Bluetooth Headset Voice Delay

Question

All:

I'm trying to decide if this is intentional, a generic problem, or a setup issue exclusive to my Latitude D610 laptop. Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.

I have been using my laptop for VOIP phone calls via MOC. It works very well - particularly with my Logitech USB headset. However, when I attempt to use a Bluetooth headset, the voice quality really takes a dive.

My main complaint is that when I speak my voice is delayed by almost 2 seconds. I can call myself on another phone and the delay is obvious. I can then drop the Bluetooth/laptop connection during the call and my laptop will revert to the USB headset. Same call - just a switch of headsets - and the delay goes away. Very annoying on a conference call to the point of being useless.

I have tried two different Bluetooth headsets - a Soyo and a Plantronics. Both exhibit the same symptoms. I have updated my Bluetooth stack (Toshiba) to v4.00.20(D) which I believe is the latest.

Anyone have any clues?

Thanks in advance!

-jrt

rhmerriman · Answer

The delay is a reflection of the additional processing required for the analog to digital conversion that is required by bluetooth.  The USB headphones do not require this additional processing.  For this reason, using bluetooth headphones while watching a DVD on your laptop is probably not a good idea.  I must admit though that 2 seconds is a bit much.

jrtinz · Answer

Thanks for your response...   Yes, I assumed there would be *some* additional processing.  I even did a fresh boot and refrained from starting up any applications other than what was needed.  The delay was identical as far as my uncalibrated ear could tell.   The Dell Bluetooth stack is obviously oriented towards file sharing and machine-to-machine communications.  You really have to go driver hunting to find a headset protocol that will work.  But it was available, and it recognized my Bluetooth headset right down to the model.  But nothing I can do reduces the delay.    I forget if I mentioned it or not, but I picked up a USB Bluetooth device for my desktop, and it works like a champ.  Tried it with my laptop to see if I could get better performance and got all sort of conflicts going on it just wasn't worth troubleshooting.   I'd be very interested if anyone is more successful than I.  It sure would be a convenience to use the Bluetooth for my VOIP calls.   -jrt

rhmerriman · Answer

I, myself, am having a problem getting my Dell Inspiron E1505 to work with my Motorola HT820 bluetooth stereo headphones.  It pairs with the E1505 but the audio continues to come out of the speakers.  No audio comes through the headphones.  I can pause the music with the controls on the headphones.  Just nothing comes through the headphones.  I'm guessing its a difference between the Motorola implementaion of bluetooth and Dell's.  :(  The headphones work fine with the desktop using the Motorola USB bluetooth adapter.   rhm

jrtinz · Answer

RHM:

Forgive me if you are WAY ahead of me here. Perhaps someone else that stubles on this thread will find it useful even so...

Does your Motorola headset support "Audio Gateway Mode"? If not, all kinds of wierd things go on when trying to use it in a PC environment. Worst of all, your headset will assume you are in a conversation as long as you are connected resulting in batteries being drained in little of no time.

I first used a nice Bluetooth headset - worked GREAT with my phone. But even when paired with my PC, I had to tell my VOIP application to use the Bluetooth mic with every call. And even then, it only lasted a little over an hour before it finally died from battery drain. Tried the same headset at home, and BOTH my Bluetooth and external speakers would work (same battery drain though).

Anyway - Audio Gateway Mode has to be supported by your Bluetooth Headset regardless of if you get your speakers to shut up while you use your the headset.

Again, you probably know more about this than I do. But your symptoms sure rang a bell from when I was first trying to get my phone Bluetooth headset to work.

Regards,

-jrt

Locked Topics – Laptops General

Bluetooth Headset Voice Delay

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