HOWTO: Bluetooth and Skype on Ubuntu

This howto is based on Motorola HS815 Headset and Zonet (Broadcom Corporation USB) Adapter on Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy)

1. sudo modprobe snd-bt-sco or add ‘snd-bt-sco’ to the end of ‘/etc/modules’

2. sudo apt-get install bluez-utils to install btsco user-space program and (optional) bluez-pin for PIN GUI

3. edit ‘/etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf’ for security and pairing mode settings

• ‘security auto;’ if using static pass key in the same file – add following statement
  • passkey “0000”;
• ‘security user;’, if using a GUI interface to allow input – add following statement
  • pin_helper /usr/bin/bluez-pin;
• ‘pairing multi;’

4. (seems optional) edit ‘/etc/bluetooth/rfcomm.conf’ to set remote device’s MAC address and channel

5. sudo /etc/init.d/bluetooth restart to restart bluetooth daemon

6. (optional) if in step 3 the security is set to ‘user’, need to run ‘passkey-agent --default /usr/bin/bluez-pin &‘

• for the first time, I highly recommend everyone trying to use ‘user’ in step 3
  • before step 6, run xhost + to enable the GUI to show;
  • then run step 6;
  • when run step 7, the GUI for passkey shows, enter the passkey (0000 in my case) for your device;
  • then go on to step 8;
  • now, you can use xhost - to disable GUI;
  • then go back to step 3 ad change ‘security’ to ‘auto’;
  • then run step 5 to restart the daemon;
  • from now on, for everyday use, you can simply turn on your headset and run step 7 and 8;
  • you are all good, aren’t you?

7. sudo hcitool cc 00:00:00:00:00:00 (replace this with remote bluetooth device’s MAC address)

• use sudo hcitool dev to ensure whether the bluetooth adapter is working
• use sudo hcitool scan to get the MAC address of the remote bluetooth device’s MAC address

8. btsco 00:00:00:00:00:00 2 to use bluetooth headset as the audio device.

• or better opt to btsco 00:00:00:00:00:00 2 >/dev/null & to run it at background with less message

9. select BT Headset as the Sound Device in Skype -> Tool -> Options -> Sound Devices.

(ToDo: I will add some references later on)