Re: [gentoo-user] Bluetooth is impossible

[Grant]

>> I have a TRENDnet TBW-105UB USB bluetooth adapter and Motorola H560
>> bluetooth headset, and I'm trying to use them with twinkle VOIP
>> software.  I've spent at least 8 hours today following up with every
>> single lead and I can't figure out how this is supposed to work.  I
>> think I don't have the 2 devices "pairing".  The instructions here:
>>
>> http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/bluetooth-guide.xml
>>
>> seem to be completely outdated.  I installed blueman in the hopes that
>> it would help facilitate pairing, but I only get python errors when I
>> try to run the binaries.  Is it gnome-only?  I'm running xfce4.
>
> Dumb question, Grant, but you are using the right passkey, right?
>
> These headsets have it built into them, and you usually have to do something
> like hold down the headset's power button for 4 or 6 seconds (instead of
> just pushing it and letting go, as you would normally do to power on the
> device) and the indicator light will flash (or flash more slowly than usual,
> or change colour or in some other way indicate it's doing things
> differently). This initiates pairing mode on the headset, and you have 10 or
> 20 seconds to pair.
>
> The passkey of the headset is usually fixed at 0000, but check the manual.
> You can't change it, and you'll need to match your PC to that.
>
> It seems like you're a bit frustrated by all this, the way you've posted
> without giving us any information. If you're struggling with the concept of
> pairing, then I suggest you try pairing the headset with your phone & using
> it, just to get the hang of it. If you don't have a bluetooth phone, maybe
> you could borrow one? Usually headsets pair with phones pretty easily, first
> or second time, just as soon as you've worked out which of the tiny little
> buttons to hold in the right way for pairing. Once you've got this sussed
> out it'll pair immediately - or even automatically - with your PC.
>
> The article doesn't look *that* out of date to me, as it mentions "... with
>>=bluez-libs-3.x and >=bluez-utils-3.x, pin helpers have been replaced..."
> and here on my systems versions 2.25 are still marked as stable. On the
> other hand I see that 3.36 is marked as stable, too. :/
>
> Stroller.

Thank you for taking the time to write, and I'm sorry my frustration
shined through.  I got blueman running and everything is working now.
To get blueman running I had to use the dbus bluetooth.conf from here:

http://bugs.gentoo.org/275470

and run blueman-applet and then blueman-manager.

That Gentoo Bluetooth page really is way out of date.  I reverted back
to original everything, and the only info I needed from that page was
the kernel config.  Absolutely nothing else necessary except for
emerging blueman, copying the dbus bluetooth.conf from above, and
starting /etc/init.d/bluetooth.  That page refers to bluez-utils-3.*
and bluez-libs-3.* which are both deprecated and the config is
different.  bluetooth stuff in portage depends on bluez-4.* which
blocks the other two.

Also, it was necessary to add the following to /etc/asound.conf and
specify "bluetooth" for the alsa devices in twinkle:

pcm.bluetooth {
        type bluetooth
        device 00:1F:82:14:7F:11
}

You mentioned that the headset's PIN can't be changed.  Couldn't
anybody pair with it if they enter 0000?

- Grant