Phone Headsets

[mamboqueen]

Have to do a little research for work.

Does anyone use a headset for their regular desktop phone? If so, please tell me the type and what the upside/downsides are.

Also -- does anyone use a bluetooth for their cell phone? Same thing as above - please tell me what your experience has been like using it.

Thanks!

[Chris Stratton]

I bought one to use with skype voice over IP, then never actually used it (had made a call to a friend overseas, ended up using USB camcorder as an emergency microphone, then bought the right tool and never used it). The one I got has a very uncomfortable headband, so that might be an issue to watch out for - to support a boom microphone it may need to be heavier than normal personal stereo headphones.

[mamboqueen]

Well, that is one consideration. There are the "over the head" types, the "behind the head types" and the "around the ear" types. I can see the over the head ones being kind of irritating. And I can see hair getting stuck in when you're putting it on or taking it off too quickly. I actually just bought new headphones for my mp3 player and got the behind-the-head type and like it so far.

I'm also not sure the around the ear one would be all that comfortable.

Thanks for the input.

[diputs]

I would check out http://www.plantronics.com/

I work in the theater, and we wear our headsets all day. Usually up to 16 hours a day. 99% of the headsets we use are over the head type. It is probably due to durability and the fact that they get caught on everything as we move around the stage. Some people, that have bought their own personal headsets, have bought the in ear type with the boom mic. For use with an office phone, I would not recommend one without a boom mic.

As for sound quality, you get what you pay for. Yes, cheap does save you money, but you definately sacrifice sound quality.

I do not know anything about the cell phone specific ear pieces. I find that they make people look crazy, talking to themselves.

[mamboqueen]

Thanks! When I started doing my research on the net, (I swear by CNET), Plantronics was the name that came with the highest rated sets. Of course, sometimes it's based on very few reviews.

As I'm spending my boss's money, and it's in my best interest to have him happy, I'll just have to spend whatever it takes to please him!

Oh, and I see people with cell phones who always look like they're talking to themselves. I crack up...can never tell if I'm standing next to someone who's cursing me or their spouse on the phone! *LOL* I think there's a commercial that pokes fun at this...

Thanks diputs, you come through once again :)

[mamboqueen]

Oh, and being as you're from New York...I would think people lookin' crazy with their cellphone headsets would fit RIGHT in! *LOL* After all, you see *everything* in your city!

[mamboqueen]

And just to clarify, the headset you use is wireless?

[Sagitta]

Mine is something called bodyglove? It has worked fine for me. I use it when driving for my cell phone and when doing things around the house while talking on the phone. It also has worked well with the cordless phone at home as well as my office. Downside is that it can be a little less clear then talking directly into the phone. But it fits well and easily and is reasonable priced from what I can remember. I bought mine at Best Buy.

[diputs]

We do use a wireless system, but the headset itself is not wireless. The headset plugs into a wireless receiver/transmitter that is a part of our wireless system. We also use the headsets with a wired system.

Again, it comes down to sound quality. If your boss doesn't mind wearing a small box on his waist or in his coat pocket, he will probably get better quality sound than if you just get him an in ear unit.

[mamboqueen]

Yeowza! I'll dig up the Plantronics one I found. It was about $200 less.

[diputs]

The office system one allows you to pick up and hang up the phone remotely. It also comes with the bluetooth adapter that you will need to hook up to the office phone. The ones for $200 less are only the headset, you will still need to get the bluetooth adapter for the phone.

This is my understanding, I may have read the info wrong.

The cheapest system I saw was $300, but that does not include the lifter.

[mamboqueen]

Okay; maybe it's this one:

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat29930034/cat29940041/prod5010012

this is the one I found that was recommended. So, I was off by $100...

Do you think I need an adaptor for this one??

(I think I'm doing the job of 5 different people here....time for a frikkin' raise!).

[mamboqueen]

eww....they have a compatability chart on the website. Likin' this.

[mamboqueen]

Bear with me. I did a scan for cheapest price and came up with this:

http://www.pricescan.com/item.asp?category=misc&itemno=325936

Am I doing something wrong here...or is it possible it could be nearly 50% cheaper than what the company's site has it listed for?

[diputs]

Okay; maybe it's this one:

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat29930034/cat29940041/prod5010012

this is the one I found that was recommended. So, I was off by $100...

Do you think I need an adaptor for this one??

(I think I'm doing the job of 5 different people here....time for a frikkin' raise!).

I would reccommend that you get the lifter, which adds $80 to the price. The lifter allows you to pick up and end calls without being at your desk.

This one

http://www.plantronics.com/north_america/en_US/products/cat29880043/cat29880054/prod5210004

Same headset and bluetooth phone adapter except it includes the lifter.

[diputs]

Bear with me. I did a scan for cheapest price and came up with this:

http://www.pricescan.com/item.asp?category=misc&itemno=325936

Am I doing something wrong here...or is it possible it could be nearly 50% cheaper than what the company's site has it listed for?

Seems like the real deal.

[mamboqueen]

I'm starting to have wireless overload. Blech!

Okay; I'm going to pitch that one to him. I printed up the reviews, etc.

Now onto the cell phone headset....ugh...

[diputs]

I just figured it out.

The CS50 uses the 900mhz protocol, whereas the voyager 510 uses bluetooth.

Bluetooth is definately newer technology, but I do not know which one sounds better.

[diputs]

I'm starting to have wireless overload. Blech!

Okay; I'm going to pitch that one to him. I printed up the reviews, etc.

Now onto the cell phone headset....ugh...

If you go with the voyager 510L, you can use it with your office phone and your cell phone. As long as the cell phone is bluetooth.

[diputs]

And the voyager is the same price.

[mamboqueen]

thanks. Who makes the Voyager?? (Hah...sad to say, that's the model of car I drive....blech...).

Just read a little snippet on a website which gave thumbs-down to bluetooth technology based on security issues. Hadn't even considered that...

[diputs]

Voyager is also plantronics. Similiar to the CS50, but it is bluetooth.

The bluetooth security issues have been around for a while. I am not sure if the new version of bluetooth has dealt with the issues.

Here is an article on how to deal with those issues.

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/online/bluetooth_mobile.mspx

http://www.bluetooth.com/help/security.asp

[mamboqueen]

You're so good to me!

*puts diputsnyc* on Christmas list.

[diputs]

I just got it, a plymouth voyager. I used to drive a dodge caravan for a bit. Same vehicle.

[mamboqueen]

okay, here's a silly question. What's the alternative to Bluetooth? If one headset is Bluetooth, and the other isn't, what's the difference?

*puts diputsnyc on payroll*

[mamboqueen]

do you have kids? (thinkin' no one in their right mind would drive a minivan if they didn't have kids....).

[diputs]

The caravan was the family car. This was 18 years ago.

Alternative to bluetooth.
http://journals.rpungin.fotki.com/blog/entry/wsgrqbdkqst/

This guy has a great site with dancing videos, and he has a great NYC dance calendar

[diputs]

I have no idea what I am talking about, I just make it up as I go along!!

The cs50 works on 900mhz, just like your old cordless phone at home. I believe there are 11 channels available with 900mhz, and after that you get cross talk. Although this may have improved.

The voyager 510 is bluetooth, which is 2.45mhz. I love wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluetooth

This one has to do with cordless phones, which the 900mhz falls under.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordless_phone

[mamboqueen]

Wow, all I never wanted to know about Bluetooth and more! *LOL* Thanks...I'll print it for the train ride home. You're a doll!

[diputs]

If it makes you feel better, it is alot more than I wanted to know!! And I like this technical stuff.

[cornutt]

The cs50 works on 900mhz, just like your old cordless phone at home. I believe there are 11 channels available with 900mhz, and after that you get cross talk.

The voyager 510 is bluetooth, which is 2.45mhz. I love wikipedia.


What's more important than the radio frequency is the modulation method and protocols used. The CS50 is spread-spectrum. Some cordless phones use this too (but not all 900 MHz phones do, so you have to check carefully). Spread-spectrum's security is pretty good. For what it's worth, the CS50 is currently the only wireless headset that is approved by our company to use for company business.

Bluetooth's security was almost nonexistent in the original version. I know that a lot of work has been done on it, but I don't know what the status is at this point.

One other thing: Plantronics makes good stuff. That's what NASA people all use. I've had to wear one for 18+ hours at a time during missions, and they stay pretty comfortable. My personal preference is a full-coverage headset; I've never gotten comfortable with the in-ear ones.