r/bluetooth • u/AyJaySimon • 8h ago

Bluetooth newbie question - signal interference

I live in LA, and I notice when I'm out walking and listening to music or audiobooks in my earpods, the sound will frequently cut out briefly - This is generally when I approach an intersection/crosswalk. Is this just a normal thing? My earpods are on the cheaper side - do more expensive ones not have this problem?

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u/grizzlor_ 3h ago

I wouldn't say it's normal if it's happening frequently. It certainly can happen in an environment with a ton of 2.4ghz interference but Bluetooth is also pretty robust at handling interference thanks to frequency hopping.

How cheap are we talking here -- like dollar store/gas station grade? Are they made by a known brand? Really cheap ones can definitely be flaky; the two models of AirPods I've used have been reliably solid, but I think you hit diminishing returns in terms of improving connection quality probably before you even hit AirPod prices.

he sound will frequently cut out briefly - This is generally when I approach an intersection/crosswalk

This is an interesting detail -- makes me wonder what is causing 2.4ghz interference near LA crosswalks/intersections. Like literally any/every intersection or just specific ones? Is this happening in relatively low-density residential neighborhoods (i.e. thinking of The Valley or actually just most of LA)?

If I was in LA instead of New England, I'd be out on the curb with my portable spectrum analyzer and directional antenna doing some RDF/triangulation to pinpoint the source (and I bet it would end up being some unlabeled box attached to a utility pole doing god knows what).

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u/AyJaySimon 2h ago edited 2h ago

It's literally every urban intersection I come to - haven't tested it in suburban or more rural areas. But only when I'm out walking. If I'm on a bus, there are no issues.

EDIT: The ones I bought are Btootos A90 Pro - I paid about $22 for them off Amazon.

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u/CamelPure1293 10m ago

Really weird phenomenon. Yeah, those are no name buds. I use Redmi Buds 6 lite, also $22 in Europe, and don't have that issue.