Bluetooth Headset with Cell Phones

So you've got a Bluetooth mobile phone and you've got a Bluetooth headset. Now you just need to teach them to recognize each other. This is a process called "pairing." It doesn't take long and it only needs to be done once. Here's a generic set of instructions that will at least give you a feel for the simplicity of the process.

1. Set Bluetooth on both your mobile phone and headset to "discoverable" mode. The manuals for these devices will tell you how to do that. Or you may be able to find out by paging through the menus. Look for a menu that allows you to access Bluetooth features. Some mobile phones are set to discoverable mode by default, but that's not a good idea. Discoverable mode allows all other Bluetooth devices within range to see your Bluetooth device and to attempt to send information to it. Since your phone and headset haven't been introduced (paired) yet, you need to set them to discoverable mode so they can find each other for the first time. But once that's done, they don't need to remain in discoverable mode.

2. On the mobile phone, page through the menus to find a setting that says something like "New Device." This will be an option that allows your mobile phone to look for and find any Bluetooth devices within range that have been set to discoverable mode. Select this option.

3. The mobile phone should now show you a list of Bluetooth enabled devices in discoverable mode that are in range. Probably, there will only be one of these, the headset you're seeking to pair with. If there isn't even one, check to make sure the headset is turned on and that both phone and headset are set to discoverable mode. If there's more than one device, select the one that has the name of the headset you're pairing with. (If you're really slick, you've already given your headset a name like "Joe's Headset" so you can recognize a personal name rather than a model number.)

4. Once you've selected the headset, you'll have a chance to enter a passkey. This is a code you choose that adds a layer of security to the connection. The default passkey is probably 0000.

5. The screen on your mobile phone should give you a confirming message such as "Bluetooth Connection" to indicate that you have been successful.

6. Test the connection. Turn the headset off and watch for a message on the phone that says "Disconnected" or something similar. Turn the headset back on and watch for a message that says you're connected. Take note of the amount of time it takes between turning the headset on and getting a connection. This will let you know if your connection is established quickly enough that you can leave the headset off until you hear the phone ring and still get connected in time to answer.

7. Go back to the menus in each device where you set them to discoverable mode. Change this mode to "on".

8. Test the connection one more time as detailed in Step 6 to make sure it still works.