiness you describe.

Other radio frequency signals can also interfere such as from a nearby broadcast tower, or wifi hot spot, someone else's BlueTooth signal etc.

I gave up on using the BlueTooth in my Lightning for music streaming from BlueTooth devices and now just use an SSD formatted in exFAT with stored music files ripped from my CDs etc. Works well through the USB port, comes up on the audio source screen to select and browse for music.

I also had success with an FM transmitted interface device (an old iTrip I used with my XM radio in my 2001 Ford Ranger) and that worked fine with my iPod and Zune. Amazon sells those types of devices for around $10.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CX6X86...D5LTOTSR&psc=1&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I'd recommend getting one that plugs into the accessory (cigarette lighter) plug because the ones with batteries reportedly do not last long. Of course the source has to has a small phone jack to connect to the FM device, and Apple did away with those in newer models.

I saw a USB-c to mini for iPhones advertized, but never tried one with an iPhone or Android.

 

[majorgearhead]

I did some other experiments. I found that the WiFi being off was a placebo. The strange thing I did find that worked 100% of the time was to put my phone either in the cup holder or on the wireless charger and there was no choppy audio. If I put it in the cubby in front of the shifter (where the shifter retracts down into) it nearly always had the choppy audio. So this may be an interference issue.

As far as the no audio issue, that appears to have been fixed by iOS 18.4.1.

So my current running theory is some type of RF interference that happens if you have the phone on the drivers side of the console or in your pocket.

 

[chl]

I did some other experiments. I found that the WiFi being off was a placebo. The strange thing I did find that worked 100% of the time was to put my phone either in the cup holder or on the wireless charger and there was no choppy audio. If I put it in the cubby in front of the shifter (where the shifter retracts down into) it nearly always had the choppy audio. So this may be an interference issue.

As far as the no audio issue, that appears to have been fixed by iOS 18.4.1.

So my current running theory is some type of RF interference that happens if you have the phone on the drivers side of the console or in your pocket.

Interesting.

Trying to find the best location to avoid RF interference and have the maximum bluetooth signal could be a hassle. The only other big sources of RF should be the wifi and the cell transmitter antenna, where ever they are (the roof right?), and it could be they share the antennae (wifi and bluetooth and cell signals).

I had my bluetooth devices in the area under the dash in front of the shifter, where the USB outlets are, and had drop-out troubles with streaming music.

Often proximity to the receiving antenna will cause the receiver to receive a stronger signal and the strongest signal will be selected by the electronics...but clearly the bluetooth loses out frequently.

It is not just the Lightning btw, our Prius has bluetooth connection issues frequently, as does one of my children's Subaru, seems to be a common complaint - a wire connection seems to be the best bet or an FM transmitter which is in a completely different RF spectrum from the other devices which are all around 2.44GHz.

BTW, 2.44GHz travels farther than 5GHz and penetrates obstacles better which is good and bad depending on your situation - interference is more likely with 2.44GHz for example.

I prefer a USB plug-in - that's what my 2012 Nissan Leaf has and all my plug-in music devices work fine there, e.g., iPod.

Good luck.

 

[majorgearhead]

Interesting.

Trying to find the best location to avoid RF interference and have the maximum bluetooth signal could be a hassle. The only other big sources of RF should be the wifi and the cell transmitter antenna, where ever they are (the roof right?), and it could be they share the antennae (wifi and bluetooth and cell signals).

I had my bluetooth devices in the area under the dash in front of the shifter, where the USB outlets are, and had drop-out troubles with streaming music.

Often proximity to the receiving antenna will cause the receiver to receive a stronger signal and the strongest signal will be selected by the electronics...but clearly the bluetooth loses out frequently.

It is not just the Lightning btw, our Prius has bluetooth connection issues frequently, as does one of my children's Subaru, seems to be a common complaint - a wire connection seems to be the best bet or an FM transmitter which is in a completely different RF spectrum from the other devices which are all around 2.44GHz.

BTW, 2.44GHz travels farther than 5GHz and penetrates obstacles better which is good and bad depending on your situation - interference is more likely with 2.44GHz for example.

I prefer a USB plug-in - that's what my 2012 Nissan Leaf has and all my plug-in music devices work fine there, e.g., iPod.

Good luck.

I have toyed around with forcing a wired CarPlay connection to see if this fixes the issue. It is just too inconvenient.

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