Bluetooth Speaker--I need help with basics.

[nicolewi]

I got an Ion Brightmax speaker at Costco. It has iffy reviews, so not 100% sure about keeping it, but I also just don't understand what to do! I know these are super, super basic things I should know, but I don't. 

So...I gather that I need to connect my phone to this thing in order to have it play music. I wanted to use this at our cottage, where we currently have very bad internet (supposed to be more connected in fall). So how do I put music on my phone in a way that I can play it? If I use an app, does that require internet to find and use the songs? Or are they stored on my phone somehow? 

Even if I do need internet service, which app would be best/easiest/good to use? I currently have Amazon Music at home but that's it. Nothing on my phone. Also, since I will use this rarely, would like something free or cheap.

Thanks. 

[just]

The speaker and the music are completely separate.

Think of the speakers just like a pair of headphones - whatever noise is coming out of your phone goes to the speaker and comes out there instead. No internet needed.

For the music, if you don’t want to use the internet for streaming, you need to have it stored on your phone. With Amazon music you can download songs to your phone instead of streaming. Here’s a help page on how to do that -https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=GUSTAC3MCP7UAS7H

[Deleted]

Only thing to add is you need to download the music to your phone while you are connected to wifi, so do it before you go someplace without internet (i.e. an airplane or your cabin with no/spotty wifi).

Then when that's all said and done you need to connect your phone to the bluetooth speaker. Assuming you have an iPhone, make sure your bluetooth option is on and the first time you have to do it you have to "pair" it to your phone. Usually there is a small button on the speaker itself that you push and you will get notification on your phone that it is pairing.

It's super easy to do all of this. might take a second for you to figure it out initially, but don't get scared off - once you've done it you will very easily do it in the future.

[nicolewi]

Thanks! Kind of embarrassing to not know how to work this. I did already pair them. This is great info!

[Deleted]

Don't be embarrassed! I had to be shown the first time how to do it too. It's not necessarily intuitive.