bluetooth headset + voip app + laptop ...

[jamena]

I need to sort out a voip app (probably sip based, ... talkscan, voiptalk, draytel, etc) for when I'm out of the UK so I can phone home easily/cheaply. My work laptop has a bluetooth chip in it so I thought I could get a bluetooth headset and use that (the headset can then also be used with my mobile when back home...)

Anyone paired their bluetooth headset with a laptop? Do they all pair with any other bluetooth device? What sort of problems might I encounter / watch out for?

cheers!

[Taz]

I did this a while ago and posted on here but cannot locate the thread using the search function. I've paired a Motorols HS850 Bluetooth headset with my laptops (using a Belkin BT dongle on one laptop and using the built-in Dell BT module on another laptop). I've talked over Skype using this configuration but the quality was very poor.

Since then i've invested in a rather bulky wired headset, the Plantronics DSP-400 headset. It's simply the best headset that i've ever used for VOIP. The quality is simply leagues ahead of a Bluetooth setup.

Others may have had more luck in using a BT headset with their PC/laptop.

[FatalSaviour]

Sometimes (always?) the BT headset has no problems pairing with the PC, but depending on the Bluetooth stack used, the headset may not be detected as an audio device.

I used to use the MS BT stack, which didn't pick up my Jabra 250v, but once I switched to BluSoleil (Widcomm's also does the same), I was able to use this fine.

Agreed with Taz though, that if you want a high quality solution, you may want to look at a more orthodox wired headset solution. (it doesn't look nearly as cool though )

[jamena]

arrr ... I've got a Toshiba tecra M2 laptop for work, which has built in BT. Only used it so far for getting images off my mobile ... I guess I could get a wired headset ...

Did you find the quality of the voice was poor also when speaking on mobile with it or only when via the pc?

[Taz]

The Motorola HS850 is a very high quality BT headset...when used with a mobile phone. For some reason, pairing it with a PC and then trying to make phone calls through it was a disaster. Hence, the quality was fine with a phone but very poor through PC.

This was tried with two different laptops, each having a different BT card.

[jamena]

Originally Posted by Taz

The Motorola HS850 is a very high quality BT headset...when used with a mobile phone. For some reason, pairing it with a PC and then trying to make phone calls through it was a disaster. Hence, the quality was fine with a phone but very poor through PC.

This was tried with two different laptops, each having a different BT card.

strange... I guess it could be down to re-coding from whatever codec the BT headset used to the one used for the voip app? can't think of much else offhand. Still, might give it a go as SCAN are selling one BT headset for about £7.50