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So you're interested in a Bluetooth Headset solution for your VoIP calls but aren't sure what's involved or what to expect in terms of call clarity, reliability and range. Well read on and I'll give you the 'low-down'.
Before we begin, there's one major point you'll need to keep in mind:
The vast majority of Bluetooth Headsets have been designed primarily for use with cellular telephones
These headsets will work with a 'Bluetooth-enabled' PC however you may experience a little frustration in getting your Headset to work as easily as you would with a cellular phone.
Installation/'Pairing'
Oh, if only it were as simple as turning the headset on and talking! If only......
Ok, herein lies the biggest hurdle to clear when attempting to use your Bluetooth Headset with your PC; the installation of the Bluetooth Adapter and subsequent 'pairing' of the Headset with your computer. Let's assume that you've taken the plunge and bought a Bluetooth Adapter and a Bluetooth Headset for use with your PC. The first step is to install the Adapter so as to make your computer 'Bluetooth-Enabled'. Your Bluetooth Adapter will likely come with detailed installation instructions for various operating systems however you still may encounter problems not covered in the accompanying documentation. For example, when I installed my USB Bluetooth Adapter on a Windows XP machine with SP2 (Service Pack 2), I encountered a problem whereby Windows installed its own driver in lieu of the one that came with my device. This prompted the following error message when I attempted to use the device:
'Bluetooth device not found. Please verify that your
Bluetooth device is properly connected and turned on'
Believe me; no amount of verifying that my device was connected and turned on would solve this problem! I eventually found the solution on the Internet however it took some digging (not to mention a little frustration). If you've encountered the error message above, I've written step-by-step instructions on how to solve the problem and these can be found here.
To read detailed instructions on how I installed my USB Bluetooth Adapter, click here.
Once the dust settles and you've completed the installation, you should have a small Bluetooth Icon in the taskbar of your windows desktop. When your Bluetooth Adapter is activated, the icon will turn white. When inactive, the icon will be red. When your Bluetooth Adapter is switched 'on' and is 'connected' to a device (in this case, our Bluetooth Headset), the icon should turn green.
Initial Bluetooth Configuration Wizard
Once I managed to get my Bluetooth Adapter functioning with Windows, the next step was to configure the device in the 'Initial Bluetooth Configuration Wizard ' of Windows XP. This was a pretty straightforward process and the steps completed to configure my Bluetooth Adapter to work with my headset can be found here.
'Pairing' your Bluetooth Headset
On completion of the Initial Bluetooth Wizard, the next thing was to 'pair' the headset with my computer. The 'pairing' process basically gives your headset permission to access the Bluetooth host (in this case, our PC) now and in the future. It is at this point that a 'passkey' is entered which establishes the identity of the headset and security encryption for future sessions using the headset. Again, the pairing procedure will likely be covered in the documentation accompanying both your Bluetooth Adapter and your headset. I actually found the 'pairing' process quite painless and accomplished it in a matter of seconds. This entailed setting my Bluetooth Adapter to listen out for Bluetooth devices in its vicinity and setting the Headset to 'discovery mode'. Some people encounter problems whereby they continually need to 'pair' their headsets. Personally, I haven't come across this problem and only had to pair the Headset once. It's been working ever since. Detailed steps that I took to 'pair' the headset with my computer can be found here.
'Connecting' your Bluetooth Headset
After the Bluetooth Headset has been successfully paired with your computer, the next step is to create a connection. Now, when I say 'connection', I don't mean with wires and I'm not talking about 'pairing' either. Normally, you wouldn't leave your Bluetooth Headset turned on whilst not in use as this would deplete its internal battery. Therefore, when turned off, it's also 'disconnected' from the Bluetooth host (PC). Conversely, when you want to use your Bluetooth Headset, you'll not only need to turn it on, but also 'connect' it to the Bluetooth Host with which it has been previously 'paired' (our PC). In Windows XP, this can be achieved by a couple of different methods. For detailed instructions about both of these methods, click here.
Test it out
Whenever your Bluetooth Headset is turned on and 'connected' to your computer in Windows XP, your Headset should be recognised as the 'Default Audio Device' for playback and recording. This basically means that any sound you hear from your computer should now be heard through your Bluetooth Headset rather than through you computer speakers. Once you've finished using your Bluetooth Headset and have 'disconnected' it from your PC, Windows XP should automatically recognise that it's no longer connected and revert the Audio Settings to your initial default device (in other words, computer sounds should once again emanate from your computer speakers!). You can check whether Windows is recognising your Bluetooth Headset as the 'Default Audio Device' by following the steps listed here.
If you like, you can try testing the headset by using the sound recorder in Windows. If you'd like instructions on how to find and use Windows' Sounds Recorder, click here.
Next: 'Real World' Bluetooth Headset Expectations |
