Bluetooth interference at Network Rail stations

[Backroom_boy]

My Bluetooth headphones cut out intermittently as I walk through the concourse of Victoria, London Bridge and possibly a few more. Is there some NR system that throws up interference?

 

[Tobberz]

I've encountered this at Waterloo regularly. Always assumed it was the quantity of people, but no idea if that's right.

 

[dosxuk]

Is there some NR system that throws up interference?

Much more likely to be all the other passengers with their bluetooth headphones, earpods, watches and assorted other devices. Bluetooth uses a very limited amount of radio frequencies, and everyone is using the same ones, so once you get enough devices in a certain space, they will all be struggling to get their data sent & received.

 

[takno]

Much more likely to be all the other passengers with their bluetooth headphones, earpods, watches and assorted other devices. Bluetooth uses a very limited amount of radio frequencies, and everyone is using the same ones, so once you get enough devices in a certain space, they will all be struggling to get their data sent & received.

In principle i would agree, but it seems to happen at the same places within the stations, and they aren't necessarily particularly busy places. I've noticed it at virtually all the London terminals. Not sure if it's some particularly aggressive WiFi base station, some ancient analogue equipment that they're still using, or possibly related to the mobile phone counting equipment.

Not a massive problem either way, it's just a bit weird as you're walking through

 

[transportphoto]

This issue was discussed here in May 2023: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/bluetooth-interference-at-liverpool-st-station.248154/

 

[CharlieSpotted]

I suspect this might be to do with Police radio frequencies. There's a location I walk past in Birmingham frequently where there is always a police car parked up, and my bluetooth audio always stutters walking past it, without fail, as well as occasionally stuttering at New Street station where BTP are never far away.

 

[Recessio]

I suspect this might be to do with Police radio frequencies. There's a location I walk past in Birmingham frequently where there is always a police car parked up, and my bluetooth audio always stutters walking past it, without fail, as well as occasionally stuttering at New Street station where BTP are never far away.

I was wondering if it was emergency radios. I consistently lose connection walking past UCL Hospital to enter Warren Street station. I can't say I've noticed problems at Victoria or Waterloo though. Maybe it only affects certain types of Bluetooth connections, particularly older devices?

 

[Prime586]

I suspect this might be to do with Police radio frequencies. There's a location I walk past in Birmingham frequently where there is always a police car parked up, and my bluetooth audio always stutters walking past it, without fail, as well as occasionally stuttering at New Street station where BTP are never far away.

The emergency services use the Airwave network for radio, which uses the TETRA trunked radio system which is based on GSM mobile phone technology and operates in the 380-460MHz frequency range.

Bluetooth uses the 2.4GHz ISM frequency band (2400-2483.5 MHz) that is also used for Wi-Fi, baby monitors, security cameras, RC model transmitters and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all. It's far more likely that any Bluetooth interference in public areas will be due to 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi basestations operating in the area (which will have many times the transmit power of your phone's Bluetooth transceiver - the maximum transmit power for Bluetooth is 100mW).

 

[Backroom_boy]

I suspect it's another blue tooth device in the area; possibly a base station at the gateline or some display screens