Z5C Bluetooth problem (no media) Parrot MKI9200

[PenOne]

Hey guys,

I have a huge problem with my Z5C I received a few days ago. When I try to connect it to my car stereo (Parrot MKI9200) it kind of connects (is paired, but doesn't show up as a paired device). I also can make calls and receive them, but I get no audio whatsoever from any player (tried the native one, Spotify and Youtube).

It also shows, on the phone, that it is connected but has no media (even though I checked the box in it's bluetooth settings). I know for sure that it can play media because I used it for 4 years before on many devices (iPad, iPhones, Z3C, Samsung Galxy S3 and many many more). 

So I came to the conclusion that it is a problem with my Z5C and I am kind of desperate. I hope anybody has a software fix for my problem.

Thank you very much in advance,

PenOne

[cableguy4]

@Rickard, yip will do that and let you know

[Freegle]

I have two devices:

1. Xperia Z5 recently purchased

2. Xperia Z

Both are running the same version of Android

I also have 3 Bluetooth devices that I connect to regularly

1. The car

2. Bluetooth headset

3. Bluetooth speaker

With the Xperia Z Connectivity to these devices is very smooth a flawless!!! A dream even! I loved this phone and wanted to stick with Sony

With the Xperia Z5 however, connecting to bluetooth devices is problematic. Sometimes it does not connect to them and sometimes its connected but audio still comes out from the phone. To overcome these problems I have to switch the bluetooth on and off OR reboot the phone.

I have tried setting the Smart Connect with (event = Bluetooth audio connect) but that makes it worse in that audio outputs out of the phone all the time. I deleted the event in the end.

From my software experience I do suspect that these bluetooth connectivity issues are software related and the function calls between the standard bluetooth interface and Throw seem to be out of sync.

I am very tempted to return the phone and get a refund, but thought I'd post here in the hope that a technical Sony person might be willing to shed some light and help resolve this issue.

Note I did contact Sony support using their online chat and they did not seem at all interested and got this very sad response:

Emma:  Thank you for providing me with this information, with regards to the query you posted, I am sorry to hear you're facing these issues. Can I ask what problems you're having?

K:  With the Z5 connecting to bluetooth devices is problematic. I have 3 bluetooth paired devices (Car, headset and speaker). Sometimes it does not connect to them and sometimes its connected but audio still comes out from the phone

K:  I do not have these problems with my Xperia Z

Emma:  Okay, the headset and the speaker, are these Sony devices?

K:  No

Emma:  Okay, it may be a compatibility issue with the device. As the software on the Z5 is going to be slightly different from the Xperia Z. We would not be able to ensure compatibility with any third-party devices.

K:  Ok I shall return my Z5 and get a refund

Emma:  No problem K. I hope the information I have provided is okay. Is there anything else I can help you with?

K:  No the information you have provided is absolutely unhelpful and basically says how rubbish the Z5 is

Emma:  Apologies you feel thay way K. Thanks for using Sony Xperia Chat Support today. Goodbye.

[cableguy4]

pm sent to rikard with log

[booby1]

I have an xperia z5c AND a new sony car audio head unit but im having the same problems as you....I've tried creating lots of different types of smart connect events to try to get music played but with no joy. Its only possible after going thru severals steps that i've listed in a previous post and frustratingly have to do it all again each time i start the engine. I can't believe there's not something wrong here

I'm seriously thinking of going back to an iphone where all i have to do is plug it into the usb port, an action not supported with the z5c

[Rickard]

Thanks cableguy4 for sending me logs. I have forwarded these internally and will let you know as soon as i have more information.

One suggestion i received that you can try is to start the music player in the phone and then, if possible, initiate a bluetooth connection to the phone from the bluetooth device instead of trying to connect to the bluetooth device from the phone.

[cableguy4]

Hi Rickard

They best success rate I have so far, it by having music paused ( so you can see the music symbol in the notification bar)

and have an event in the Smart Connect when the BT is connected to pause tracks and then BT audio connect to the device.

[nikolai99]

Further to my previous posts I have borrowed a Z5 compact from a helpful EE store and tested it with my Parrot bluetooth kit - full media playback and autoconnection, as it's meant to be. This was also an E5823 running 5.1.1 though had a different baseband version if that makes any difference?

I presume mine has a fault and will be sending it back to Sony for repair/replacement...

Rickard - I'll PM my bug report etc in case it helps solve this. Thanks.

[PenOne]

Still no joy here. annoying. And that isn't the only problem....

[jaunusa]

Sounds like I have the same problem. I'm have a Sony Z3C, I can't play media on my MKi9200, contacts aren't synced and my device isn't listed as paired on the MKi. Strange is that my girlfried has the same phone and it works with the MKi (maybe because her phone is green ). Also other phones I tried work fine with the system. It doesn't work since I bought the phone (kitkat -> lollipop -> marshmallow (concept rom). My phone also works fine with bluetooth speakers and other cars.

Has anybody an idea what could cause this problem on my phone? I already tried to repaire it with sony companion, reset phone, disabled Smart Lock under Trust agents, cleared Bluetooth Share app data.

[Rickard]

I'm sorry that i don't have an answer for you yet.

As i understand it, the logs didn't reveal the root cause. Would it be possible for you to take new logs and send these to me in a private message? Please see my previous post for instructions.