Linux Fedora Core 4, Headset Jabra BT500, Bluetooth and Sound

I finally got it - a bluetooth headset - cool thing...
But it is very hard to convice a geek like me that this is going to work only with my Nokia phone and/or M$ operating system installed on my IBM box. So I took a quest for finding an answer how to make it working with my Fedora.

Making sure everything is installed

To make it working - one will need to:

• install bluetooth (BlueZ stack) support: # yum install bluez-libs bluez-pin bluez-utils bluez-hcidump bluez-utils-cups
• install ALSA with devel packages: # yum install alsa-tools alsa-lib alsa-utils alsa-lib-devel
• install automake-1.7
• make sure you are running kernel 2.6.x (kernel.org)
  

Install BTSCO (bluetooth sound for ALSA)

Check btsco out from cvs:

cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/bluetooth-alsa login
cvs -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.sf.net:/cvsroot/bluetooth-alsa co btsco

Compile btsco:

./bootstrap
./configure
make
make install
make maintainer-clean

For SCO (two-way voice quality audio) you need a kernel with the emu10k1 driver selected (this is one of the drivers that forces the inclusion of the implementation of "snd_hwdep_new"). Build the kernel module:

cd kernel
make
make install
depmod -e
make clean

Connect and start using your headset

Turn on your bluetooth dongle, activate paring on your headset and scan for the head set

hcitool scan

Next try to connect your box to headset (change 00:00:00:00:00:00 to MAC of your headset):

hcitool cc 00:00:00:00:00:00

If you have any problems with paring check your /etc/bluetooth/hcid.conf, it should look like that:

options {
   autoinit yes;
   security user;
   pairing multi;
   # PIN helper
   pin_helper /etc/bluetooth/feed-pin.sh;
   # D-Bus PIN helper
   #dbus_pin_helper;
}

device {
   name "%h-%d";
   # Local device class
   class 0x120104;
   # Inquiry and Page scan
   iscan enable; pscan enable;
   lm accept;
   lp rswitch,hold,sniff,park;
   # Authentication and Encryption (Security Mode 3)
   auth enable;
   encrypt enable;
}

... and the /etc/bluetooth/feed-pin.sh should look like that (with 700 access rights; remember to change 0000 to your headset PIN number):

#!/bin/sh
echo "PIN:0000"

When you box is paired with headset you can proceed with the rest of sound set up commands. insert the module (or better, set up the alsa configuration to load it)

 modprobe snd_bt_sco

stop the esound controller if it's running via

 esdctl stop

run (in case of problems you might change 0x0060 to 0x0040)

        hciconfig hci0 voice 0x0060

run the handler (let it keep running if you run in the foreground)

 btsco -v 00:00:00:00:00:00 

... and that's it - easy, isn't it? You may want to restart kmix if you are using one, and look for the BT Headset audio device. At Skype - look for a new DSP device - probably /dev/dsp1 or /dev/dsp2.

Alternatively you can take a shortcut but using Skype hijacking solution by Andreas Beck.

Finally a couple of web pages worth visiting:
[1] http://bluetooth-alsa.sourceforge.net/
[2] http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~jp/snd-bt-sco/
[3] http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-75978.html
[4] http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/bluetooth-guide.xml
[5] http://www.thelinuxpimp.com/main/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=668
[6] http://www.gurulabs.com/goodies/Using_Linux_and_Bluetooth_DUN_with_the_Treo650.php
[7] http://www.greatestjournal.com/users/amiatrome/22941.html

Needle - Digital Libraries go Semantics

Needle - Digital Libraries go Semantics
Originally uploaded by skruk.

The day has finally come, long anticipated Needle - SemaNtic BackbonE for European Digitial LibrariEs starts up.

Two European semantic digital library projects JeromeDL and BRICKS gather together with joint initiative that aims to promote semantic web technologies in librarian network.

In the first step, we would like to gather community [see blog and wiki] that would aggregate ideas and scenarios for Needle, and disseminate the semantic digital libraries research back to librarian community.

Following the community building we will come with concrete actions for building European-wide open, semantic backbone for digital libraries.

Is this winter or spring?

Is this winter or spring?
Originally uploaded by skruk.

This is a kind of question one can ask after seeing the snow melting on the cars and then this perfect view [compare to Frozen Mist].

It really looks like spring to me - but do not be cheated - it is an Irish winter :)

First snow

First snow
Originally uploaded by skruk.

This is what I did not anticipated for sure, but it happend - a true snow in Ireland. First this winter.

Although it got almost completely melted by the time I was walking to work - I managed to capture a life proof.

See for yourself.

Frozen mist

Frozen mist
Originally uploaded by skruk.

As the whole Galway wake up frozen today - even the mist came along

Frozen spider web

Frozen spider web
Originally uploaded by skruk.

Poor spider - I hope it's got warm socks at least

Clamping Vehicle

Clamping Vehicle
Originally uploaded by skruk.

I had to shot this photo - the best contradiction I have seen so far: "Clamping Vehicle" == "Keeping Galway Moving" :D

Not a snow but it will do

Not a snow but it will do
Originally uploaded by skruk.

Well, there you have it. In Poland - a lot of snow. In Ireland - the best it can be achieved in the mild country - a heavy frost.

Not a snow but it will do
Originally uploaded by skruk.

Is there going to be a white X-mass in Ireland? I hope it will be in Poland at least :)

Not a snow but it will do
Originally uploaded by skruk.

Some people aim to high

I have just learned that one of the most controversial Polish priests Father Rydzyk aims to be nominated with the highest Polish national award: "The Order of the White Eagle".
This is the most prominent award given only to people that did a lot good to our country.
On contrary this priest is (was - before latest elections) not only in conflict with the government but also with the Polish Catholic Church.

My friends say I am happy to be abroad and they would like to leave as well. Are we (Poland) going in to the right direction? I doubt.

For more information check: http://wiadomosci.onet.pl/1197431,11,item.html

typhoid libby & the virusmobile

typhoid libby & the virusmobile
Originally uploaded by danbri.

Now you have it - you can get a virus on your phone. Luckily our cars do not have OSes with bluetooth installed [otherwise we would need to stop the engine, go out of the car, come back - several times on the way] :)

Semantic Web Workshop

Semantic Web Workshop
Originally uploaded by skruk.

The day was great. A lot of cool stuff presented. And although the Semantic Web Workshop is over - the challenge has just begun.


Semantic Web Workshop
Originally uploaded by skruk.

Presentation on FOAFRealm [http://www.foafrealm.org/] with its Social Semantic Collaborative Filtering idea has risen some important questions on the idea of similarity of interests in the social network.


Semantic Web Workshop
Originally uploaded by skruk.

Faith suggested contributing to FOAFRealm to support a new ideas of ACL for the community she is working with.



Looking forward for the main ISWC 2005 conference presentations...

Vienna by Night

Vienna by Night
Originally uploaded by skruk.

It is the second time I've been to Vienna. And the second time - I was to busy to see this marvelous city. Well, not quite, I have seen it by night. Will do for now. Next time I have to stay longer and see it, definitely.

eContentPlus 2nd F2F meeting in Vienna

It was intended to be the first one, but since there where no new faces then during the initial meeting a month ago - there you have it - a second F2F meeting. After 9 hours of banging our heads against the wall we have came up with the first version of the pre proposal (finally).

Tomorrow, meeting day two ... I hope it will finish sooner - I have already seen Vienna by night :)

Anyway, Bernhard and Kerstin did a really good job.

To start with ...

Yap, the day has come I have set up my own blog... but the world will need to live for the next couple of days still without much of my blogging - but I promisse to come back with interesting texts asap.