How to detect a BT600 headset connected via a permanent dongle

Questions & Suggestions
1

Hi All, i have a plantronics bt600 headset which connects to my mac via a permanent usb dongle. Is there a way I can use Keyboard Maestro to detect when this audio device is turned on and then connected to Mac via that dongle? From that point I would then like to set the audio output and input to the headset - but that part seems pretty straightforward - its the initial detection that is the problem

Cheers

2

Open a Terminal window and try entering each of the commands:

system_profiler SPUSBDataType | grep -A5 -i "Plantronics"

ioreg -p IOUSB -l | grep -i "Plantronics"

If you get differing results when your device is turned on, compared with when its turned off, then we should be able to give you a solution.

3

I suspect that it actually connects by wireless or Bluetooth via the USB dongle -- so may not appear in a search for USB devices.

If you open up System Information when the bt600 is on, which "Hardware" section does the headset appear in?

4

You are right 99% of the time, so my advice may not work. But it can't hurt him to spend 5 seconds to check.

5

Hi, i tried with both the unit turned on and off and results are the same.

6

Then you probably should answer Nige's last question, because he may have an idea for you.

7

Hi, it appears under Hardware→Audio.

In all cases the USB Dongle remains plugged in, from what I can see the report parameters show the same when the headset is either powered on or off.

Case 1: Powered Off
BT600 Headset was previously set as the default input and output device but is now powered off

Plantronics BT600:
Default Input Device: Yes
Input Channels: 1
Manufacturer: Plantronics
Current SampleRate: 16000
Transport: USB
Input Source: Default

Plantronics:
Default Output Device: Yes
Manufacturer: Plantronics
Output Channels: 2
Current SampleRate: 48000
Transport: USB
Output Source: Default

Case 2: Powered On
BT600 Headset was previously set as the default input and output device but is now powered on

Plantronics BT600:
Default Input Device: Yes
Input Channels: 1
Manufacturer: Plantronics
Current SampleRate: 16000
Transport: USB
Input Source: Default

Plantronics:
Default Output Device: Yes
Output Channels: 2
Manufacturer: Plantronics
Current SampleRate: 48000
Transport: USB
Output Source: Default

8

Everything I've seen suggests that the BT600 is the USB dongle, not the headset. Which headset(s) do you have?

You may find that, despite its included instructions, the headset will connect directly to your Mac via Bluetooth -- no dongle required. We find that Bluetooth-paired headsets (Logitech and Jabra in our case) automatically become the default input/output when switched on, neatly solving your problem without the need of a macro.

9

I’ll give that a go. Cheers

10

I managed to find a Jabra dongle and headset this morning. While it isn't the BT600 I suspect it works in the same way.

As far as the OS is concerned, the sound source is the dongle. The dongle sets up its own "private" Bluetooth connection with the headset which the OS knows nothing about. Source selection for the dongle is done via an app.

So unless you can query the app to find out if the headset is turned on and connected (doubtful) there seems to be no way to find out -- not even polling will work, never mind a proper KM trigger.

The closest you'll get is to change your routine so that you unplug the dongle when you turn the headset off and plug it in when you turn the headset on -- then you can use either the "USB device" or "Audio Output Device Changed" triggers. Not a satisfactory way of doing things.

So I hope you can get the headset to work on a direct-to-Mac Bluetooth connection, avoiding the dongle altogether.

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