"Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."

I'm on Tiger, a PowerBook 15", 1.25 GHz. I just bought a Motorola HS810 BT headset - following the instructions at the Apple support site, I launched the Bluetooth Setup Assistant and attempted to add device.

But when I select headset as the device to add, I get dumped to a screen saying: "Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."

So I tried adding any device - I get a menu of visible devices, and it lists the headset - but when I go to advance to the next screen, once again I get: "Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."

I've seen a number of similar but not identical posts suggesting upgrading the firmware - I'm on Tiger, so it's 1.526, no further updates available - updating the Bluetooth software - I'm on version 1.6, as far as I can tell, and no further updates available. I've read about zapping the PRAM, and done it, no change in symptoms.

So I'm wondering, is this a Tiger bug? Has anyone successfully joined a BT headset to a PowerBook G4?

Many thanks,

Posted on May 5, 2005 1:12 PM

140 replies

Nov 4, 2005 6:35 AM in response to Andy Wright1

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.

Download the Apple Bluetooth Firmware Updater
Install it
Launch it from Applications > Utilities > Bluetooth Updater
Apply it to your adapter (takes very long).
Start the Apple Bluetooth Assistant and select Headset. Do not use anything else!
Make your headset Bluetooth visible. Look up the manual of your headset how to do that.
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). Step 4 fails if your Bluetooth USB adapter is not supported by Apple and you have to go for a D-Link DBT-120 USB adapter.

Nov 29, 2005 7:19 PM in response to Alexander Traud

I plugged the dongle into a USB Cable (which I think came with the DBT-120?) which was plugged into a powered USB hub... the updater did: Searching for device... idle... searching... idle... etc... but NEVER found the dongle to update...

I Plugged the dongle directly into the hub... it found it and updated it...

NO IDEA WHY... it was receiving power (green LEDs on). the computer knew it was there (bluetooth setup obviously knew that a blutooth device was present)... BUT, be careful about plugging it into a cable (and maybe an unpowered hub)

I then launched the Bluetooth Setup... found the headset and paired with it...

Now of course, after updating the dongle, it (supposedly) won't work except on OS X... which I think is a lousy tradeoff Apple!

g4 DP 800MHz Mac OS X (10.4)

g4 DP 800MHz Mac OS X (10.4)

Dec 27, 2005 3:26 AM in response to Rod Smith

Hi,

I downloaded the BT update (big mistake), instaled it (secong mistake) and... can pair my phone but iSync sais that it will not work with it!

"iSync can not connect to this device"

The blue light on the BT adapter, that flashed every second, is now dead.
I can see my phone on the devices list, but can't sync it by iSync and can't browse it ("Unable to validate the device")

Stupid me :/
I don't think about my headset enymore, just want to turn syncing my phone back.
This morning everything was fine... 😟

PowerMac G5 2Ghz dual-core Mac OS X (10.4.3) SonyEricsson T610, Nokia HS-36W, Bluetake BT007X adapter

Dec 27, 2005 3:37 AM in response to Pawel Jonca

Update: After deleting my phone from the device list I CAN'T pair it.
It seems that my Bluetake adapter is dead after BT udpater.

Dec 27, 2005 11:16 PM in response to Andy Wright1

The same thing happens to me using a HBH-35 and a Kensington BT2.0 EDR dongle. It seems to connect than it drops almost immediately. Bummer.

kamen

Level 1

0 points

Jan 10, 2006 12:41 PM in response to Gabriel Jackson

I'm sorry if the question appears daft, but... When you explain that all Bluetooth adapters need the firmware update, does that also include the Bluetooth transmitter already contained with the machine?

I intend to purchase a SonyEricsson HBH Akono headset to use for Skype calls.

I imagine I will be able to do that easily after updating, making the correct choices in preferences. Am I optimistic? Will I need repeated attempts at this before I get it to work (the impression I got from some posts?)

OPM

Level 1

10 points

Jan 10, 2006 9:35 PM in response to kamen

This is sweet! I just did the whole procedure. First time it stayed idle and grayed out my BT indicator. I rebooted and turned the bluetooth off. Started the updater. It asked to turn on the BT and I did and it started the update. After it finished I verified that I had the latest firmware in "ABOUT THIS MAC".

Yes you need to run the updater for the internal BT also. I tested Skype with Sony Ericsson HBH-662 BT headset.

I thought that my Powerbook 1Ghz 17" has an old version of BT and didn't believe that I can find a solution to use the headset..

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Jan 15, 2006 12:13 PM in response to OPM

OK just so no one repeats what has been repeated I am using a G5 dual 2.0 at 10.4.4

I have repaired perimissions twice

I Downloaded the Apple Bluetooth Firmware Updater
I Installed it
I Launch it from Applications > Utilities > Bluetooth Updater
I make sure there is no BT functoning in house
I have tried both BT on and off on the G5
I have tried Appling it to your adapter DBT 120 ver 3
docl disappears
it serached and starts updating several times
After 5 -6 minutes it goes idle and Dock returns.

I have lost count but I think I am at cyce 6 or 7

Should I put tin foil over the G5 to shield it from instellar radiation as I do this?

thanks

jason

Jan 15, 2006 5:00 PM in response to Alexander Traud

Jan 26, 2006 11:44 PM in response to Jason Hirsh

Just the same here for me: downloaded the firmware updater on my dualcore G5 2GHz, with a D-Link BT120-revB4 module. The updater launches when I try it, then I click update and after hiding the dock and the menu bar, it cycles through "Searching for device" - "Preparing to upgrade" - "idle" a couple of times, finally returning to the beginning: 2 buttons, upgrade and quit. When I click quit, it quits with a warning that bluetooth hasn't been updated and headsets are still not supported in the device setup. Tried it a ton of times yet.

I especially bought this D-Link cause my Asante bluetooth module didn't support headsets in OS X 10.4.3 and higher, and now it still doesn't work...

I noticed on this forum there used to be some bluetooth updater 1.0.2 page with a version for OS X 10.4.3, but that page is no longer available at apple.com, anyone have a clue?

G5 Dualcore 2 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.4) more RAM, HDs, displays, ...

Jan 27, 2006 2:29 AM in response to Thomas DG

Make sure Bluetooth is on but no used by any application. It works…sometimes it takes a lot of retries.

artifex

Level 1

50 points

Jan 27, 2006 11:22 AM in response to Alexander Traud

Hey, Alex, remember me asking about the iogear dongle, and you told me Apple didn't fully support it? I finally gave in and bought the DBT-120 when it was on sale for $20. After running the firmware updater, the dongle worked and let me see my headset. Thanks 🙂

GokhanNL

Level 1

0 points

Feb 16, 2006 2:53 PM in response to Thomas DG

Hello Thomas,

I have exactly same problem. Did you find anything to fix it?

I already have a internal bluetooth adapter in my G5 but its range is 2" so I go and get an adapter from a friend to use and applied bluetooth firmware update but offcourse it did not work. And then I bought DBT-120 and trying to apply bluetooth firmware update to it but it cyles through search for a device and preparing to upgrade and then becomes idle forever.

Then I tried to pair with simple bluetooth mouse and now I am getting
"An error occured attempting to search for a mice" message and even not able to connect to mice anymore.

Have can I disable internal bluetooth adapter if there is a conflict?

Thanks in advance
Gokhan

Feb 16, 2006 3:16 PM in response to GokhanNL

I wish I found a solution...
Still didn't manage to update the firmware and now when I try to discover new bluetooth devices, it even gives an error ("An error occurred attempting to perform the search."). So I guess the firmware updater somehow broke the bluetooth module and it sounds well like being the same problem as you have...

Waiting for my Macbook Pro now; will use that one with the headset.

Feb 16, 2006 10:10 PM in response to Thomas DG

When I try to run the Bluetooth Firmware updated, it says "This Blutooth device is not supported. This computer does not have an Apple Bluetooth module installed. It cannot be updated by this aplication." I have Bluetooth. It was installed on my Powermac G5 dual 2.6. My mouse and keyboard are Bluetooth. I have connected to 4 different phones thought Bluetooth. I got it last June.

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"Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."