Bluetooth headset that pairs to multiple devices
I have deeply started liking to use my Jabra BT20V Buletooth headset, as its just dandy for hands free communication, and it was ridiculously cheap.
However, I have also found out that the device does not pair with multiple devices. So, if you have two Bluetooth capable phones (like I do now, but not when I first wrote that “review”), only one phone can actually be paired to the headset at any given time. This is, rather inconvenient.
A review of the Jabra BT8010 basically states that it can pair with 2 devices, but was buggy (firmware fix helps). But it also costs USD$149!
If anyone has any idea about Bluetooth headsets, please do assist in recommending one. I’m after largely one that will pair with at least 2 devices. If it does more, say 2 mobile phones and 2 computers (I’d ideally like to pair my headset with four devices eventually) and works seamlessly, i.e. it can answer calls from any device (I don’t expect it to make calls), I’m definitely in the market for such a device.
(for reference: bt250v review at dealtime, google says that older headsets had this feature and newer ones don’t – why’d anyone remove such a useful feature? hbh-30 works, but newer headsets suck)
Technorati Tags: bluetooth, jabra, jabra bt250v, nokia, multiple devices, pairing
[…] 27, 2007 at 12:54 am · Filed under Nokia e61i So after seeing Colin’s post on the search for a bluetooth headset, I thought I’ll post my […]
hey CC – I am using a motorola HS850 and it says that it can do between 5-8 different devices. happy to loan it to you to test. also I know I can go between my mac and mobile phone without any intervention from me. now the model has been superseeded but they are on ebay for about $30….
if you wanna test it out at cinq lire lemme know.
A:)
Many Bluetooth headsets will pair with multiple devices. The tricky part is that they can only be connected to one particular device at a time.
I use my Plantronics Discovery 655 with a Motorola E815 and a Blackberry 8700, as well as my Powerbook. It is paired to all 3 devices with no problem. The trick to using it is to be aware that it automatically connects to the last device it was used with. So often I find myself flipping the Bluetooth on the phones on and off in order to force it to connect to the device I want, since the connection can be forced from the phone or computer.
It’s not ideal, but it works reasonably well. In my case though, I generally find I use one phone more than the other at different times, so I can pick and choose which to connect to.
Looking at the Jabra and Plantronics sites, it seems like some of their newer models have “Multipoint connections” listed as a feature. It seems to be part of the Bluetooth 2.0 spec, and would allow for connection to 2 phones at once (presumably only for call alert and pickup, at which point it connects to one device). No idea how well it works, but it sounds like what you are looking for.
try a sony ericsson HBH DS970? :)
Colin,
As with most blogs you got some good and a lot of incorrect info.
Here are the real facts:
Virtually any Bluetooth (BT) headset can be paired to multiple devices. Pairing means that the headset and the device recognize each other and have the capability to make a connection. However the vast majority of BT headsets can only be connected to one paired device at a time.
The only exception are headsets that have the Multipoint feature. These allow you to connect to 2 devices simultaneously. The only devices that I am aware of (and I am pretty well informed…) that have Multipoint are the Jabra BT8010, Jabra JX-10 Series II, Jabra BT5010 and Jabra BT5020. The Plantronics Voyager 510 uses Multipoint, but the 2nd device is their landline hub. The Jabra BT5020 is a behind-the-ear model and essentially the replacement of the BT250v, so you should take a look at that.
A few “cleanups”:
– Contrary to Matt Green’s statement Multipoint is not related to the BT 2.0 spec: earlier BT specs can do Multipoint as well and more importantly: most headsets that are based on the BT 2.0 spec DO NOT have Multipoint.
– Contrary to what wahlau says the HBH DS970 does not support Multipoint.
Hope this helps.
One more thing: there are no headsets at this moment that will simultaneously connect to more than 2 devices. There is no doubt in my mind that this will happen in the future. BT technology is certainly capable and there are other devices (e.g. the Samsung Blackjack smartphone) that already support 6 connections.
drbyte! My Plantronics Discovery 640 can connect to two bluetooth devices at the same time. I carry two phones on me, and I can answer either phone with the same bt earpiece without having to reconnect and etc. Obviously you can only talk/receive through one phone at a time, but on standby it does connect to both phones.
The 640E is a slightly stripped-down version accessories-wise and is about AUD$99 i think…
The best thing i like about it, apart from that multupoint feature, is that it’s really light and the eargel provides an excellent seal, so you get plenty of volume. With all my other BT earpieces, they’ve always been too soft.
Also, not needing an earloop means it’s very compact so it can sit in your shirt pocket easily. Now, if only it had an LCD display as well…
Interesting. I am plagued with the “opposite” problem.
If you have a Bluetooth dongle and you pair, let’s say your mobile phone, in Linux, you cannot use the same pairing in Windows; you need to erase the pairing from the phone and pair again in Windows. when you switch patch to Linux, you need to erase the pairing from the phone and pair again.
Apparently this is due to the Bluetooth dongle having a single MAC address; the phone cannot accept two different pairings with the same device.
http://simos.info/blog/archives/612
Haha… that’s true. At least cheap bluetooth dongles are .. well… cheap!
My bluetooth issues lie with Nokia PC Suite… it only automatically syncs with the first phone it manages to connect to, even though both phones are in range. I ended up plugging in another bt dongle on another PC running pc suite to automatically sync with the second phone.
Can a bluetooth headset be connected to an am radio for listening only but still be able to hear and connect to a cell phone call? Assuming the radio would cut out when using the phone and come back when the call is over.
Ron,
As with many blog posts yours is pedantic to the point of being stupid.
The most obvious and logical reading of the sentence “does not pair with multiple devices” is that it doesn’t pair with multiple devices at the same time. Even if you don’t parse the sentence correctly the first time, 5 seconds of thinking would have helped you realize that not everyone writing a blog is a retard, and that they actually put together meaningful sentences, even if you don’t seem to be able to grasp them.
You’re the living embodiment of the somethingawful motto.
Cheers,
Baykus
I think this is also due to a difference between Headset and Handsfree profiles
“Headset” profile is the old one that the first headsets supported – it basically allowed you to answer, hang up, and change volume. In contrast, “Handsfree” allows much more, such as sending the calling number to your headset, even sending over the phone book (for a car kit).
The trouble starts here: the older “Headset” only connected for the duration of a call, and then completely disconnected and was open to any paired device after that – so if, say, your personal phone rang first time, and then your work phone rang the second time, the headset was open to be rung by any of these, because it had dropped the previous connection completely.
In contrast, “Handsfree” automatically connects to the last paired device as soon as its’ turned on, and holds on to that connection – probably so that it can provide all these additional services. That means that you often have to fight to get it to disconnect from one phone, so that it’ll allow incoming calls from others.
Now – ‘multipoint’ sounds like the next progression. It uses the newer “Headset” profile, so it keeps a connection open and clings to it, BUT it clings onto multiple connections simultaneously: your personal and your work phone, for example.
I have the same problem as you: my HBH-65 used to happy sit and wait for any of my three phones to ring, whereas more recent headsets have always stubbornly clung to a connection with my work phone, and ignored all others. I guess Multipoint is the answer these days, but I’d rather just have a dumb headset that waits for one of the phones to ring, rather than a ‘hyperintelligent’ one that scrambles to maintain open connections to each and every phone I’ve paired it with, all the time. Unfortunately, it seems trying to find a headset with the older “Headset” profile is a lost cause, these days.
I have a blackberry world edition for work and a 3g iphone for personal use. I used to use the Jabra BT 5010 and loved it as it had so many functions like the 8010. However, for better sound quality I got the Jabra JX20 on ebay for $100 and WOW. It is sexy, sounds great, and fits even better. ANYONE would LOVE it. The only thing it’s missing is mute from headset.
I don’t mess around with this technology because my success depends on my phone technology being on-point.
My girlfriend has the Jawbone 2 Gold and we did a comparison. Hers blocked sound better by a bit in front of the loud television with voices and with chainsaws, and mine blocked out a bit more wind on my bicycle (I ride to work every day). Mine had way superior voice quality all the time and better volume. They are both clearly the two best headsets on the market but obviously the Jawbone is not multipoint.
Check out the demo: http://uswww03.gnnetcom.com/jabra/JX20Pura/JX20%20US%20final%20E-learning/PublishContent/Jx20_Main.html
I am EXTREMELY Happy.
I recently purchased a plantronics Explorer 230 headset and I’m unable to make it pair with my Dell Notebook. Pairing it to my Blackjack was a piece of cake. I tried Switching off the BT on the blackjack without to force the Explorer 230 to see only the notbook’s BT but, I just can’t seem to make it pair. Any pointers?
I eventually got it to work by putting the Plantronics explorer 230 in pairing mode by pressing and holding the button for 5 secs.
Duh!!!! It paired with the DELL laptop and mobile phone without any problem. Well That is if you dont consider going into the control panel in Vista and setting it as the default audio device each time a problem. Because of my vista hassles I hardly ever use it I rather use wired earphones… less hassle. If you want true plug and play capability go wired! Bluetooth headsets are for the birds.
I have a “GG BLU” I picked up in Taiwan in 2004, it connects to up to 8 devices at one time. When you plug it into a computer you can use it as a bluetooth dongle if your computer doesn’t already have it. It is “Skype Compatible”, you know that gimmick they used a few years back where it automatically sets itself up with Skype. Its still really good, and but you can’t get the same model. It is a “hang around your neck” or clip on your lapel design, round, in white or black. It is stereo with ear phones that go in both ears, rather than those goofy looking things that look like you have and alien machine sucking out your brain through your ear (don’t get upset, I’ve got a website for the GG BLU Ear Clip thingy also.)
The only problem with being connected to more than one device at a time, with all models I’ve tested (such as to listen to an MP3 player with BT, while also being connected to your phone), is the the resources of the headset are a little “taxed”, and you get more cutting out as it polls each device. Add a third device (such as a computer) and it starts really cutting out.
As for setting it up, any phone with BT and Voice Commands should automatically take priority, and if you are listening to MP3’s on a different device, you’ll hear your music fade and beeping when you get a call, and have a call button on the GG BLU that when pressed, will fade out whatever other device and allow you to make your voice command (or dial a number). If your phone does’t automatically take priority, there is a way to set priority of connected devices ussing th 6 buttons and many features of the headset.
I don’t think I can still find the old model I have, which sucks because my left earpiece has a short and cuts in and out, after however many years of putting it under my motorcycle helmet, and treating it like crap. Guess I’ll have to get out the needle nose pliers and the soldering iron.
The newest (I think) model headset clip-on alien machine sucking your brain out is not cheap, but I know the GG BLU comes out with features before Jabra and others ($79.95 or something). It also has the text to speech stuff for caller ID, so it tells you who is calling, rather than you having to fumble around and get to your phone. It can be found for sale at(note, they’ve cut down to two devices simultanious connected due to the cutting out issue): http://www.1800mobiles.com/jawbone-killer-bluetooth-headset.html
GG BLU hasn’t come out with their new stereo/earphones/hang around the neck or clip on clothing with the text to speech caller ID function, so The Jabra 3030 (alot of Jabra fans here) or really any well researched model will do. DON’T buy a Jabra BT320, they really suck in design, and I don’t think they connect to more than one device at a time, but I’m not certain. I think I’m just going to repair mine until a caller ID text to speech one comes out.
A helpful hint about mobile phones and “stuff”: I spend most of the year in Malaysia or some other part of south east Asia. I write for a couple of motorcycle magazines there. Phone stuff comes out a couple of years ahead there, and you can look there to see what will be coming to the USA in 2 or 3 years. An example would be looking at http://www.nokia.com.my or putting an asian country extension on the web page and look “over there”. Models of Phones/PDA Phones/Bluetooth are released there first (and some models that will not make the test market and make it to the west)
and you can read the reviews there and see the product coming to the US. An example, I carry a DOPOD phone from Taiwan, It is far beyond what Apple offers with I phones and Blackberry can release. Another example is that 3G was released in Asia in 2005, along with video phone calls as a part of 3G, My Pocket PC phone has the Camera on the back for taking pictures and a camera on the front for video calls. My wife’s Nokia N-75 never released in the US) also has the front camera for Vid/phone. However, I am in the US of A for 6 months, and only AT&T’s true GSM network will allow me to use the vid/phone function to talk to my wife. But, AT&T phones don’t offer the service yet, even though their network supports it. Weird… It never hurts to be informed. You can also go to US websites that sell unlocked GSM phones and see whats coming “down the pike”.
Ride Thailand Magazine,
English Version Editor and Writer,
Joel Goodman
I have to say, I could not agree with you in 100%, but it’s just my opinion, which indeed could be very wrong.
p.s. You have a very good template . Where have you got it from?
What you are looking for is basically the in – ear version of the Scala rider headset – a bluetooth headset for motorbike riders that comes with the TomTom Rider – it can simultaneously work with the tomtom (obviously on a bike you can’t hear the TomTom voice, so it’s an in-helmet speaker) and your telephone. Works very well, and also has capability to have constant 2-way conversation with any other Scala Rider nearby.