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Garmin Connect Web Nuvi 1490T Bluetooth problem

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Nuvi 1490T Bluetooth problem

Former Member over 14 years ago

Hi all,

I've had a 1490T for some time now and like it a lot. Unfortunately, lately, it has started doing weird things, coinciding with the installation of the latest firmware (4.30). It won't stay paired to my phone (RIM BlackBerry Bold 9700) after it (the nuvi) has been shut off. The "Friendly Name" on the nuvi is erased (blank) every time I check, and it doesn't remember my phone (the button is "Add" instead of "Change"). Disabling/re-enabling Bluetooth does nothing. Adding the phone again works about 10% of the time, if I delete the nuvi's profile from my phone first. To boot, when it is having this problem, there is no sound (voice or keypress tone) from the nuvi. Rebooting it may make it work in 1 time out of 6 or 7 tries. I've checked the diagnostics pages (accessed via the speedometer) and other than "Abnormal Powerdown" reported a few times, there's nothing I can really see that jumps out at me.

On the About page, in Software Versions, I have GPS ver 4.30, Text ver 4.20 (American English), Keyboard ver "Unknown", Audio ver 2.60 (American English-Jill), and Bluetooth ver "Unknown". Doing a reboot (holding down the power key until it goes off, restarting so the Garmin splash screen comes up) - over and over until I get a beep from pressing "Agree" - when I go back into "About", I get still Keyboard - Unknown, but Bluetooth - 1.73. At that point, going back to the Bluetooth setup page, it still has forgotten my phone, but the proper "Friendly Name" is back.

My email to technical support received a less-than-helpful reply. I got exquisitely detailed instructions on how to download and run WebUpdater to make sure I have the latest version of firmware - despite the fact I mentioned in my email that I already have the latest firmware, and wanted instructions on how I might download/reinstall it, and perhaps the Bluetooth firmware as well. I was also told that my phone may be too new to be compatible with the nuvi. Well, true enough, it's not shown on the website as being compatible, but it's been working with the device day in and day out for months prior to the latest firmware update.

I thought that WebUpdater used to allow you to reinstall the existing firmware if there was no new update to be had. I tried running it just now, and all I get is "There are no new updates. Press Next to look for other updates like voice and text" etc.

Anyone got any advice? Either 4.30 is badly screwed up and needs a bugfix (and judging by the frequent reboots going back to the normal map from the traffic map, this is probably true) or I need to reinstall 4.30 and/or the BT firmware. I'd love to do it, but I can't find a way to do so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Under the heading of:
Garmin Forums > Into Sports > Garmin Connect > Troubleshooting
"nuvi 1490T Bluetooth phone issue"
(https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?t=11554)
I found post #2 by DAVIDCATT (not stealing his thunder) and he gave me the solution that fixed it right up.

That works about 1 time out of every 10 (times that it fails to load Bluetooth) for me. Recently it's been getting MUCH better at the audio coming back up, more often than not - I'd say around 75% of the time or more, I'm getting speaker audio from the 1490T. It will NOT remember my phone, though; I have to pair it any time I want to use it.

This product has shaken my faith in Garmin. I have used them, as I think I said above, since the GPS 12, and have recommended them to others. If I have to get another GPS, I'm not so sure I'm going to go Garmin any more.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Just received my Garmin 1490t today from play.com.

The device seems to work great so far along with the bluetooth which I have paired with my iPhone 3GS on iOS 4.1. However, I have no idea how to get the Garmin 1490t to show my contact list.

Any help is appreciated...thanks :)

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

I don't believe that you need to do anything to enable the phone book. If the software supports it, it will just show up on the phone page. What is the software version? Check in settings, system, About, Software versions.
Look in the Text row. The latest is 4.6 but if yours says 3.3 or 3.6, I would avoid updating as you may find the Bluetooth becomes unusable with the later versions.
David Catt

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

The contact list shows up from my Blackberry when I can get it to connect, but that has nothing to do with the problem - it's got to do with the nuvi's inability to maintain the Bluetooth connection, which in turn is I believe because the Bluetooth software and/or the device firmware is unstable and crashing upon bootup.

0 mtiernan over 14 years ago

It will NOT remember my phone, though; I have to pair it any time I want to use it.

I'm very glad to hear someone else having this problem. I thought it was just a [ahem] design job. The idea of the unit running around in bluetooth "discoverable" mode doesn't excite me either.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Possible Solution

Delete every files and sub-directories except "Current.gpx" in GPX Folder.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

My Bluetooth saga

I have ha dteh 1490t about 9 months. Got the eco route HD and had an iphone 3gs. Everything worked well for months then it started forgetting the devices. Eventually I could never sync with my phone and the eco route was a 1/3 chance. Contacted tech support and rma-d the unit. Got the new one in 10 days, worked great at first with the eco route hd and my iphone 4, then same thing after three weeks. Doesn't see iphone at all, forgets eco. Tried master reset, no improvements, installed latest software 4.6, no improvement.

I have mine hardwired to a 12 volt source that only provides power when car is on. When I turn car off it says stay on? and I never press anything and after 30 seconds it powers down. Could this be the cause?

0 TLHUTCH over 14 years ago

Is there an echo here?

I have precisely the same problem as everyone has expressed with Bluetooth pairing and intermittent audio on a 1490. It obviously has nothing to do with what power is being supplied to the unit as it occurs both on internal battery and external power. Doesn't seem to matter at all with my unit.

It's quite obvious that the Bluetooth software/firmware is not loading properly when this problem occurs as the version # shows as unknown when it occurs, yet shows correctly when it's working properly.

Has anyone attempted a Hard Reset? If so, I apologize if I missed that in the thread. I don't recall how to do it now, but I believe the instructions are somewhere.

This is frustrating and a real PITA to deal with as it can take a lot of time to pair a phone with the unit. It's amazing that Garmin hasn't fixed this yet as I suspect owners of this model will look elsewhere in the future, since a replacement is not a fix. An update would likely fix it. Where is the fix, Garmin?

0 TLHUTCH over 14 years ago

New Discovery

In my attempts to get this thing working correctly I attempted a Hard Reset. However, when holding a finger on the lower right, upper right, lower left, and upper left while turning on it only boots normally. It will not do a hard reset no matter where I place my finger.

BUT, every single time I held my finger on the screen the BlueTooth firmware and audio all loaded and worked correctly. I have done this over a dozen times, perhaps more and everything loads correctly every time as long as a finger is on the screen. If my finger is not on the screen, the BT firmware routinely does not load properly. Therefore, it must be a hardware issue with the units that have this problem.

I have done extended research of the 'net to find hundreds of satisfied customers who have this unit, purchased as late as 10/10. Some have specifically commented on how well the BlueTooth feature works.

I intend to return this one in hopes of getting a unit that works correctly. YMMV

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

Very upset!

Same problem here with 1390t!!!

Im so angry! Bought it on 25 Sept 2010.. 2 weeks ago did an upgrade of software or something and since then its been useless!!

No voice or sound..I play with the mute /unmute and volumes up and down ..turn it off and still nothing!

Not just that- Bluetooth wont connect anymore.. And if i do luckily get it to, it definatley wont be still connected next time I start the GPS.

Finally, my SUNA traffic doesn't work either! Plugged into car and its pathetic.

Did the hard restart- NOTHING

Called Australia Garmin- Was on hold for half an hour, hanged up..
Will email them now..

But am very very pissed off. I believe it must be the latest update thats messing everything up..

Does anyone know how to fix it???????????? Desperate as I use it everyday for work and last 2 weeks been using hubbys!!