A Fresh Catch: Bluetake's BT400 G5 Bluetooth Headset on the Platter [Archive]

Darius Wey

05-17-2006, 04:00 PM

<img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-00.gif" /> Product Category: Bluetooth Headset Manufacturer: <a href="http://www.bluetake.com/">Bluetake</a> Where to Buy: <a href="http://www.bluetake.com/where_to_buy.htm">Multiple Distributors</a> Price: $49.95 USD (varies from store to store). System Requirements: Any Bluetooth-enabled mobile device supporting the Hands-Free (HFP) & Headset (HSP) profiles. Pros:<li> Relatively small and light; <li> Multiple colour schemes; <li> Excellent range; <li> Good audio quality.Cons:<li>Confusing button design; <li> Meagre battery life.Summary: When I had the opportunity to review Bluetake's BT400 G5 Bluetooth headset, I jumped on it as I was eager to see if it was the headset to end all headsets. Read on to find out more! <!> <PAGEBREAK> What's in the Box? Bluetake's cube-shaped box contains:<li>The BT400 G5 Bluetooth headset; <li>A multi-lingual user guide; <li>A power adapter (with a plug to suit Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom, or the United States). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-01.jpg" /> Figure 1: In addition to the BT400 G5 Bluetooth Headset, the box includes a power adapter and a user guide. The power adapter is slim - similar to Nokia's Fast & Light chargers, except the plug has a lot of bulk to it. In a way, it kills the portability factor of the power adapter, but it's hardly an issue because it's not something you'll be carrying around as often as the headset itself. Design, Comfort and Specifications So, first impressions - the headset resembles a fish, from the shape of the body to the scale-like rubber ridges. To prove the point, the Chinese character for fish (pronounced, yú) is printed on the headset's tail (if I can call it that). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-02.jpg" /> Figure 2: The BT400 G5 Bluetooth headset - (1) ear hook; (2) volume buttons; (3) Talk/Transfer button; (4) indicator light; (5) Power/Mute button. The outer casing of the headset is made of a hard plastic available in three different colours: Dolphin (a pale, metallic light blue), Marlin (silver; featured in this review), and Sea Bass (a dark shade of grey). The centre of the headset is coated with a layer of black rubber, which as mentioned earlier, is covered by a series of ridges. Two of the ridges are buttons - one is a Talk/Transfer button (#3 of Figure 2), which can also be used for voice dialing if your phone supports it; the other is a Power/Mute button (#5 of Figure 2). They are marked with orange lines and are slightly raised above the others - but annoyingly, this doesn't add all that much to the overall usability of the headset. When on the ear, the orange lines aren't visible, and the raised buttons don't really offer additional tactile feedback over the other ridges. During the first couple of weeks of use, you may find yourself playing a frantic guessing game as you press each and every ridge in frustration. As you adapt to the design of the headset, you should (hopefully) overcome this flaw. On to other aspects of the design, the indicator light (#4 of Figure 2) is located between the two buttons. It provides signals for the operational status and power status of the headset. On either side of the ridges are the volume buttons (#2 of Figure 2); the Volume Up button contains a raised outline of the plus sign, making it easier to feel when the headset is mounted on the ear. The charging connector is located toward the rear of the headset. It isn't rubber-capped, so there's always the fear of dust accumulation. <PAGEBREAK> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-03.jpg" /> Figure 3: The BT400 G5 Bluetooth headset - (1) ear hook; (2) microphone; (3) swivel point; (4) speaker. Turning the headset over (Figure 3) reveals the ear hook (#1 of Figures 2 and 3) attached to a swivel point (#3 of Figure 3). The swivel point can rotate around roughly 360°, while the hook itself can rotate 180° within the swivel point - both rotational movements effectively allow you to mount the headset on either ear and in an orientation of your choice. Rotating the hook within the swivel point does require a bit of force and it clicks every 90°. When I first tried it, I thought it broke, but I soon realised that this was just part of the headset's design. Phew! As you mount the headset on your ear, the plastic speaker (#4 of Figure 3) sits at the entry of your external ear canal. It's very different to most other headsets, which tend to use either a gel insert or a padded foam cover. From a comfort and practicality perspective, it has an upside and downside. Starting with the upside, I found that it wasn't too invasive. While wearing it, I could still hear my surroundings from both ears. Yet (the downside), the unique modelling of the speaker made it hard to fit in the ear. There were times when it felt loose, and as I shook my head, the headset was flapping about my ear and on the brink of falling off. Well, perhaps it's simply due to the shape of my ears, which I doubt because they are actually normal - honestly! Either way, I had to resort to orienting the headset to be perfectly horizontal before it would stay secure. The microphone (#2 of Figure 3) is located at the tip of the headset. It isn't of the noise-cancelling variety, but it still performs rather well. More on that later. Here is an overview of the headset's specifications:<li>Radio: 2.4GHz - 2.480GHz (Carrier Frequency); <li>Coverage: Bluetooth 1.2 - Class 2 / 5 to 10 metres in open space; <li>Spread Spectrum: FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum); <li>Supported Profiles: HFP (Hands-Free Profile) / HSP (Headset Profile); <li>Power Input: 5V / 200mA - 500mA; <li>Power Rating: 5mW - 10mW; <li>Battery: 3.7V / 120mA / Li-Polymer / Rechargeable; <li>Speaker: 13mm / 300Hz - 3.4KHz / 112dB ± 3dB @ 1KHz (SPL - Sound Pressure Level) / 5% (THD - Total Harmonic Distortion); <li>Dimensions: 82mm x 53mm x 24mm; <li>Weight: 20g.While the headset isn't the smallest or lightest on the market, it is comfortably-sized and doesn't weigh down the ear. <PAGEBREAK> Getting Started The BT400 G5 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery. Just like most other electronic devices, it requires an initial charge to get it going. This takes approximately two hours (using the supplied power adapter), and the same applies for every subsequent charging cycle. The headset's indicator light displays the status of the battery - that is, solid red while charging; blue when fully charged. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-04.jpg" /> Figure 4: Charging the BT400 G5. A Bit About Profiles Before I talk about pairing and connecting the headset, it's worth pointing out what your mobile device requires in order for the headset to be functional. Like most of today's headsets, your mobile device's Bluetooth stack must support the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) and/or the Headset Profile (HSP). An overview of these two profiles is provided below, courtesy of the <a href="http://www.bluetooth.com/">Bluetooth.com web site</a>. Hands-Free Profile (HFP) "HFP describes how a gateway device can be used to place and receive calls for a hand-free device. A typical configuration is an automobile using a mobile phone for a gateway device. In the car, the stereo is used for the phone audio and a microphone is installed in the car for sending outgoing audio. HFP is also used for a personal computer to act as a speaker phone for a mobile phone in a home or office environment. HFP uses SCO to carry a mono, PCM audio channel." Headset Profile (HSP) "The HSP describes how a Bluetooth enabled headset should communicate with a computer or other Bluetooth enabled device such as a mobile phone. When connected and configured, the headset can act as the remote device's audio input and output interface. The HSP relies on SCO for audio and a subset of AT commands from GSM 07.07 for minimal controls including the ability to ring, answer a call, hang up and adjust the volume." Almost all the latest Pocket PCs (in particular, Phone Edition devices) include HFP & HSP. But there are exceptions, such as the Windows Mobile 5.0-upgraded Dell Axim X50v. Unfortunately, Dell excluded these two profiles when implementing the Microsoft Bluetooth stack in its release of the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade, and as of now, no further 'correctional' ROM updates have been issued for the device. :( <PAGEBREAK> Pairing and Connecting You will need to pair the headset with your mobile device prior to use. In this section of the review, I provide a step-by-step guide for pairing the headset with a Windows Mobile 5.0-based Pocket PC using a HFP/HSP-equipped Microsoft Bluetooth stack. If you have Adaptation Kit Update 2 (AKU 2) installed, the connection wizard will appear unchanged. If you have the Broadcom Bluetooth stack, the exact instructions for pairing and connecting will vary. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-05.jpg" /> Figure 5: Turning on Bluetooth in one simple step. The first step involves putting the headset in pairing mode. Bluetake advises you hold the Power/Mute button down for 7-8 seconds. I timed it, and it's actually more of a 10-11 second press-and-hold process. At any rate, when successfully in pairing mode, the headset's indicator light will alternate between red and blue. Next, activate the Pocket PC's Bluetooth radio. To do this, tap on the Bluetooth icon in the bottom-right corner of the Today screen (alternatively, your OEM may have provided a separate Bluetooth Today plug-in, so tap on that instead). This will launch the Bluetooth Settings manager and default to the Mode tab (Figure 5). Tick the box labelled 'Turn on Bluetooth', and then tick the box labelled 'Make this device discoverable to other devices'. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-06.jpg" /> Figure 6: On the way to creating a new partnership. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-07.jpg" /> Figure 7: Discovering the BT400 G5. From there, tap the Devices tab, and then tap New Partnership (Figure 6). After a few seconds, your device will display a list of discoverable Bluetooth devices, of which the BT400 G5 should be one (Figure 7). Highlight the BT400 G5 entry, and tap Next. You'll then be required to enter the generic 0000 passkey (Figure 8 ), followed by the tapping of Next. Finally, enter a display name (the default BT400 G5 name is suffice), select the desired services (in this case, Hands Free), and then tap Finish. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-08.jpg" /> Figure 8: Staying secure! The headset should now be paired and connected to your Pocket PC. If you have a Phone Edition device, you should see a headset icon in the Phone application (Figure 9). You can now use the headset for all voice communications (e.g. cellular or VoIP). <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-09.jpg" /> Figure 9: Up and running with a Pocket PC Phone Edition. <PAGEBREAK> Performance In this section of the review, I focus on three major factors associated with overall headset performance: battery life, operating range, and audio quality. The BT400 G5's battery only offers five hours worth of talking time (with 250 hours worth of standby time). This falls short of the typical seven to eight hours that a lot of Jabra's and Logitech's Bluetooth headsets offer. If you're a frequent hands-free talker, you can expect to charge this headset a few times a week. A shortcoming? Yes. Enough to drive you insane? No. As a Class 2 headset, the BT400 G5 has an approximate range of ten metres. Overall, I found it performed better over distance and through walls than my Logitech Mobile Freedom. In a straight hallway bordered by brick walls, I was able to sneak in 15 to 16 decently-sized steps before the headset started to 'crackle'. With a Bluetooth 1.2 specification, the headset sports some positive changes to interference reduction and voice quality. As mentioned earlier in the review, the headset doesn't pride itself on any sort of noise-cancelling technology, yet I still noticed that it worked fine in multiple environments. In a silent setting, the people I spoke to over the phone found the audio quality of the BT400 G5 to be better than that of the Mobile Freedom, which is interesting, because the latter features WindStop technology. When I tested the BT400 G5 in a pub (read: loud background music), the person on the receiving end found that my voice was still louder than the music (and no, I wasn't shouting). Finally, the old road and wind test (read: in car with window down) yielded a similar result. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-10.jpg" /> Figure 10: The BT400 G5 with my E-TEN M600. <PAGEBREAK> Coupling the BT400 G5 with the BT007Si Bluetooth USB Adapter I also had the opportunity to give <a href="http://www.bluetake.com/products/BT007Si.htm">Bluetake's BT007Si Bluetooth USB Adapter</a> (sold separately) a spin. This is a stunning module that can add Bluetooth functionality to any desktop or laptop via USB. What's special about this one is its Class 1 rating, effectively offering a theoretical 100 metre operating range. It is only a Bluetooth 1.2 adapter, but if by the end of this section, you feel the BT007Si is a worthy purchase, but would prefer the power of Bluetooth 2.0 and EDR, look no further than <a href="http://www.bluetake.com/products/BT007Ex.htm">Bluetake's BT007Ex</a>. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-11.jpg" /> Figure 11: The BT007Si Bluetooth USB Adapter - (1) body; (2) indicator light. The BT700Si is tiny, measuring in at just 47mm x 19mm x 10mm, and weighing a mere 10g. It is built using durable, white plastic with a translucent blue window serving as the indicator light of the adapter. Annoyingly, the adapter lacks a cover for the USB plug, so if you plan on taking the adapter with you when you travel, you will have to ensure that it's kept in a safe and secure storage compartment. <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-bluetakebt400g5-12.jpg" /> Figure 12: IVT Corporation's BlueSoleil Bluetooth console makes management easy. The adapter includes a utility CD containing an electronic user manual and the BlueSoleil software by IVT Corporation. The latter offers a plethora of profiles configurable via a powerful, yet easy-to-use manager supporting system tray notifications (Figure 12). Clicking on the orange orb in the middle forces a device search, and from there, you can pair and connect devices, and utilise services as you see fit. I connected the BT400 G5 to the BT007Si and it worked stunningly in Skype. I also connected the Bluetake i-PHONO mini headphones (using A2DP for high-quality stereo audio), the Logitech Mobile Freedom headset (again, testing its performance in Skype), and my E-TEN M600 (for Bluetooth ActiveSync and file transfers). They all worked without a hitch! Conclusions I don't see Bluetake's BT400 G5 as the headset to end all headsets. While it doesn't really offer anything innovative, it still is a solid, all-round performer and at the end of the day, that's all that really matters. With good audio quality and excellent range, it is definitely a headset that's worthy of consideration. Couple it with Bluetake's BT700Si and you can extend that headset experience to your desktop or laptop. Darius Wey loves technology! When he is not working at this web site, or busy completing his medical degree (MBBS), he can usually be found exploring the world of digital photography, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frag_%28video_gaming%29">fragging</a> other players on his Xbox 360. He lives in Perth, Western Australia.