While manning the support lines for Headsets.com, we came across an interesting one with the Calisto recently. A user was ending calls with the “end” button on the remote handset, and when the next call came in, hitting the button on the headset to answer - that’s where the snag came into the picture. Since the headset connection was still active with the remote handset (after pressing the “end” button on the remote handset), when the headset button was pressed again, the headset was turning off that connection - and hanging up on the call.
Once we sorted out that all calls that are answered with the headset are ended with the headset, we were out of the proverbial woods. Conversely, all calls answered with the talk button and ended with the end button on the remote pack are also good to go. Mixing and matching controls, however, ended us up in trouble and hanging up on callers.
So calls initiated with the headset need to be ended only with the headset - and calls initiated with the remote handset need to be ended only with the remote handset.
- And so it goes.
The Calisto has a ton of features and little tricks that we keep encountering as we play with it. Here’s a couple. Dialing out from your call log is really convenient, as you don’t need to have the person’s number on hand, or maybe you just haven’t stored it in your phonebook yet. One problem, though is that you’ll need a “1” before most numbers to dial them and the call log doesn’t include that extra digit. Luckily, from within the call log you can just press the pound key when the number you want to dial is highlighted, and it will add the “1” for calling out. Then just press “talk” and place your call. Another feature of the Calisto is chain dialing. The concept of chain dialing is that there’s lots of places we have to call that require a series of numbers, your id code, your password, your voicemail box number, etc. etc. etc. To avoid sitting there and listening to every prompt, as that can be really tedious, you can program in the whole sequence, separating the points at which you have to pause with the “down” arrow. I’m not sure how long the “pause” is supposed to last for, but apparently not as long as my bank takes to prompt me, which is what I tried using this feature for. You can use a series of “down” arrow pushes for longer pauses, which I couldn’t seem to master. In theory it’s a great tool that will save you some time and hassle, but it didn’t work out that well for the application I tried to use it with. I’d really like to hear from other Calisto users about their experiences with this feature. Maybe I just need to play around with it some more? If anyone has tried this, let me know how it works… I smell a bit of user error on my end…
The button on the Calisto headset is packed with functions. I can be a little confusing so I’ve outlined the various functions below. I tend to just use the button for volume and answer / end features – of course for the initial pairing as well. So here are the ins-and-outs of the button, in all their sort-of complicated glory. Power on – Press and hold headset button for 2 seconds – blue light every 10 seconds – beeps: increasing Power off – Press and hold for 4 seconds – red light for 4 seconds – beeps: decreasing Call Answer / End – Press for 1 second – one beep Last number redial – double press button – double beep Volume – push button up or down – double beep when max or min level reached Pairing – when headset is OFF – press headset button for 6 seconds – red / blue light alternating
The Calisto headset controls are pretty easy to use, but due to its multi-function capability it can be a little confusing, so we figured it was worth going over here.
Headset alerts:
Incoming call: 3 beeps + blue flashing light
Low battery: 3 beeps every 30 seconds + red flashing light every 3 seconds
Charging: red lightFully charged: blue
Handset functions:
Last number redial: Press the “OK” key twice
Ringer off: Press the “-” key on the “+/-” button on the side of the remote handset
Lock / Unlock Keypad: Press and Hold “*LOCK” Key for 3 seconds - icon of a key appears on the screen
We’ll get into the many functions of the button on the headset next time!
Calisto, Calisto, Calisto. Just when I think I get to the end of your seemingly limitless functions, I find something else to get excited about. I recently connected the Calisto base to my computer and imported my phone contacts from outlook express into the Calisto. Also, I find editing my contacts with my computer easier than using the handset. Once you plug the Calisto’s USB cable into your computer, the Calisto Phonebook icon appears on your screen. From there you just open it up and you can take a look at your contact list that’s already in the phone.The editing process is really simple and intuitive, just click where you need to edit, then press enter, or click somewhere else. My experience with it was really smooth and straightforward. In the upper left of the Calisto Phonebook window, you can click “Synchronize with Outlook” and then the Outlook Contacts screen will show all your contacts. There are three categories that are denoted – “New Contacts” – contacts recently added to Outlook that aren’t in the Calisto yet, “Updated Contacts” – contacts recently updated in Outlook that haven’t been updated in the Caliso yet, and then, boring old “Unchanged Contacts” – contacts where nothing really interesting has been happening. You can just “check” the left hand column by the name of the contact you wish to import into the Calisto, and “check” again to de-select.Then just click the “Transfer ‘checked’ to Calisto Phonebook, and voila! You’re set. When I tried it, I only had a handful of contacts in Outlook, so it was really quick and painless.
When entering a new contact in your Calisto phone book, there are three sorts of type you can use. The weird thing is that I didn’t see anything about this in the manual anywhere… Simply go into the menu, select “Phonebook”, then it’ll show “New Contact”, press “OK”, then it’ll show “Name”, and press “OK”. Now you’re ready to enter the contact. In the upper right you’ll see the default type style as: “Abcd” - 1st letter capitalized. To change the type style, press the “*” key and it’ll show the other styles - all lowercase, shown as “abc2″, press the “*” key again and you’ll see the third style, all caps, shown as “ABC2″, then one more press of the “*” key, and you’ll see the fourth style of type, all numerals, shown as “1234.” Also the 1 key will give you punctuation for listings like “Mom & Dad”, etc. The number of presses and the corresponding punctuation marks as are below:
Presses on the “1″ button: Punctuation mark:
1 press -
2 presses ?
3 !
4 ,
5 .
6 &
7 =
8 :
9 #
10 “
11 $
Here are some of the basic troubleshoots that have worked really well for us so far when inconsistencies with sound quality occur with the Calisto (dead air, error messages, handset failure, etc.). We use the Reset and Resubscription procedures below. If an “Out of Range” error message appears on the handset, unplug the AC power supply, then perform the Reset. If the headset has an unclear connection or no sound and is not out of range, perform the Reset, then unpair and repair the headset and handset. If there is persistent static or an unclear connection and you have DSL on the same phone line, you’ll need to get a DSL filter to create a clean line. Reset: To Reset the Calisto’s handset, unplug the battery for 30 seconds and then plug it back in.
NOTE: Using the tip of a pen works well to open handset’s battery door via the round hole on the bottom of the handset.
Re-Registration: If the Calisto is not connecting and is just searching for the handset (shows “Searching for base” on the LED screen) start by re-registering the handset.
1. On the main screen press Menu.
2. Highlight Initial Setup and press Select.
3. Highlight Headset/Base and press Select.
4. Highlight Register to Base and press Select.
5. The message will then read Registration Successful.
One of the Calisto’s greatest strengths is its versatility. I’ve had fun using it every which way. Of course there’s the wireless Bluetooth style, then there’s the 2.5mm 
headset jack on the side of the handset for corded cell-phone style headsets, you can also talk on the handset, and use the handset for speaker phone. Not to mention you can use the Calisto with your Computer. It’s great using Skype with it, nice and clear. I’ve also been using the Calisto headset with my cell phone, and I’ve got to say, it may be my favorite Bluetooth headset for conversations. It’s even available separately, and if you’re looking for a Bluetooth cellular headset with excellent outgoing sound, this really fits the bill. It’s a bit larger than most Bluetooth headsets, but the longer boom mic is what delivers the outgoing fidelity. My Voyager 510 
may be in trouble… We’ve also been pairing different Bluetooth headsets to the remote handset, the only limitation there being that you have to delete the Headset from the remote first, and then pair the new headset. Luckily, it’s a simple process in the “initial setup” menu under “headset / base.” I still prefer the headset it came with though, as some of the new Bluetooth headsets have been a little underwhelming. We’ve seen some variance in how easy it is to switch between Calisto and cell phone based on the cell phone. Most newer cell phones have had no problem whatsoever. My Samsung M500 didn’t work too smoothly, but everyone else’s phone had no problem switching back and forth. It’s been a great process educating our CSRs here as to the ins and outs of the system and a great way to learn. Next time, I’ll outline the basic troubleshoots we’ve been using to keep the Calisto going full bore.
For years, we’ve recommended the CT12 
for users of AT&T, Lucent, and Avaya Partner series phones to access more wireless functionality with their multi-line phone system. Now that the Calisto Pro 
is here, it’s supplanted the CT12 as the resource of choice for Partner phone users. Because Partner phones can “partner” with an additional phone via the AUX jack or by splitting the jack at the wall, and the Calisto Pro is a single line phone that can be “partnered” with the desktop Partner phone, using them together gives you more remote functions than a traditional wireless headset setup. When using the Calisto Pro with your Partner phone, it acts as a satellite phone that can take one line at a time. After answering that line, the Calisto can do one of three things: End the call; Transfer the call to another extension; or Park the call back on the base of the Partner phone. Of course, it can also dial out. The only limitations are that it usually doesn’t work with caller ID and sometimes doesn’t work with the intercom function. Those functions then will remain at the base of the Partner phone. Occasionally, the Calisto may not work via the AUX jack, but will need to be plugged into an RJ11 jack splitter in the wall (with the Partner phone in the other side).
Using your Plantronics Calisto Pro with a Partner phone (AT&T MLS Series, Avaya, and Lucent Partner phones) has never been easier. Your Partner phone is unique because it allows you to access features remotely using the Calisto Pro handset.
These features include the ability to dial out, transfer, and place calls on hold, all from up to 300 feet away.
Click here for instructions on how to set up and use a Calisto Pro on a AT&T / Lucent / Avaya Partner phone system
Working for a headset company, okay, forget about modesty - the headset company, Headsets.com, I always look forward to checking out the newest products. The Calisto Pro 
was something that we in our support department had been waiting a long time to play with. The concept of a bluetooth headset and a wireless remote pack was one that we kept talking about, in a “why hasn’t Plantronics designed this yet?” kind of way. Needless to say, we get a little nerdy about headsets here. At long last, we got our chance to implement the Calisto in our office. In our San Francisco-based office, we upgraded from the CT12 to the Calisto Pro for our “Family Guy” function here (a rotating supervisor always available to answer questions). Formerly we’d been using the CT12 with different corded headsets, but now our “Family Guy” has gone wireless with the Calisto Pro. It’s really been a great upgrade for our management team, using the Bluetooth headsets that they already have for their cell phones (yes, we are so into headsets that we are always hands-free outside of the office as well), and gaining wireless freedom. The Calisto Pro remote pack has some nice upgrades as well, a more stable, sturdy clip that doesn’t fall off if you’re not wearing a belt, more fun ringtones, and because there’s no cord to snag, tug, or get caught on anything, the sound quality ends up being a lot clearer. Because we use so many wireless headsets in our office (we usually have around thirty going at any given time) we have gotten a bit of interference before moving the Calisto pro to a different station. Aside from that brief hiccup, the transition has been smooth and awesome, with everyone really enjoying the upgrade. We’ve been really excited about our Customers using the Calisto Pro to interface with their AT&T / Lucent / Avaya Partner phones, but more about that on our next blog…