Plantronics Wireless FAQs - Bluetooth
Q. How many channels does a Plantronics Bluetooth headset use?
A. Bluetooth devices use AFH (adaptive frequency hopping) to hop among 79 frequencies at 1 MHz intervals to give a high degree of interference immunity.
Q. Will Bluetooth and Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi) interfere with each other?
A. No, both Bluetooth and WLAN can co-exist. Since Bluetooth devices use Frequency Hopping and most WLANs use Direct Sequence Spreading techniques they each appear as background noise to the other and should not cause any perceivable performance issues.
Q. Are different brands of Bluetooth products compatible with each other?
A. Yes. They have to. The Bluetooth Logo Certification Program requires Bluetooth products to interoperate with products manufactured by other vendors; those products that don't interoperate will not be allowed to use the Bluetooth logo.
Q. What is the practical distance between Bluetooth headsets?
A. The 7ft rule will assure you successful operation and acceptable audio quality of multiple Bluetooth device. Keep every paired BT device separated by no more than 7ft. Keep every source of interference (including other Bluetooth devices) separated by at least 7ft from any of the paired BT devices. WiFi will decrease the number of BT devices that can be successfully deployed. Heavy use of WiFi (i.e: VoIP via WiFi) will further decrease the BT deployment density.
Q. What is the range of Bluetooth transmitter/receivers?
A. Plantronics' Bluetooth headsets are currently Class 2 Bluetooth devices with a range of approximately 10 meters, or roughly 30 feet.
Q. How secure are Plantronics Bluetooth transmissions?
A. The headset and adapter communicate via the standard 2.4 GHz Bluetooth link, which provides high-quality digital audio, range up to 30 feet and advanced encryption for secure communication. It also includes device authentication, user authorization, and voice encryption.
Q. What kind of encryption will be used for Plantronics Bluetooth security?
A. The Bluetooth specification 1.0 describes the link encryption algorithm as a stream cipher using 4 LFSR (linear feedback shift registers). The sum of the width of the LFSRs is 128, and the spec says "the effective key length is selectable between 8 and 128 bits". This arrangement allows Bluetooth to be used in countries with regulations limiting encryption strength, and "facilitate a future upgrade path for the security without the need for a costly redesign of the algorithms and encryption hardware" according to the Bluetooth specification. Key generation and authentication seems to be using the 8-round SAFER+ encryption algorithm. The information available suggests that Bluetooth security will be adequate for most purposes; but users with higher security requirements will need to employ stronger algorithms to ensure the security of their data.
Q. What could interfere with Bluetooth?
A. These radio sources can interfer with Bluetooth transmissions and cause Audio distortion and drop-outs: WiFi, Bluetooth, Microwave Ovens, 2.4MHz Cordless Phones, Amateur Radio, Microwave Lighting, WiMedia--wireless multimedia and ZigBee--sensor networks, home automation.
Q. Which Plantronics headsets will work with the Playstation 3?
A. Plantronics Bluetooth headsets are recommended for use with the Playstation 3.
Q. Is Bluetooth version 2.0 compatible with Plantronics headsets?
A. Yes all Plantronics Bluetooth headsets are 2.0 compatible.
Q. Can I use my Bluetooth headset on a computer?
A. In order to use a Bluetooth headset, your computer must have an internal Bluetooth card or an external Bluetooth dongle adapter. However, not all Bluetooth devices utilize the same Bluetooth profiles.
In order to use a Bluetooth headset, your computer or external Bluetooth dongle must support: "Handsfree profile" (HFP) or "Headset profile" (HSP) for Bluetooth devices. Both "Audio" and "Data" Bluetooth transmissions.
Please contact your Bluetooth provider to determine if your computer/dongle supports the profiles that are listed above. If you have support for these profiles, then "Bluetooth Audio" will be an option for Sound Playback and Sound Recording in under the Audio tab of the Sounds and Audio Devices section of your Windows Control Panel. Without these profiles, your computer will be unable to exchange any services with the headset beyond basic pairing.
Q. Can I use Voice Dialing/Voice Activation with the Bluetooth headsets?
A. Voice Dialing, Voice Activation & Voice Command are all a function of the cellular phone itself and not the headset. The headset will support this feature, however you must be able to program the phone to recognize the headset as the default device to use and not the phone itself in order for this function/feature to work. Refer to the users manual or cell phone provider for instructions on how to program your phone.
Q. Can I use my Bluetooth headset while it is charging?
A. It is standard protocol on all Bluetooth headsets to not use the unit while charging. Audio Performance may be affected over time.
Q. My cellular phone will not recognize my Plantronics Bluetooth headset. Why?
A. There are a few reasons why the this may occur.
- Make sure your Bluetooth device has the Bluetooth feature turned on.
- The headset needs to be in pairing/discoverable mode. The Bluetooth device will never find the headset unless it is in pairing/discoverable mode.
- To Pair a Voyager 510 to a Bluetooth device, press and hold the call control button and volume up "+" button at the same time until the indicator light on the headset starts flashing red then blue.
Q. Bluetooth Headsets: Sound Quality.
A. Your Bluetooth headset should provide a clear signal out to 33 feet if it has a clear line of sight to the mobile phone (assuming that the mobile phone is also capable of broadcasting a Bluetooth signal out to that range). Slight white noise or background static may occur when using a Bluetooth headset. Excessive static may indicate that the signal is obstructed or that the Bluetooth antenna in the headset or phone may be damaged.
Maintain a clear line of sight between the headset and the phone whenever possible; do not wear the two devices on opposite sides of your body. If issues persist, then delete the headset from your phone's list of paired devices, update your phone with the most current software available from your service provider, and then re-pair the headset with the phone.
Q. Plantronics Bluetooth Headsets - Switching a call from phone to headset & visa versa.
A. To switch an active call from your phone to your headset, press the call control button for 3 seconds. To switch an active call from your headset to your phone , press the call control button for 2 seconds.
Q. I hear beeping in my Bluetooth headset while in standby mode?
A. Some telephone customers using Bluetooth headsets may hear frequent ringing/beeping in the headset while in standby mode.
This issue may be caused by the network, and is not a defect in the headset. Changing your phone settings as listed below will in most cases stop the frequent ringing/beeping in their headset while in standby mode. Please check with your service provider before changing the settings listed below, as the following work around may cause additional charges on your phone bill.
Go into the MENU > SETTINGS > ROAM.
Change roam setting to "ROAMING ONLY".
Users will no longer get any Bluetooth headset rings/beeps unless the phone is actually ringing for an incoming call. This is a temporary work around; once the phone is turned off the roaming setting above is reset. You will need to follow the above steps each time you turn on your phone.
Q. How do I know if the battery is low on the Plantronics Bluetooth headsets?
A. When the headset is on and becomes low, the headset emits a beep every 20 seconds. The indicator light will also flash red when the battery needs to be charged.
Q. What are Bluetooth profiles?
A. Bluetooth is a wireless technology found in many of today's electronic devices. However, Bluetooth devices do not all work in the same way. One Bluetooth device may not work with another (such as a Bluetooth phone with a Bluetooth computer, a Bluetooth headset with a Bluetooth music device, etc.) This is because there are a number of Bluetooth profiles, and not all devices use the same profiles.
Plantronics headsets support only the Handsfree (HFP) and Headset (HSP) profiles. Most Bluetooth phones support these profiles as well. However, most computers and audio devices do not. You cannot use a Plantronics Bluetooth headset with any device that does not support both the HFP and HSP profiles.
Some companies sell Bluetooth dongle adapters for laptops and audio devices. An adapter may allow other Bluetooth devices to work with our headsets. However, the adapter will need to support both the HFP and HSP profiles and be compatible with the other Bluetooth device.
Q. What is Plantronics Bluetooth QuickPair technology?
A. Plantronics QuickPair technology is a function which enables the Bluetooth headset to automatically go into discoverable mode in order to initiate the "pairing" process (also known as bonding or linking).
This feature is only a one time function. The QuickPair function will still be enabled until you have paired the headset the first time.
After pairing the headset the first time, you can pair to other devices using the normal headset pairing processes.
Plantronics has solved one of the biggest problems Bluetooth users experience - pairing their headsets. With this new technology, the headset automatically goes into pairing mode, upon being powered on.
Please note that once the headset has been successfully paired to a Bluetooth device, the headset will no longer automatically go into pairing mode, upon being powered on. Thus, if the user wants to pair the headset to another Bluetooth device, the normal pairing steps should be followed, which are in the user guide.
Q. What is Plantronics Bluetooth Headset MultiPoint Technology?
A. MultiPoint Technology is switching and using 2 Bluetooth devices at the same time.
Plantronics Multipoint technology permits simultaneous pairing with two different Bluetooth audio devices and allow the ability to switch from one device to another without having to turn the headset off and on again.
You will not be able to use two devices simultaneously.
To Initiate a call:
The headset will assume you wish to initiate a call on the device recently used.
To use a second device:
Initiate the call using the controls on the second device. The second device will form the link with the headset.
Answer a call:
An incoming call on either device will ring through the headset. In most cases, the ring tone from the device will transfer through to the headset, allowing the user to determine which device is ringing. In some cases, however, the headset will apply a ring tone to the incoming call. In either case, the user may be able to determine which device is ringing through the distinct ring tone.
To answer a call on one device while talking on the other:
There is no capacity for placing a call on hold while answering another with the headset. You must use the phone features itself (if it has a hold function) to place a call on hold before switching to a second call.
If there is no hold feature you must terminate the call before switching to another device.
Terminate the first call by pressing the call control button once.
Wait for the beep and then answer the second call by pressing the Call Control Button again.
If you choose not to answer the second call and that device has voice mail, the call will go to voice mail.
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Contact Us:
Please contact us at the Calgary, Alberta or Brampton, Ontario offices for further information. (click the phone number to send an email)
Calgary, Alberta @ (403) 239-8414 ... or ... Toll Free: 1-877-244-8414
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••• Comfort Telecommunications Canada Inc. is your one-stop shopping point for Plantronics, and Jabra/GN Netcom telephone headsets, Bluetooth and DECT wireless headset systems, Polycom conference room phones and EnGenius long range cordless phone equipment. We ship country wide to Canadian and USA destinations.
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