Pocket Bluetooth Tools - Add Handsfree Profile To Your XDA II

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://bluetooth.i-networx.de/index_e.html' target='_blank'>http://bluetooth.i-networx.de/index_e.html</a><br /><br /></div>"Pocket Bluetooth Tools adds the missing Bluetooth functions to the O2 XDA II (or other compatible PDAs like the MDA II). The current version includes: <li> Support for Bluetooth Headsets and Car kits (Headset and Handsfree Profile). You may use up to 9 devices at the same time and you do not need to bond the [devices?] again.<br /><li> Support for the SSP profile (serial port), e.g. for GPS receivers or modems<br /><li> Support for ActiveSync (synchronization with Outlook and Internet connection)<br /><li> Switch Bluetooth on and off automatically" I've heard a number of complaints on the lack of profiles in the XDA II's Bluetooth implementation, so this might be a useful workaround for some of you. It appears to be a free program, although the author does solicit donations if you find it helpful.

[mmarlor]

I've tested it out now with BT ActiveSync, BT GPS, and BT Headset. Working very nicely, although a few observations:

- Searching for BT devices is buggy. A lot of the time it returns "No devices found" immediately now, and it seems only a soft reset (or perhaps turning the radio stack off and back on) will really rectify this.

- First time I bond a device, it doesn't "take". Have to delete the bond and recreate it before BT Tools will pick it up and prompt for the profile.

- A couple of times it's not worked even after profile screen was selected. However, deleting and recreating the bond rectifies this.

- Typically, bonds stay forever once this is rectified - however I just now had an issue where it seemed like the bond with my Jabra had been lost altogether - rebonding fixed this but it may be a bug that unfortunately re-introduces my old Jabra issues :-(

- XDA II no longer automatically transfers to BT headset when I initiate a call from the handset. However, pressing the call button on my Jabra picks up the call, and I can then hang up.

- Can now initiate the call from the Jabra - as Mike pointed out, last number redial is now possible, but you can also type in your number, then press call on the headset!

- Once your call is on the BT headset, there is no way provided at the phone screen to transfer back to handset. Haven't found a way yet, either.

- BT must be turned back on before you can dial from the headset. No biggy - you could always leave BT permanently on if this is an issue.

- BT off after 30 seconds is awesome! Returns BT to active on incoming call, or where BT is called for. Not perfect - but hey, when it's free, and it's saving your precious battery life! :-D

- Today screen plugin is awesome. Shows the BT state, and provides you with a couple of power profiles to select between - not bad at all!

So: a few bugs, but none so bad that I don't think I can live with them. I'm sure Tobias will rectify the bugs (1.08 was rock solid for GPS operation) - and man, is this one serious piece of work.

If you use Pocket Bluetooth Tools and it fixes your issues (or improves something for you), I really do recommend clicking on Tobias' Paypal link and donating .. it's gotta be worth it! :mrgreen:

[adamz]

Well, it worked once. But subsequent uses wouldn't transfer the call to the headset and redial stopped working. So I uninstalled, and then the Bluetooth headset wouldn't work at all, nor would making calls on the XDA2 play any audio on the speaker. Re-pairing and resetting a few times seemed to fix that (for now). I don't like not having the headset icon in the title bar for transferring the call back to the handset. Also, there's really no way of knowing if the call is being transfered to the headset or what (without that icon).
I hope WM2003 Second Edition has better handsfree support.. and voice tags!

[DaleReeck]

If your headset is a Jabra, this is a known problem with firmware versions below 19 I believe. The firmware is a grey number printed near the mouthpiece. I think the version was 19, but I don't remember exactly. Anything below 19 and the XDA II forgets the bond if the headset is turned off or put out of range and always has to be re-bonded. I have a version 31 and it stays bonded all the time.

[snayar]

The best use for this so far has been the fact that I usually synchronize with two PCs through Bluetooth, and It was a pain to do since every time I needed to re-bond to each computer.

With this software I can synch selectively with no problems.

I have not tested this with my Plantronics M3000 headset yet, since I lost my power supply for the Plantronics.

It seems like a very nice piece of donationware!

[Jon Westfall]

My only wish is that you could easily transfer from headset back to phone. Maybe I'll try experimenting and seeing if this is possible.

Jon.

[mmarlor]

If your headset is a Jabra, this is a known problem with firmware versions below 19 I believe. The firmware is a grey number printed near the mouthpiece. I think the version was 19, but I don't remember exactly. Anything below 19 and the XDA II forgets the bond if the headset is turned off or put out of range and always has to be re-bonded. I have a version 31 and it stays bonded all the time.

Issue was rectified in the O2 Asia 1.60 ROM.

[adamz]

If your headset is a Jabra, this is a known problem with firmware versions below 19 I believe. The firmware is a grey number printed near the mouthpiece. I think the version was 19, but I don't remember exactly. Anything below 19 and the XDA II forgets the bond if the headset is turned off or put out of range and always has to be re-bonded. I have a version 31 and it stays bonded all the time.

Nah, I have two Bluespoons and they work flawlessly without Pocket Bluetooth Tools. I think I'll go back to the regular software until the 'Transfer call to phone" button comes back. I so totally wish the WM2003 Second Edition upgrade has the Handsfree profile and Voice Tags support.

[rnuqui]

Pocket BlueTooth Tools does not seem to work after the O2 XDA II ROM is upgraded to 1.60. When it senses that the remote BlueTooth device is capable of acting as a headset, the XDA II initiates a dialog to ask the user if it wants to set the remote device as a headset. It bypasses PBT altogether.

So now, the other PBT profiles are unusable since you can't select them any longer.

[heliod]

I have been using it with my iMate since January, and it works like Magic for me. It has helped me to connect to my headset, to my Bluetooth GPS, and to my notebook. Has never failed me.

In the beginning I had ROM 1.60, now I have upgraded to 1.66.

I have heard that something was broken on the March version of the tools, but he has just released a new version in April 12.

[mmarlor]

Much of my problem with the Jabra headset in particular seems to have been with the auto power-off of Bluetooth - disabling it seems to have rectified that :-)

rnugui, have you downloaded and installed the new version of PBT?

[Phillip Dyson]

Is this tool actually a complete different bluetooth stack?

Has anyone tried this on a non-phone edition pocket pc?