Just started using skype and I'm impressed enough to dash out and buy a bluetooth headset (a jabra BT250 on sale or return luckily).

Well some experiments and google searching later and its clear that the XP bluetooth stack doesn't support the headset profile. So poor old XP users are stuck unless there's an alternative set of bluetooth drivers available.

Does anyone have any ideas on this ?

Just last night I managed to get my Sony Ericsson HBH-600 running. It is true that Microsoft's Bluetooth stack sucks big time. I wonder who was in charge on the Bluetooth stack for SP2, they could have fixed it that time. However it seems MS is not putting much priority of enabling users. I wonder if this will change now that even MS has some VoIP plans.

Anyway, I have a Toshiba M200 and Toshiba released in December 2004 (I guess it was that time around) a new Bluetooth stack for their laptops
which finally supports HSP (Headset Profile), the version Toshiba Users should look for is v3.10.00, I could download it from
http://aps.toshiba-tro.de/bluetooth/

The HBH-600 has some limitations as nearly all of these headsets have in terms of listening MP3s etc. However i made some test calls within Switzerland and to HongKong (both Skype OUT) and I have to say the quailty is good, at least as good as the regular IDD lines one gets.

I hope there will be more bluetooth PC Headsets coming out in 2005, at the moment I'm fine with my HBH-600, but support of picking up calls, finishing calls from the headset could be improved.

For now it works thanx to Toshiba, and Microsoft get your act together.

Thanks very much for the tip,

My Bluetooth headset problem on an AcerNotebook solved with the Toshiba software!!!

A bit anxious, but very annoyed of not finding any appropriate driver for my Acer notebook to solve the Bluetooth audio problem for my headset, I installed the above mentioned Toshiba software – and found out that it’s compatible and works great!!!

Before I read your comment I contacted SonyEricsson technical support – but they don’t support connections to computers and can’t supply any drivers. I also spend many hours searching the web… with out result.

My Acer Travelmate 6000 Notebook, installed with Win XP + SP2 found my SonyEricsson headset HBH-600 (also before installing the Toshiba software), but it was not possible to configure the headset to be used as sound in/out in the Windows settings (nor in Skype or MSN).

Immediately after the Toshiba software was installed, and booting the notebook once, I was able to select ‘Bluetooth Wave from Toshiba’ as audio in/out in the Windows settings as well as in the Skype Audio in/out options.

The sound is acceptable, I expected it to be better, but as a start I’m very happy to be connected. And there are plenty of hints of how to adjust the sound settings else ware on this forum.

Thanks again, Mark

Thanks from another satisfied acer owner.

After installation, a reboot was required, and I had to turn the microphone volume WAAAY down. But it works great now.

THanks!

Yet another satisfied non Toshiba PC user. I bought an M2500 Plantronics Bluetooth headset and X-Micro dongle last weekend. I first used the XP SP2 Bluetooth implementation. To my dismay, I found that the headset didn’t not work. I searched the forums yesterday, downloaded the Toshiba software, disabled the Microsoft one and presto, it works. Paired the headset to the computer and my Nokia 6230, paired the phone to the computer for file transfer. Works much better than the MS stuff!

With the M2500, I can pick up, reject, end calls using both skype and the mobile phone. I can transfer mobile calls from headset to mobile only. I can also use the headset pickup button to connect and disconnect from the PC when no calls are in progress. I haven’t and won’t use the voice dialling feature that I could use with the mobile phone. Quite impressive for an investment of only $42.

One thing remaining is to use the PC as a headset for the phone and listen/talk to using the PC speakers and corded microphone since the BT headset can be uncomfortable for extra long usage.

Thank you all

X-micro (and other dongles) will also work fine with Dell drivers - see my initial post at this thread: http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=10822

Nice advice Anders. Perhaps you should modify your instructions slightly so that the MS XP2 BT drivers won't be installed at all. After step 3 -> In %WINDIR%/inf rename bth.inf to bth.bak and the MS SP2 BT drivers won't be installed. Hence, you don't need step 6. I believe it's better to remove the SP2 BT driver completely, rename bth.inf to bth.bak and install the 3rd party driver than to overwrite (not everything may be overwritten) the MS stuff to avoid conflicts in future.

From this website

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;840635

Method 1: Rename the Bth.inf file
Rename the %WINDIR%infBth.inf file to Bth.bak before you install or reinstall the third-party device or stack. When you rename the file, you prevent Windows Plug and Play PNP from using that INF file to install the Bluetooth driver that is included with Windows XP SP2.

To rename the file, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type %windir%inf in the Open box, and then click OK.
2. Right-click Bth.inf, and then click Rename.
3. Rename Bth.inf to Bth.bak, and then press ENTER.
4. Install the third-party Bluetooth driver.

I also have Jabra BT250 and Windows XP on a Dell laptop. I looked through the solutions but can't get it working. I am not technical enough to go into the solutions suggested for the Toshiba PC. Does anyone know if Microsoft/Dell have fixed this stack problem? Does the same apply to Windows Pocket PC? Any help appreciated :)

@golfman
Most likely you don't have Widcomm 1.4.3 installed. On AMP's first post which can be found here http://forum.skype.com/viewtopic.php?t=10822 go to step 15 and download the latest dell drivers (I don't know the web location since I used Toshiba drivers, perhaps Anders could give us the direct link), then start again from step 1.

The toshiba drivers that are really easy to use with a clear user guide that can be viewed after you have unzipped the contents and navigated some folders, or u could just drag out UsrGuide.chm from the zip file or install the drivers go to program files | toshiba | and look for the user guide there. Hope this helps.

Thanks I'll check it out. I should say I have paired the headset fine, but I just can't use it to hear or record any voice. I presume your solution was for this situation?

Golfman, that was my situation. However, the fixes available didn't work because they assumed USB dongle, and my BT was inbuilt.

The toshiba patch above was about the 8th thing I tried, and works brilliantly. If you have builtin BT, have you tried that?

I've been using a bluetooth headset (Motorola) with my IBM Thinkpad. It works great with a Belkin dongle.. I can open the headset (turns on) and answer the call within two or three rings. Or if it is on my ear simple push the answer key and it turns back on. After a call the same push disconnects it from the PC.

What I want to know is...
Is there a hotkey equivalent in Skype that enables the headset to wake up? Thus can I answer the call just using the button on the BT headset without using the keyboard? Similarly to hang up?

Is anyone looking at programming this via the API?

There are plenty of stereo streaming BT headsets in the works. This would be a nice feature to solve.

Plus, using the bluetooth headset provides the option to take the call elsewhere and leave the music playing.

I have read this tread with great interest. I have a IBM Thinkpad T42, XP+SP2 with build-in Bluetooth. I cannot get the PC to display the bluetooth device as headset. When I try to use the "Toshiba" suggestion I get a dialog during installation requesting me to connect my bluetooth device. I assume it is referring to an external bluetooth dongle, which is not what I have - I have the build-in feature. Anyone having experience or idea on how to get around?

My experience was with builtin bluetooth. Is your bluetooth device actually on? IE can you see a flashing blue light?

Thanks jefmcg. Yes, my BT was on during the installation. SHould I try to disable it during installation? Did you have yours on or off during the installation of the Toshiba software?

How did you respond to the request during the installation of the Toshiba stack? I was prompted to connect the dongle, but maybe you did not get this dialog?

Sten,

For me this just worked. After trying 1/2 dozen options, uninstalling, re-installing, bit editing etc etc to no avail, I just took this package and double clicked. It may have not been able to find the BT, but if so, all i had to do was turn it on and then it found it.

My guess would be that the ACER architecture is similar to the Toshiba. Maybe the thinkpad is different.

Sorry I can't be more help.

joan

Thanks jefmcg. Yes, my BT was on during the installation. SHould I try to disable it during installation? Did you have yours on or off during the installation of the Toshiba software?
 
How did you respond to the request during the installation of the Toshiba stack? I was prompted to connect the dongle, but maybe you did not get this dialog?

Some laptops have a button on the side to turn BT on and off.

Uninstall the MS Bluetooth if you had installed it earlier, disable it by renaming the bth.inf file to bth.bak as I suggested in an earlier post, If possible turn off BT, install the Toshiba stuff, when it asks you to insert the hardware, turn on BT, click ok and it should continue automatically.

If that does not work, I cannot be of more help.

Thanks I'll check it out. I should say I have paired the headset fine, but I just can't use it to hear or record any voice.  I presume your solution was for this situation?

To be of more help, could you list what software you are using and version numbers? E.g. Widdcom 1.4.3, XP Service Pack 1 or Service Pack 2, Toshiba Bluetooth 3.10, etc

Kevoh92.
I am using XP SP2 on a Dell Latitude D600. I downloaded http://support.euro.dell.com/uk/en/filelib...x?fileid=R58915 from Dell.co.uk and installed it. I managed to pair up all the devices OK so the bluetooth works but the headset does still not work and I get the error message 'License invalid shutting down stack server' when I click on Bluetooth Configuration. I can't tell if I have Widdcom 1.4.3 or not or whether (or not) I have/need a dongle. To be honest I am getting a bit lost and unless there is a simple remedy to this I am tempted to do a system restore and live without the headset :<

Golfman, Unfortunately, the link you provided does not work for me, since it requires a dell system service tag which can be found on your computer. So, I don’t know if the software supports the headset profile (HSP).
From what you have described, I can conclude one of four things

1. The Bluetooth software that your computer is using may not support the HSP. If you didn’t disable MS SP2 Bluetooth software as AMP described in his first post or by uninstalling it and renaming the bth.inf file to bth.bak in %WINDIR%/inf folder, then your system could be using the MS SP2 Bluetooth, which does not support HSP, instead of the dell one. Or the dell software does not support HSP, which is unlikely as dell is always current with technology.

2. Your hardware does not support the HSP profile. Bur as I said before, this is very unlikely. Edit, your Dell comes with the Dell™ TrueMobile 300 Bluetooth module which supports the HSP among many other profiles.

3. Because you can pair and connect your headset to the computer, you don’t need a dongle. The dell Latitude D600 comes with optional Bluetooth according to this dell site. Hence your laptop could have come with the optional internal Bluetooth card

4. Your sound may not be well set up. http://www.skype.com/help/guides/soundsetup.html


Edit: I just found those Dell drivers from their site. I am not sure if they are the same ones that AMP was referring to.

Hope, you configure your BT soon, it’s great with skype. Sorry it’s been a pain to configure but BT supports so many different profiles and some vendors leave out the important ones