Upgrading Widcomm Bluetooth Stack?

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Tim M · #1 Post by **Tim M** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 12:34 pm

A long time ago, I disabled the Windows Bluetooth stack and enabled the Widcomm stack (v. 1.4.3.4 dated 1/14/04) for IBM Bluetooth III in Device Manager.

This Widcomm stack is quite old now and I've always had an issue that after resuming from a suspended or hibernated state, Bluetooth connectivity gets flaky. Specifically, my BT mouse works, but I cannot connect to my Nokia phone or Jabra headset (sometimes I get severe static with the headset). A reboot is needed for those devices to work; this problem has persisted through various hardware upgrades and Windows reinstallations. Is it possible to upgrade the stack safely and solve these problems? It seems that the v. 4.xx drivers are the ideal solution as per this lengthy discussion.

Thanks!

-Tim

sojourner · #2 Post by **sojourner** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:10 pm

Tim, that hacked Widcomm software might work, or you could do what I did, buy a Jabra BT dongle (A320S). It comes with newer (v5) software. Also provides more functions than IBM's BT III CDC. The Jabra can provide STEREO or MONO to your headphones (BTW, STEREO sounds GREAT), it also allows the use of multiple devices, eg I use a mouse and broadcast stereo no problem, no dropouts like other older adapters (our IBM BT adapters for example). Never had a problem coming out of hibernation (that I recall).

If you like to listen to stereo in your headphones RUN to grab one of these! And as always, before major surgery is performed on an OS make SURE you have a good backup!

Lastly, if you deside to install new BT software be sure the old is UNINSTALLED and MS BT disabled (rename \windows\inf\BTH.INF to BTH.INF.MS-Bluetooth), then be sure to check device manager, view hidden devices, and uninstall any devices which may still be lurking (like MS). Install the new software and enjoy!

libit · #3 Post by **libit** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:16 pm

My experience with bluetooth has been quite different. I have been owning a T60 for about 2.5 year. When it was new I was a bit unsure about bluetooth drivers and ended up installing both the widcomm drivers and the microsoft ones (not knowing what I was doing). I was a bit annoyed by seeing two very similar bluetooth icons in the control panel, but anyway bluetooth was perfectly working with all my bluetooth devices (phones, a printer, a car, but I don't have headsets though) - and I almost never reboot (maybe once in a couple of weeks) since I usually just standby or hibernate. Also it has always been working well with the initial bluetooth firmware (v2.1.50.108) as I upgraded to the latest one (2.1.211.299) just today and don't know yet if it breaks anything.

After a full WinXP reinstall about 6 months ago (with the recovery cd) I installed only the widcomm driver and still everything was working well, including Nokia PC suite 6 and 7.

However last week I updated to (widcomm) Bluetooth with Enhanced Data Rate Software for Windows XP, 2000 - ThinkPad release date 2008-08-25 (from lenovo support). After this update I could not pair any phone anymore with Nokia PC Suite 7. What happens is that the nokia software starts the pairing procedure and when I expect the phone to ask for the pair code too, instead the widcomm driver kicks in and ask the pairing code again on the pc side.
I was able to solve this just uninstalling the bluetooth stack and reinstalling the 2008-06-23 release.

There is a discussion on these issues on the nokia forums:
http://discussions.nokia.co.uk/discussi ... d.id=17955

Cheers,
Libit

#4 Post by **Harryc** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 9:27 pm

sojourner, can you recommend a good pair of bluetooth stereo headphones? Mouse?

sojourner · #5 Post by **sojourner** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:09 am

Harryc wrote:sojourner, can you recommend a good pair of bluetooth stereo headphones? Mouse?

For a BT mouse I use a Logitech V470. Except for the sometimes annoying delay when initially moving the mouse I think it's great. In fact, been looking for another as backup but have not bought ($40 avg price), waiting for rebate offerings (with this financial 'crisis' it would seem more sellers would offer rebates to stimulate business). Once the price comes to $25 or less I'll spring for another. The mouse is small but still has a good feel (I have a medium sized hand). Battery life is excellent. The sides have a rubberized coating that doesn't hold up very well if you are the type to dig fingernails into the sides, but to me thats forgivable considering its ease of use, and overall good performance and comfort.

Regarding jerky movement: the cause for this is the transmitter has to wake up, go from sleep mode to on; once on the curser jumps to catchup with your movement. To circumvent this I sometimes turn the thumbwheel first knowing that will wake up the transmitter, then move the mouse.

For a headset I use a Jabra BT620s. It is an amazing stereo headset. GREAT sound, very good to excellent battery life, head-ear comfort is OK for less than two hours use ... of course this is very subjective. Ebay had them available some months ago for reasonable price.

#6 Post by **Harryc** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:45 am

Thanks for the information

.

#7 Post by **Harryc** » Wed Oct 29, 2008 5:45 pm

sojourner, I picked up both the V470 mouse and the Jabra BT620S headset. Both pair seamlessly with the BDC-2 Bluetooth adapter in my T60. Great devices, thanks again.

crashnburn · #8 Post by **crashnburn** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:21 am

Nice. I gotta try this.

Upgrading Widcomm Bluetooth Stack?

Upgrading Widcomm Bluetooth Stack?

latest bluetooth update not working with Nokia PC Suite 7

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