Electronics Gadget Reviews

Plantronics Explorer 330 Easy To Use Bluetooth Headset for all Bluetooth Enabled Phones

Light on the ear (as well as on the wallet), the Plantronics Explorer 330 Bluetooth headset provides easy connectivity and effortless call control for a true handsfree experience. The easy-to-use Explorer 330 offers effortless call control–including control of volume, answer/end call, last-number redial, and voice-activated dialing–via a single button for a true hands-free experience. It also offers an omnidirectional microphone that will easily pick up your voice and up to 8 hours of talk time on a single charge.

With a range of 10 meters (30 feet) and an omni-directional microphone, the Explorer 330 gives you great sound at a great price. The Plantronics QuickPair technology ensures it is easy to connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device. It fits comfortably and securely on either ear, andthe unique speaker design optimizes sound quality. Weighing less than an ounce, it’s comfortable for all-day wear.

Key Features

• Talk time: Up to 8 hours
• Standby time: Up to 240 hours
• Weight: 0.6 ounces (17 grams)
• Headset controls: One-touch volume, call answer/end, last number redial, voice-activated dialing
• Bluetooth technology: Version 2.0
• Bluetooth profile compatibility: Connects with all Bluetooth-enabled devices supporting headset and hands-free profiles

QuickPair Pairing Instructions
Headsets with QuickPair are automatically in pairing mode when powered on until paired with the first device.

• Step 1: Start with headset powered OFF. Hold down headset Call Control button for four seconds–release when Indicator Light flashes red and blue. Headset is now discoverable. Headset will remain discoverable until it is paired with its first device.
• Step 2: Use your device’s menu to enter its pairing mode and select 220Plantronics on the display. 0000 is the pairing passkey.
• Subsequent Pairings: To manually place headset in Pairing Mode, begin with the headset turned off, then press the call control button for 8-10 seconds until the headset indicator light flashes red and blue. The headset is now in pairing mode for the next 60 seconds. To pair with a phone, repeat Step 2.
• Reconnection for Previously Paired Devices: If the Bluetooth phone and your Plantronics Bluetooth headset have been out of range for an extended amount of time or if the headset and/or phone were turned off and do not automatically reconnect, simply do a short press of the call control button and the devices will reconnect.

What’s in the Box
Headset, AC charger, printed operating instructions

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Disappointed
I am totally disappointed in the bluetooth earpiece by Plantronics. The range is horrible. If I step outside of my office, it disengages immediately. I continuously have to reconnect. If I had not had it in my ear for over a day, I would have returned it for a full refund. Do not buy this product.

1 Star Not so impressed
I was disappointed that when I would dial digits on my phone I could always hear static in the blue tooth. Then the unit would not hold a charge. I sent an e-mail to the address listed for the company on the Amazon website and it has been over a week and no one has responded. I finally ended up calling the manufacturer and they said that if I filled out some paperwork, they would replace it. I assume this will happen this week.

4 Stars Good Sound, easy to use
Very easy to setup and use. Good sound and battery life. The one touch button is a little uncomfortable is necessary to press it hard so that it work.

5 Stars Lightweight and comfortable
There are many pros for this item, but no cons as of yet. I have used it on many phone calls.

Great Connection

Easy to use

Answer feature works well

comfortable

light weight

good call quality

I would highly recommend this bluetooth headset to anyone. I even hooked it up to my playstation 3 and it worked just fine. It says it has a 30 foot range, that is realistically more like a 10. You do want to hold the phone on the side that the earpiece is on for the best connection, but the distance you hold it has not made an impact on sound quality.

Get this piece at a great price here on Amazon.

4 Stars Good product
I would recommend this product. It’s easy to use, the person you are speaking to can hear you clearly, and it’s lightweight. The one thing to note is if you have the device in your right ear, it’s best to have your cell on your right side (it tells you that in the booklet). And it’s a great price!

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Motorola H700 Bluetooth Headset

Motorola H700 Bluetooth Headset – Utilizing Bluetooth technology, this headset earpiece lets you carry on crisp and clear cell phone conversations without the need of wires. It has an impressive range of 30 feet, so you can chat on your phone without ever taking it out of your bag or pocket! The Motorola H700 is the premium choice for those who are serious about wireless connectivity, offering up to six hours of talk time, 200 hours standby time and charge time of less than one hour. Designed with your cellular-phone calls in mind, the headset features Bluetooth 1.2 wireless technology for better call quality, faster connections and less interference. Designed for enhanced comfort while delivering a 30% reduction in size and weight from its predecessor, the super compact Motorola H700 delivers unbeatable comfort with an ergonomic ear hook that can be worn on either ear. A blue light lets others know when you’re on a call. The light changes colors to let you know when the headset is in pairing mode, charging or running low on battery power. When used with a compatible cell-phone, the H700 offers superior performance to enhance your personal and professional communication needs. Up to 6 hours talk time or up to 200 hours standby time per charge Multi-function button to control 3-way calling, call start and end, hold and mute Advanced Volume controls – orientation technology to assure that volume controls will always be upright and volume adjustment form the headset Bluetooth Class 2 for wireless connection up to 10 meters (30 feet); Bluetooth 1.2 support for quicker pairing, fewer dropped calls and reduced interference Compatible with Bluetooth 1.2- or 1.1-enabled mobile phones, PDAs, PCs, printers and more that support headset and hands-free profiles Status LED light that can be turned off or on depending on user preference

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Mr
An exelent product, it works well with my treo 680. I am replacing the motorola H650 which was not nearly as good and caused my Palm to crash all the time.

1 Star Built To Last A Lifetime…IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE YEAR TO LIVE!
I bought one of these 2 years ago at my AT&T dealer for about $100.00, within a year it fell apart. Since it was under warranty I returned it for a replacement and now, less then a year later, the battery is now pretty much dead. So guess what? You can’t replace the battery! That’s right, Motorola expects you to completely replace an item that you paid $100.00 for two years before. I called motorola who basically told me I was SOOL and go buy a new one. Motorola won’t be getting anymore money from me, thanks. Motorola built to last a lifetime (if you only have one year to live).

5 Stars Blazing Blue Tooth
I love, love, love my new blue tooth. I get incredible reception and it’s so comfortable I forget I am even wearing it.

5 Stars I Have Two Paired With My Blackberry
First, for anyone who might care, I currently have two different H700’s paired with my Blackberry phone. Only one (but either one) can connect at a time but you can switch during a call with only a momentary interuption that the other party is unlikely to notice.

Next, why I have two. I bought me first one several years ago and connected it to a non Bluetooth cell phone through a separate device. My having limitted reak need for hands free at the time, needing to keep three devices charged, and the marginal performance of the intermediate device all led to the H700 being left in a drawer with no use for a couple of years. Then I got a Motorola cell phone and decided to try my old H700. It worked flawlessly but, because it was old I didn’t treat it with kid gloves. When it wasn’t on my ear, it was in my pants pocket with my car keys. It eventually began to look a little beat up and lost a piece of chrome trim from the boom, so I became concerned that its days might be limmited.

So when I upgraded to my BlackBerry, I tried a couple of newer and more “attractive” headsets to only discover how superior the H700 was. So I ordered a new one from Amazon at a much lower price than I paid for the first one. Now I can carry a spare but have never needed it so far. I will let you know when either headset quits working, but don’t hold your breath.

4 Stars pretty clear reception bluetooth
THis is a pretty clear reception bluetooth, but it seems like sometimes it does not work where there is no volume receiving or dialing a call

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Motorola H500 Bluetooth Headset Nickel

Combining an ergonomic design and versatile ear hook, the sleek, lightweight Motorola H500 Bluetooth headset is so easy to wear that you’ll forget you even have it on. Providing longer talk times, a compact design, and a comfortable fit at a nicely affordable price, the H500 is the perfect companion to your cellphone for easy, clear handsfree communication. The H500 offers up to 8 hours of talk time or 130 hours of standby time from a single full charge, and comes with a travel charger.

The H500’s blue LED shows those around you that you’re taking a call.

Combining an ergonomic design and versatile ear hook, this sleek headset can be worn on either ear and allows for comfortable wear over extended periods. With Bluetooth wireless technology, your devices work together up to 10 meters (30 feet) away. It’s compatible with any mobile phone with Bluetooth 1.2 technology or higher. It can also be used with Bluetooth-enabled PCs for handsfree Voice Over IP (VoIP) use.

The H500’s multifunction button allows you to place, receive or end calls. Simply press the multifunction button, place the headset on your ear and a wireless link is automatically established. (The first time you use your headset, you’ll need to pair it with your cell phone.) Volume and mute can be adjusted from the headset. Conversations will occur without interruptions, as the vivid blue LED light provides a visual cue to others that you’re taking a call. You also have the option of turning off the LED light.

Features and Specifications

• Up to approximately 8 hours talk time or up to approximately 130 hours standby time
• Multi-function button to control 3-way calling, call start and end, hold, mute
• Advanced volume controls include orientation technology to assure that volume controls will always be upright
• Reversible, removable earhook to allow the headset to be worn on either ear
• 140 mAh battery
• Charge time: Less than 1 hour
• EMU connector
• Dimensions: 2.28 x 1.06 (2.09 including earhook) x 0.87 inches
• Weight: 0.55 ounces
• Bluetooth version: 1.2 with support for headset (HSP) and hands-free profiles (HFP)

What’s in the Box
H500 headset, AC travel charger, quick start guide, user manual

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars great headset
This is great headset. I haven’t had any problems with it. I also received it very quickly.

5 Stars Great, bluetooth headset
I have bought this bluetooth for few times. It is great and never have problem.

4 Stars Nice headset
This headset works just fine, but I do have a couple of things I would consider when buying my next headset: (1) even though I bought a case for it, it still sometimes gets pressed on inside of my purse, and I get annoyed when I try to answer my phone if I’ve left the Bluetooth feature on it on. (2) I have small ears, and the ear-piece is not adjustable. It doesn’t quite fit right, so if I move around too much or turn my head too fast it sometimes falls off. I mostly use it in the car, though, and have started leaving it in the car when I’m not using it, so it works just fine for what I need it for.

5 Stars Better than I expected.
I’ve been against bluetooth’s forever, but I learned that the states are going to start outlawing you using cell phones while driving if you don’t have one, so I decided to bite the bullet. I have to say it’s more comfortable than I thought, and it’s much easier to drive while using it. My husband likes it better than his plantronics one, said it’s much more comfortable and needs less adjustment putting it on. He wants me to get him one for a present now!

3 Stars Not the best…
I am not too happy with this bluetooth headset. Most of my friends complaint about echo, voice not clear etc. Most times I have to scream esp. when I am driving.

The only good thing about it is the battery life, it lasts for days…

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Motorola T305 Bluetooth Portable Hands Free Speaker Black

The perfect travel companion, the Motorola T305 Bluetooth handsfree speaker will help you stay wirelessly connected while keeping your eyes on the road–just clip to the visor and go. With the latest enhanced echo and noise reduction technology as well as a powerful 1-watt speaker, the palm-sized Motorola T305 allows for high-quality hands-free conversations in even the noisiest environments.

The Motorola T305 clips to your sun visor and provides easy handsfree communication while driving.

A convenient multifunction button allows the user to activate speech commands including answering and ending calls with the push of a button. The Motorola T305 takes advantage of Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technology to guarantee a crisp and speedy connection to compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices. Enhanced audio and a lesser chance of a dropped call means less frustration in heavy traffic.

Providing up to approximately 14 hours of talk time or 14 days of standby time, the Motorola T305 helps provide support through a cross-country road trip or long weekend at home. The compact device also comes complete with useful accessories such as a mini USB vehicle power adaptor for easy charging.

Features

• Up to approximately 14 hours talk or 200 hours standby time from a single charge
• Easy to remove and use in another vehicle
• Echo and noise reduction technology minimizes background noise
• 1-watt speaker delivers clear audio
• Effortless controls–press a button for power, another for calls, and 2 more for volume
• Version 2.0 Bluetooth wireless technology

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Excellent Product! Much better than Jabra SP5050
I just got Motorola T305 in after preiously buying the Jabra version months ago. If you are looking for a car/truck speaker phone, this T305 works excellent on both road and highway. The Jabra I previously bought had very limited volume and you could not hear on highway travel even with windows rolled up. I read some of the minor complaints about this product in the other reviews and utterly ridiculous. The on/off button is small but who cares? As for a blue light not being seen perfectly in the daytime, again, who cares? You know the power is on because you turned it on when you got in your car/truck.

1 Star It does work, but try something else
I had high hopes for this thing, even though I was not particularly interested in buying a hands-free but for the state of CA mandate. Nice lobbying by the way, bluetooth manufacturers. That aside, here’s my review:

The good: pairs easily, easy to set up, looks pretty cool and is fairly unobtrusive. The rest:

Sound quality is OK at slow speeds but gets very difficult to understand when there is any wind noise from highway driving. Also, the volume peak is not high enough, and my car is not that loud (an accord). This is problematic as I am on the highway daily. Not sure if this is due to my iphone, however. But I’m reluctant to make phone calls on the highway because I know there will be a lot of “huh?” and repeating.

The battery life is good as recharged, but charging would be a problem if i were not on the highway so much. It only comes with a car charger and does not charge with the car off. So you have to plug it in to charge it while driving. Which means you better be in the car a lot to get it fully charged. Also, this is a problem because to talk with it while charging, you end up with a power cord stretched accross your face from the power source to the visor. Not cool.

It doesn’t engage quickly enough when answering, so there is a delay, and callers never hear you say hello. They always think there is a bad connection even if you wait to say hello, since all they hear is it pick up an no one answer for a while. This is really irritating.

Range is way too far. If I forget to turn the thing off (and you can’t see that it’s on in the daytime from that annoying blue light which is washed out by the sun) it picks up in my car when I try to answer when I’m in my house. I’ve missed a million calls like that. I guess I could remember to turn it off every time, so that’s partially my fault, but trust me… you will forget too. Especially in the day when you can’t see it’s on.

The volume buttons make a loud beep every time you try to turn it up (which you will constantly try to do), and the speaker cuts out with every beep. So if you want to turn it up mid-conversation, well, just don’t expect to hear anthing your caller says.

The blinking blue light right in front of one’s face at night is really distracting and annoying. So much for the concentration and safety allegedly created by these hands free sets.

So… overall, it’s got mediocre to poor sound, annoying blinking lights, charging issues, volume issues, range issues and answering issues. Given all of this, it’s just too much of a hassle. Way more of a pain than it’s worth. So I don’t even use the thing anymore. I just break the law and talk on the phone like I did before. It’s a heck of a lot easier, and rather than fool around with it, probably a lot safer too. Come to think of it, after writing this review, which was not initially going to be a rant, I really dislike this piece of junk and am kinda sore that I spent money on it. Save your cash.

5 Stars Motorola T305 Bluetooth
The Motorola T305 was Easy to install and connect to. Great reception clarity and volume control.

5 Stars Hands Free Economical Option
As always, Motorola has done a great job designing this hands free economical option for cell phone use while driving in a car. It is easy to set up and provides an ideal way to communicate SAFELY while driving.

1 Star It’s a pretty expensive paper weight
The audio is great and the voice dialing works. But people can bearly hear me, unless I take it off the visor and hold it close to my mouth. So in short, it’s pretty useless unless somebody can tell me how to boost the microphone. I’ll have to look at trying blue ant.

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Motorola 89036J H500 Bluetooth Wireless Headset Soft Pink

Motorola’s H500 headset is a member of Motorola’s 3rd generation of Bluetooth headsets. Like the RAZR styled H3 headset that it shares many components with, the Bluetooth v1.2 compatible H500 is rated for up to 8 hours of talk time and 150 hours of standby time. However, the H500 is both smaller and lighter than the more industrial looking H3, weighing only .6oz (17.6g) and having a body length of only 2.3″ (58mm). As such, it can easily fit in a shirt or pants pocket without trouble. Since it is very solidly built and has no easily breakable parts, you won’t have to worry about it getting damaged, either.

Recharge your H500 with a miniUSB cable.

Ergonomically, I find the H500 to be the most comfortable and secure fitting of the current lineup of Motorola headsets. The ear-loop is thin enough for use with eyeglasses, yet has a rubber surface that is grippy enough to hold the headset’s minimal heft in place for most people. While the ear-loop can be easily removed and flipped for use on either ear, it is not adjustable beyond that. However, when it is flipped, a sensor inside the headset reconfigures the two volume control buttons so that the up volume button is always on the top side, and the down volume button is always on the bottom.

The only other control on the H500 is the multi-function button on the outside face of the H500. The button does not require a lot of pressure to activate, thankfully, and handles power on and off, as well as all of the call control features – excluding volume. Those include answering and ending a call, as well as 3-way call control, hold, and mute functionality. Pairing the headset with a phone is a simple task: just hold the multi-function button for an extra few seconds when turning the H500 on, and the blue LED call indicator will turn on. This means that the headset is ready to be paired, and can be discovered with any phone, PDA, or computer that supports the headset or hands free Bluetooth profiles. As is the case for most headsets on the market, the PIN code for the H500 is “0000″.

The previously mentioned blue LED status light can even be turned off if you don’t wish to draw any undue attention to yourself. Normally the LED cycles on and off slowly during a call, and will flash briefly once every few seconds otherwise to indicate that it is powered on.

Click the image to see the H500 in action.

In terms of audio quality, the H500 offers great inbound sound and reasonable outbound performance as well. The only issue with the outbound sound is that it is missing some high frequency response, which makes the otherwise full audio sound a little muffled at times. It is a much more pleasant sound than that which many other handsets offer, but is not necessarily as easy to understand. But with that said, the overall audio performance is still quite good. When using the H500 with various mobile phones and PC Bluetooth adapters the connections remained completely static free.

Like most of the newer Motorola handsets that we’ve seen released in the past year or so, the Motorola H500 makes use of a miniUSB connection for power. As such, the headset can be recharged with a Motorola miniUSB power adapter as well as with a regular miniUSB cable connected to a desktop or laptop personal computer, which is often much more convenient.

Pros:

Cons:

The Motorola H500 Bluetooth headset is available in a multiple colors, including a bright pink version that perfectly matches the color of the pink Motorola RAZR V3c that is sold by Verizon Wireless. For as little as the H500 costs, you can hardly ask for more. You won’t be disappointed with it.

–Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars great bluetooth
It was sent in a timely manner. It works great. It fits well. It stays on. I do wish it fit more closely. Overall very satisfied.

5 Stars One word: GREAT
It works great. Good sound quality. Good connection with different cellphones.

It is much better than my platronics one.

Works great with motorola cellphones.

Also work with my LG and Samsung cellphones.

5 Stars Bluetooth Motorola earphone
Works great, no problems with interferance, can hear very well while driving in the wind.

1 Star Doesnt connect to anything I own
Complete piece of garbage. Wont connect to anything I own, and is near impossible to turn ON half the time.It also CANT be changed to fit on your other ear, the earpiece will NOT come out. Yes, its the H500 in pink. It isnt even pink, its a beige-red.

At the hassle of repackaging the near-leathal deathtrap of packaging this is, and the $8 to ship back, it went in the garbage instead.

Hey, Motorola, you know why you lost Alcatel’s contract (I worked for them, also in Motorola’s test lab in 2000) and your stock is in the toilet? For reasons like not spending one cent per unit and making the packaging non-lethal.

4 Stars Definitely Worth the Money
This has been one of the best purchases I’ve made lately. It’s easy to use……I like that the buttons are separated so that I don’t have to worry about pushing the wrong buttons while I’m driving. It’s comfortable to wear, even with sunglasses. I think the sound quality is great tho I’ve had one person on the other end of the line say they sometimes heard static or an echo. It charges fast. Definitely worth the price. BTW, I sinc’d it to my Blackberry Pearl….fast and easy. I would recommend this product.

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