Macbook + Bluetooth - it aint happening!

Red Liner · 23rd June 2009, 17:32

This is the scene.

1. I have a Macbook - 13.3 incher - about a little more than a year old now. I had a bit of trouble adapting to her, but like you do with a pretty lass as a girl friend, you adapt - and FAST.

2. I recently picked up an A2DP compliant Bluetooth headset from Plantronics. Fabulous thing at an even low fabulous price. But the issue is it does not get discovered by the Macbook. I would like to use my head-set for IP traffic business conversations.

And then this is what I found on my google-trawl:

OS X and A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) - MacNN Forums

So has anyone figured a way around this? Has anyone added a blue-tooth dongle and tried working with that on the Mac?

Samurai · 23rd June 2009, 23:32

Duh! Just switch to Microsoft Vista.

Disclaimer: When Apple fans hear about Windows problems, they recommend switching to Mac. It should work other way too.

To be serious, I guess you have to get the dongle and try it. We don't have many Apple users here. Only Rudra, Sam come to mind.

Red Liner · 24th June 2009, 11:02

I figured Tejas was a freaky apple fan...where is he?

And I just managed to have all my critical applications working direct on Mac...so shifting back to Vista is a HUGE ego blow...

NetfreakBombay · 24th June 2009, 13:23

Is this Bluetooth thing built-in or are you using a Bluetooth dongle?

If you are using a dongle, its most probably a Widcomm chipset (Now motorola).

Install "Widcomm stack v 5.1.0.1100" or later. It adds A2DP to Mac OS.

Red Liner · 24th June 2009, 21:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

Is this Bluetooth thing built-in or are you using a Bluetooth dongle?

If you are using a dongle, its most probably a Widcomm chipset (Now motorola).

Install "Widcomm stack v 5.1.0.1100" or later. It adds A2DP to Mac OS.

Ah, dear NetFreak. I was wondering what took you so long to trawl down to the depths.

I am not using a dongle. The Mac comes built in with BT. I know the BT works, because it syncs quick with my SE P1i. The Bluetooth headset that I have is the Plantronics P590. Unfortunately, the Mac does not seem to find it (when I search for BT devices closeby).

My phone finds it easy and I use the BT headset regularly for mobile conversations. However, I want to have it synced with my Mac as well, for IP conversations.

My question is do I have to buy a dongle? If I have to buy one - which one for the Macbook/Leopard? And is it guaranteed to work with the Mac/P590?

vivekiny2k · 25th June 2009, 08:57

Is your headset multipoint? i.e. does it support two devices at once? try unpairing the phone first.

normally_crazy · 1st July 2009, 19:54

Hi Red Liner,

After reading your post, I tried to connect my poor little plain jane Jabra headset with my macbook. It connected seamlessly - I also listened to songs on it.

Could your headset being A2DP be the problem ?

Red Liner · 1st July 2009, 19:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

Is your headset multipoint? i.e. does it support two devices at once? try unpairing the phone first.

But if I have to do that, then what do I do if my phone rings? The way I figured it was:

1. I have one BT headset at work to walk around, take calls, make calls on the phone and on the computer through a really good quality head-set.

2. Have a regular single ear piece BT for the car - kept in the car.

Quote:

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Hi Red Liner,

After reading your post, I tried to connect my poor little plain jane Jabra headset with my macbook. It connected seamlessly - I also listened to songs on it.

Could your headset being A2DP be the problem ?

Your Jabra has got to be A2DP for it to be able to receive music from your Mac. No?

vivekiny2k · 1st July 2009, 20:08

my plantronics 520 is multipoint. It is paired to my laptop as well as my phone. I hardly use it for receiving calls though. Mostly used for making calls.

why did you switch the topic from macbook to car?

For car you can have a bluetooth speaker phone, so it doesn't have to stick to your ears. there are GPS units that support this function.

back to macbook, i guess the reason you are not able to connect is because it is already paired to phone. From product description, P590 doesn't look like multipoint.

EDIT: I over reacted. perfectly fine to switch to a CAR topic from any topic on this community. LOL

23rd June 2009, 17:32	#1
Red Liner Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,371 Thanked: 19,256 Times	Macbook + Bluetooth - it aint happening! This is the scene. 1. I have a Macbook - 13.3 incher - about a little more than a year old now. I had a bit of trouble adapting to her, but like you do with a pretty lass as a girl friend, you adapt - and FAST. 2. I recently picked up an A2DP compliant Bluetooth headset from Plantronics. Fabulous thing at an even low fabulous price. But the issue is it does not get discovered by the Macbook. I would like to use my head-set for IP traffic business conversations. And then this is what I found on my google-trawl: OS X and A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) - MacNN Forums So has anyone figured a way around this? Has anyone added a blue-tooth dongle and tried working with that on the Mac?
	() Thanks

23rd June 2009, 23:32	#2
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,997 Thanked: 49,927 Times View My Garage	Duh! Just switch to Microsoft Vista. Disclaimer: When Apple fans hear about Windows problems, they recommend switching to Mac. It should work other way too. To be serious, I guess you have to get the dongle and try it. We don't have many Apple users here. Only Rudra, Sam come to mind.
	() Thanks

24th June 2009, 11:02	#3
Red Liner Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,371 Thanked: 19,256 Times	I figured Tejas was a freaky apple fan...where is he? And I just managed to have all my critical applications working direct on Mac...so shifting back to Vista is a HUGE ego blow...
	() Thanks

24th June 2009, 13:23	#4
NetfreakBombay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,481 Thanked: 1,130 Times	Is this Bluetooth thing built-in or are you using a Bluetooth dongle? If you are using a dongle, its most probably a Widcomm chipset (Now motorola). Install "Widcomm stack v 5.1.0.1100" or later. It adds A2DP to Mac OS.
	() Thanks

25th June 2009, 08:57	#6
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 212 Times View My Garage	Is your headset multipoint? i.e. does it support two devices at once? try unpairing the phone first.
	() Thanks

1st July 2009, 19:54	#7
normally_crazy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,305 Thanked: 543 Times View My Garage	Hi Red Liner, After reading your post, I tried to connect my poor little plain jane Jabra headset with my macbook. It connected seamlessly - I also listened to songs on it. Could your headset being A2DP be the problem ?
	() Thanks

1st July 2009, 20:08	#9
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 212 Times View My Garage	my plantronics 520 is multipoint. It is paired to my laptop as well as my phone. I hardly use it for receiving calls though. Mostly used for making calls. why did you switch the topic from macbook to car? For car you can have a bluetooth speaker phone, so it doesn't have to stick to your ears. there are GPS units that support this function. back to macbook, i guess the reason you are not able to connect is because it is already paired to phone. From product description, P590 doesn't look like multipoint. EDIT: I over reacted. perfectly fine to switch to a CAR topic from any topic on this community. LOL Last edited by vivekiny2k : 1st July 2009 at 20:12.
	() Thanks