Bluetooth Issues

Okay, I have the Bluetooth phone option and have a Sony-Ericsson T616 (officially Toyota sanctioned phone), and I've had no problems with the setup, phone book transfer, making calls or answering calls. I do, however, have a problem actually *talking* to someone. Several other people have commented on how the sound seems to cut in and out to the person on the other end. The same thing is happening to me, but so far only when I've been talking to someone who is also on a cell phone.

Both the Prius Owner's Manual and the T616 Manual say that Bluetooth connections will cut out if there is sound on both sides of the link at the same time. Apparently, this is only a half-duplex connection. Since the stereo mutes automatically, the windows are all the way up, and the fan is on low, I don't have a noise problem on my end, but it's impossible for someone on the other end using a cell phone in public to keep the background quiet. So ultimately, they only hear about 1 out of 5 words that I say because their background noise is jamming the signal.

There has to be a way to solve this problem. Most everyone I know has a cell phone and that's usually where I end up calling them. If this can't be resolved, then the Bluetooth capability is basically useless.

I'd like to be able to choose between enabling/disabling the Bluetooth hands-free at any given time so I can switch back to the handset if the call starts to cut out, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that. Once the Prius establishes the network connection, the only way to stop it is to turn off the car or the phone, or delete the phone setting completely. I tried the 'Hide Visibility' option on the T616, but that doesn't work once the connection is established.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I've set the call volume down to three bars, but still no success.

I'm intrigued by the 'hidden diagnostic' menu reference. I had this in my last car, and it was accessed by pressing three buttons at the same time and entering a passcode. Do you know how to get into the menu on the Prius? I'm daring....