Bizzarre Bluetooth/Air-conditioning Issue

[lpc300]

Hi all,

OK, I've got a good one for you all. I have an Audiovox 5600 Smartphone, which I like, alot. In February, a friend gave me a Plantronics Voyager 510 bluetooth headset for my birthday. It works great, much better than my wired headset. Two days ago, the first really hot day of the year, I turned the air-conditioning on in my car (a less than 1 year-old Ford Focus). I then went to make a few work-related phone calls on my way into the office. Not only could I barely hear the person I was speaking to, but they could barely hear me. I tried recalling them a few times, checked my cell signal (4 bars), but got the same problem. About this time it was getting a little cold, so I turned off the air-conditioning. Trying the phone call, again, this time I had no problem. This made me think, could it be the air conflicting with the bluetooth signal? Everytime I have made a call with the bluetooth headset and the air on I can't hear my party nor can they hear me. If I try the same call, in the same area, with the air off, no problem. If I try the same call, in the same are with the WIRED headset, no problem.

Am I crazy or does this make sense to anyone?

[David M]

Something related to the air conditioning is obviously generating EMF interference at or near the same frequency (or a harmonic) of the same frequency as your Bluetooth. Brushes going bad (arcing) on electrical motors can cause EMF interference on the AM band. I have no idea if Bluetooth is AM or FM though. If it is FM then the source is probably from the electrical circuitry and you may just have to deal with it. Take it into the Ford service center since your car is still under warranty.