Square Reader disconnects, won't reconnect without re-pairing

[ScottyV]

I have been having a lot of Square Reader issues lately.
For quite a few months now, when I go to complete a sale, the reader status will show as "Reader Issue".

As a side note, "Tap to Pay" (almost) always shows up as ready.

BUT! If the reader is having an issue, or not connecting, then "Tap to Pay" displays "Connecting to Square" even when I have decent WiFi AND Cellular connections.
Nearly every time that the reader is not ready, I have to make several attempts to get it re-paired/connected.
This may involve multiple methods such as:
1/ Pushing the button to wake up the reader. (Which sometimes works.)
2/ Pushing and holding the button until the four LED's flash orange to re-pair. (This also usually does not fix the issue, and may just get stuck with the LED's flashing orange for many minutes.)

3/ Exiting / force quitting the POS app. (Which may or may not fix the issue.)

4/ Toggling Bluetooth "Off" then back "On". (You guessed it, it may not fix the issue.)

5/ Trying pairing, again. (Sometimes this works, sometimes, it does not fix the issue.)

6/ Making small talk with my customer to quell their fears that taking a credit/debit payment is safe and secure, all the while struggling with my reader, again and again.

NOTE-1: I was having all these issues with my original Square Reader (1st Generation, V3).
Thinking this was just old/seen better days, I went ahead and ordered a brand new 2nd Generation Square Reader. But I am still experiencing the same issues.

NOTE-2: My phone is a Google Pixel 6 running (stock) Android 14 with the August 5th 2024 updates.
Note-3: All apps on the phone are up-to-date.
  -- POS app version: 6.49.1

  -- Square Reader firmware version: 3.65.90

NOTE-4: This seems to have started happening a month or two ago. Could we be seeing an issue with the Android updates that are pushed to my phone?
Please keep in mind, since this is a Google Pixel phone, Android updates arrive almost like clockwork once per month.
NOTE-5: I keep my reader in a steel cash box when it is not in use. Not every transaction is card based, so maybe the phone and reader are loosing the Bluetooth signal via not being able to penetrate the metal box. Even so, I would think that once the reader and phone are "back together", a few inches apart, it should not be so hard to reestablish the connection to dip a card.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Scott M. Vinzant

[alexandriak]

I'm wondering if there is a bluetooth connection issue with your phone itself. Have you have it checked out anywhere? Are you having other issues with bluetooth connections?

[ScottyV]

Great question!
The phone also has Bluetooth connections to:

• Headphones (for hearing protection while mowing). - There is never an issue with this device.
• A small soundbar/speaker device. - There is never an issue with this device.
• A 13 year old Ford Truck. - This connection is a bit flaky and has been that way for three different phones, so I rule that the Ford is the issue.
• A 12 year old Honda car. - There is never an issue with this device.

At this point, I am not totally ruling out the phone, but other things work fine. So, one could conclude that the reader firmware or the POS app Bluetooth implementation could be problematic. Or the phone. LOL!🤔

Scott