Problem pairing Motorola HS850 with Tiger 10.4.5

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Level 3

576 points

Problem pairing Motorola HS850 with Tiger 10.4.5

I have a 17" 1.33GHZ powerbook with Tiger 10.4.5 and cannot get the Motorola HS850 bluetooth headset to pair with it. My machine has the 1.7.0 Apple Bluetooth Software Version, and it recognizes the device by its name as well.

However, the computer claims not to be able to set up headsets, as "headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware."

Note that I was told that the device would work even with "Apple's internal Bluetooth model" before even purchasing.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=326315&tstart=0

I bet it must be something very simple and stupid step that I am missing, but I have already updated with version 1.2 and my firmware is 1.0.7, restarted computer and left the headset's button pressed for a few seconds as it had instructed me. The computer recognizes it under "all devices", but it cannot install it as it is a headset.

What should I do? I really depend on this headset. Thanks!

MACPOWER

Dual 2GHZ G5, 23-Cinema, 17-1.33GHZ-Pbook, 12-1GHZ-Pbook, Mac OS X (10.4.5), Digital Rebel XT, Sigma 18-200mm, Aperture, Photoshop CS, Final Cut Pro, iSight

Posted on Feb 23, 2006 8:42 AM

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Answer 1

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Feb 23, 2006 10:11 AM in response to MACPOWER

Update.

I ran the 1.2 bluetooth firmware updater manually (as directed in other forums) and it did some kind of update. Letting it run for 15+ minutes, it did some updates, but then it had an "idle" message as if it had finished.

I tried to quit the program, and it said no updates had been installed. I ran the updater again, and same issue.

Question: is my mac's internal bluetooth up to date? The software version is 1.7.0 and the firmware is 1.526.

What's next??? I really want to use this headset soon! Thanks!

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Answer 2

Feb 23, 2006 10:20 AM in response to MACPOWER

Try again and again. Make sure Bluetooth is not used by anything else (invisble; all sharings turned off; keyboard, mouse; etc.) but activated. Then run the updater over night.

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Answer 3

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Feb 23, 2006 10:22 AM in response to Alexander Traud

I hear ya. I am following EVERYTHING by procedure. THe only bluetooth device in this room right now is a keyboard, and it is turned off. To be safe, I took out its batteries.

I will try running the firmware updater again. Please let me know if you can find other alternatives. Thanks.

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Answer 4

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Feb 23, 2006 10:27 AM in response to Alexander Traud

Alexander,

Has it worked for you? And what device are you using, and under what system setup?

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Answer 5

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Feb 24, 2006 5:06 AM in response to MACPOWER

Anyone?

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Answer 6

Feb 24, 2006 5:24 AM in response to MACPOWER

from what i remember about what the box said, the box said it will not work with laptops. i remember trying the same thing with my mac and then looked at the box which said no compatable with laptops...

~Niloc

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Answer 7

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Feb 24, 2006 7:58 AM in response to Niloc_Grey

I tried the same thing on my Dual 2GHZ G5 desktop. No luck.

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Answer 8

Feb 24, 2006 7:19 PM in response to MACPOWER

I have just experienced exactly the same problem as you with my 12inch 1.33GHz PowerBook and the Motorola HS850 headset!

When I check the details under Bluetooth in 'About this Mac' it says ... Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 1.7.0f18 - I'm not sure whether the firmware version 1,526 (1.526) refers to the Bluetooth firmware or something else.

However, even with the Motorola headset turned on and placed next to the PowerBook it was not recognised/discovered. Also, when 'Headset' was selected as the Device Type in the Bluetooth Setup Assistant the next screen simply says -
'Failed to set up the headset. Headsets are not supported on your Bluetooth hardware'.

I did check out the firmware upgrade knowledge base article but (on my reading of it) it only applied to bluetooth keyboards and mouses (mice) - not to other devices. Am I incorrect?

Cheers

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Answer 9

Feb 24, 2006 8:12 PM in response to MACPOWER

DUDE, DUDE, DUDE, I GOT IT TO WORK WI MY PB!!! After i synced it together, i went into the speaker options and changed the output to my head set, and changed the input to my HS850, i hope that it works for y'all as well

~Niloc

17" Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5) 1 GB RAM

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Answer 10

Feb 25, 2006 5:37 AM in response to Patricia Henwood

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.

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Answer 11

Feb 25, 2006 5:40 AM in response to MACPOWER

There is no alternative. If this message appears in the Apple Bluetooth Assistent, the Apple Bluetooth Firmware Updater was not applied. Try to restart the machine and reset the Parameter RAM (PRAM) with the command-option-P-R key combination. Make sure the second start sound comes up. This solves a lot of hardware issues.

Then run this updater over night. Here it took hours until my Bluetooth was found and the update was applied.

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Answer 12

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Feb 25, 2006 12:08 PM in response to MACPOWER

Alexander,

Perhaps you may want to add to your instructions on step 4 to SEE USER's MANUAL for pairing your device. I had to leave my motorola pressed for 3 seconds, then ran firmware 1.2 and then downloaded the firmware onto my headset.

After it successfully finished (took about 30 seconds), I went and installed it under my bluetooth preferences. I did that this morning and tested the device with iChat (which worked perfect even three rooms away) and Skype (not so good, some echoes).

However, all excited about my success, I came home and tried to skype within my network, and let's just say my computer is no longer pairing my device correctly. It gives me an error, saying to restart my sound device and try again. I can perfectly see the device, paired and all, but have to go back and re-install because 10 seconds after success, the device seems to shut down.

I even tried within those 10-second timeframe to make a call with skype, however, it disconnected inmediately. iChat does the same, no luck pairing. Therefore, after solving the installation problem, I cannot re-use my HS850 headset. It worked only once this morning. I have tried re-starting, re-installing, etc etc etc. Please suggest, because I am going crazy here. Thanks.

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Answer 13

Feb 26, 2006 4:05 AM in response to MACPOWER

There is no nice solution for this. Either go back to Mac OS X v10.3 or keep the Bluetooth System Preferences open at all times.

What should I add to my instructions? Do not understand why you had to turn off your headset before updating…

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Answer 14

MACPOWER Author

Level 3

576 points

Mar 1, 2006 7:47 AM in response to Alexander Traud

Hi Alexander,

Problem fixed. Only that every time I close my headset and re-open it I have to manually go back and configure the bluetooth device again. It loses its signal when it is turned off. I guess I will have to wait for Apple to come up with some other update. Thanks for all your help.

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