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  1. Temporary_Amoeba_462 on

    I get similar walking through Melbourne Central with my AirPods. Lots of foot traffic. I assume it’s of other wireless buds, wifi networks, and other devices that operate on similar frequencies concentrated in a small area interfering with each other.

  2. It happens all around southern cross, I get the same coming across from marvel to the station

  3. I commute through Southern Cross regularly and my earbuds also lose connection or get unstable when there is a crowd.

    Maybe its something to do with the roof somehow being perfect for scattering bluetooth signals, dunno.

  4. _Ginger_Nut_ on

    I get interference all the time in Melbourne with air buds and audio technica buds.

  5. I should mention but when I used a pair of bluetooth headphones I basically never had this issue but before that when I had some other brand of earbuds they had a similar issue hence why I mentioned specifically them being TWS earbuds, I’m assuming maybe the smaller/weaker receiver in the little earbuds is somehow leading to the tram tracks causing some interference but idk why they would be affecting it at all

  6. I believe it’s the trams theres a spot (corner of Bourke st and Swanston) that stops my AirPods every time the tram goes past yes I tested it

  7. I get the exact same thing in the exact same location with my ear buds.
    My best guess would be the sheer amount of tram lines in the vicinity, but it’s odd it doesn’t happen at other, just as busy intersections.

  8. EMI leaking from the tram power grid. Bluetooth isn’t designed to have a particularly strong connection, so it’s somewhat susceptible to interference.

  9. I get the same crossing the road outside Footscray station over to the tram stop, so there’s overhead wiring there too.

    Although I will say it was worse when I had my earbuds set to a “high audio quality” (LDAC) and has mostly gone away switching them down to “standard audio quality” (AAC).

  10. My AirPods always glitch and drop out unless I hold my phone really close to my head at southern cross.

  11. BadConscious2237 on

    Bluetooth equipment setup on traffic light to poll and record every mobile device through the intersection.

    It’s much stronger and interferes with phone + buds connection.

  12. You should try out those wired headphones. They are pretty much like bt earbuds except they have a wire that connects to your phone and the earbuds are also connected to said wire. They really are next level!! You also don’t need to worry about losing them since they’re literally connected!!

  13. I used to have that problem in the exact same place for my Bluetooth. Something is interfering it for sure.

  14. Dry_Detective7060 on

    Adelaidian here, I get this as well! Any time I’m crossing or close to a street my buds lose connection.
    I’ve had some people say it could be because there’s a lot of people around with BT but it happens when there’s no one around.
    Most people I’ve mentioned it to have never experienced it.

    Forgot to add, a lot of people here are saying it’s the trams, can’t be here! Happens on Grenfell St most severely and it doesn’t have any lines.

  15. It’s just general interference from other wireless devices on the same spectrum as well as all the electrical lines for the trams.

    When I’m driving in the CBD my wireless android auto drops at some intersections. Also drops at a specific point on the Bolte Bridge. I use to think it was the toll points. But it doesn’t happen at any other toll points. What is pretty close in the section where it drops is a high voltage power line right next to the bridge, so I do wonder if it’s that.

  16. marblechocolate on

    Probably the police station nearby.

    I used to have the same problem passing MI5 in Victoria, London.

  17. All the way through that area I lose BT on multiple devices. I also have issues with 4G/5G. Wondering who’s driving the noise floor so damn high there. Maybe I should take an SDR next time…

  18. Retailers, governments, public transport and other businesses use bluetooth device tracking for various reasons. An example is a store might have a number of BT devices listening so they can identify which of their displays attracts the most attention, PT uses it to gauge how long your route took etc.

    It basically logs transmitted bluetooth beacons and can be programmed to send pings (via l2ping), which your device will probably respond to in some way and it’s time/date/location will be recorded. Even a “connection refused” proves the presence of the device. There’s a device around that intersection that has been causing issues with BT for years.

    These pings can cause a momentary loss of connection, it’s more likely with device that features “just pair” technology.

  19. microcosmos_88 on

    Have you tried wrapping your head in tin foil and shaping the foil so it covers your ears and then fashioning the top into a cone that’s off to one side?

    That helps with much more than just Bluetooth interference by the way. Much more.

  20. Cautious_Tax_9497 on

    Tram line, train, wifi, electronics, etc. same when I get off the trains and on platforms in Southern Cross going up the stairs, not sure if it is platform 5 or 6, Vline coming from Geelong. My BT dongle I use for my IEM, it loses connection and restores once hitting the concourse.