Question: What are the features on your standard Plantronics headset amplifiers such as the M10, M12 and M22?  I’ve misplaced my instructions.

Answer:  Here are the features.  You’re looking at the amplifier in front of you.  The single RJ9 jack in front of the amplifier (marked with a headset symbol) should have the coiled “quick disconnect” cord plugged into it. The other end is where you connect the headset.

On top, to the left, you have a wheel with numbers to control the volume of what you hear through the speakers of your headset (it has a symbol of a speaker below it).  Next to the volume wheel you have the button that turns on your headset (it has a symbol of a headset below it).  The window in the button will show green (red on some older models) when “on” and black when “off.”  Then you have the mute button next to that one, marked by luscious lips with a line across or a microphone with a line across. It too will show green (or red) when “on” and black when “off.”

Looking at the back of the Plantronics headset amplifier you have three jacks.  The first one (round with a power symbol) is for an ac adapter, if you’re using one with your amplifier.  The next one is an RJ9 jack marked with a handset symbol.  It’s where you connect your…handset…once you’ve connected your amplifier to your phone, which brings us to the next RJ9 jack with the telephone symbol.  There is a short cord with loops (that looks like a pigtail) that goes from this jack to your telephone handset jack.

Still looking at the Plantronics headset amplifier, on the left hand side there is a “U” shaped door.  That’s where you put the batteries in, if you’re using batteries.  Remember that the top battery has the positive end facing out and the bottom battery has the negative end facing out.  If you look inside the chamber, you can see printed on the circuit board how they’re supposed to go in, as a reminder.  Next to the battery compartment, there is a thin door (some have bumps and others have ridges).  When you remove the door, you will find a scale with numbers 1-6 and a round blue and white dial with minus and plus signs.  The scale is used to configure the amplifier to the phone.  It comes preset to 5 since most phones use that setting.  If you do not get a good dial tone, you may need to try one of the other settings.  On some phones that work on setting #1 you may need to remove the batteries since they work without them. The blue and white dial controls the volume of your microphone or voice tube (- less volume, + more volume).

Simplifying your telephone headsets with Plantronics Amplifiers:

Problem:

We have different brands of telephones in our office. It seems like each phone takes a different type of setup, some of the phones have a headset jack, some do not. What can we purchase to make all of our existing and future headsets universal to all of our phones?

Answer:

If you are looking for a corded solution, you will need to start with a Plantronics amplifier and headset. We carry a large selection of Plantronics headsets for you to choose from. Plantronics offers headsets with a voice tube for quiet environments as well as headsets with a noise canceling microphone for noisy environments (this headset will get rid of about 75% of your background noise). Plantronics offers amplifiers such as the M22 and AP15 that work on just about any office phone. The Plantronics amplifier will plug into the handset jack on each of your phones and the headset plugs into the quick disconnect cord on the amplifier. This will keep all of your setups universal and consistent for each phone. Just remember, since you are plugging into the handset jack, you will have to take your handset out of the cradle each and every time you take or make a call.

A Plantronics wireless headset and a handset lifter may be another way for your office to go. This would also be universal for almost any office phone. Headsets Direct’s most popular wireless headset is the CS55. This headset gives you 10 hours of talk time and up to 300 feet distance. The HL10 handset lifter will give you remote access to answering all of your calls.

I need a headset for work that will do the following -

1) Plug into a Cisco VOIP phone (the standard one you see everywhere)
2) Greatly amplify volume (so for example, if the call is very hard to hear even with phone’s volume blasting, headset would further amplify sound)
3) Has a mute button on board the headset
4) Cordless would rock but could live without it.

Answer:  If you have any of the 7940, 7960 or 7970 model Cisco phones, you can use just about any of the Plantronics wireless systems such as the CS55, CS70N, CS351N, CS361N, etc.  These wireless systems have a button for adjusting your listening volume and a mute button right on the the actual headset.  The wireless headset charger / base amplifier has independent controls for both your incoming and outgoing volume.

A: To determine what you need to connect the headset to your telephone you need to know the make and model of the phone. We can then check compatibility and let you know what the best possible solution for your particular need. You can call us at 800-914-7996 and we will be happy to help you!