Wireless Headset?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Eric
  • Start date Start date
E

Eric

Hello, I've been using voice chat over the internet with friends recently
and was wanting to get a wireless headset so I don't have to sit in front of
the computer to talk with them. Does anyone know of a relatively cheap
wireless headset? The only one I can seem to find is the Planatronics VoIP
set-up, but that is in the $200 range. I can't seem to find anything
cheaper... is there? Thanks a lot!!!
Eric
 
The only one I can seem to find is the Planatronics VoIP set-up, but that
is in the $200 range.
Click to expand...

Ridiculous price. You can buy a proper wifi VoIP phone for that sort of
money,
Zyxel 2000W, Senao etc.
Cisco makes them too, but make sure you are sitting down before asking the
price !
Regards,
Martin
 
Hello, I've been using voice chat over the internet with friends recently
and was wanting to get a wireless headset so I don't have to sit in front of
the computer to talk with them. Does anyone know of a relatively cheap
wireless headset? The only one I can seem to find is the Planatronics VoIP
set-up, but that is in the $200 range. I can't seem to find anything
cheaper... is there? Thanks a lot!!!
Eric
Click to expand...

Can you use an ordinary cordless phone?

Barry
 
I have a Plantronics DSP-400, USB, folding headset.
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/2898224 $70
The audio quality using Skype is astounding, distracting. The other party
sounds like they are in a radio studio. Using Cisco softphone, the audio
is not as good, but still very good quality. It has a mute button and a
volume control on a belt-clip on the line cord. The volume control adjusts
the Windows volume control, not just headset volume.
I find that the folding headset collapses when I set it down, so I have
to fuss with it a bit before I put it on.

The quality of the headphones is good enough that I no longer use standard
headphones to listen to music.

The Plantronics DSP-300 is the same thing, without the folding headset.
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/2898214 $60

I also have Plantronics M-110 over-the-ear over-the-head Headset which
plugs into the speaker and microphone jacks, instead of USB. This is a lot
cheaper, but inconvenient for me, and I don't like the audio quality.
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/2662862 $20

http://www.skype.com free skype-skype peer-peer internet phone, low cost
dialout to normal phones, no calls from normal phones.
 
I use a simple combination of a bluetooth adapter on my laptop and a
Bluetooth handsfree earpiece (Blue trek G2 in my case but almost any
bluetooth headset designed for mobile phones should work, and they are very
cheap) With Skype.

It's really easy to set up as long as you don't use the Dlink USB bluetooth
adapters, they have massive driver issues.

Also you have to manually open the bluetooth audio channel in the bluetooth
manager before making or taking a call, if you leave it open then the
batteries in the headset drain quickly.

Audio quality with skype is very good using this cheap headset and I have
the added advantage that I can use it with my phone too. The bluetooth
audio device appears as a alternative windows Audio device so it will work
with pretty much any software, you just set it as the preferred device so
that when the headset is on windows defaults to using it and when it is off
the system reverts back to your soundcard....easy and cheap
 
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:33:24 +0000 (UTC),
The audio quality using Skype is astounding, distracting. The other party
sounds like they are in a radio studio. Using Cisco softphone, the audio
is not as good, but still very good quality.
Click to expand...

It's more a matter of codecs than headsets. However, USB headsets do
tend to sound better. Skype uses iLBC codec:
http://www.ilbcfreeware.org
Cisco phones can use a variety of codecs, but G.729A is the most
common. The consensus is that iLBC sounds considerably better than
G.729A. iLBC costs less because there are no royalties.
http://www.skype.com free skype-skype peer-peer internet phone, low cost
dialout to normal phones, no calls from normal phones.
Click to expand...

Also includes keyboard to keyboard instant messaging (which I use when
someone forgets to turn on their audio).
 
It's more a matter of codecs than headsets. However, USB headsets do
tend to sound better. Skype uses iLBC codec:
http://www.ilbcfreeware.org
Cisco phones can use a variety of codecs, but G.729A is the most
common. The consensus is that iLBC sounds considerably better than
G.729A. iLBC costs less because there are no royalties.
Click to expand...

Oh, yes... the Skype audio is far superior to the Cisco Softphone audio.
But the USB with the DSP electronic lump in the cord is superior to the
simple headset that uses my onboard ESS Maestro with either service.
 
http://www.skype.com free skype-skype peer-peer internet phone, low cost
dialout to normal phones, no calls from normal phones.
Click to expand...

Can you set the ports it operates over? I call the Turks & Caicos a
lot, and C&W is blocking Vonage phones from operating there...
 
Can you set the ports it operates over? I call the Turks & Caicos a
lot, and C&W is blocking Vonage phones from operating there...
Click to expand...

Skype defaults to port 27727 for incoming connections which can be
changed. It also defaults to ports 80 and 443 as alternative ports,
which can also be changed. These will usually take care of any port
blocking. I don't think Cabals and WireLoss is sniffing packet
content or doing traffic analysis, so it should work.
 
Can you set the ports it operates over? I call the Turks & Caicos a
lot, and C&W is blocking Vonage phones from operating there...
Click to expand...

There is an options page which includes the ability to select a port for
incoming connections. The default is randomly selected at installation
time. Mine is 2491. There is also a checkbox to use 80 and 443 as
alternatives. Outbound wants to use some port above 1024, but can use 80
and 443. It can also be configured to use a proxy.
http://www.skype.com/help/faq/technical.html

There is also a service that I don't use, called SkypeIn. For 10Euros for
three months you can have a number where people can call into your Skype
phone, located in various countries. The Turks & Caicos aren't on the
list, but it might be handy if you have high speed access while you are in
the islands, and chose a SkypeIn number local to the people you wanted to
have call you. (Or get them to use Skype for free.)
 
Back
Top