Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Headset System and USB Bluetooth, for use with Skype VoIP and Cellphone at the same time.

I just got this Plantronics Voyager 510-USB Headset from Plantronics S.E. Asia. I am checking if it works good with Skype. And it does as you can read below. The installation of this USB Bluetooth dongle went seamless. I just plugged it and it got recognized by windows. No hardware issues whatsoever. It’s a Plantronics, remember that !

Then off to the installation of the software to link up the dongle to the bluetooth headset, nothing much to say about that either. It’s fairly simply and it does not need the complicated Bluetooth Windows XP system to get going. It works by itself. In a nutshell : the PerSonoCall provides links softphone applications and Plantronics headsets.

 The Current version of PerSonoCall provides integration with the following softphone applications:

• Avaya Softphone
• Cisco Softphone
• Shoretel Softphone
• Skype
• Pingtel Xpressa

Some third-party softphone vendors (such as XTen) are working on  incorporating support for Plantronics headsets directly into their softphones.

  

The software is linked to Skype and got directly recognized by the “Skype Privacy Manager”. I am using Skype 3.0. Then simply switching the sound device in Skype and that is it. All done ! The whole process to me only 5 minutes at most.

    

I do feel that a small printed booklet with a user manual is missing in this box – there is on the cdrom on the other hand. But then again the operation of such a bluetooth device are so basic and simple. Only 3 buttons to press. But for the software that would have been handy. But okay, you got the help-button and who likes to read manuals anyways… But the pdf-manual is perfect. Need it ? Print it !

“It would have been usefull to explain the users how to integrate bluetooth into their Windows XP system…” At least that is what I thought, but I did not have go through the painfull procedure to implement Bluetooth on my Windows System. Just add the right sound device to the Skype control panel did the trick and load up the bluetooth headset of course. Then switch it on. The manual on the cdrom explains the steps in detail. Seamless enough for me.

Now let us test the sound quality and see if it captures background noise. I am not making a documentary on the fans, aircons or birds when people call me.. I just want them to hear my voice. I noticed that people who call me are now complaining less about the aircon zooming in the background. Neither do they seem to hear that much my background keyboard noise. Good.

How far does it let me wonder off from my computer ?

In my environment about 5 to 10 meters.

Does it pair at the same time with my cellphone.

Yes it does that. It is linked to Skype and to a cellphone simultaneously. Dual pairing.

Advantages of one eared headset :

You are not locked out of the surrounding environment. I can’t say how many times somebody was standing behind and I did not even hair them coming, when you are wearing a full skype 2–eared headset. Also very bad when you miss out on visitors… that are ringing the doorbell.. .

company : www.plantronics.com

Compatibility with other Devices : http://www.cellhut.com/product-1062.html

Comments

[ejeehi]

does the 510 work without the bluetooth dongle with a laptop which has installed bluetooth?

[tropicaljantie]

I also checked out the plantronics 510 device. Interesting to note that the Bluetooth stack's built into the USB dongle (PC sees the dongle as a sound card), thus removing all the instability (and security) issues associated with normal wireless Bluetooth. SO no trouble in setting it up.

Note that the the Audio 910 is the Skype/Microsoft Communication only version of the 510USB; minus the power adapter and standing base (it comes only with the USB dongle with built-in Bluetooth stack and the USB charger).

[Lisa Onizuka]

I'm also trying to get my 510 to work with another bluetooth dongle. It is recognized, I was able to link them, but now what?

[ernie]

Do you know if 510 would work without using the USB Bluetooth dongle? There's a large price difference between 510 headset and 510-USB. My laptop comes with bluetooth enabled. Thanks.