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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

Bluetooth Issue

:mad: I have this same issue. I have insured that all of the updates are installed. Reset the Nuvi, connected with my phone and EcoRoute HD. Cycled the Nuvi on/off several times (6) until the Nuvi no longer saw the phone or EchoRoute HD. Reset the Nuvi again with the same results. No matter what route is taken to reset the Nuvi, nothing insures the Nuvi will startup consistently with the Phone or EchoRoute HD connected. I have other systems that are able to connect with bluetooth devices and when the Nuvi is working properly, they are able to see it as a hands free device and a serial port. When the Nuvi no longer sees the phone or EchoRoute HD, the other system is no longer able to detect it also. Leads me to believe the Nuvi is not consistently initializing its bluetooth drivers. Perhaps "Garmin" has a suggestion?

0 ROPACO over 14 years ago

Similar bluetooth problem in Nuvi 3790T

The Nuvi 3790t does not keep Bluetooth phone & phone contacts if you have used them already once and use the screen lock (sleep) function by pressing the on/off button for only a quick second.
When you switch off the unit you have to press and hold the on/off switch at least 5 seconds (or 10 seconds for resetting.) In that case the phone & phonebook/contacts will still be there when you restart the device.
I mailed Garmin support about this bug.

0 psg_au over 14 years ago

Is Garmin actually doing ANYTHING

C'Mon guys...
It appears this problem with bluetooth and the 1490T is very wide spread and has been around for some time.

What is worse, your site is still AUTOMATICALLY upgrading Nuvi 1490T to this dodgy version of firmware.....

Get your act together - If my product was this bad, I'd have claim forms for finacial compensation from users backed up to my eye-balls....

0 psg_au over 14 years ago

Does ANYONE from Garmin ACTUALLY Read these forums ???

0 psg_au over 14 years ago

The Nuvi 3790t does not keep Bluetooth phone & phone contacts if you have used them already once and use the screen lock (sleep) function by pressing the on/off button for only a quick second.
When you switch off the unit you have to press and hold the on/off switch at least 5 seconds (or 10 seconds for resetting.) In that case the phone & phonebook/contacts will still be there when you restart the device.
I mailed Garmin support about this bug.

Have you had a reply, or are they ignoring this issue completely , along with the rest of the 1490T users?

0 sgronsky over 14 years ago

I was using an LG Dare with my 1490T. "All of a sudden" it began to upload my contacts one time and then not the next. :confused:

I switched phones to a BlackBerry Storm and cannot (except for 1 time) get my contacts to load onto the Nuvi. :(

I have upgraded my Nuvi software to the latest version. I believe it is 4.6 and still cannot get the Storm to upload contacts. Does anyone happen to have information about this problem using a Motorola Droid X? I should receive that instrument on Monday the 20th & I'd like to know if it will function as expected. I do, however, notice that the Droid models are NOT shown on Garmin's list of "compatible devices".

I'm thinking this isn't a phone issue, rather it is a Garmin issue. And the folks who have posted in this forum seem to share that opinion.

0 psg_au over 14 years ago

As for the comments about "is your phone compatible?" All I can say as a software engineer is that Bluetooth is a STANDARD. I fully understand that a given phone may not have a proper Bluetooth implementation and that your device may not operate or take full advantage of a given phone's Bluetooth. But the is NO excuse for any Bluetooth device to cause your 1490t to fail. The worst case should be an error screen that says "your phone, we won't support it." I could live with that. But I have had 2 1490's and used them with 3 phones and all 3 have caused the 1490 to lock up. Sorry Garmin, but thats YOUR fault. How about fixing it? I am still a Garmin believer and I will work with you, but you must acknowledge that there is a problem and do the investigation to find the cause. If I can help in the process by trying fixes, or supplying additional incident data, just ask. I write software and you cannot possibly anticipate every way a user might use your stuff, so I understand that there will be issues. But we can help with the solution as well if you will just ask...

Here here....
Too many manufacturers / software companies hide behind this "apparent" issue
Bluetooth DOES have a world wide standard and if the boys in China can make bluetooth devices / headsets that will work with almost ANY phone on the Planet, I would expect - no - DEMAND that a company like GARMIN should be able to at least match that.

0 psg_au over 14 years ago

I was using an LG Dare with my 1490T. "All of a sudden" it began to upload my contacts one time and then not the next. :confused:

I switched phones to a BlackBerry Storm and cannot (except for 1 time) get my contacts to load onto the Nuvi. :(

I have upgraded my Nuvi software to the latest version. I believe it is 4.6 and still cannot get the Storm to upload contacts. Does anyone happen to have information about this problem using a Motorola Droid X? I should receive that instrument on Monday the 20th & I'd like to know if it will function as expected. I do, however, notice that the Droid models are NOT shown on Garmin's list of "compatible devices".

I'm thinking this isn't a phone issue, rather it is a Garmin issue. And the folks who have posted in this forum seem to share that opinion.

Have you really looked at the compatability list lately? I was checking Nokia the other week and I must admit, I don't think there is a phone listed that has been released in the last 5 years.. they are all the old crap..

0 ROPACO over 14 years ago

No reply

Have you had a reply, or are they ignoring this issue completely , along with the rest of the 1490T users?

No I have had no reply yet (emailed their European helpdesk in French and English)

0 Former Member over 14 years ago

I am experiencing the same problem with the bluetooth. I do not think it has much to do with which mobile phone is being used, as I have tested it with a few.

My experience is - bought a 1490t and the bluetooth perfect for 2 months, then it simply just stopped connecting at each start up. Tried reinstalling software but not able to get it connecting consistently again. Took the 1490t back to shop and they returned it to Garmin. A week later they sent a brand new unit to the shop. This one worked perfectly (ie. connecting consistently via bluetooth) every time, but only for 5 weeks. Now it just doesn't want to connect.

I have tried reinstalling software. I have tried restoring defaults. I notice that the bluetooth name also goes blank. Regarless of whether I reset this or type in a new name, it will end up blank again after a restart or two.

Surely if the unit works initially, and now doesn't, that it must be some kind of issue with the firmware?

Please GARMIN - please give us upgraded software so these things work like they are supposed to (and what we paid for). I primarily bought this model due to the bluetooth - so my next cousre of action may have to be to return it to the shop and insist on a different brand, if no resolution is found in the next week or two.