Planatronics Wireless Headset..

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Planatronics Wireless Headset..

I recently purchased the Plantronics .Audio 995 wireless usb headset. It claims it works on both Windows and Macintosh. I have used Plantronics headsets in the past and they have worked fine with iChat.

This headset will not give me any audio output in iChat. The mic works in iChat. I have both chosen in the iChat preferences, however, the sound does not work.

This headset works fine using Skype, Garage Band, and Rosetta Stone, the sound works with iTunes.

The only problem I have is the sound output in iChat.

Has anyone had this problem? Does anyone have any suggestions?

I called Plantronics and they said since it works with skype, it's not the headset, it's iChat.

Thanks

Message was edited by: greyeyed

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 12, 2009 3:40 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 13, 2009 12:56 PM in response to greyeyed

Hi,

In System Preferences > Sound > Output is th USB Headset the Output device ?

In iChat > Preferences > Video section do you now have an Output Choice ?
Is the headset Selected ? (I see you say it is)

It does seem odd it works elsewhere if it is not selected in System Preferences.

Also look in Audio MIDI Set up (Applications/Utilities)
Check that it is set to the rate of 44100
And theta the Volumes, if Stereo, are turned up. (The M is the Master volume for the computer)

EDIT:

In iChat 5 I heard my Headset when I selected it in the iChat option that appears when you have two output devices.
I was about to test it with a call when I heard someone go off line after I had changed it in the System Preferences.

Second edit.
IS it a USB 2.0 device that needs a USB 2.0 port ?
Some apple Keyboards are not USB 2.0 but only USB 1.1

8:49 PM Sunday; September 13, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

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Answer 2

greyeyed Author

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Sep 13, 2009 5:00 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hello, I went to look at the utility for the Audio MIDI. I noticed something odd.

My older headset that is not wireless shows up as one device.

Plantronics Headset
2 in/ 2 out
=details=
Plantronics Headset
Clock source: Default
=input=
Source: Default
Fromat: 48000.0 Hz 2ch-16bit
Ch M Value 0.40 dB 22.00
=output=
Source: Default
Format: 48000.0 Hz 2ch-16bit
Ch 1 Value 0.23 dB -20.00
Ch 2 Value 0.23 dB -20.00

However, the wireless headset shows up as two devices one has the input alone, then a second one has the output alone...like this

Plantronics Wireless Audio
0 in/ 2 out
=details=
Plantronics Wireless Audio
Clock source: Default
=input is grayed out=
=Output=
Source: Default
Format: 44100.0 Hz 2ch-16bit
Ch M Value 0.35 dB -26.00

Plantronics Wireless Audio
1 in/ 0 out
=details=
Plantronics Wireless Audio
Clock source: Default
=Input=
Source: Default
Format: 16000.0 Hz 1ch-16bit
Ch M Value 0.96 dB -1.00
=Output is grayed out=

Could that be the problem? I have never worked with this utility before so I am not sure if there is some way to fix this, or if it needs to be fixed. Please advise. Thank you.

oh I plugged it in to the back of the iMac just to see if it would work with that USB connection, no change.

Message was edited by: greyeyed

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Answer 3

Sep 14, 2009 12:41 PM in response to greyeyed

Hi,

So it is a Wireless headset to a USB Dongle ?
It is not a Blue Tooth one ?

I have no other MIDI Devices.
Back in iChat 2 we discovered that if you had your own sounds in you Home Folder/Library/Sounds iChat could see them but had difficulty playing those that were not at 4100 bit rate recording.

Later in iChat 3 and 4 we discovered with the Audio MIDI Utility that some Mics were not at 43100 sample rate and changing it seemed to help in iChat
Mostly because people were using mics hooked up to external Sound devices and there were issues at OS Updates.

I am not sure from your description what you mean by 2 In / 2 Out but I am thinking it is the number of item at the top as choices for In and Out

When the New Headset is shown in Input details does it show a Volume setting ?
I include a Pic for reference

8:41 PM Monday; September 14, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 4

greyeyed Author

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Sep 14, 2009 8:25 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

It is a wireless headset with a USB Dongle. I have used the USB slot on the back of the iMac.

I have screenshots, but now that the dot mac homepage does not work anymore, I am not sure how to post them here. If you can walk me through I'd be happy to show you how it looks. Thank you again.

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Answer 5

Sep 15, 2009 2:14 PM in response to greyeyed

Hi,

Host the pic on any web site.
Flickr and PhotoBucket are popular as is Skitch which has an App to take the pic and add comments and arrows to it.

Some of these Pic Hosting sites will tell you or enable you to get the URL of the pic itself (Click and hold or right clicking/Control Click will bring up a Menu in Most browser to "Copy Image Location"

Then it requires some HTML here.

<img src="the URL your got here">

As in Open tag type img src and = and " and then place URL. Finish with another " and the Close tag

On the Wireless front are you using WiFi as well ?
I have seen some reports of a Non Blue Tooth wireless Mouse losing Control because the router's Channel was close to the Wireless Mouse's channel (Interference)

10:14 PM Tuesday; September 15, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 6

greyeyed Author

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Sep 16, 2009 9:52 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hello, I took the screenshots and put them in iWeb. Here is the link incase the img does not show up

http://web.me.com/greyeyed/HeadsetHelp/OldHeadset.html

Thank you for all your time and help.

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Answer 7

Sep 16, 2009 12:52 PM in response to greyeyed

Hi,

I'm wondering why it shows as two devices ?

My guess is it is using two different WiFi Channels

iChat 2 and 3 certainly had issue with playing any sound that was not sampled at 44100
I have also seen post where changing the Mic in Audio MIDI Set up to 44100 seemed to help.

This one seems particularly low

<mg src="http://web.me.com/greyeyed/Headset Help/Old_Headsetfiles/Screen%20shot%202009-09-14%20at%2010.18.19%20PM.jpg">

<img src="http://web.me.com/greyeyed/Headset Help/Old_Headsetfiles/Screen%20shot%202009-09-14%20at%2010.18.19%20PM.jpg"7gt;

I would consider changing any routing devices channel to see if it is interference.

Anything on the Plantronics Site about this device ?

8:51 PM Wednesday; September 16, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 8

greyeyed Author

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Sep 17, 2009 9:20 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I do have wifi turned on, on my router, however, my computer is hardwired to it via cat5 ethernet cable. The wifi is only used by the iPhone. My mouse is wireless as well. Everything else is hardwired.

I tried to see what I could do with the MIDI Sound Utility.

First, I could not change the 16000.0 Hz that was the only option available and I could not change it by choosing another option or typing over it.

I also tried to create an Aggregate Device and combining the both into One Device. I got a mismatch message so the only way I could Make them match was to back the speakers off to match the mic, by changing the 44000.0 Hz to 16000.0 Hz. However, iChat would not allow me to choose the Aggregate as an option.

I did set the computer to use the wireless headset as my sound output and sound input. I set iChat to use the wireless headset as my sound output and sound input and when I received a call I heard it RING through the wireless headset, but when I answered, no sound at all.

I am wondering if it's because it's showing up as two devices if iChat is confused and only giving me the wireless mic as an option for both input and output. I just don't understand why it works everywhere else and not with iChat. As no one else seems to have this problem, maybe it's time to call AppleCare.

I did try talking with Plantronics and they say their product is working, it's a problem with iChat. They do not test with iChat and have no information, I have to go to Apple for help.

Thank you for your time and patience and suggestions. Have a lovely day.

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Answer 9

Sep 17, 2009 1:53 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Opps.

9:53 PM Thursday; September 17, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 10

Sep 17, 2009 2:03 PM in response to greyeyed

Ok,

The Alerts set in iChat Menu Preferences > Alerts are played by the System as if they are System Alerts (System Preferences > Sound > Sound Effects is what controls their volume)

This is different to the Sound Output chosen in the Output tab or the Input selection in the Input tab - both of which need to match what is selected in iChat > Video Preferences.
i.e. it is possible to hear the Alerts and not get Sound elsewhere.

More on this http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/versions/ichatvers4/ichatvers4pics/Prefs/slides/iCha t4VideoPrefs.html

Normally we only say that people need to match the Mic Choice in System Preferences > Sound > Input and the Microphone choice in the iChat Video Preferences.
You will have to also do the out put choices in both places. (if I have not made that clear)

Any chance you can test Recording in GarageBand or iMovie ?
And then Playback to the headset as well in those Apps ?
That would tend to pint more towards iChat if you can do those.

10:03 PM Thursday; September 17, 2009

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

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Answer 11

sirh

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Nov 1, 2009 9:10 PM in response to greyeyed

I also have the Plantronics 995H wireless headset. It also does not work in iChat 5 (worked in iChat 4!). When I launch iChat v.5 in Snow Leopard, the headset will send audio from the mic to the other person on iChat, but I cannot hear the person.

Here's a workaround:

1) I launch the preferences for iChat, set the audio and mic preferences from my Plantronics to my USB Logitech headset (which works with iChat 5)...

2) I launch the "Audio MIDI Setup" app, change the "Audio Device" Format for the "Plantronics Wireless Audio" between 44100Hz to 32000Hz....

3) then I switch the preferences in iChat back to the Plantronics from the Logitech headsets...

Only then will the Plantronics 995H work with iChat v5.

If you have a wired headset, let me know if this trick works for you. I have sent this to the iChat feedback. Hopefully, something comes out of it.

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Answer 12

sirh

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Nov 5, 2009 9:44 PM in response to sirh

Okay, new procedure to make my Plantronics 995H to work in iChat 5:

1) I launch the preferences for iChat, set the audio and mic preferences from my Plantronics to my USB Logitech headset (which works with iChat 5)...

2) then I switch the preferences in iChat back to the Plantronics from the Logitech headsets... but, first, change the "Sound output" back, and then the "Microphone".

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Answer 13

Dec 2, 2009 7:27 PM in response to sirh

I also have the Plantronics headphones and also have the same problem. I can confirm that they work perfectly well in Skype and worked with the earlier version of iChat. Your suggestion worked for me. I still need to confirm that they still work with skype. Thank you for your post.

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