FreeTalk Headset

The FreeTalk manual doesn't seem to correspond too closely with the unit's actual behavior. This headset is very difficult to use in that you never know reliably, without playing around with Skype->Tools->Options->Audio Settings->Make a free test call, whether you have it on or not.

When the headset works, it works well, but the manual and overall user experience is slightly non-deterministic and crap.

Basically, I find that, once the headset is turned off, the only way the microphone can be brought back on line (made to work) is to disconnect the USB dongle, then reconnect it. There is no system tray representation of this USB device to start/stop contrary to what one would have expected to see.

Observed FreeTalk headset states and behavior...

  1. No light: dead or charged headset.
  2. Steady red light: headset is charging.
  3. Steady orange light or...
  4. Blue/orange flashing light: headphones on, microphone on.
  5. The volume control on the headset appears to control the microphone volume as well as the headphones volume.
  6. You cannot trust Skype to leave your microphone volume up; it seems to love to set it back to zero.
  7. Even after a successful test, you will come back to find your headset isn't working.

This is all once linked. The unit is linked as long as you can hear something.

The manual says that if there is a steady green light, the devices (presumably both headphones and microphone) are paired (i.e.: linked). If green and orange flashing, headphones are on and microphone is off.

While inconsistent, it appears that unless there is a steady green light, your Skype use will not be functioning. How to get there consistently (instead of stumbling upon this mode by chance) is anyone's guess. At present, I'm there and my Skype audio settings are:

  1. Microphone : Avnera Audio Device
  2. Volume: High
  3. Let Skype adjust my audio settings (checked)
     
  4. Speakers Avnera Audio Device
  5. Volume: High
     
  6. Ringing: Avnera Audio Device
  7. Ring PC speaker (checked)

Having the headset plugged in (for charging) appears to cause whatever color light is in effect to alternate with red (for charging presumably). In my tests, it did not appear to affect microphone or headphone use.

Modus operandi? Leave the headset plugged in, in the discovered working state, and just unplug the charging cable when you want to use it.

The audio device for this headset appears to be named Avnera.