In message , dmc writes
In article ,
Clive George wrote:
"geoff" wrote in message
...

I have a wandaphone, but cradling it between ear and shoulder, while sort
of OK, could be much easier with a headset

You can get DECT phones which accept a headset.


Or just a dect headset - something like
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plantronics-.../dp/B00069YILW

Not particularly cheap, but not rediculously expensive either. The plantronics
headset I use at work is excellent.

At last - yes that has potential I'll look into that one

Quite a bit cheaper than what I've seen in the past


--
geoff

In message , Bob Mannix
writes
"geoff" wrote in message
...
In message , Steve Firth
writes
geoff wrote:

I'm looking for a bit of (free) software which will enable me to talk
over a land line through headphones and mike over my computer

Uh huh. You'll have to pay for the calls of course.

I have a fax card somewhere,

That really won't help, except as a dialler.

Anyway, you're looking for something that doesn't exist. OTOH if you
want to connect via a computer using VOIP then there's no problem. Skype
is just one solution. For example DrayTek and Gradwell both offer
comprehensive VOIP pakages.

You get multiple phone numbers if you wish to have them. If the other
party to a call also has VOIP you usually pay nothing for the call. If
they are on a landline then you pay more but usually less than BT.


You're missing the point

I want to be able to wander around during (incoming) phone calls

I have a wandaphone, but cradling it between ear and shoulder, while sort
of OK, could be much easier with a headset


Maybe I am missing the point but why not just get a speakerphone? We have
them at work and you just wander about talking. With no background noise
they are quite sensitive and I have used one while getting changed, for
example.

Because it wouldn't work if I go into e.g. the pcb lab

When I say move around, I mean into other rooms


--
geoff

On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:59:39 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message , Cicero
writes
On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:04:30 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message , OG
writes

"geoff" wrote in message
...
In message , Rod
writes
geoff wrote:
I'm looking for a bit of (free) software which will enable me to
talk over a land line through headphones and mike over my computer
I have a fax card somewhere,
I don't want to talk skype,
just normal land line phone calls

What would be the function of the computer in your plan? You can
certainly get various headphone/mike devices for landlines - I'd be
amazed if you couldn't somehow use one of the Bluetooth headsets so
widely used with mobiles.

At work I have a modestly intelligent phone on the company's phone
system plus a Plantronics Bluetooth headphone/mike - that is a
specialised fitment connected between the phone and its handset. The
base unit holds the headset in a convenient way and recharges the battery.


Ask anyone - wireless headsets for landline phones exist

So far I have yet to find anything at a sensible price

I found some wireless headphones today (logitech clear chat at £60)
which seem to do the business, now I need the front end


Windows comes with dialler software (dialer.exe)

You need summat that will allow the modem and the sound card to work
with each other. Have you checked the software that came with the modem?



Not for about five years

I'll look tomorrow

I thought there might be an obvious piece of software,

a "this is what you need ..." program

=========================================
I *think* Cheyenne Bitware might be a starting point. It came bundled with
many Voice/Fax/Data modems and although it isn't actually free it was so
widely available that you should be able to get a discard from somebody.

I vaguely remember that from the dim distant 3.1 / 95 days

I'll look around for a recent version

cheers - that's the sort of thing I'm looking for

I installed the Voice / fax) modem today, the installation CD doesn't
work with my motherboard (or so it says, but it seems to have "self
installed" the drivers automatically

now all I need is the dialler / control softward

=========================================
There is (was) a Dos version which will probably work with XP Dos,
although it will involve more setting up.

Cic.

--
==========================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
==========================================

In message
,
writes
geoff wrote:
In message , Steve Firth
writes
geoff wrote:

I'm looking for a bit of (free) software which will enable me to talk
over a land line through headphones and mike over my computer

Uh huh. You'll have to pay for the calls of course.

I have a fax card somewhere,

That really won't help, except as a dialler.

Anyway, you're looking for something that doesn't exist. OTOH if you
want to connect via a computer using VOIP then there's no problem. Skype
is just one solution. For example DrayTek and Gradwell both offer
comprehensive VOIP pakages.

You get multiple phone numbers if you wish to have them. If the other
party to a call also has VOIP you usually pay nothing for the call. If
they are on a landline then you pay more but usually less than BT.


You're missing the point

I want to be able to wander around during (incoming) phone calls

I have a wandaphone, but cradling it between ear and shoulder, while
sort of OK, could be much easier with a headset

not interested in voip, cost or anything else, just mobility

You might strap a headband to it as a temporary measure, then you can
take your time getting just what you want


http://laeven.files.wordpress.com/20...free-phone.jpg

isn't really what I'm looking for



--
geoff

In message , John Rumm
writes

Sounds easy enough to achieve without involving the computer...

You can get also DECT wireless headsets that include the phone "lifter"
interface in the base:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wireles-Headse...0QQitemZ110363
237822QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioVisualElectronic s_HomeAudioHiFi_Headpho
nes?hash=item110363237822&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_t rkparms=72%3A1683|66%3A
4|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318
or
http://www.plantronics.com/europe_un...lay_product_de
tail.jhtml?rootId=cat1200086&productTypeId=cat120 0086&prodId=prod1170008

Again - looks interesting


you can get also get a few DECT phones that support bluetooth and hence
can talk to any standard bluetooth style headset or earpiece:

Do they have the range - about 10m ?



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Siemens-Gigase...AM-Bluetooth_W
0QQitemZ380110441627QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_MobileP hones_HomePhones_HomePh
ones_JN?hash=item380110441627&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1 4&_trkparms=72%3A1683|6
6%3A4|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318

(although two wireless technologies in one unit seems a bit excessive
for what is after all a wired phone!)


Failing any of those - for a nice low tech solution get a towelling
headband, and use it to strap your DECT phone to the side of your head!

That's where I'm at ATM

My previous wireless phones were big enough to cradle in the neck
comfortably, DECT ones all seem physically too small


--
geoff

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article ,
Stephen Howard wrote:
Not worth bothering with a DECT phone and a wired headset - it's a
complete nuisance

Why?

Because you have a flying lead hanging down and it gets in the way.
They also use a 'triple contact' jack plug/socket, and I've found them
to be very unreliable over time.

I'd have thought no different from an MP3 player, etc?

Agreed these miniature jacks are the spawn of satan, though.

I'm very used to wearing a separate receiver and headset - talkback in TV
studios. I always run the headset lead down inside my T shirt or whatever
- prevents it getting snagged on things.


I have a computer with adequate power containing a voice / fax modem

This, for £60 is good and clear, no 'kin wires, decent range, no rubber
bands round the cranium, usw, usw

What I'm looking for is the s/w to connect the former with the latter -
it must exist

the headset is just a pair of audio devices


--
geoff

In article , geoff wrote:
In message , dmc writes

Or just a dect headset - something like
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plantronics-.../dp/B00069YILW

At last - yes that has potential I'll look into that one

Quite a bit cheaper than what I've seen in the past

If you end up with one, please report back here. I'm interested to know
if it's any good...

Cheers,

Darren

geoff wrote:

you can get also get a few DECT phones that support bluetooth and hence
can talk to any standard bluetooth style headset or earpiece:

Do they have the range - about 10m ?

The DECT bit will be more than that. The bluetooth side depends on how
powerful it is but 10m ought to be doable...

Failing any of those - for a nice low tech solution get a towelling
headband, and use it to strap your DECT phone to the side of your head!

That's where I'm at ATM

My previous wireless phones were big enough to cradle in the neck
comfortably, DECT ones all seem physically too small

Indeed - most of them are too diddy.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:57:52 +0000, John Rumm wrote:

you can get also get a few DECT phones that support bluetooth and hence
can talk to any standard bluetooth style headset or earpiece:

Well you can talk but can the person at the other end make out what you
are saying after two lots of lossy digital compression? I doubt very much
yer ordinary Blue Tooth ear plug uses the same compression as DECT so
either has to go back to analogue in the DECT handset be transcoded. The
former is most likley IMHO.

The same situation applies when you use the headset on a mobile phone...
data pop out the end of the bluetooth stack and either have to be
transcoded or cycled through the analogue domain before going into the
GSM stack.

Having two RF paths seems a bit daft. Can't you get a wired phone with
Blue Tooth? Or of course as has been mentioned a DECT with wired headset.

The on ear bluetooth style ones that are actually DECT based are
probably the best solution. Only one wireless technology before going
back to POTS

Judging by the number of people that use nothing but a mobile (GSM or
DECT) I guess it must be just me who gets annoyed at the delay and/or poor
speech quality they all exhibit. Wired if at all possible for me.

Yup same here. The DECT delay is not too bad - but the GSM one I find
quite obstructive to proper conversation.

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

"geoff" wrote in message
...
In message , Cicero
writes
On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:04:30 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message , OG
writes

"geoff" wrote in message
...
In message , Rod
writes
geoff wrote:
I'm looking for a bit of (free) software which will enable me to
talk over a land line through headphones and mike over my computer
I have a fax card somewhere,
I don't want to talk skype,
just normal land line phone calls

What would be the function of the computer in your plan? You can
certainly get various headphone/mike devices for landlines - I'd be
amazed if you couldn't somehow use one of the Bluetooth headsets so
widely used with mobiles.

At work I have a modestly intelligent phone on the company's phone
system plus a Plantronics Bluetooth headphone/mike - that is a
specialised fitment connected between the phone and its handset. The
base unit holds the headset in a convenient way and recharges the
battery.


Ask anyone - wireless headsets for landline phones exist

So far I have yet to find anything at a sensible price

I found some wireless headphones today (logitech clear chat at £60)
which seem to do the business, now I need the front end


Windows comes with dialler software (dialer.exe)

You need summat that will allow the modem and the sound card to work
with each other. Have you checked the software that came with the modem?



Not for about five years

I'll look tomorrow

I thought there might be an obvious piece of software,

a "this is what you need ..." program

=========================================
I *think* Cheyenne Bitware might be a starting point. It came bundled with
many Voice/Fax/Data modems and although it isn't actually free it was so
widely available that you should be able to get a discard from somebody.

I vaguely remember that from the dim distant 3.1 / 95 days

I'll look around for a recent version

cheers - that's the sort of thing I'm looking for

I installed the Voice / fax) modem today, the installation CD doesn't work
with my motherboard (or so it says, but it seems to have "self installed"
the drivers automatically

now all I need is the dialler / control softward

Windows comes with dialer.exe

In message , OG
writes

"geoff" wrote in message
...
In message , Cicero
writes
On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:04:30 +0000, geoff wrote:

In message , OG
writes

"geoff" wrote in message
...
In message , Rod
writes
geoff wrote:
I'm looking for a bit of (free) software which will enable me to
talk over a land line through headphones and mike over my computer
I have a fax card somewhere,
I don't want to talk skype,
just normal land line phone calls

What would be the function of the computer in your plan? You can
certainly get various headphone/mike devices for landlines - I'd be
amazed if you couldn't somehow use one of the Bluetooth headsets so
widely used with mobiles.

At work I have a modestly intelligent phone on the company's phone
system plus a Plantronics Bluetooth headphone/mike - that is a
specialised fitment connected between the phone and its handset. The
base unit holds the headset in a convenient way and recharges the
battery.


Ask anyone - wireless headsets for landline phones exist

So far I have yet to find anything at a sensible price

I found some wireless headphones today (logitech clear chat at £60)
which seem to do the business, now I need the front end


Windows comes with dialler software (dialer.exe)

You need summat that will allow the modem and the sound card to work
with each other. Have you checked the software that came with the modem?



Not for about five years

I'll look tomorrow

I thought there might be an obvious piece of software,

a "this is what you need ..." program

=========================================
I *think* Cheyenne Bitware might be a starting point. It came bundled with
many Voice/Fax/Data modems and although it isn't actually free it was so
widely available that you should be able to get a discard from somebody.

I vaguely remember that from the dim distant 3.1 / 95 days

I'll look around for a recent version

cheers - that's the sort of thing I'm looking for

I installed the Voice / fax) modem today, the installation CD doesn't
work with my motherboard (or so it says, but it seems to have "self
installed" the drivers automatically

now all I need is the dialler / control softward

Windows comes with dialer.exe

I've just found it !

It couldn't find it before because I typed "dialler.exe" with two "l"s

--
geoff

In article ,
geoff wrote:
IIRC there are cordless phones which take a headset.

The find one ...

not a problem with a mobile, but a landline phone ?

Cordless means landline.

I dunno who would have one - Argos perhaps?

--
*If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
geoff wrote:
IIRC there are cordless phones which take a headset.

The find one ...

not a problem with a mobile, but a landline phone ?

Cordless means landline.

I dunno who would have one - Argos perhaps?

Argos have lots, but alas their descriptions don't tell you which have a
2.5mm headset socket (although I expect most do).


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

On Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:01:18 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
geoff wrote:
IIRC there are cordless phones which take a headset.

The find one ...

not a problem with a mobile, but a landline phone ?

Cordless means landline.

I dunno who would have one - Argos perhaps?

Argos have lots, but alas their descriptions don't tell you which have a
2.5mm headset socket (although I expect most do).

They don't.

A few of the Panasonic and Binatone models did, and I have a Doro
phone that does - but it's a suprisingly rare feature.

Regards,


--
Steve ( out in the sticks )
Email: Take time to reply: timefrom_usenet{at}gmx.net

On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:15:14 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:

In article ,
Stephen Howard wrote:
Not worth bothering with a DECT phone and a wired headset - it's a
complete nuisance

Why?

Because you have a flying lead hanging down and it gets in the way.
They also use a 'triple contact' jack plug/socket, and I've found them
to be very unreliable over time.

I'd have thought no different from an MP3 player, etc?

Agreed these miniature jacks are the spawn of satan, though.

I'm very used to wearing a separate receiver and headset - talkback in TV
studios. I always run the headset lead down inside my T shirt or whatever
- prevents it getting snagged on things.

Similarly, I'm used to using wired in-ear monitors and suchlike - as
well as a DECT phone with a wired headset - but I don't like to be
trussed up with wires all the time.

I've since moved over to radio kit for gigging and it's like a whole
new world of freedom!

I've had excellent results with my Sony Ericsson mobile phones and the
Akono headsets - which is why I've bought a BT Glide DECT phone.
This will mean the only bit of kit I need to carry about my person is
the small headset - and if the range is anything like it is on my
mobiles it should allow me to potter about the house/workshop without
having to worry about the signal dropping.

Regards,


--
Steve ( out in the sticks )
Email: Take time to reply: timefrom_usenet{at}gmx.net

Stephen Howard wrote:
On Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:01:18 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
geoff wrote:
IIRC there are cordless phones which take a headset.

The find one ...
not a problem with a mobile, but a landline phone ?
Cordless means landline.

I dunno who would have one - Argos perhaps?
Argos have lots, but alas their descriptions don't tell you which have a
2.5mm headset socket (although I expect most do).

They don't.

A few of the Panasonic and Binatone models did, and I have a Doro
phone that does - but it's a suprisingly rare feature.

I have seen it on a reasonable number (although they often hide it
behind a rubber plug making non obvious). Having said that I have not
really looked at them for some time, so it may be practices have
changed. FWIW, I have NTL branded one here that does...

--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

In message , dmc writes
In article ,
Clive George wrote:
"geoff" wrote in message
...

I have a wandaphone, but cradling it between ear and shoulder, while sort
of OK, could be much easier with a headset

You can get DECT phones which accept a headset.


Or just a dect headset - something like
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plantronics-.../dp/B00069YILW

Not particularly cheap, but not rediculously expensive either. The plantronics
headset I use at work is excellent.


I ordered one today - lets see how it fares

I tried the headphones and am disappointed with the range

--
geoff

In article ,
John Rumm wrote:
Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
geoff wrote:
IIRC there are cordless phones which take a headset.

The find one ...

not a problem with a mobile, but a landline phone ?

Cordless means landline.

I dunno who would have one - Argos perhaps?

Argos have lots, but alas their descriptions don't tell you which have a
2.5mm headset socket (although I expect most do).

Don't think most do. Think you'd look for hands free option.

--
*Time is fun when you're having flies... Kermit

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:21:12 +0000, Stephen Howard
wrote:
snip

As it happens I bought a Glide off ebay t'other day with the intention
of using it with a headset. Should turn up tomorrow - I'll report
back.


My bargain BT Glide arrived this morning.
I have to say there's no way I'd pay the full retail for it ( I got
this one off ebay cheap - used, with a slight fault...the earpiece
speaker doesn't work, but that doesn't bother me as I shan't be using
it without a headset ).
The build quality is iffy and the menu buttons seem rather
over-sensitive and tend to cancel your action when you're knee deep in
sub menus - but to be fair the phone might have seen a lot of use (
AKA knackered ).
It's a slide phone too, which isn't my favourite design.
If I were buying new I'd go for the Siemens.

Anyway, I switched on my Sony bluetooth headset, set the phone up in
discovery mode and entered the headset pin when prompted - and Bob was
my uncle.

Now, I know the sound quality of the headset is superb when paired
with my mobile phone - but with the Glide there is a constant
background hiss. It's not unbearable by any means - just low-level
white noise, and it doesn't seem to affect the quality of the speech.
It also can't be heard on the other end of the line.
The caller sounded clear and distinct otherwise and said that I did
too. In switching between the headset and the old standard phone they
reported little discernible difference in sound quality and no hint of
echo via the headset.

The range is very good. Leaving the phone on its charging cradle I got
around 50 yards away before the signal started to degrade...and that
was through one wooden and two brick walls plus a 7 ton metal trailer.
The quality of the headset may make a difference in this respect, but
it's by no means an expensive model.

For the price I paid for the setup I'm extremely pleased, and more
than convinced that the technology works.

If you're the type of person who spends a lot of time on the phone
then I'd recommend spending some time choosing a bluetooth headset.
I have a Sony Akono HBH-608 and HBH-300 - the latter being the more
expensive model with a 'behind the ear' weighted clip. It's a great
deal bulkier than the 608, but far more comfortable to wear for any
length of time - but the sound quality is much the same as the 608.
For occasional use I'd be inclined to look for a headset that can be
worn on a lanyard and be quickly fitted to the ear without too much
faffing about ( particularly if you wear glasses ).

As far as I'm concerned I'm very pleased with the technology, and
shan't be lifting that old handset much anymore.

Regards,


--
Steve ( out in the sticks )
Email: Take time to reply: timefrom_usenet{at}gmx.net