Uconnect text messages - unknown contact

drock · Aug 16, 2018

I have the 130 radio and paired my phone (LG G6) to Uconnect.

When I get a text message, I get an announcement. But it always says something along the lines of it can't tell what number it's from.

I updated to the latest Uconnect firmware which didn't help.

I can tell the Uconnect can read the contacts from the phone if I try to initiate a call or text using it (it is bad about properly choosing the one I said, though).

Anyone have any idea how to fix this?

It was so annoying (not that I get that many texts, but when I do listen to one it's good to know who it's from) that I attempted to turn off incoming text announcements altogether. I am not getting announcements when listening to satellite radio but I still get them when listening via USB. Maybe that setting is per-audio-source. Or maybe it is just one of the many quirks of this system.

It could also be the 3rd party texting app (Textra) I use.

DangerAaron · Aug 16, 2018

Mine seems to work fine with my Samsung note using the stock samsung "messages" app. I would be willing to bet it's your choice of app. Switch back to the stock android app (which also works on mine.... Wife has a google pixel 2).

festerw · Aug 16, 2018

drock said:
I have the 130 radio and paired my phone (LG G6) to Uconnect.

When I get a text message, I get an announcement. But it always says something along the lines of it can't tell what number it's from.

I updated to the latest Uconnect firmware which didn't help.

I can tell the Uconnect can read the contacts from the phone if I try to initiate a call or text using it (it is bad about properly choosing the one I said, though).

Anyone have any idea how to fix this?

It was so annoying (not that I get that many texts, but when I do listen to one it's good to know who it's from) that I attempted to turn off incoming text announcements altogether. I am not getting announcements when listening to satellite radio but I still get them when listening via USB. Maybe that setting is per-audio-source. Or maybe it is just one of the many quirks of this system.

It could also be the 3rd party texting app (Textra) I use.

Chances are it's a permission issue between Textra and the radio. Contacts and SMS would be the two to check.

Jeeper81 · Aug 16, 2018

1. The UConnect systems used in the Patriot are ancient. They don't work well with modern phones nor can they have the functionality most people want. They are from the flip-phone era.

2. If the UConnect unit doesn't have the contact information from the contact you get a message or call from uploaded and there's no entry created for it in the onboard phone book, it won't tell you who it is from, even if it's a contact in your phone.

3. I had to manually create all the entries for my UConnect system because it just wouldn't do it itself, regardless of syncing, because it's just too old and poorly. designed.

Just take it out and replace it with a new unit with nav and hands-free phone functionality that fits perfectly in the Patriot. You'll be much happier!

drock · Aug 17, 2018

Jeeper81 said:
1. The UConnect systems used in the Patriot are ancient. They don't work well with modern phones nor can they have the functionality most people want. They are from the flip-phone era.

No argument there, although making calls and sending/receiving texts via bluetooth has not changed in requirements since then. I've only tried to reply to a text in my Patriot once. Took me 10 minutes wading through all the voice prompts, confirmations, wrong selections, only to have it fail to send for reasons unknown. By then I was at my destination and didn't need to send it anyway.

And don't forget the other quirks just in playing music! My current favorite: if you're playing music from a USB device and choose an artist (for example), there's apparently no way to get back to the "all music" mode you get when you first plugged it in. Guess they thought nobody would ever want to randomly shuffle all their music. And true, back when this was designed, we didn't typically do that. We were album-oriented.

Just take it out and replace it with a new unit with nav and hands-free phone functionality that fits perfectly in the Patriot. You'll be much happier!

Maybe someday. I've never been a car audio enthusiast. While I'd honestly love the gadgetry and the opportunity to integrate a backup camera, the cost for what I'd want is too high to justify. If my factory radio dies, all bets are off. I've updated the speakers and at least music sounds normal now. Just the ability to use bluetooth for music and calls is more than I've had before.

On the original topic: I do not seem to have any kind of permission restriction and I do not see a setting granular enough to block this but allow Textra to function normally or Uconnect to access contacts in general. I am going to try switching my default texting app in case Textra is just not properly sending the contact info. If that's the case maybe I can get Textra fixed (I'm not switching away from it).

If that fails I'll add my important contacts to the Uconnect directly (there would be only two worth adding). Thanks for that pointer, I doubt I'd ever have thought to try it.

drock · Aug 20, 2018

I tested the built-in messaging app, which worked as expected. So I will see if Textra can fix it (maybe they don't even send the contact info).

Uconnect text messages - unknown contact

drock

DangerAaron

festerw

Jeeper81

drock

drock

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities