HELP! Bluetooth headset volume WAY to soft (WM5, Verizon release)

[store2000]

Hi folks,

Well, I'm finding that the stock Verizon WM5 build works best for me (stable, working 802.11 WPA and Bluetooth voice tags). Well, mostly working. I may move to WM6 (thanks helmi!) once thing stabilize since my focus is more on *reliable* productivity.

The one VERY NAGGING issue is how soft the volume is when using a bluetooth headset. I'm almost stuffing the headset into my ear just to hear the other party - especially when driving.

I found one fix which says
" 1. Dial ##778#
2. Select Edit
3. Enter MLS Code (Unlock) (MLS code = 000000 for verizon)
4. From the Top, select CDMA Settings
5. Change EVRC Enabled to Disabled
6. Change Home Page to Voice 13k
7. Change Home Orig to Voice 13k
8. Change Roam Orig to Voice 13k"

However here you're actually changing the vocoder from a 8kbps vocoder to a 13kbps vocoder, so I'd rather avoid it (most B/W needed etc).

So, does anyone know of a patch/fix to resolve this "soft volume over bluetooth" issue? I used to work VERY close with these once upon a time and can *almost* predict the cause of the bug too. Of course, I can't fix it since I lack the tools (as well as the legal implications of building it - i.e. access to source code).

Details (more like hypothesis):
I think the bug mostly stems from the fact that the evrc codec operates on 14bit samples but the rest of the voice chain is 16bit. Someone, somewhere (most likely WM5 BT SCO driver code) is probably forgetting to right-shift the samples by 2, and we're getting a 6dB softer sound on bluetooth. The actual mic/speakers work ok since that is handled completely by Qualcomm's code ... (i.e MSM code, radio code). It's probably at the API between the radio code and the WM5 code.

[store2000]

No responses!? Where are the developers/hackers?!

Anyway, the Voice13k option doesn't really help. Does anyone know if there is a gain table somewhere that can be modified? That could potentially get back the 6dB loss ...

Also, to get some more perspective, can people who are using WM6 report is they see the Bluetooth volume too low problem?

Thanks

[hefman]

Originally Posted by store2000

No responses!? Where are the developers/hackers?!

Anyway, the Voice13k option doesn't really help. Does anyone know if there is a gain table somewhere that can be modified? That could potentially get back the 6dB loss ...

Also, to get some more perspective, can people who are using WM6 report is they see the Bluetooth volume too low problem?

Thanks

You can edit the Audio Gateway settings in the registry...

HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Bluetooth/Audio Gateway

The "spkVolume" key can be tweaked for louder sound from your headset. I believe the default is 8. I would only go up in small increments, because some BT devices are sensitive to this setting. I believe you need to soft reset each time you change it.

Edit: I just tried changing mine, but MSVC didn't like it. Had to revert back to the default. Not sure why, but this tweak worked fine in WM5...

And, yes, I have experienced a slight drop in volume since WM6...

Edit2: I found that on this ROM, I needed to unpair and repair my device in order for the spkvolume settings to take effect. Hope that helps...

[store2000]

Originally Posted by hefman

You can edit the Audio Gateway settings in the registry...

HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Bluetooth/Audio Gateway

The "spkVolume" key can be tweaked for louder sound from your headset. I believe the default is 8. I would only go up in small increments, because some BT devices are sensitive to this setting. I believe you need to soft reset each time you change it.

Edit: I just tried changing mine, but MSVC didn't like it. Had to revert back to the default. Not sure why, but this tweak worked fine in WM5...

This didn't really work for me. BTW, MSDN indicates that it should be HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Bluetooth\Au dioGateway\SpkVolume but anyway, thank you since I searched off your suggestion. I tried 8, 12,16,23,40,50,255 and they all sound the same. Soft-resets in between each number I tried. Now I might be imagining things but the last value I tried was 0x1F ( = 31 in decimal) and it seems to be sounding slightly louder. But I think it's just my mind ...

Originally Posted by hefman

Edit2: I found that on this ROM, I needed to unpair and repair my device in order for the spkvolume settings to take effect. Hope that helps...

So you're saying on helmi's WM6 rom you need to unpair and repair the device EVERY time you're going to use BT? That's quite impractical (and vulnerable: since the bluetooth key can be generated off the pairing data exchanged between the two devices; and anyone can listen to the pairing messages over the air).

Talking of vulnerability, MSDN mentions that to enable encryption we need to set HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Bluetooth\Au dioGateway\Encrypt as 1

I noticed it wasn't present, meaning the conversation between BT and headset is in the clear. I've enabled it and haven't noticed any quality degradation or any other problems.

Ok, now back to the bluetooth volume problem ...

[datdamnamp]

Originally Posted by store2000

Hi folks,

Well, I'm finding that the stock Verizon WM5 build works best for me (stable, working 802.11 WPA and Bluetooth voice tags). Well, mostly working. I may move to WM6 (thanks helmi!) once thing stabilize since my focus is more on *reliable* productivity.

The one VERY NAGGING issue is how soft the volume is when using a bluetooth headset. I'm almost stuffing the headset into my ear just to hear the other party - especially when driving.

I found one fix which says
" 1. Dial ##778#
2. Select Edit
3. Enter MLS Code (Unlock) (MLS code = 000000 for verizon)
4. From the Top, select CDMA Settings
5. Change EVRC Enabled to Disabled
6. Change Home Page to Voice 13k
7. Change Home Orig to Voice 13k
8. Change Roam Orig to Voice 13k"

However here you're actually changing the vocoder from a 8kbps vocoder to a 13kbps vocoder, so I'd rather avoid it (most B/W needed etc).

So, does anyone know of a patch/fix to resolve this "soft volume over bluetooth" issue? I used to work VERY close with these once upon a time and can *almost* predict the cause of the bug too. Of course, I can't fix it since I lack the tools (as well as the legal implications of building it - i.e. access to source code).

Details (more like hypothesis):
I think the bug mostly stems from the fact that the evrc codec operates on 14bit samples but the rest of the voice chain is 16bit. Someone, somewhere (most likely WM5 BT SCO driver code) is probably forgetting to right-shift the samples by 2, and we're getting a 6dB softer sound on bluetooth. The actual mic/speakers work ok since that is handled completely by Qualcomm's code ... (i.e MSM code, radio code). It's probably at the API between the radio code and the WM5 code.

I did what you said in your post and it REALLY helped my phone out. I have a XV6700 on Cricket. I changed those settings and now I can hear people and they can hear me on my BT headsets. I was using WM6 but was having to many problems and the radio stopped working after a week so I went back to Helmi's 1.0.4 WM5 and I am back in love with my phone.

[store2000]

Originally Posted by datdamnamp

I did what you said in your post and it REALLY helped my phone out. I have a XV6700 on Cricket. I changed those settings and now I can hear people and they can hear me on my BT headsets. I was using WM6 but was having to many problems and the radio stopped working after a week so I went back to Helmi's 1.0.4 WM5 and I am back in love with my phone.

f***! I just reflashed to the verizon release off UTStar's website and then I read this! I guess I need to reflash again ... to Helmi's 1.0.4 WM5 release. Any links my friend?

I really want to resolve this stupid bluetooth volume issue, there is no point to bluetooth if the conversations can't be heard (in a car, walking etc).

[datdamnamp]

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=6017
Thats the link to the thread. Download the kitchen and then build ya own ROM. The VJCandela is a must have!! It is a lifesaver when you need a flashlight. Hope this helps you.

[store2000]

Originally Posted by datdamnamp

http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=6017
Thats the link to the thread. Download the kitchen and then build ya own ROM. The VJCandela is a must have!! It is a lifesaver when you need a flashlight. Hope this helps you.

If you don't mind, can you tell me the options you selected? I know there is a lot of fun to experimentation, but I would really appreciate this help. Even better, if the kitchen keeps a config file or something when you choose the "ingredients", could you PM it to me, so I can build off that?

Thanks!

[dc]

Originally Posted by store2000

HELP! Bluetooth headset volume WAY to soft (WM5, Verizon release)

What Bluetooth headset are you currently using and which ones have you've tried? I tried quite a number of Bluetooth headsets and the only one I've used with adequate volume in noisy environments is the Plantronics Voyager 510 (www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat1150057/cat5420035/prod5460010). It could be due to the actual earpiece going into the ear canal, as it blocks out some of the outside noises. Have you tried the 510?

Slightly off topic:
I'm currently using the Jabra BT8010 Stereo Bluetooth headset to take advantage of A2DP (www.jabra.com/Sites/Jabra/NA-US/products/Pages/JabraBT8010.aspx). It has a detachable stereo earpiece when not using it for music and has numerous advanced features. It has great volume for music, but slightly inadequate volume for standard voice calls. The earpiece itself does not go in the ear canal. Plantronics is releasing a similar concept headset called the Voyager 855. This one too has a detachable stereo earpiece, but unlike the Jabra BT8010, the earpiece go in the ear canal. I have this one on pre-order, but it's supposed to release in late September/early October (www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat1150057/cat5420035/prod5880001).

[hefman]

Originally Posted by store2000

So you're saying on helmi's WM6 rom you need to unpair and repair the device EVERY time you're going to use BT? That's quite impractical (and vulnerable: since the bluetooth key can be generated off the pairing data exchanged between the two devices; and anyone can listen to the pairing messages over the air).

No. I was saying that I needed to unpair and repair my headset (once) in order for the registry changes to take effect. Once I did that, the new audio gateway settings stuck.

I don't know if this is normal. Seems like on older ROMs I could just change the registry settings and go...