Hands-On the Snom Wireless Headset Adapter
I was fortunate to grab a Snom Wireless headset adapter out of the test stock. I am using the GN Netcom 9120 with the Flexboom and I have been very impressed. Before I get into how this device works, I would like to talk about life without the Headset adapter.
When you use the GN Netcom headsets, you have to press the “Check” button to send audio to the headset port. Then you have to press the “Connect” button on the headset to hear the audio in your ear. To end the call, you have to press the “X” button on the phone and press the “Connect” button again to close the audio channel between the headset and the headset charging station. This was very cumbersome for me since I like to walk around when I am on the phone. Imagine, leaving a voicemail and they realizing 40 feet from your desk that you have to press the “X” button to stop the recording. That is quite a bit of dead air and it may record your heavy breathing as you sprint back to your desk. 
With the Snom Wireless Headset Adapter, you can send a hook flash to the Snom phone by toggling the connection state of the headset and the charging station. Now, I can answer and hang up my phone with one button push on my GN Netcom Headset.
Steps to Setup the Wireless Headset Adapter
1) Upgrade your Snom phones to the following Firmware Versions (Snom 300 is not supported since headset adapter needs serial port. Also you cant have both the headset adapter and the extended serial port today becasue both need the sam serial port. a new adapter is on the roadmap for end of teh year or early 2008 that will support daisy chaining of serial ports.)
Snom 320–> Firmware 6.5.8 Official Release: 6.5.8 release
Snom 360–> Firmware 6.5.8 Official Release: 6.5.8 release
Snom 370–> Firmware 7.X Official Release (not yet available)
2) Plug the Adapter in to the Phone and Headset (See Fig.1)
+Plug the RJ12 cord (6 Pin cable) into the Expansion module port(EXT) on the Snom phone and then in the adapter.
+Plug the RJ45 (8 pin cable) into the AUX port on the GN Netcom Charging Station and then in the adapter.
+Plug the RJ11 (4 pin Cable) into the Headset port on the Snom phone and port that looks like a phone on the GN Netcom Charging Station.
Figure 1: Headset Adapter Wiring Diagram
3) Set the Charging Station Channel to “A” for all Snom phones
Please see the Individual Hesdset user Manuals for instructions to change the Channel.
The Snom Wireless Headset Adapter supports the following headsets that ABP Technology carries.
GN Netcom 9350
GN Netcom 9120
GN Netcom 6120
Now you should have the ability to answer calls with the touch of a button on you headset with a vast amount of roaming mobility. As I said before, I’m using the GN 9120; however, if you would like some more style points then you can get the GN9350. The GN9350 looks much better, has a cool blue (like bluetooth) status LED, and it has more advanced features.
To sum it all up, this little device is well worth the money if your customer likes to roam away from their desk or answer phones while getting a cup of coffee from the break room. I really enjoy using this device and it should be available at the beginning of June 2007.
Jeff Ogden
Notes from Snom:
Unfortunately the standard headset interface is limited. The standard interface headset only listens for one command, and that is incoming call indication. It is not possible to control the headset from the phone and turn it on or off.
To do that the extended interface is needed. That is e.g. supported by the GN9350 headset. The snom Headset Interface Box supports both the standard and extended interface.
To shift between RHL/DHSG/AEI (different EHS modes) make sure that the headset is placed in the base during this operation.
