Been given a Huawei G6151 phone and need advice about Bluetooth Headsets.

tweeter

I would like to listen to the FM radio on this mobile phone using a Bluetooth Headset if possible (the phone is a 2.1 if it helps - well that's what it says on the box) Would also appreciate any advice on the headset below or any other recommendations and whether there are avoidable pitfalls to using headsets like these as this is all new to me.

Thanks for any advice.

headset
http://www.foneboy.co.uk/nokia-bh216-midnight-blue-bluetooth-headset-handsfree-kit-p-432.html

and the phone
http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/viewProduct.do?productId=18974907

BigRonW

Years ago, Oraange employed me to answer precisely such questions about connecting what were (back then) new fangled Bluetooth devices to phones. First off I'm surprised that you picked a MONAURAL headset for radio use. I'd have gone for a Stereo set myself, for example a set made by "Bluedio". I'm sure there are others that are as good and as cheap, but that happens to be the make that I bought a few years back, so I can confidently comend it. http://dx.com/p/bluedio-av890-stereo-a2dp-bluetooth-handsfree-headset-6-hour-usage-100-hour-standby-20427
Not only is it £1.20 cheaper than your Nokia model, but it's intended for listening to things kike FM Radio. The supplier (DX) is generally regarded as reliable, and if there are problems with the (Chinese!) product, you can ship it back to SOUHAMPTON (here in the UK) for a refund, or a replacement.

The phone is the product of a company that's not well known in the UK, but is HUGE in China. (and it seems to be a knock-off of Nokia's batgain basement "C3") A surprising lack of mention of it on http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei-phones-58.php but it looks to be a "2.5G" model (i.e.was state of the art back when I was a phone techie... which was quite a while back) It's a "feature phone" rather than a true "Smartphone". Most of the phones I've owned in recent years have had stereo FM Radios.... with built-in RDS - which continually retunes the radio to give the best possible signal as you move around.

I use an old Samsung F480 "Tocco" phone as a substitute "iPod touch" for when I'm walking my dogs - it's old (so it's cheap!) it has good sound quality, it plays MP3 music files from cheap MicroSD storage, and it has RDS on the FM radio. I'm not suggesting that you should do the same... merely commending your good sense in using a phone as a "pocket entertainment centre".

In terms of the basic mechanics... you'll need to charge both phone and headset, turn on Bluetooth on your phone (be warned, Bluetooth EATS batteries, so turn it off when you're not using it to reduce the drain on battery power) then you need to "Pair" the two devices (so that it's YOUR phone you're listening to, and not someone else's!) This usually involves getting the headest to send out a wireless signal, for which the phone is searching, and the phone needs to confirm that it heard the pin number from the headset (which is almost always "0000") Both the phone and the headet should come with manuals describing the process in better detail.

Hope that helped you!

tweeter

Thanks BigRonW for the information but I was looking for a rechargeable hands-free ear-piece headset to hear the FM radio, and as there's so many out there I wondered about the compatibility and quality of the Nokia BH-216 or has anybody else had any other hands-free recommendations or ideas that would work with a Huawei G6151.

I was given the phone as a present to hear the radio whilst digging on my allotment and a hands - free setup seemed to fit the bill rather than the head phone lead type that came with it, but as I say, I've no experience of this bluetooth technology.

I couldn't get one of the links to work.

BigRonW

tweeter wrote: »

Thanks BigRonW for the information but I was looking for a rechargeable hands-free ear-piece headset to hear the FM radio, and as there's so many out there I wondered about the compatibility and quality of the Nokia BH-216 or has anybody else had any other hands-free recommendations or ideas that would work with a Huawei G6151.

I was given the phone as a present to hear the radio whilst digging on my allotment and a hands - free setup seemed to fit the bill rather than the head phone lead type that came with it, but as I say, I've no experience of this bluetooth technology.

I couldn't get one of the links to work.

The "Bluedio" link works - I've just tried it! If you're going to use the radio while mainly plodding around the confines of your allotment, then RDS becomes largely irrelevant (It's mainly designed to retune to the best signal when you're - for example - driving along the motorway) I've absolutely NO idea of your taste in radio, but with the possible exception of "Talk Radio", I'd assert that whatever you listen to, it's going to sound far better in stereo. The Bluedio gadget is about half the size of a box of safety matches, and it clips on to your collar. You plug into it either headphones of your own choice, or the (fairly good) ones provided - exactly as if you were plugging them into the 3.5mm jack on a phone or an iPod.. The phone then goes into... any pocket you want, and "talks" (in stereo) to the headset via Bluetooth. Switches on the gadget clipped to your lapel allow you to alter the volume, AND to accept phone calls, without touching the phone. If you use your phone's media player to play MP3's, there's also a pair of buttons that advance (or retreat!) through the track list.

Setting up the Bluetooth link isn't complicated - takes a few seconds - and once it's been done once... it STAYS set up.