Motorola H500 headset. URGENT.

Question

Motorola H500 headset. URGENT.

Dear Members:

I am struggling with a Motorola H500 Bluetooth headset I can't seem to connect to my Powerbook. I have already checked and I have the latest versions of both the Bluetooth Firmware (1.2) and the Bluetooth Software (1.5) installed in my computer.

The initial set up new device window goes to the point of recognizing the headset and the name appears on the window but then it keeps searching. If I click the headset name selecting it and click the continue button it gives me a message that the connection failed.

Just called Motorola and had a technical support agent answer my call in Costa Rica who admitted to knowing nothing about the Macintosh. This is in fact the third time I run into this same situation with Motorola. I find it quite interesting that the company that manufactured the chip used on the Mac for so many years cares so little about the Mac community as to choose to provide absolutely no technical support to Mac customers.

How can I connect this two devices ? I really need to get this headset to work with my Powerbook. Any ideas ?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Joseph Chamberlain

Powermac G5, dual 2.0 GHz, 2.5 GB RAM, (2) 400 GB HD, Mac OS X (10.4.4), Powerbook G4, 1.33 GHz, 1.0 GB RAM, 80 GB HD

Posted on Feb 7, 2006 10:24 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Vismad

Level 1

0 points

Feb 7, 2006 11:29 AM in response to apple_customer

I just bought the H500 in the hopes to use it on my mac and skype software. So far I am able to pair the two together. I just tried a call with another user and the sound quality on his side was pretty bad. Will need to figure out if I am using this correctly.

Maybe you need to restart your computer and try again. My mac asked about a passkey which I put 0000 and it connected fine.

Reply

Answer 2

Feb 7, 2006 12:43 PM in response to Vismad

I tried several times but it doesn't work.

After the set up new device window displays the Motorola H500 entry it keeps searching for other devices. When I select the headset and click on continue to move to the next step a new window opens displaying the following message:

"Failed to set up the headset. Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware"

What exactly does this mean ?

I was under the impression that Bluetooth devices could always connect with each other without major compatibility issues.

For some reason I am not being able to connect the two.

Any ideas ?

Thank you for your help,

Joseph

Reply

Answer 3

rivo

Level 1

0 points

Feb 9, 2006 8:54 AM in response to apple_customer

I have the same headset and it works quite well
with my PB and Skype.
The point about the Bluetooth setup that keeps
searching is correct, you headset is discovered
so it means that you're putting the headset into
"discoverable" mode properly (holding the button
until you hear a beep when turning it on).

I used to get a similar error (something along the
lines of "this hardware is not supported", I don't
remember exactly) before upgrading my BT firmware.
I would double check if the BT firmware got installed
properly. I don't know how to be sure apart from
checking the BT hardware in the system profiler
(there's a button in the "About this Mac" window
under the apple menu).

After upgrading the BT firmware, after the PB discovers
the headset it asks for a BT passcode ("0000") and
the headset gets configured fine.

A possibility is that the headset might be broken,
can you test it with a mobile phone?

Good luck,
Andrea

PB 12 800Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Reply

Answer 4

rivo

Level 1

0 points

Feb 9, 2006 9:11 AM in response to apple_customer

Let me hold a small lecture 🙂
No, it is not guaranteed that any BT certified
device can talk to any BT device.
The BT standard defines a number of "profiles",
eg. "sound", "human interface" (mice, keyboards),
"data transfer", etc.
Two BT devices can talk if they have a profile in
common, eg. you cannot exchange files with a mouse
or get audio from a keyboard.

It appears that the old BT firmware in the PowerBook
did not support the "audio" profile to connect to
headsets.

Andrea

PB 12 800Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Reply

Answer 5

Feb 13, 2006 3:37 AM in response to apple_customer

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 already 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.

Do not install the Apple Bluetooth software 1.5.0. This is outdated software. Please apply the latest combined Mac OS X updater which will correct your Apple Bluetooth back to version 1.5.4 on Mac OS X v10.3.9 and version 1.7.0 on Mac OS X v10.4.4.

Reply

Answer 6

Feb 21, 2006 10:30 PM in response to Alexander Traud

Alexander:

Thank you for the detailed reply to my posts with instructions on how to properly set up my Bluetooth device.

I have followed your instructions on updating my Bluetooth firmware and it has been update to the latest version 1.7.0 (I am running 10.4.5).

Unfortunately I couldn't test my Motorola headset as I chose to return it the day after I purchase as I was afraid to get stuck with a product I would have no use for.

I am considering the purchase of another wireless headset that can be a Bluetooth device or any other that works reliably. I have found myself using Skype and iChat more frequently lately and need I wireless phone to give me the same freedom my conventional wireless Panasonic phone currently gives me.

What is the best wireless phone option to be connected to a Mac ? Is there a phone similar to a conventional wireless home phone that can be connected to a computer and used for internet communication ?

Ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

Joseph

Reply

Answer 7

stephe

Level 1

0 points

Feb 24, 2006 3:07 PM in response to Vismad

Hi: Did you ever figure out the sound quality problem on your H500? I'm having the same issue. The headset works great with the mobile phone, and it pairs just fine with the Mac, (indeed I can here the laptop just fine) but when I use Skype or SJPhone the call recipients complain that there is a "buzzing" in the background that I certainly can't here.

15" G4 Powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1GB Memory, 100GB HD, Superdrive

Reply

Answer 8

oneil

Level 1

9 points

May 11, 2006 11:56 PM in response to rivo

You posted a response regarding the use of a Motorola H500 with a Mac:

Re: Motorola H500 headset. URGENT.
Posted: Feb 9, 2006 8:54 AM in response to: Joseph Chamberl...

You said, "I have the same headset and it works quite well
with my PB and Skype."

I have the same setup... I got my Mac to successfully browse, then I get an error: "Blue tooth audio failed."

"There was an error connecting to your headset. Make sure it is turned on and in range. The audio portion of the program you were using may have to be restarted."

Did you get the same error? How did you resolve it, if you did? Am I missing something?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Robert

17 powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Reply

Answer 9

Jul 17, 2006 4:27 AM in response to apple_customer

I too am having a heap of trouble with my new Motorola H500. It pairs with my cell phone fine and works. It also pairs with my Mac PBG4, but it says "There are no supported services found on your device" and it does not show up as an option in the Sound control panel. When I go to the Bluetooth Devices window, it shows the headset, says it is an audio device, that it is connected, and that the services it has are "Hands-Free". It does NOT show "Headset" services. Does the Mac not support Hands-Free mode or is my headset messed up?

Thanks

Reply

Answer 10

Jul 9, 2007 7:26 PM in response to apple_customer

Thank you all for your answers. I appreciate your help and input.

Joseph Chamberlain

Reply