Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Nokia N800 & N810: How to set up and use a Bluetooth headset
To get the most out of this tutorial, watch the video above and then read the text below. The tutorial assumes that N800 owners have upgraded to OS 2008. If you want to find out more about upgrading your N800, click here.
If you want to comment on this tutorial, please post in the comments section at the end. If you have any questions or problems regarding your tablet, please post about them on Internet Tablet Talk's Newbie Forum.
The latest tablet operating system, OS 2008, brings with it support for wireless Bluetooth headsets. These can be very handy, for example they let you talk to people on Skype with the tablet tucked away in your pocket or bag (or anywhere within a 10 metre/10 yard radius). The tablets can use both Nokia and non-Nokia headsets.
At the moment the tablets only support the basic headset Bluetooth modes, they don't support advanced modes such as high quality stereo sound. The upshot of this is that the headset is perfectly okay for voice calls, but it's not so good for listening to music.
How to install a Bluetooth headset on the Nokia N800 or N810
1. Switch your Bluetooth headset on in its pairing mode (the procedure for doing this varies from model to model, check your headset's manual for instructions). Also make sure it's within 10 metres or 10 yards of the tablet.
2. On the tablet, click on the Applications menu (the green squares on the left).
3. Click on Settings.
4. Click on Control Panel.
5. Double-click on Bluetooth.
6. Tick the box for "Bluetooth On" and "Visible".
7. Click on Devices.
8. Click on New.
9. Wait for the tablet to find your headset, then select it from the list and click on OK.
10. Highlight the passcode pairing number and delete it. Enter the fixed passcode pairing number for your headset (it should be printed somewhere in your headset's manual).
11. Make sure the "Set as trusted device" box is ticked.
12. Click on OK.
13. Click on Close.
14. Click on OK.
15. Close the Control Panel using the X in the top right hand corner.
The Bluetooth headset should now be paired with your tablet, and should automatically connect next time it's switched on within range of the tablet.
How to use a Bluetooth headset on the Nokia N800 or N810
1. Make sure the tablet's Bluetooth is switched on. You can tell if it's on by the angular B icon that appears in the status bar at the top of the screen. If it's not there, go to the Control Panel, double-click on Bluetooth, tick the boxes for "Bluetooth On" and "Visible", and click OK.
2. Switch the Bluetooth headset on in normal mode (switch it off first if you've just paired it). If you're unsure about how to do this, consult the headset's manual.
...and that's it. A headset icon should appear in the status bar at the top of the screen, replacing the loudspeaker icon.
If the headset icon doesn't appear immediately, try launching an application which uses audio such as Skype or Media Player.
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12 comments:
Is there a way to improve the quality of the audio stream? It's really poor compared to what you get from a Sony Ericsson phone per example...
You should not have to set the tablet's bluetooth status to visible in order to connect an outside device. You only need to set it visible if an external device is searching for the tablet, not to pair an external device to the tablet. For example, when pairing a phone to the tablet, only the phone needs it's bluetooth visibility set to "visible".
I have found that to connect your headset, once it has been paired, is not as simple as just turning it on near the nokia, even if bluetooth is on on the nokia.
You need to go to bluetooth settings, select devices, select the device you want to connect to, which should be listed already since you paired it, and select edit. Then you will see a connect button which you need to select. Without that I don't think the N800(810) will connect to the device.
Anonymous, you can't improve sound quality at the moment because the tablets don't yet support the A2DP headset profile. They only support the more basic headset profiles. However, Nokia may add A2DP support later on, which would give high quality stereo sound to Bluetooth headsets.
Gamer-geek, thanks for pointing that out, you're right about the pairing. However, doesn't the tablet have to be visible for the headset to automatically connect when it's switched on?
Bem, I had no trouble connecting my headset automatically, in fact you can see me doing it in the tutorial's video right at the end. I just switched on the headset, it connected, and the headset icon appeared on the tablet. It sounds like you've unticked the box that makes the headset a trusted device during the pairing process. Only trusted devices can connect automatically.
My Notorola H700 appears to be paired with my N810 ("B" on the N810 turns blue when I turn on headset, & the headset blinks blue & makes the appropriat "connected" sound), but the headset icon does not appear on the top or the tablet, the sound icon is still on, & the only sound/microphone that works are the external sound & microphone of the N810. Any suggestions.
Anonymous with the Motorola headset,
That happened to me the first time I used a headset with the tablet.
The way I cured it was just to go ahead and use an application that used sound such as Media Player. When I did that, the headset icon appeared and sound switched entirely to the headset.
Another thing you might try is switching off the tablet and headset after pairing, then switching them both on again.
Make sure you set the headset as a trusted device during the pairing process, otherwise it will not be able to connect automatically.
To my surprise, BH-501 refused to connect altogether. When scanning for a NEW Bluetooth device from N800/OS2008, the headphones (in the "connect" mode as indicated by the flashing blue light) are not detected: "no devices found".
Has anybody else succeeded with BH-501?
Anonymous with the BH-501, a general thing with all Bluetooth devices is that they may not show up first time in a search.
It may sometimes take two or three attempts to actually get a Bluetooth device to show up in a search.
If something doesn't show up and you're sure it's in the right mode, try again, perhaps with the two devices closer together or in different positions.
I got a motorola headset working, but sound was slightly choppy with video. So I tried a Nokia headset, same problem. Voice podcasts are fine, so I blame the media player.
But now I can't get sound to the Motorola. It pairs, but the icon will not change, and sound continues to come from the speakers. Deleting the devices and re-pairing didn't help. Starting apps doesn't help. Manually connecting doesn't help.
Anonymous with the motorola, if the moto headset was working and stopped, but the nokia headset still works, then it sounds like there's a problem with the moto headset.
On the sound quality, it isn't good on this Bluetooth profile because it was designed just for call quality. The high quality sound profile, A2DP, hasn't been added to the tablets though it could be added in future firmware updates.
novaterata, I haven't approved your comment because it contains your email address and I don't want you to get loads of spam.
You said you couldn't get the sound to switch to headset. Did you set the headset to be a trusted device when you paired it? Have you switched the tablet's Bluetooth on since then? If so, the headset should connect automatically when you switch it on near the tablet.
Have you tried restarting the tablet and seeing if the headset automatically connects?
A number of people have posted comments on this tutorial wanting help with setting up particular headsets.
Please don't do this, the comments sections of tutorials are only meant to be for feedback regarding the actual tutorial.
You'll get far more help and advice by posting your problems on the Internet Tablet Talk's forums. You can get to them by clicking on the links in the "Technical problems with your tablet?" section on the right of the screen.
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