This is a quick'n'dirty writeup of installing my bluetooth headset Plantronics Pulsar 590 under Debian Unstable using the bluez-audio package. It is still a bit quirky and I haven't completely verified all steps but will update this post as I gather new insights. These are the steps I took:
1. Install the necessary packages:
$ sudo apt-get install bluetooth bluez-audio bluez-utils
2. Scan for the bluetooth device in your computer:
$ hcitool dev
Devices:
hci0 00:1B:DC:0F:98:E5
3. List the available bluetooth devices in range (maybe you have to switch them to pairing mode):
$ hcitool scan
Scanning ...
00:03:89:7F:A4:30 590Plantronics
4. Change your HCId configuration (change the corresponding lines):
$ sudo nano /etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf
security auto; # instead of security user;
passkey "0000"; # instead of passkey "1234";
5. Restart the bluetooth deamon:
$ sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart
6. Specify the voice setting (haven't verified if this is necessary and what exactly it does...):
$ sudo hciconfig hci0 voice 0x0060
7. If you don't use KDE/Gnome you can change the following file to input your pincodes (experimental/unsupported) (else use bluez-gnome or kdebluetooth):
$ sudo nano /var/lib/bluetooth/<local-device-id>/pincodes
<bluetooth-device-id> <pincode>
e.g.
$ sudo nano /var/lib/bluetooth/00\:1B\:DC\:0F\:98\:E5/pincodes
00:03:89:7F:A4:30 0000
8. Change your ALSA settings, setup the bluetooth audio device (check the links for more options):
$ nano ~/.asoundrc
pcm.bluetooth {
type bluetooth
device 00:03:89:7F:A4:30
profile "auto" # auto, hifi or voice
}
9. Setting up your audio player (see links for more player):
XMMS
Preferences --> Output Plugin (ALSA) --> Configure --> Audio device: "bluetooth"
Amarok 1.4
Settings -->Configure Amarok... --> Engine --> Output plugin: alsa --> Apply
Replace "default" with "bluetooth" in Mono and Stereo field of ALSA Device Config
Links:
http://wiki.bluez.org/wiki/HOWTO/AudioDevices (alsa setup and more audio/video player)
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BluetoothHeadset
http://bluetooth-alsa.sourceforge.net/ (deprecated, DON'T USE!!)
Bluetooth Remote Control
1. Add the pincode of your mobile phone to
$ sudo nano /var/lib/bluetooth/00\:1B\:DC\:0F\:98\:E5/pincodes
2. Connect to your phone:
$ sudo hidd --connect 00:19:63:10:8D:BD
3. Try server mode (does not work for me yet, K800i):
$ sudo hidd -i 00:19:63:10:8D:BD --server [--master]
Links:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BluetoothRemoteControl
Sending files to your mobile phone
1. Install necessary packages:
$ sudo apt-get install bluez-gnome obex-data-server
2. Use bluetooth-sendto:
$ bluetooth-sendto
Receiving files from your mobile phone
1. Turn your computer bluetooth device into discovery mode:
$ sudo hciconfig hci0 piscan
2. Run obexpushd and listen to the incoming bluetooth connection:
$ sudo obexpushd -B
3. The files will be stored in your home directory.