Kyocera e4710 - they can't hear me unless i turn speaker on

We're here to assist with getting your microphone to pick up your voice when you're off speakerphone, @lmn1011.

Sometimes if Bluetooth is on, it can connect to other devices near you. We'd like to ensure that Bluetooth is disabled. If you're actively using a Bluetooth device, we can reconnect it after troubleshooting. To turn off Bluetooth, please follow these steps:

• From your Home Screen press Menu (center softkey)
• Go to Settings
• Next go to Wireless and Networks
• Then Bluetooth

To turn Bluetooth on and off, you should be using the right softkey.

If you'd like to see these steps, you can go to the device manual for your device. You can find Bluetooth settings on page 96.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach back out to us.

Thank you for reaching out to the AT&T Community Forums.

Shiann, AT&T Community Specialist

Hi and thanks for your reply.

Yes, I have seen this reply to others who've requested help w/the same/similar issue and I have made sure - and do check again after each reboot, restoring of settings that Bluetooth is off.

Kyocera's help/support staff posited that perhaps it's the primary microphone (going, going, gone bad), due to the fact that I am able to be heard if, only if, I turn on the speaker -- which turns on and uses the secondary mic. (well, it's designed to use both mics from my understanding, but, since... the primary mic. isn't doing what it ought to b/c I have yet to find the right combo of settings deep in the bowels of the thing).

Do you think if I can find  and turn on "Developer Options, as with an Android smartphone, that there may be something related to "sound" there?

Thanks again.

I'd like to find the cause and the fix for it, here, so that other forum members see something - an issue - resolved. (I know that helps me.)

Hello lmn1011, let's get you pointed in the right direction for questions about Developers Options.

That is a great question. We would recommend to reach out to Kyocera due to the Developers Option is a manufacturer feature. Kyocera offers a toll free technical support line. By calling 1-800-255-6482 you can speak directly with a technical representative.

Feel free to reach back out if you have any other questions or concerns. Thank you for visiting our AT&T Community Forums!

Carlton, AT&T Community Forums

Thank you, Carlton, for your quick reply and for your concern; very much appreciated.

Yes, although Kyocera's customer support came up with the "maybe a bad mic." hypothesis, I most likely do need to inquire with their technical support staff.

I hadn't thought of that, thanks (probably b/c I didn't purchase the phone directly from Kyocera, but from AT&T - and I assumed Kyocera would suggest dealing with the entity who sold (re-sold?) their rugged flip phone, which is an outstanding device - freaky mic notwithstanding.

I'll report back with what they have to say -

Thank you for the response, @lmn1011.

The reason why we recommend reaching out to Kyocera is because they may have some additional information to provide on their behalf as this may be a manufacturer concern. Also, they may know of any known mic concerns that other customer may have experienced with their branded items.

If for any reason you are unable to resolve this with Kyocera Support, no worries, meet us back here, and we can further discuss our next steps with you in a DM. 

We look forward to your response to help get this resolved!

Clarissa, AT&T Community Specialist 

Just wanted to post an udate:

My trouble shooting efforts, using information I've received here and from Kyocera, as well as other sites online, have resulted in - I suppose by process of elimination? - my accepting that the primary microphone is faulty.  Sadly, there weren't any selections in "Developer Options" that applied.

How these things happen, I do not know ... that is, if it truly is a bad mic.

I'm unable to concur with anyone else that has had similar misfortune ... yet however, I still feel -- since it's such a clean break (i.e. no static, no echo, no fade-in or fade-out... no nothing, actually, until I toggle the speaker on/off) -- that something's being overlooked, some combo of settings just waiting to be tweaked. There are quite a few, lots more than a few features embedded in the device; could be a "child lock" feature, default-by-unintentional design: unforseen.

 Wow.