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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 fredl11 over 14 years ago

Well

I was hoping for a fix but it does not bode well. :( I had a Motorola Rival and it was doing what everyone here is experiencing i.e. the phone book showed up when it felt like it.
I qualified for a Verizon upgrade and they had a pretty good deal on a Kin One. Powered the unit up, went through the pairing. The 1490T even recognized it as a KIN.
There is a SLIGHT problem. Voice dial does nada. The only handsfree I have is HOME.
I am able to do a work around of sorts. I have made my most dialed numbers Favorites and can place a call through Points of Interest under the phone icon but it puts a dampner on HANDSFREE use

Oh Well :(

I just noticed my Kin One is using BT 2.1 not 1.73 Think that is the problem?

0 DOUGLAR over 14 years ago

Fixed - I hope

I had the common litany of Bluetooth problems, but after 24 hrs the latest software version (4.90) seems to be working fully and reliable. The release notes don't mention Bluetooth and the Bluetooth remains at v 1.73 but there is reference to an audio fix.
Let's hope.

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

I deleted the mlg_history.db file as suggested. Rebooted my 1490LMT... and still no phone book visible. I use an Iphone 4 and have had the phone book visible on occasion. This is my 2nd unit in 8 days .. first one died completely on day 6. Bought at Costco so exchanged for new one. Now this problem... any other suggestion on how to get phone book visible... it is needed as I live in Ontario Canada and it is now illegal to operated a cell phone while driving as well as tweaking with any electronics in car while moving. Hands free is the law...

You do realize that the phonebook is not permanently stored on the Garmin right? Every time the Garmin connects to your phone, it has to re-download the entire phonebook, and this takes a couple minutes at least. So you have to check it after several minutes.

0 fredl11 over 14 years ago

Got a response

from a Motorola tech, that might give insight to my/our Garmin glitz.

The 1490T is used in my truck,but in my car I have the Motorola T505 (both are showing the same problems).
They have informed me that since my Kin One is using BT 2.1 and the T505 is 2.0 there will be a problem with all the bells and whistles working. If this is true then Garmins 1.73 is way behind the times.

Think any of this is true or they just brushing me off with techno babble?

0 CORTIG over 14 years ago

I had the common litany of Bluetooth problems, but after 24 hrs the latest software version (4.90) seems to be working fully and reliable. The release notes don't mention Bluetooth and the Bluetooth remains at v 1.73 but there is reference to an audio fix.
Let's hope.

My 1490T seems to be working fine with the new update as far as sound goes, but it still loses my bluetooth phone consistently between reboots.
I have to re-pair all the time. Apparently, this issue hasn’t been fixed.

Corentin

0 CORTIG over 14 years ago

http://my.garmin.com/bluetooth/phones.faces

I think this is a false issue (as far as pairing is concerned).
When my iPhone 4 is paired, it’s just fine. It’s just that the unit keeps on losing all pairing information. Just plain buggy as far as I am concerned (and not a “compatibility” issue).

Corentin

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

I think this is a false issue (as far as pairing is concerned).
It’s just that the unit keeps on losing all pairing information. Just plain buggy as far as I am concerned (and not a “compatibility” issue).

Did you already try deleting the mlg_history.db file?

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

You do realize that the phonebook is not permanently stored on the Garmin right? Every time the Garmin connects to your phone, it has to re-download the entire phonebook, and this takes a couple minutes at least. So you have to check it after several minutes.

Yes I do realize the unit downloads the phonebook ... which should take seconds to do. I currently have a Nuvi660 as well as the recently purchased 1490 ... for the 660 to "see" my phonebook on boot up takes approximately 3 seconds ...this is not an issue with loading. It is a communication issue! I get the phone book recognized on the 1490 around 40% of the time. I purchased the 1490 at Costco and have been told I have up to 1 year to return it .. so will wait to see what bluetooth updates come out in the next couple of months.

0 CORTIG over 14 years ago

Did you already try deleting the mlg_history.db file?

I had tried a while ago but not recently. Thanks a bunch for reminding me! I just did and over several reboots, it hadn't lost the pairing (which is already a huge improvement…).

Corentin

0 CORTIG over 14 years ago

Did you already try deleting the mlg_history.db file?

Coming back to this… Deleting the .db file didn't help for long. Today, the GPS had "forgotten" the pairing once again.
Definitively not fixed :-\

Corentin