I ordered a Pearl and a new Jabra BT500 a week ago, and I have to say the bluetooth is largely unusable. If I simply put the pearl in my pocket I get static, whereas with my old Jabra headset and Moto razr I could walk all over my house, and wouldn't get static even through walls.

Is the bluetooth radio on the pearl just that weak, or is it simply that these two products don't like each other? Or is my pearl faulty?

I have a Moto HS500 and get pretty good range, line of sight probably at least 40 or 50 feet, not much interference through walls. Signal weakens when I go outside and separate the headset from the handset.

Same here...

I have a Plantronics 665 headset and the usable range is 1 to 2 feet. If I have the phone in my pants pocket it is impossible to make a call. With my old Nokia phone I can walk around the room without problems. I also tested the headset with a SonyEricsson Phone today and the range was good too.

I'm using the latest available SW.

I have to say that it must be the Jabra. I have seen some criticisms of it around the Net and here in BBF. I can't recall if range was one of the negatives about it.

Based on reviews and the bargain aspect of it, I snapped up four of the Nokia BH-900 on eBay for about $30 average each. These originally sold for $130 back about 18 months ago.

I have used it from about 30' away or so, with walls blocking the signal. Has worked fine.

By the way, since you ordered it about a week ago, can you return it for a refund? If so, do that and consider getting the Nokia BH-900 like I have.

While other models may work just as well, the Nokia is one that I find works perfect.

You can find them on eBay from time to time for a good price. Some sellers want a lot, but when I was buying them up [for only low prices] I got one new in the box for a Buy It Now of $20.



Here it is at $20, plus $12 shipping. Snap this sucker up! Bonus Tip: Disregard that it says the headset is for the Nokia, it works with the Pearl.

Brand New Bluetooth Headset BH900 BH-900 For Nokia N93i - (item 110152052940 end time Aug-01-07 20:41:31 PDT)

Can you borrow a friend's BT headset to check if its the phone or the BT? This is how I found out that the headset was faulty (it ended up being the same model, which was perfect). Good luck.

Thanks for the tips, I'm very glad to hear it's most likely the headset. Maybe I'll get one of the fancy jawbone ones...

Are you able to return it?

Get the Nokia.

I've noticed a variety of bluetooth headsets can have vastly different effective ranges. I currently use a Motorola H700 and, while the line-of-sight working distance is a good 15-20 feet, the signal gets significant static if there's anything at all in the way.

For instance, if I have the phone in my left pocket, but the headset in my right ear, the signal is all but unusable.

Who would have thought I was so dense...

-PJ