Plantronics SaviGo Headset for PC and Bluetooth
Wideband HD-Audio PC Communications Software Headset and Cell Phone Headset
First Impressions
Very solid construction. Feels worth the $100. The base is very heavy and stable, looking much better in person than it does in the picture. The headset and long microphone boom is very sleek and lightweight with a strong, stable up/down control switch and button.
Included in the WG101 system is the wireless headset, a charging stand, and a bluetooth USB adapter. Why does it include a USB bluetooth connector? Keep reading…
Great size. Looks good. Lightweight. Minimal desktop real estate.
Installation
Very easy. Connected Bluetooth USB dongle to back of iMac. Connected AC adapter to electric and to the back of the charging stand. Seated headset upright in charging stand and waited for 30 minutes as recommended in manual.
Configuration
Appeared immediately on configuration screen of my new Bria softphone software from CounterPath. Selected headset as input and output for “headset mode” on software application and selected internal speaker and internal microphone from iMac for “speakerphone mode”. Essentially, the Bria application has a button which allows you to quickly toggle between two audio sources defaulting to the device chosen for “headset mode” unless you click the Speaker button to override during a call.
Real-World Testing
Fail. The sending audio (headset microphone) sounds fantastic, but the receive audio had lots of clicking and sounded very limited in its audio range. At first, I thought it may be the person I was talking with, so I called many people only to find the same result. Next, I thought it might be interference, so I turned off every wireless device in the office to see if that helped but it did not. Finally, I thought it might be the softphone software or the VoIP service provider so I tried many different combination only to accept the fact that the clicking in my earpiece wouldn’t go away.
Next, let’s test the wireless range. It advertises XXX feet, but I was only able to walk about 30-40 feet away before the audio dropped out significantly and consistently. Thirty feet is certainly farther than most wired headsets allow, but not enough of a gain to really justify the increased cost. When paired with my iPhone, it also had limited range of about 10 feet. I was not impressed, but maybe this headset wasn’t designed to impress me. Maybe I’m not it’s target market?
It’s an impressive idea: build a headset that works seamlessly between your office PC and your cell phone. But Bluetooth technology is not the best solution for an office environment, even my home office with a Wi-Fi router, laser printer, florescent overhead lights, halogen desk lamp, wall mounted HD TV, and next door neighbors cordless phones. Plantronics designed this device use Bluetooth because the thought is that you’ll use this headset when travelling with your softphone on your laptop PC and also on your cell phone. For the occasional softphone user, this might be acceptable. But this headset is not for full-time use in your home or office as it is far too susceptable to interference and its range is not as long as the materials suggest. Also, let’s be honest cell phone users: Are you really going to use this headset with your cell phone on a regular basis? It’s boom microphone arm is great for blocking out background noise but loses its coolness factor when walking down the street.
Summary
What might seem like a value when compared to other wireless headsets that might improve your home office efficiency, anything with Bluetooth seems best to avoid. Compared to my GN9350e, the Plantonics’ receiving sound in its earpiece was crisper and clearer, but that also seemed to amplify the clicking sounds and other noise issues. Then again, it may have just been interference from my Bluetooth mouse or three Wi-Fi network routers that all are sharing the same frequencies as this headset. If you don’t have all those competing signals in your home or office, this is a fantastic headset that I would highly recommend. Only on this kind of device can you easily make and take calls from your PC softphone, iChat, Skype, Netmeeting, or your Bluetooth cell phone — all from one sharp-looking, long-lasting, extremely lightweight and comfortable, wideband-audio wireless communications headset! For that, I love it.
User manual: savi_go_wg101b_userguide_en
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