Headsets Direct – Headset Help Desk

Question: What types of businesses really buy headsets?  I mean, I’m just a small one-man operation and a headset is quite an investment.  Do I really need a headset?

Answer: Well, aside from all the reports on the safety and ergonomic benefits of headsets, (click here for ergo benefits), they really do help you conduct your business in a more efficient manner.

Here are some of the businesses that buy our headsets:

Doctors, lawyers and accountants, oh my!  Auto parts stores, mechanics, bikers, hang gliders, L.A. commuters and even that granny from Pasadena.  Museums, manufacturing plants, distribution warehouses, Texas ranchers who need to stay connected on their thousand-acre spreads, Starbucks® coffee drinkers, massage parlors, the I.R.S. and every branch of government…and yes, even that backbone of American enterprise, the one-to-five-person small business operation.

And don’t forget…you can count it as a business expense.

Will the CT14 battery work in a CT12 remote?

Unfortunately they’re not compatible and interchangeable.  Although the Plantronics CT12 and Plantronics CT14 systems look alike, they do use different batteries.  The CT14 battery ( part # 81087-01 ) is much smaller than the CT12 battery (part # part # 63421-01 ) , not just in physical appearance, but also in power specifications.  The much smaller CT14 battery does have the same plug as the CT12 battery and can physically “plug in”, however it does not have enough power to even turn on the CT14 remote.  The specs are as follows:

CT12 battery – DC 3.6v, 800mah  /  CT14 battery – DC 2.4v, 600mah

Since we started in 1996, we have always been, and always will be, a small company that is built around service…..we just happen to sell Plantronics telephone headsets.

We will help you find the correct item, by using our compatibility guide for headsets, browsing with you on our website or just pointing you in the right direction for items you need.  We want you to have a great headset experience!

How is Headsets Direct different?

1 ) We offer lower prices than many of the retailers.

2) We offer a 60 day money back guarantee, if you are not happy with your purchase, we will exchange or refund minus the shipping cost.

3) We stock most accessories and replacement parts.

4) We offer tech support for the life of the products.

5) We have very few products that have a restocking fee.

6) We process and take care of the paper work to Plantronics for warranty replacements for you.

7) We offer a flat UPS ground shipping rate of only $7.95 per order – no matter the size.

8 ) We offer price breaks on most of our headsets of 5 or more quantity.

9) We sell headsets and amplifiers below MSRP.

10) We will supply you with a quote for the products you are interested in.

11) We are happy to take your order over the phone, or you can place your order on line.

Bottom Line:  Headsets Direct is a specialist in providing Plantronics headsets and accessories with customer service like no other!

The Problem: I have had my Plantronics CS55 wireless headset & HL10 handset lifter for several weeks now, and they have been working great!  Recently, however, it has dropped a couple of calls in mid-conversation.   What’s up?

The Solution: If the HL10 lifter is actually hanging up the phone mid conversation there are several possible quick fixes that may solve your problem.   First, check the small height adjustment button on the back of your Plantronics HL10 lifter.  You have a choice of low, medium or high settings.   We suggest you set it on the medium  (middle) setting because it works best for the majority of phones.    With some phones if you set the HL10 on the low setting the handset is simply too heavy, so it slowly hangs up on you.

If that adjustment doesn’t solve your problem, lift your handset off the phone and manually pull the arm on your HL10 lifter up as high as it will go; then slowly push it back down.  If the problem persists, your next option is to do a reset on your headset.  You will find detailed instructions with pictures located on our Plantronics CS55 product page, under FAQ’s.  Once you have completed the reset, your headset and lifter should be ready to go!

Although the Plantronics CT12 and Plantronics CT14 systems look alike, they do use different headsets.  The CT12 headset (part # 64378-01) has a red light on the end of the microphone that illuminates when in use (on a call), the remote unit sends an “electronic pulse” to the headset which makes this happen.  Other headsets, including the CT14 headset (part # 81083-01), will “technically” work with the CT12 system, but we only recommend using the actual CT12 replacement headset.  When using any other headset besides the original on a CT12 (including the CT14), you will more than likely hear the electronic pulsating sound fading in and out, and you could possibly also have a buzzing issue as well.

Problem: My Plantronics 10U100 wireless headset stopped working, what can I replace it with?

Solution: The Plantronics CT14.  The 10U100 was typically used with the Avaya Partner phones, such as the 18D and 34D models.  The CT14 would be the closest model replacement for the older discontinued 10U100 system.  The CT14 has a slimmer and more modern design with longer range (300ft) and talktime (10hrs), while still having the basic features of being able to answer, dial and transfer calls when used with the Avaya Partner 18D & 34D phones.  And because the CT14 plugs into the “AUX” (auxillary) jack on the bottom of the phone, the HL10 Handset Lifter is not required for remote one-touch answering.

The SPA504G is a VoIP Phone from Cisco which seems to be geared towards smaller companies.  This model comes with 4 individual call lines with dedicated buttons for Headset, Mute, Volume, Hold, Menu settings, Speakerphone and Voicemail access.  No AC power supply is needed, it can use POE (Power Over Ethernet).  This phone has a 2.5mm headset jack, as opposed to the more common Cisco 7940, 7960 and 7970 series phones.  As far as we can tell, the headset jack should be a standard 2.5mm jack so you should be able to use any of the Plantronics “cordless phone headsets” which have a 2.5mm plug, or any Plantronics commercial grade “H-series headsets” along with a 2.5mm patch cable (model# 43038-01).  If you are a user or have had any experiences with this particular line of Cisco phones, please feel free to blog with us, as this will help other people.

We have customers inquire about telephone Plantronics equipment on occasion and what a customer is really searching for is a Plantronics telephone headset.  Plantronics has a few corded models of telephones which use a headset instead of a handset, for example the Plantronics T10 telephone headset.  It’s a fully functioning telephone that rings, has redial, flash and a mute button, but no handset.  The headset replaces the handset for clear, comfortable, and hands free calls.  A wireless version would be the Plantronics CT14 telephone headset which provides caller ID, 300 foot range and 10 hours of talk time on one charge.  So hopefully this better explains how a telephone Plantronics is really a Plantronics telephone headset that has been enhanced with a headset for hands free communication.  And with a wireless model, you gain the freedom to roam your surroundings while you talk.  As always, if you have any questions regarding telephone headsets from Plantronics, please call, email or live chat with us!

First there are two types of Audio IQ.  AudioIQ makes wireless conversations effortless and pleasant, regardless of the environment. For incoming calls, AudioIQ automatically adapts to background noise levels and intelligently improves the receive quality, clarity and volume level. For outgoing calls, AudioIQ reduces background noise for listeners up to 7-8 decibels, or by approximately 50 percent. It also minimizes interference from artifacts such as speech distortions to maintain exceptionally clear voice intelligibility.  AudioIQ² makes use of two microphones–one that’s focused on your speech and the other that picks out distracting background sounds, such as road hum and construction noise–then compares data from the two microphones and eliminates the unwanted sounds, leaving your unique voice free to be heard clearly and naturally.

WindSmart provides wind-noise reduction technology for optimal sound clarity. It’s highly recommended for calls made outside (or in moving vehicles with open windows).

Solution: If you have a headset jack on your phone, it will either be an RJ9 (square like the handset jack) or round (usually 2.5mm in size). I’m talking about a corded phone (the handset has a cord attached and it’s plugged into the base of the phone) not a cordless phone.  Sometimes the jack is located right next to the handset jack or it could be on the underside of your phone, each manufacturer is different.

If you do have a headset jack, the next question is what type of headset will you need? You can use any of our H series headsets if you have a RJ9 (square jack). Our entire H series selection of headsets has a quick disconnect on the end of the cord, however, they have to be plugged into a bottom cord or amplifier. The best way to determine what connection you will need is to check out the compatibility guide on our website.  This site will tell you what type of cord or amplifier will work best with your phone.  If you have a round jack (2.5mm), you can use an H-series headset with a 2.5mm patch cable (43038-01) or we do carry other Plantronics headsets that have a 2.5mm plug (no additional cable needed) for your type of phone.