"Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."

I'll add that "it works, but maybe not the first, second, third or even fourth time."

I'd been doing the exact steps as noted, and the firmware updater never did anything more than kill the Dock and the Finder, look for a device to update, and then fall idle again.

Eventually, after some mixture of restarting and enabling/disabling BT on the machine, I gave the updater one more try before giving up, and it worked. Took about 5 minutes to run, downloading data to the BT module in chunks, and pausing 15 seconds while the module digested each one. Eventually the updater showed an "update successful" dialog. BT module firmware went from 1.526 to 2.1586.

Pairing worked, and after a little flakiness in getting the computer to actually send/receive sound to the headset, all is well. Advice (though it's notably un-Mac-like): keep doing the same thing till it works.

Hardware: 12" PowerBook G4 1.0GHz, OX 10.4.2, internal BT. Moto HS 820 headset.

Alexander, I have a 1.25Mhz PowerBook G4, with built-in Bluetooth - but it's the OLD flavor and apparently not compatible with headsets. Before finding this thread, I tried a Kensington and then an Iogear USB Bluetooth adapter - still got the infamous "headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware" message. Then I call AppleCare and was told the only adapter they support is the D-Link DBT-120 B2, which I ordered from the online Apple Store (got the original Kensington from a brick and mortar Apple Store, you'd think they would've sold me the one AppleCare supports, but hey…)

So I get the D-Link DBT-120 from Apple (online) and it comes as a B3, not the B2 (at first I thought to myself, "hey, it's newer - it's prolly better and will work too). I plug it in, and fire up Bluetooth Explorer to tell my PowerBook to use the D-Link instead of the built-in and then tell Bluetooth to setup a device and I still get the "headsets are not supported…" message. When I get done posting this, I'm calling AppleCare once again to see what the deal is (but I'm already suspecting that the answer will be "we only support the B2, not B3 version of the adapter"

I anyone has any ideas - files I can remove and reinstall or a place to find the B2 version of the D-Link adapter or whatever, I'd really appreciate the help…

If something in my statements is unclear, please ask. Make sure to click the View all link in this topic and make sure to check which answer belongs to which question. You are able to distinguish this via the topic number. A new dot is a new answer. A higher number is a second, third, … answer to a question.

Sorry to inform you, but your AppleCare personal is wrong, totally wrong. All Apple internal Bluetooth modules are headset capable. If you get this error message, you have not applied the Apple Bluetooth Firmware updater. Not a single Bluetooth 1.x device comes with Mac OS Bluetooth headset support out of the box. All need this Bluetooth firmware updater. Your PowerBook is capable to talk to headsets after a successful update. The update process itself is difficult and you have to follow all steps outlined above.

Again your AppleCare personal is wrong. The D-Link DBT-120 Bluetooth USB adapter B2, B3 and B4 are supported by Apple. It says B2 or later. I have a B4 here in front of me. It worked with headset after applying the Apple Bluetooth Firmware Updater.

Anyway forget about the adapter. Your internal module is able to do so already, after applying the update.

Please tell me, what prevents you from applying that updater.

Alexander,

Thanks for the reply - I hadn't tried the updater on my PowerBook earlier because the Apple Store and AppleCare and other websites I'd checked said that voice wouldn't work with my older Bluetooth module. After your reply I figure I might as well try anyway and though it wouldn't work for about 20 minutes of trying (a loop of finding a device and trying to update it), I restarted my PowerBook and the updater worked - 5 minutes later the patch was done and my PowerBook could now find and pair with my BlueTake BT400 G5 headset - THANK YOU very much for the help and not giving up on those of us who listen too much to sources other than this forum

Which website tell this?

Alexander,
I followed the 6 steps (skipped step #4 as I don't need an adapter) but never got to step 7 as it just keeps searching. I am using a Motorola HS820. Do you know if that make/model if particularly problematic?

Also, I've read that I should keep trying the same steps - does that include step #3?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Never mind my previous post. The 7 steps worked with my Motorola HS820!!

Yes Chris I have... and it still works!

I use a Qtrek USB Bluetooth adapter (just about the cheapest of the cheapest). To my surprise it worked.

I have been using it for about 6 month together with G5, 1.8 Dual, OS X.3 and my Jabra Headset. After upgrading to X.4 (and X.4.2) I had trouble because the headset did not show up in the sound panel.

Today I bought the D-link, thinking that my trouble was over. But the D-link did not work (I understand that now, after having read this item, thank you Alexander...). So I plugged in the Qtrek again and made a new connection between the Mac and the Jabra headset... This time (maybe the 10th time since X.4) the headset was there again.

Tried Skype... it worked fine... back in the air.

Maybe this Qtrek adapter is a unique device, since everyone is talking about the D-link as being the ONE for headsets on a Mac. I have not installed any firmware to this device... it is as it came out of the package.

I have tried to find a website www.qtrek.com. As far as I can see it must be there, but the server does not respond.

In the Netherlands the device is sold by several Telecom Companies. I do not know if it sold worldwide...

If anyone wants to find out more... let me know.

Yes there are other adapter which work but this is pure lottery playing.

What do you mean by pure lottery playing? The fact that you cannot be sure that a certain Brand or model is compatible or that a specific model can WORK or NOT?

Don't get me wrong, you are obviously an expert on this subject and I am certainly not. I am browsing the forum to see if I can find a solution and after having read all advice I have to decide what I can do best... It seems strange to me that the D-link is promoted in the Apple community (by Apple) and that to make it work you have to upgrade the firmware (not something most people do on a daily basis). If you look at the D-link website, nothing is said about the Big Push of the adapter in the Apple community... you should expect that they mention it and give some support.

I have browsed some forums in the Netherlands to see if the Qtrek is mentioned there. Indeed it is. I have not found problems with it. But you can find a lot of people reporting that the D-link is dead after the firmware upgrade. I know that the 99% of people who did not have problems with it never will report it on a forum, so mostly the frustrated will come to a forum and report it. You say "lottery playing": if you read the forum messages about the firmware upgrade I would say that there is a chance that your D-link is reduced to a plastic brick. That's lottery as well.

Again, Alexander, you are very helpful with your advice, but I do not get the push of the D-link adapter if it is not ready for use with the Mac. Why does D-link not sell a DBT 120A (as a special device for Apple)?

In my case: everything works fine with the Qtrek so I will not change that working situation on my G5, but I am curious. I will connect the D-link to my other Mac (eMac, X.4.2) and try to make it work with the firmware upgrade. I'll get back next Monday to mention what happened...

It seems strange to me that the D-link is promoted in the Apple community (by Apple) and that to make it work you have to upgrade the firmware

Apple got strange with Steve. I get used to that. Yes, it is a terrible situation but I do not create them. The D-Link works, just headset needs an update. The Bluetooth mice and keyboards need updates as well.

Why does D-link not sell a DBT 120A

Because they would have to go through a costy Bluetooth qualification again and because of the HID proxy of the new firmware, compatibility to Windows is questionable.

you can find a lot of people reporting that the D-link is dead after the firmware upgrade.

Show me one which was not solved in the course of retrying.

That's lottery as well.

No.
A firmware update is no lottery. You follow the rules, let it work overnight and it will work.

I do not get the push of the D-link adapter

Because there is no other adapter which is sold worldwide and prooven to work. You do not even have a model number or revision for us. Just a brand name which is useless. For example the D-Link DBT-122 works not for headsets on a Mac. The older DBT-120 revisions of the D-Link DBT-120 either. Apple users expected to buy something and work with it. Yes, in this case you need a special step which is called firmware update but at least you do not have to rush out and buy a dozen of Bluetooth revisions.

Fine it works for you but I can't even find the brand here despite a model or revision number.

Remember we are talking about headsets – everything else works so lala with other adapters. But in my personal experience I have to recommend the D-Link DBT-120 + fimrware update because I know this is the best tested device by Apple and **** there are new bugs everywhere with other devices.

Can you please me where can I find those 7 steps?

Thanks a lot.

I can see your point of view and in a way you are right. Don't think I am attacking you, I am certainly not. Everything about Apple is usually 100%, but this surprises me.

This weekend I wrote to the company that imports the adapters to the Netherlands to see where they come from. I'd like to know if they are sold worlwide. Because if it is true that they can be used for Mac / headsets without firmware-upgrade it is worth finding out.

I just bought a Logitech Bluetooth headset and mic. Like you it was not recognised in device set up and I get the 'headsets not supported' message and while it does appear correctly in the other devices category you can't pair correctly. The Logitech site.. { http://logitech-en-emea.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/logitechen_emea.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?pfaqid=2051says
" Yes, your Bluetooth headset will work with your Apple computer if you are running OSX 10.3.6 or later and your Apple computer has a Bluetooth module."

But it does'nt.
My conclusion - Bluetooth headsets won't work.

Using a headset needs several steps even needed if you have the latest computer or Mac OS X release. Please make sure to follow them in order.

1. Download the Apple Bluetooth Firmware Updater
2. Install it
3. Launch it from Applications > Utilities > Bluetooth Updater
4. Apply it to your adapter (takes very long).
5. Start the Apple Bluetooth Assistant and select Headset. Do not use anything else!
6. Make your headset Bluetooth visible. Look up the manual of your headset how to do that.
7. Now select the headset in System Preferences > Sound.

In most cases step 3 is missed. You have to start the installed updater yourself (do not ask me why).