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Small-Scale Question Sunday for November 13, 2022

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Bluetooth Headphones: Threat or Menace?

I love my Jabra bluetooth headphones both on the go and sitting at my desk; not having cables wrapped around your neck is incredible. But I've wasted hours with the common "paired but won't connect" error after the PC wakes from sleep (often having to pop the case and un/plug the usb header on the bluetooth module to get it working). It works pretty reliably on my android potato. Did I just buy a shitty wifi+bluetooth card, or is there some better alternative entirely?

I'm nervous of USB dongles, because I've had really awful static interference from them before, albeit on an old case with badly shielded headphone jacks next to the ports.

@FiveHourMarathon @aqouta Sorry for the ping, but this is basically a reply to both your comments about earbuds in the thread below.

I have Jabras, but I use them 99+% with my phone, rarely with my laptop or tablet. Seldom enough that immediately after using it with something else I go into settings and forget them from my laptop so I don't have to listen to that lady go "connected" over and over as I walk around. No connection issues when not confusing the phone or headphones with multiple connections.

One thing I'll note, though, I dislike about them that over a multi year timeframe they're disposable. There's no real way to repair them, when they're done they're done, and they wear out. I've had the Jabras for probably 4 years now, and they're starting to wear down on battery from hard use. I also have some old airpods I got out of lost and found sale and my wife used for a few years, they're so quiet now they're useless for anything other than listening to Ovid in bed when I'm stoned. Before the Jabras I had cheapies that went bad after a year.

So it might just be something wearing out?

Thanks! I should buy some earbuds and see if the PC has the same problem with them. That Jabra voice does get on your nerves, doesn't it! Especially the "battery low" that kicks in starting at 50% charge(!) on the Moves. Luckily there's a button combo to disable the voice entirely, or I'd have binned them by now.

I've had mine for... a good 7-8 years? Had to replace the pads once, and the battery needs daily charging now, but they've held up remarkably well considering the abuse they've gone through.