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# Bluetooth Headset

From ArchWiki

Summary
This article describes how to set up a bluetooth headset.
Related
Bluetooth

Before you get started, you have to make sure that bluetooth is set up and working.

## ALSA-BTSCO method

It is much easier to set up your bluetooth headset today, with bluez >= 3.16. You may want to try the out-of-box python script in this blog (you need edit the script to work with gconftool-2). There's also a piece of equivalent bash script here.

The following method is out-of-date and obsoleted.

NOTE: This method is also outdated as with newer versions of BlueZ. Anyone know what the exact version number when this stopped working is?

You need your headset's bdaddr. It is of the form 12:34:56:78:9A:BC. Either find it in the documentation of your headset, on the headset itself or with the hcitool scan command.

Install btsco.

To load the kernel module, type:

    # modprobe snd-bt-sco

There will now be an extra audio device. Use `alsamixer -cN` (where N is most likely 1) to set the volume. You can access the device with any alsa-capable application by choosing the device BT headset, or with any OSS application by using `/dev/dspN` as the audio device.

But to actually get any sound, you have to connect your headset to the computer first.

### Connecting the headset

If you connect your headset for the first time, read the section about pairing first. To connect to your headset to the computer, use the command

    $ btsco -f <bdaddr>

for example

    $ btsco -f 12:34:56:78:9A:BC

#### Pairing the headset with your computer

The first time you connect the headset, you have to pair it with the computer. To do this, you need your headset's PIN. Depending on your headset you may have to reset the headset and repeat the pairing everytime you used the headset with another bluetooth device.

There are two ways to pair your headset with the computer:

##### Using bluez-gnome

Install the bluez-gnome package from the community repository. Then start the bt-applet program. Once you try to connect to the headset, a window will open and ask for the PIN.

##### Using passkey-agent

Before connecting to the headset, enter the command

    $ passkey-agent --default <pin>

where <pin> is your headset's PIN. Then try to connect to the headset.

### Headset and Alsa Devices

1. First if you have not already, install bluez from the official repositories. 2. Scan for your device

    $ hcitool (-i <optional hci#>***) scan

3. Pair your headset with your device:

    $ bluez-simple-agent (optional hci# ***) XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
      and put in your pin (0000 or 1234, etc)

4. Make sure your `/etc/bluetooth/audio.conf` allows A2DP Audio Sinks. Place this line just bellow the [Genera] heading:

    Enable=Source,Sink,Media,Socket

5. Add this to your `/etc/asound.conf` file:

    #/etc/asound.conf

    pcm.btheadset {
       type plug
       slave {
           pcm {
               type bluetooth
               device XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
               profile "auto"
           }
       }
       hint {
           show on
           description "BT Headset"
       }
    }
    ctl.btheadset {
      type bluetooth
    }

6. Check to see if it has been added to alsa devices

    $ aplay -L

7. Now play with aplay:

    $ aplay -D btheadset /path/to/audio/file

or Mplayer:

    $ mplayer -ao alsa:device=btheadset /path/to/audio/or/video/file

- - - To find hci# for a usb dongle, type in

    $ hcitool dev

### Headset's multimedia buttons

In order to get your bluetooth headset's multimedia buttons (play, pause, next, previous) working you need to create `/etc/modprobe.d/uinput.conf` containing `uinput`.

## PulseAudio method

This one`s much easier and more elegant. PulseAudio will seamlessly switch between output devices when the headset is turned on. If you have ALSA as the sound server, you need the following packages installed: pulseaudio and pulseaudio-alsa.

Now, to configure the audio output to use bluetooth, just install pavucontrol and run it to configure the audio output:

    $ pavucontrol

See [this blog] for futher explanations. Make sure to take a look at the PulseAudio wiki entry for setting up PulseAudio, especially if you are running KDE.

### Troubleshooting

#### Audio sink fails

Bluetooth headset is connected, but ALSA/PulseAudio fails to pick up the connected device. You'll get "Audio sink fails". According to gentoo wiki, you have to verify than in `/etc/bluetooth/audio.conf` there is `Enable=Socket` under the `[General]` section heading.

Just do a `# systemctl restart bluetooth` to apply it.

#### Page timeout issue

If you receive this error whilst trying to pair your headset with your system using bluez-simple-agent, then you can try to restart your system and use the graphical bluez applet of your desktop environment.

## Switch between HSV and A2DP setting

This can easily be achieved by the following command where 2 needs to be changed with the correct device number.

    pacmd set-card-profile 2 a2dp

### A2DP not working with pulseaudio

If pulseaudio fails when changing the profile to A2DP with bluez 4.1+ and pulseaudio 3.0+, you can try disabling the Socket interface from /etc/bluetooth/audio.conf by removing the line Enable=Socket and adding line Disable=Socket

    Disable=Socket

## Tested Headsets

The following Bluetooth headsets have been tested with Arch Linux

- Philips SHB9100 - Confirmed NOT TO WORK well. Have tried everything after a while they cut out. Pause and resume too is flakky and basically the whole wireless bluetooth experience is horrible. The following forum post[1] explains an underlying issue and describes a temporary solution which can be used to improve the audio quality pending a proper fix.
- Parrot Zik - Confirmed to work out of the box with firmware 1.04! The MIC however is detected, but does not work at all. Sometimes it can lag behind (not stutter) but most of the times it is not noticeable unless you playing a game, in which case I would switch to wired which resolves the issue.

## See also

Alternative method of connecting a BT headset to Linux:

- GaBlog - Connect a bluetooth headset to linux

Using the same device on Windows and Linux without pairing the device over and over again

- Dual booting with a bluetooth keyboard

Retrieved from "https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php?title=Bluetooth_Headset&oldid=278049"
Categories:

- Sound
- Bluetooth

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