Using a bluetooth headset for Mac Skype
 

I'm looking to buy a headset for use with my iMac G5, and thought it'd be nice to have one to share between my mobile phone (sony ericsson) and Mac. Are mobile phone headsets compatible with Macs? I figure they all use bluetooth, so why not? Then again maybe it's not that east.

Perhaps something like this could work with my Mac and Skype? Or am I just dreaming. Thanks!

Any headset will work, but if both the computer and the phone are within range, the headset gets confused. You may get random connections to one or the other. If you turn off one or the other, then it should work fine with any headset that supports two or more pairings (I think they all do, and most Motorolas support eight pairings).

Now, the Motorola H850 is available for $40 at Costco and $30 on eBay, so maybe the better idea is to have one for each.

I've got three Motorola H850 headsets that I don't use with my Motorola Razr. I bought one, set it up, and could hear fine, but my voice came out muffled on the other end. Motorola sent me another, and I sent the original back. The second one had the same problem, so they sent me another, then another, and each with the same problem. I told them I'd send all the faulty ones back when they sent me one that works. They're sitting in the return box in a closet.

I bought a Plantronics for $20 less than the Motorola, and it works fine, but the Motorola phone has a habit of dropping the headset if the phone gets warm.

One other thing, I have a Kensington Bluetooth USB dongle for my G5 and I can't connect to any headsets with it, so if you don't have Bluetooth built-in, that might be a problem.

Motorola has really horrible quality control. However, what you may have is a problem with the phone, since the Razr is generally a pile of dung.

The H700 is one model that I can say has never given me a problem. I think it's out of production, but available cheap on eBay. I've given out dozens of those with not a single complaint.

That's certainly been my experience!

At this point, I'm just waiting until the iPhone comes out. My current plan ends in June. :)

Thanks for your replies! Maybe I will get two wireless headsets, but this begs the question ... are all headsets out there that are made for cellphones or PCs also Mac compatible? In theory since they're all bluetooth or USB (or mini plug for that matter) they should be usable, but there may be incompatibilities that I don't know of. Any info you can share on this I'd appreciate.

Yes, they all work, as long as they are BT compliant. Some are better or worse, but the issues show up with phones just like they do with the laptops.

I received my headset, a Sony Ericsson HBH-PV705 to use with my Sony E K750i. It works well with both the phone and Mac (Skype via bluetooth) but since both connections are wireless, I can't really choose between the two. That is, when both the phone and iMac are on and within range, the phone takes control of my bluetooth headset. Is there a way to make the headset auto-selecting (for when a real connection via Skype or Mobile phone takes place), and is there a way within Mac OSX to wrestle force a connection if the phone is connected to the headset?

Under Bluetooth preferences I get:
Device Name: HBH-PV705

Device Address: 00-18-13-84-77-34
Device Type: Audio
Device Services: SonyEricsson Headset, SonyEricsson Handsfree
Paired: Yes
Configured: Yes
Favorite: Yes
Connected: No

As soon as I turn the phone off, the connected status changes to "Yes" (and is lost again when I turn on the phone). Thanks for any ideas.

- Erick

I believe that the device priority is set by the order in which they were paired. You might try removing and re-pairing the devices in a different order.

Which Sony Ericsson BT headset?
 

Erick

Do you need to turn the phone off to get the connected status to change to "Yes", or will it do this also if you just turn the Bluetooth off on the phone? Perhaps you could turn the BT off on the phone just when you are that near to the iMac?

How is the sound quality with the HBH-PV705?

Did you look at the HBH-IV835, HBH-GV435, HBH-610 or HBH-610a?

Anyone else out there with experience of any of these on both an iMac G5 using Skype AND a Sony Ericsson phone, which is just the combination I have too?

Finally, the HBH-IV835, HBH-GV435 and HBH-610a are alll listed as having auto-pairing. Does this mean anything in the context of wanting to bear a BT headset with two separate devices such as an iMac and an SE telephone, like making it easier. Or does it make no real difference?

Thanks in advance, Nick

Quite a few questions Nick, I hope I can answer them.

In the past two days I've been reading my manual (more my phone manual than headset) and now have a better understanding of how to use the headset in tandem with my phone and my iMac/Skype.

Quite right, I can change the bluetooth status on my phone to off while I'm on the Mac, and I believe I can set a shortcut for this, so I should arrive at a solution soon. The other bit is getting the Mac to reconnect, I'll se what works best and report back.

Did you look at the HBH-IV835, HBH-GV435, HBH-610 or HBH-610a?

I'll reply to these together. After surveying my friends, many of whom have Plantronics headsets with mixed experiences, I decided I should look for a Sony Ericsson since it's made for my K750i phone. I also read very good reviews for the HBH-PV705 online, and after getting used to wearing it I'm very happy because: 1. it sounds good, really good 2. it works well with my phone and 3. it's light. I also like the fact that it can be charged using my Ericsson mobile phone's charger, so I don't have to carry around an extra charger. So smart and simple. It is a fairly new model, newer than the HBH-610 and others that you mention. Some of the other models don't have the arm to rest on one's ear, so they seem insecure. The 610 has noise reduction, which as far as I know the HBH-PV705 doesn't, but nevertheless it sounds very clear. When I use it while driving I almost can't believe that I didn't get one before.

Finally, the HBH-IV835, HBH-GV435 and HBH-610a are alll listed as having auto-pairing. Does this mean anything in the context of wanting to bear a BT headset with two separate devices such as an iMac and an SE telephone, like making it easier. Or does it make no real difference?

I'm not sure I understand the question. When I turned my HBH-PV705 on the first time, it automatically paired up with my phone. At this point, it's the "connect" that I have to switch manually when I switch between Skype via iMac and using the headset with my regular mobile phone.

I paid about $50 for the headset, shipping included. So far I'm happy with it, but with so many options out there I can't be certain that I got the best. Spent a good amount of time reading and comparing and finally settled on the HBH-PV705, it performs as well as I had hoped. Hope that helps.

HBH-PV705, Mac, Skype and Sony Ericsson phone
 

Dear Erick,

Yes, you did answer all my questions, thank you. The thing that really continues to interest me is how easily the headset pairs with your G5 iMac for Skype.

When I am at home I rarely use the SE K700i, and so would pair the BT headset with the iMac for Skype. When I am not at home, I would pair the headset with the phone. I just hope it's easy to switch pairing for the headset from one devices to the other.

Nick

Yes, it's easy enough. I played around with it a bit and this is the procedure.
[i]Switching headset use from phone to iMac/Skype
1. I disconnect the headset from my phone (it's a shortcut):
Bluetooth --> Connected Devices --> Disconnect (takes about 5 seconds)
This makes the bluetooth headset available for your Mac
2. Make a Skype call and it may ask you for a passcode (0000) and then you're set! Sometimes it doesn't even ask, I just disconnect from the phone as mentioned above, then make the Skype call and the headset automatically switches over.

To return to phone use is even easier:
1. On the phone, hit your shortcut menu button then Bluetooth --> My Devices --> HBH-PV705 --> Connect
Now the headset will work with your SE mobile phone.
If you try to call with skype at this point, using your mac, you'll get this error message:
"Bluetooth audio failed. There was an error connecting to your headset. Make sure it is turned on and in range. The audio portion of the program you were using may have to be restarted."

So basically the Sony Ericsson phone has the power to wrestle control of the headset away from the Mac, and has the power to release control for your Mac to use it by bluetooth. It's quick and easy once you know what to do.

That's exactly what I'm doing right now. I was hoping it'd work out when I ordered the headset online, and I'm glad to discover that switching between the two is painless and quite easy. Works well because if I'm at home I'd rather call out on Skype. Hope that helps.

Charger?
 

Erick,

This is magnificent help indeed. Thank you so much. :)

One last question. Is the mains charger for the BT headset universal? This information does not appear on the Sony website as far as I can see. By this I mean will it work at different voltages 120-240 V AC/DC and 50-60 Mhz? I travel a lot and would like it to work in countries such as the US.

Thank you again.

Nick

Glad I could be of help.

This is also an issue for me and that's why I love buying Apple, LaCie, and Sony Ericsson products -- they are all universal, 100-240V, 50-60Hz. But if your K700i has the same charger type as my K750i, then you can use your K700i's charger to charge the HBH-PV705 headset. It's a really smart design. The K750i has a full size connection, with 2 prongs, and just 1 prong goes into the headset. It charges perfectly and I appreciate being able to travel with just 1 charger for 2 devices. However, the Headset-only charger is also 100-240v, just FYI.

You've convinced me
 

Erick

That's why I love Mac, Lacie and SE too. And thanks for the answers, which unlike a certain number in most forums, address the questions asked.

Nick

Erick

I don't know if you are still following this thread, but I thought I would post my (good) experience and ask a couple more questions.

The HBH-PV705 paired easily and quickly with the Sony Ericsson K700i. I tested it immediately with a telephone call and it worked perfectly.

I then disabled Bluetooth on the SE K700i before trying to pair the HBH-PV705 with the G5 iMac. Again it paired very easily and quickly, this time with the computer.

I next went to System Preferences>Sound>Output and Input tabs and selected the HBH-PV705 as the device for sound input and output.

Finally I went to Skype Preferences>Audio and selected the HBH-PV705 in all three tabs ie 'Audio output', 'Audio input' and 'Ringing'.

I then made my first Skype call to a friend and the HBH PV-705 worked perfectly. Yippee.

First questions: have you experimented to see if it is necessary to set the Ouput and Input device in both System (sound) and the Skype (audio) preferences, and or do you know if one takes precedence over the other?

Second question: during a Skype call through the HBH-PV705, my BT mouse gets very 'sticky'. Do you have this difficulty, and do you think it is due to the G5 iMac struggling whilst connecting actively to 3 (keyboard, mouse and headset) devices at the same time? Or something else?

BTW the charger that comes with the HBH-PV705 has a CST-61 model number and is single pronged with 2 contact points.
The charger that comes with the SE K700i has a CST-13 model number and is double-pronged with 2 contact points.
This means that the chargers are not interchangeable (although they deliver the same current) and I have to carry them both when I travel. A minor bore!

Nick

Bluetoothe and Skype issue. Help please!
 

Hello, I have a PowerBook G4 and a Motorola H550 Bluetooth. The computer syncs perfectly, and I can hear Skype ringing in the headset. However, when I go to answer, the microphone and speakers revert back to the computer. I have changed the sound in/out in preferences and this does not help.

Any suggestions? Thank you

-Tim

Hello Tim

I have no experience of the Motorola H550 headset at all, but would make three preliminary observations.
1) Ensure that you have paired the headset correctly with the G4. This requires you (at least in OS X 10.4.10) to go to Bluetooth preferences, turn Bluetooth on (on the computer), go to 'Devices' and then 'Set Up New Device'. I must say that it sounds as if you have probably already done this.
2) If you have a Bluetooth enabled telephone nearby, ensure that Bluetooth on that is turned off. If it remains on, the headset gets confused and will not know whether to pair with the computer or the telephone.
3) Check your sound input/output settings in both System Preferences/Hardware/Sound and in Skype/Preferences/Audio audio output, input and ringing.

Nick

The Plantronics 510 Bluetooth headset works fine on Mac (10.5.6) with Skype (BETA) 2.8.0.324. It can also be paired with phones (I used my iPhone) to work simultaneously.

I just wrote up a blog post going into more detail at http://blog.boxedice.com/2009/05/12/...-skype-on-mac/

Possibly stupid question: Can a Bluetooth-enabled cellphone itself be used as a Bluetooth headset for Skype on a Mac?

I tried, but couldn't see my Motorola W385 as a headset in:
Skype > Preferences > Audio > the Audio output, Audio input and Ringing popup menu lists.

No, that would not work, as Bluetooth is not a peer-to-peer protocol. In Bluetooth, everything is either a Bluetooth host or a Bluetooth device. As both the cellphone and the computer are Bluetooth hosts, they need to communicate to a Bluetooth device, and cannot talk to each other.

"Competing" technologies, like Zigbee, create a peer to peer network, where different nodes on the network can use each others' resources. If Bluetooth had used a topology like that, then the answer probably would have been 'yes'.

Trevor