Entune connectivity question

Just installed a 2014 head unit with Entune and nav (non-JBL) into my 2013. I was also able to set up an Entune account, and have the app running on my phone (iPhone 4).

I understand that on older versions of Entune, if you used an iPhone, you had to have it plugged into the USB port for the data connectivity. From what I've read, the newer versions now work without plugging in the iPhone.

I can confirm that mine will work without being plugged in, but here's my issue:

I keep an old iPod in my truck all the time. It has all my music on it, and my phone only has a small number of songs. (I've actually got the music part of my Bluetooth profile disabled for the phone). My phone pairs with no issues when I start the truck, however it won't connect for entune / data unless I unplug the iPod. Once I unplug the iPod, whether I do that before or after starting the truck, the entune apps will start working. Once they start, I can then plug the iPod back in.

Does that sound normal? Is there any way around this?

I actually have my USB connection moved from the dash to my glove box, since I leave the old iPod connected at all times, and don't want to look at it or the wires sitting in my console. Unplugging it every time I start the truck is a pain.

Also, to be clear, I don't really care about most of the entune apps. The only things that I'd like to have working at all times are the weather and traffic. I'm under the impression that they will work with an HD radio signal, even without the phone connected, however it doesn't seem as if there is an HD signal where I live. (Haven't tested this in other areas yet, as I just installed the head unit yesterday)

 

I am in a similar boat. I have a 2014 AC with premium audio package. I also have an old ipod that has my music on it. The first time I used usb port to use my ipod it unpaired my phone via bluetooth. Not sure why, but after I stopped my truck (with ipod still plugged in) and started it up again, it paired to my phone. For weather and traffic, two systems are used. The primary is HD radio signal. If there is not an HD signal, it will use your cell phone signal to grab the data, but you need to select this in the menu options. If you go into the system you will see where you can select both HD and cell for data. BUT, this system at this time will not work to grab the data via cell unless the cell phone is connected to the usb port, thus ipod needs to be disconnected. BTW, there is a free Toyota tech support number you can call (see website) that will help you with some of this. I found them to be more knowledgable than my local dealership.

And, one advantage to using the HD signal for some of this data is that it is free. For my Lexus, it all comes through the sat signal and the data package is an added expense. But, it works everywhere. Choose your poison I guess.

 

Actually the system WILL use my iPhone to pull data without it being connected. (And I have the menu settings set for the system to use HD or the phone for data)

The issue is that the system appears to default to try to use whatever is connected to the USB port for data. Since that's an iPod in my case, it obviously isn't going to get any data. You would think that it would then check the bluetooth device, but it doesn't.

Again, if I unplug the iPod for a minute, the system will start pulling data from my iPhone.....without me plugging it in. Once it makes that connection, I can then plug my iPod back in.

 

So if you are out of hd signal range, you will get weather and traffic off your cell via Bluetooth? If that is the case I need to go back into the settings and see the issue is.

 

Yes, as long as I've unplugged the iPod from the USB port.

 

I'm currently having a similar issue with my iPhone5 and 4th gen iPod. I leave my iPod in the car and it's connected via BT so it's automatically connected as an audio device AND phone (I don't get why it connects as a phone LOL) when I turn on my truck. My iPhone's BT isn't normally ON when I first get in the truck and when I do turn it on, it won't connect automatically. So I go the head unit's BT setting>>Phone>>Connect Phone>>iPhone5. It connects and can make phone calls but no entune apps are working (Traffic, Weather, Yelp, etc.) I think it's the iPod interfering with the connection.

Have you guys solved this issue by any chance?

 

I've still never been able to get it to work without unplugging the iPod first.

Here's the best explanation I can come up with for where I think the head unit is looking when I start the truck:

• Bluetooth calls - iPhone (this works fine)
• Bluetooth audio - iPhone (this also works fine)
• USB connected audio - iPod (this too works fine)
• Data for entune - iPod

I can't confirm this, but this is what I think is happening. I think somehow the system is looking to the iPod for Entune data, which it's obviously never going to get. As soon as I unplug that iPod, it then looks to my phone for data, which works fine.

 

I guess turning off the iPod's BT when leaving the car and connecting the phone first could be the best work around on this. It's a shame that the Entune's software developers haven't found a fix for this yet.

 

Bumping this up to the top to see if anyone has ever found a fix.

I recently replaced my old iPhone 4 with a 5S, which didn't change anything. My Entune still will not connect to the phone with my old iPod connected to the USB port. Bluetooth calls and audio over the phone work with no issue, yet the Entune apps do not.

If I disconnect the iPod from the USB connection, the phone connects every time.