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Help Bluetooth kills WIFI? (help)

Travisimo

Android Enthusiast
Jul 7, 2010
455
89
USA
I'm not sure if this started after the update, but every time I use WIFI and Bluetooth, my WIFI connection dies less than a minute after using it. For example, I'll connect my Bluetooth headphones and then start up a streaming music service. In less than a minute, the music stops and my wifi connection is dead (even though it says it is still connected). Can't browse the web, do speed test, etc. Have to disconnect WIFI and reconnect. But it will do it again as soon as I start using the connection.

If I turn off Bluetooth, my WIFI works just fine. If I use Bluetooth over 3G, it works fine. It's only when I use both WIFI and Bluetooth and when I start using the Internet.

I'm thinking it's either a bug or an interference issue between the WIFI and Bluetooth radios? Sometimes the music will cut out a bit before the WIFI connection totally dies. But if I switch over to 3G, it works fine. I tried several apps too, not just the same music streaming service, so I know it's not the app. Here's the weird part: if I use my Bluetooth headphones while connected to WIFI, but only listen to music that's on my device, it doesn't do it. It's only when I start using the WIFI heavily that it does it.

Anyone else experience this? As it stands, I cannot use WIFI and Bluetooth at the same time.
 
I'm curious if this is just an issue on my end. I've already tried with a couple of different bluetooth devices, but I still need to test at a different WIFI location to check that variable. In the meantime, if you'd like to attempt to duplicate the problem, just do the following:

1) Turn on WIFI and connect to your network. Check to make sure you can browse the web, etc.

2) Turn on Bluetooth and connect to a stereo device such as bluetooth headphones, receiver, car headunit, etc. Check to make sure you can listen to music that is stored on your phone first.

3) Now start an app that streams music over the Internet, such as TuniWiki, Mog, etc. Let the music play. You will most likely hear a couple of dropouts before the music just freezes.

4) Now check to see if you can browse the web or use other Internet functions. Your WIFI status will most likely show that you are still connected, but you will be unable to do anything.

5) Now turn WIFI off and then turn it back on. Your connection should be working again, that is, until you attempt to use the Internet to stream music, etc.

Please report back if you are generous enough to take the time to try this. Thanks!
 
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Yeah, there's definitely something going on between the WIFI and Bluetooth radios. Not sure if it's interference, a software bug, or what?

Dang! I'm glad I finally found other Droid users who care about this. Apple users have been complaining about this. Tons of hits come up in reference to Apple if your search "Bluetooth slows WiFi." Apparently they had a software fix for their issue, but didn't read more into it.

I had the same problem you describe, but I've been testing it using the Speed Test app. They also have a website SpeedTest.net

1. I connect to WiFi and do a speed test that results in 12 Mbps download.
2. I hit play on my Bluetooth headphones which are accessing music that is saved directly on my SD card and my Speed Test drops to .22 Mbps.
3. I pause my music, do another speed test and it's back up to 12 Mbps.

I can be paired to Bluetooth all I want, but when I have an active stream or link to bluetooth my WiFi dies!!!

Maybe this is why they brought back 5 Ghz freq wireless routers. The N routers run 5 Ghz.

It is because they share the same frequency. Someone on the Apple forum suggested getting closer the wireless router... total BS!!! I think the Droid 2 has an N receiver in it so the problem should be fixed on that phone.
Upload speeds aren't really affected.
 
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I think there is definitely an issue. I have a cordless phone system at home that has bluetooth so cell phone can sit upstairs and I can answer any phone in the house if it rings. That is always on at home but I could never upload anything. Turned it off and am now uploading pictures to Picasa.

HOWEVER: I am still seeing the connection break every 10 seconds or so. In the uploads screen the picture being uploaded keeps going into "waiting to retry" mode. If it manually click the file and hit retry, it will keep going.

There is something wrong with this phone's communication software.
 
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I haven't tried the specific scenario in the second post, but will test it when I get a minute.

What I do get regularly, is if I'm at the edge of my Wifi signal - that is, I'm walking away from my house and Wifi is about to drop - I get a lot of cut-outs in my bluetooth stereo connection. Once the Wifi drops off, it goes back to normal - or if I walk back to a strong signal area.

Will test out the scenario in the second post when I can grab my headphoens.
 
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I also see a huge interference issue between BT and WiFi. If I have WiFi enabled, I basically can't use a BT speaker (I have the Moto portable speaker). I have also used a BT keyboard, and it would drop out every few minutes when WiFi was enabled - even if the phone was not associated with an access point.

It's easy enough to work around: I just keep one or the other disabled via the power management widget, however it means I won't be listening to Slacker on my Bluetooth speaker system. :)
 
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Okay, so after retiring my original Droid and transitional LG Revolution(that's the last time I get impatient and settle for a phone that's out), I just remembered to try playing music over my Bluetooth stereo headset while being connected to WiFi. I have the exact same problem on my Bionic as I did my Original Droid!!!! I've heard somewhere that changing your WiFi channel might fix the problem, but I doubt it will.

I still get somewhat of a wifi connection while activity playing music through Bluetooth, but it is severely crippled.

If anyone still cares I'm going to try different channels on my WiFi router.
 
Upvote 0
I'm not sure if this started after the update, but every time I use WIFI and Bluetooth, my WIFI connection dies less than a minute after using it. For example, I'll connect my Bluetooth headphones and then start up a streaming music service. In less than a minute, the music stops and my wifi connection is dead (even though it says it is still connected). Can't browse the web, do speed test, etc. Have to disconnect WIFI and reconnect. But it will do it again as soon as I start using the connection.

If I turn off Bluetooth, my WIFI works just fine. If I use Bluetooth over 3G, it works fine. It's only when I use both WIFI and Bluetooth and when I start using the Internet.

I'm thinking it's either a bug or an interference issue between the WIFI and Bluetooth radios? Sometimes the music will cut out a bit before the WIFI connection totally dies. But if I switch over to 3G, it works fine. I tried several apps too, not just the same music streaming service, so I know it's not the app. Here's the weird part: if I use my Bluetooth headphones while connected to WIFI, but only listen to music that's on my device, it doesn't do it. It's only when I start using the WIFI heavily that it does it.

Anyone else experience this? As it stands, I cannot use WIFI and Bluetooth at the same time.

I had the same problem, I have a nSamsug Galaxy Grand Prime, and is connected to a 2.4GHz wifi connection, when I connect the phone to a bluetooth buffer then all the internet capabilities slow down, at first it was just with youtube app, then I start using the soundcloud app and it was the same (a lot of buffering time), but when I turn off bluetooth then always went fine. I already reset the phone to manufacturing settings, it doesn't work properly.
 
Upvote 0
I'm not sure if this started after the update, but every time I use WIFI and Bluetooth, my WIFI connection dies less than a minute after using it. For example, I'll connect my Bluetooth headphones and then start up a streaming music service. In less than a minute, the music stops and my wifi connection is dead (even though it says it is still connected). Can't browse the web, do speed test, etc. Have to disconnect WIFI and reconnect. But it will do it again as soon as I start using the connection.

If I turn off Bluetooth, my WIFI works just fine. If I use Bluetooth over 3G, it works fine. It's only when I use both WIFI and Bluetooth and when I start using the Internet.

I'm thinking it's either a bug or an interference issue between the WIFI and Bluetooth radios? Sometimes the music will cut out a bit before the WIFI connection totally dies. But if I switch over to 3G, it works fine. I tried several apps too, not just the same music streaming service, so I know it's not the app. Here's the weird part: if I use my Bluetooth headphones while connected to WIFI, but only listen to music that's on my device, it doesn't do it. It's only when I start using the WIFI heavily that it does it.

Anyone else experience this? As it stands, I cannot use WIFI and Bluetooth at the same time.

Hi there.
i have the same issue, i thought i was the only one. my wifi drops when i coonect my bluetooth earphones to my phone, when i turn off the bluetooth the wifi picks up again.... i need a solution for this because it would make my life much easier.. any suggestions yet?
 
Upvote 0
Hi there.
i have the same issue, i thought i was the only one. my wifi drops when i coonect my bluetooth earphones to my phone, when i turn off the bluetooth the wifi picks up again.... i need a solution for this because it would make my life much easier.. any suggestions yet?

You're using a Droid X? I guess this problem is still outstanding after almost eight years.
 
Upvote 0
I seem to have this problem too. The only way to have bluetooth while using wifi without interference is to switch to 5ghz wifi and problem solved. It seems to me that bluetooth is at 2.4ghz just like your wifi. No problems when on 5ghz band. Assuming that your router has dual band and your phone supports 5ghz wifi. But anyways, no more interference.
 
Upvote 0
Dang! I'm glad I finally found other Droid users who care about this. Apple users have been complaining about this. Tons of hits come up in reference to Apple if your search "Bluetooth slows WiFi." Apparently they had a software fix for their issue, but didn't read more into it.

I had the same problem you describe, but I've been testing it using the Speed Test app. They also have a website SpeedTest.net

1. I connect to WiFi and do a speed test that results in 12 Mbps download.
2. I hit play on my Bluetooth headphones which are accessing music that is saved directly on my SD card and my Speed Test drops to .22 Mbps.
3. I pause my music, do another speed test and it's back up to 12 Mbps.

I can be paired to Bluetooth all I want, but when I have an active stream or link to bluetooth my WiFi dies!!!

Maybe this is why they brought back 5 Ghz freq wireless routers. The N routers run 5 Ghz.

It is because they share the same frequency. Someone on the Apple forum suggested getting closer the wireless router... total BS!!! I think the Droid 2 has an N receiver in it so the problem should be fixed on that phone.
Upload speeds aren't really affected.
Hi agreed with you dear i did same wifi + Bluetooth headphones are making trouble but if you use cell data Its going good but wifi with Bluetooth headphones not working so i suggest to admin give us any hint to solve this issue
 
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