Do I need to turn on Bluetooth when using ETC in the car?
2 Answers
ETC does not require Bluetooth to be turned on in the car. The ETC Bluetooth switch is only used during device activation or recharge. It automatically senses when passing through highway ETC toll stations, so there is no need to keep Bluetooth on all the time. Similarly, there is no need to worry about how often to recharge the device, as the ETC device uses solar charging. However, it is recommended to charge the ETC once every two months when not in use for a long time to ensure the battery life of the electronic tag. ETC is an electronic toll collection system installed on the vehicle's windshield, utilizing computer networking technology for background settlement processing with banks. This allows vehicles to pass through highway or bridge toll stations without stopping to pay fees.
I used to be stuck on this issue too, especially when I turned on Bluetooth on my phone, hoping it would help the ETC recognize faster. Turns out, that's not how it works at all! ETC uses a specialized wireless communication technology, similar to a garage remote, which has nothing to do with Bluetooth. Bluetooth is for connecting your phone to the car's infotainment system, like for playing music or navigation. Turning on Bluetooth doesn't affect ETC functionality; it might just drain your phone's battery faster. My advice to beginners: as long as the ETC device is properly installed on the windshield and the card is inserted correctly, you don't need to do anything else. The toll booth will automatically detect it. If there's an issue, check the device's battery or signal. Don't waste time on unrelated settings.
