Maker Pro
Maker Pro

BT earpieces

D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi,

Anyone dissected one of these? I'm curious if it is even possible
to do so (or if they are so highly integrated that doing so just
results in a pile of plastic and silicon). E.g., could you use the
guts of the radio and interface the rest to an external mic and
earphone?

Thx,
--don
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
could you use the
guts of the radio and interface the rest to an external mic and
earphone?

It probably depends a lot on the specific model. I have done it to a
cheap Chinese one from DealExtreme:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8422

It wasn't even difficult.

If look at the link, there are even a couple of decent quality
pictures from its internals.
 
P

Paul E. Bennett

Jan 1, 1970
0
D said:
Hi,

Anyone dissected one of these? I'm curious if it is even possible
to do so (or if they are so highly integrated that doing so just
results in a pile of plastic and silicon). E.g., could you use the
guts of the radio and interface the rest to an external mic and
earphone?

Thx,
--don

You might have to be a bit more specific there Don.

BT Earpeices could be a number of things.

To some of us in UK they could be the British Telecom standard item for
call-centre and switchboard personnel where they are on the phone for long
periods of time. These are usually the Aerolite headset but there are a
number of different makes and models available.

Alternatively I suppose you could be looking at the Bluetooth devices make
it seem that people are talking to themselves when they are actually talking
on the mobile phones.

I would expect that most of the latter ones use a cheap microscopic
microphone element. If what you wish to do is connect a different microphone
then I expect that should be possible. Sounds like you need some serious
playtime.

--
********************************************************************
Paul E. Bennett...............<email://[email protected]>
Forth based HIDECS Consultancy
Mob: +44 (0)7811-639972
Tel: +44 (0)1235-510979
Going Forth Safely ..... EBA. www.electric-boat-association.org.uk..
********************************************************************
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Robert,

Robert said:
It probably depends a lot on the specific model. I have done it to a
cheap Chinese one from DealExtreme:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8422

It wasn't even difficult.

If look at the link, there are even a couple of decent quality
pictures from its internals.

Ah, sorry, some confusion, there. My bad. This is more
like what I was talking about:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.32062

with the differences being:

- smaller size (?)
- microphone (i.e., duplex operation)
- not a "music player", etc.

I.e., the sort of thing you use with a BT enabled cell phone
for "hands free" operation.
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Paul,
You might have to be a bit more specific there Don.

BT Earpeices could be a number of things.

To some of us in UK they could be the British Telecom standard item for
call-centre and switchboard personnel where they are on the phone for long
periods of time. These are usually the Aerolite headset but there are a
number of different makes and models available.

Ah. No, BT == BlueTooth. My bad.
Alternatively I suppose you could be looking at the Bluetooth devices make
it seem that people are talking to themselves when they are actually talking
on the mobile phones.

Yes (good description! ;-)
I would expect that most of the latter ones use a cheap microscopic
microphone element.

I've pulled apart some small voice recorder/MP3 player devices and
the microphone in those was tiny -- though I could easily hold
it in my fingers, unsolder it, etc. Most of the BT earpieces
I've seen seemed a fair bit smaller, though. I was wondering
if there was an even greater level of component intregration
that would make attempts to *modify* them essentially fruitless.
If what you wish to do is connect a different microphone
then I expect that should be possible.

Ditto for the "earphone".
Sounds like you need some serious playtime.

Yeah, I was hoping to avoid dismantling one until I knew if
that would be *likely* to yield promising results. :-/
I guess it's time to make a sacrifice to the electron god...
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Brendan,

Brendan said:
Take a look at some of the newer MEMs microphone technologies, such as:
http://www.wolfsonmicro.com/productListings/truemics
They are in 3mm * 4mm packages. Good luck if you end up with one of them!

Well, a package of that size wouldn't be too bad -- just like
soldering SMT components.

What I am more fearful of is this package being *integrated* into
an SoC-ish implementation -- making the connections inaccessible.
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ah, sorry, some confusion, there. My bad. This is more
like what I was talking about:

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.32062

with the differences being:

- smaller size (?)

Probably smaller. But unless size is important, the bigger ones are
probably easier to hack.
- microphone (i.e., duplex operation)

Take a look at the pictures of the internals. You'll see the
microphone soldered directly to the board, pointing sideways.
- not a "music player", etc.

This does both. You attach it to your shirt near your face. The mic is
built into the unit. You can choose to connect mono or stereo
earpiece, depending on wheter you want to talk on the phone or listen
to music. The included earpieces sound horrible, though.
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Robert,

Robert said:
Probably smaller. But unless size is important, the bigger ones are
probably easier to hack.

I need to put this inside an existing (small!) container
so the size of the item I cited was appealing.
Take a look at the pictures of the internals. You'll see the
microphone soldered directly to the board, pointing sideways.

Ah, OK. I missed that in my first glance! Points *down*
(in the photo I studied)
This does both. You attach it to your shirt near your face. The mic is
built into the unit. You can choose to connect mono or stereo
earpiece, depending on wheter you want to talk on the phone or listen

Do you have to press any buttons to get it to *do* something?
(i.e., can you just use it as long as power is available?)
to music. The included earpieces sound horrible, though.

But, the *earpiece* was the problem, not the device?
(i.e., if you had replaced the "earphone" -- which I
intend -- then things would be better?

Hmmm... maybe just buy one and take it apart...

Thanks!
 
N

Nemo

Jan 1, 1970
0
I recall an old story about BT (British Telecom) microphones, back in
the days when they were known as the Post Office... I heard this 20
years ago when I worked in telecoms, and it was old even then.

For several decades these were carbon, and had very uniform
characteristics. Then one day someone noticed the frequency response was
out of spec for all new ones. Engineers investigated and eventually
zeroed in on the carbon itself, whose characteristics had subtly
altered. Inspectors ended up in Wales where a coking plant created the
carbon by anaerobic heating of coal or whatever (packing it into a
sealed chimney and cooking it like a closed oven for a couple of days).
And yes, the carbon was definitely different somehow. But following the
manufacturing process from start to finish, they were at a loss to
explain where the operators were deviating from the written procedures.

Looking for correlations with events that happened around the time of
the change, they discovered that it coincided with the retirement of a
foreman. Further enquiries revealed he had a curious habit of "marking
his territory" before each "shot", ie urinating on the pile of coal
before it was sealed up. Experiment showed that this was, indeed, the X
Factor which brought the carbon back into spec.

And so BT continued making carbon mikes for many more years.
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
Do you have to press any buttons to get it to *do* something?
(i.e., can you just use it as long as power is available?)

If the phone is already paired and in range when the device powers up,
it connects automatically. If the phone goes out of range and comes
back into range, you have to press and hold the button to reconnect.
To answer an incoming call, or to initiate an outgoing voice dial, you
have to press the button.

For music, I can't quite remember. I have tested it, but don't use it.
But, the *earpiece* was the problem, not the device?
(i.e., if you had replaced the "earphone" -- which I
intend -- then things would be better?

Yes. I tried listening to music with a different pair of (also cheap)
earphones (it's a standard 3.5mm jack), and they sounded fine.
Hmmm... maybe just buy one and take it apart...

Considering the cost, the risk is minimal. You could even get a couple
of different models to see which one is most suitable.
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Robert,

Robert said:
If the phone is already paired and in range when the device powers up,
it connects automatically. If the phone goes out of range and comes
back into range, you have to press and hold the button to reconnect.
To answer an incoming call, or to initiate an outgoing voice dial, you
have to press the button.

For music, I can't quite remember. I have tested it, but don't use it.


Yes. I tried listening to music with a different pair of (also cheap)
earphones (it's a standard 3.5mm jack), and they sounded fine.
OK.


Considering the cost, the risk is minimal. You could even get a couple
of different models to see which one is most suitable.

The size and button issues look like deal-breakers. :<

Thanks, anyway!
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
<frown> I wanted to bury the buttons completely.

Hmm. I'll test and see if I can answer the call from the phone. I
expect that should work, but I have never (consciously) tried.
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
I'll test and see if I can answer the call from the phone.

Ok, I have tested. I can answer the call from the phone, but I cannot
re-establish the connection after having been out of range.
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Robert,

Robert said:
Ok, I have tested. I can answer the call from the phone, but I cannot
re-establish the connection after having been out of range.

<frown> While I'll admit that I expected you would need to
explicitly pair the device *initially*, I guess I am
surprised that you have to repeat this procedure, again,
when you "simply" move out of range.

Or, am I misreading your statement: the device may
remain paired but this *session* is "broken"? I.e.,
you can "answer" the next call but can't "reconnect"
to the current?

(sorry, I don't mean to be splitting hairs -- but I
*think* there is a difference?)
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
<frown> While I'll admit that I expected you would need to
explicitly pair the device *initially*, I guess I am
surprised that you have to repeat this procedure, again,
when you "simply" move out of range.

You don't have to repeat the pairing (with PIN codes etc.). But it
seems the phone is not aware that the headset is in range until the
headset sends some sort of notification.
Or, am I misreading your statement: the device may
remain paired but this *session* is "broken"? I.e.,
you can "answer" the next call but can't "reconnect"
to the current?

I've never tried to go out of range during an ongoing call.

There is a small icon (a headphone surrounding the BT logo) on the
phone that shows that a BT headset is connected. If that icon is shown
when an incoming call arrives, the BT speaker beeps to indicate the
incoming call, and the call can be answered from the headset with a
short press of the button.

If the phone goes out of range, the headset icon disappears and does
not automatically come back when the phone comes back into range. In
this state, an incoming call cannot be heard or picked up from the
headset. What you can do, is to press and hold the button for a couple
of seconds to initiate the reconnect. That takes a few more seconds,
and then you can answer the call.

I know some BT hands-free units (which is essentially the same thing)
will reconnect automatically when the phone comes into range. I once
was in a conversation with a person who was walking towards his car.
As he got close enough, the audio was automatically transferred to the
HF inside the car, and we could not hear each other until he opened
the door and got into the car.
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Robert,

Robert said:
You don't have to repeat the pairing (with PIN codes etc.). But it
seems the phone is not aware that the headset is in range until the
headset sends some sort of notification.

But, once the connection was made, why wouldn't it persist/resume
*after* interrupted? Or, is it a duplex channel and the phone
decides that it should close the session once the channel is
broken (does your phone then reactivate the speaker/microphone
in the phone "automagically" once the connection is "interrupted"?
I've never tried to go out of range during an ongoing call.

There is a small icon (a headphone surrounding the BT logo) on the
phone that shows that a BT headset is connected. If that icon is shown
when an incoming call arrives, the BT speaker beeps to indicate the
incoming call, and the call can be answered from the headset with a
short press of the button.

If the phone goes out of range, the headset icon disappears and does
not automatically come back when the phone comes back into range. In
this state, an incoming call cannot be heard or picked up from the
headset. What you can do, is to press and hold the button for a couple
of seconds to initiate the reconnect. That takes a few more seconds,
and then you can answer the call.

OK. So, the headset creates another "session" with the phone
at that time.
I know some BT hands-free units (which is essentially the same thing)
will reconnect automatically when the phone comes into range. I once
was in a conversation with a person who was walking towards his car.
As he got close enough, the audio was automatically transferred to the
HF inside the car, and we could not hear each other until he opened
the door and got into the car.

Hmmm... so, maybe the issue is in the *headset* trying to
prolong battery life? I.e., when *it* no longer senses
the BT connection as "live", perhaps it powers down? And,
repressing the button powers it up and sets it hunting
for its paired mate?

<frown> I will have to play a bit to identify where the
disconnect is happening.

Thanks!
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
But, once the connection was made, why wouldn't it persist/resume
*after* interrupted?

I don't know, but I presume it is to avoid spontaneous transfer to the
BT unit if it should happen to come in range. Say I am talking on the
phone while walking towards my office (where my BT unit is located).
Once I get a few yards outside the door, I'd lose all audio.
Or, is it a duplex channel and the phone
decides that it should close the session once the channel is
broken (does your phone then reactivate the speaker/microphone
in the phone "automagically" once the connection is "interrupted"?

Yes, the phone automatically transfers to the on-board microphone and
speaker. I don't have to do anything on the phone to get it working
normally.
Hmmm... so, maybe the issue is in the *headset* trying to
prolong battery life?

It does not look like it. The BT unit makes a specific type of beep
when it is powered on (also by holding the button for a couple of
seconds), but a different beep when only reconnecting a lost
connection.
 
D

D Yuniskis

Jan 1, 1970
0
Hi Robert,

Robert said:
I don't know, but I presume it is to avoid spontaneous transfer to the
BT unit if it should happen to come in range. Say I am talking on the
phone while walking towards my office (where my BT unit is located).
Once I get a few yards outside the door, I'd lose all audio.

But, presumably, you can deliberately tell the connection
to be made/broken. What I am saying is why wouldn't the
device seek to maintain whatever mode of operation was
in effect "prior to the (temporary) loss of signal"?

I.e., you can pair the devices. Then, decide if (any particular)
connection (call) should be routed over the headset or the
phone itself. Once this decision is made, it should persist
until you explicitly tell it otherwise. Yours seems to
behave as if "loss of carrier" is the same as "I want you
to disconnect". The former is something that the user
has little direct control over ("don't wander *too* far...")
whereas the latter is a very deliberate action (normally)
on the user's part.
Yes, the phone automatically transfers to the on-board microphone and
speaker. I don't have to do anything on the phone to get it working
normally.


It does not look like it. The BT unit makes a specific type of beep
when it is powered on (also by holding the button for a couple of
seconds), but a different beep when only reconnecting a lost
connection.

But, the latter is still only done when the user
"reinitiates" it, right?
 
R

Robert Roland

Jan 1, 1970
0
But, presumably, you can deliberately tell the connection
to be made/broken.

Yes, that decision is made by the phone (or it user). On my phone,
that's relatively cumbersome, so switching the BT unit on and off is
much easier, should the need occur.
What I am saying is why wouldn't the
device seek to maintain whatever mode of operation was
in effect "prior to the (temporary) loss of signal"?

It' probably just a decision made by the firmware programmers. Other
devices may be different.
I.e., you can pair the devices. Then, decide if (any particular)
connection (call) should be routed over the headset or the
phone itself. Once this decision is made, it should persist
until you explicitly tell it otherwise. Yours seems to
behave as if "loss of carrier" is the same as "I want you
to disconnect". The former is something that the user
has little direct control over ("don't wander *too* far...")
whereas the latter is a very deliberate action (normally)
on the user's part.

If I power off the phone to change SIM and then power up again, the BT
connection is not lost. Maybe it has to do with the length of time the
connection was interrupted or something.
But, the latter is still only done when the user
"reinitiates" it, right?

Yes, that's correct.
 

Similar threads

D
Replies
1
Views
950
Don Y
D
Top