D-Link and Bluetooth Firmware update

Question

I am running 10.4.6 on a dual 2.7GHz G5. I have no built in Bluetooth so rely on a D-Link DBT-120 (rev4). I have tried three times unsuccessfully to apply the 1.2 BluetoothFWUpdate to allow use of the bluetooth keyboard in single user mode.
The updater looks for a device, prepares to update, the candy bars in the progress bar twirl, then again it looks for a device to update, prepares to update, the candy bars in the progress bar twirl and then nothing for a very long time. 2 hours last time. When I try to quit, I'm told the device has not been updated.
Profiler tells me
Apple Bluetooth Software Version: 1.7.3f4
Hardware Settings:
Address: 00-11-95-0e-17-2d
Manufacturer: Cambridge Silicon Radio
Firmware Version: 1.525 (1.525)
Has anybody had the same problem and if so, how did you overcome it?
Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi, Allan, AZTrailBlazer, and gordon —
Sorry to hear that you've joined the company of many who've experienced this frustration. But glad to hear that you succeeded, gordon.
You're correct, Allan: the firmware version reported for your Mac needs updating. For your configuration, expect to see 2.xxxx or 3.xxxx after the updater has run successfully. Your software version reflects the most up-to-date (updated via the OS X 10.4.6 Combo updater).
Bluetooth Firmware Updater 1.2 [11/23/04] is the correct package. It is compatible with all versions of Mac OS X subsequent to OS X 10.3.6 — for PPC Macs with Bluetooth chips (internal or in an adapter) that preceded the new Bluetooth 2.0+EDR specification. (There's another version available for folks running 10.3.6.) Also, as the brief description notes, "The Bluetooth Firmware Updater is for D-Link USB Adapters (revision B2 or later), and Apple internal Bluetooth modules on PowerBooks, PowerMacs, iMacs, iBooks, and eMacs."
AZTrailBlazer, I believe that what you're recalling —  "It seems that Apple has removed a page with the 10.4.3 version of the firware updater, but information on this topic for Tiger users is scarce" —— was related to a version of this updater that was made available last Winter via Software Update. Imho, firmware updates of any kind are best applied from their "stand-alone" download version — because their installation may require following special instructions. That's the case here — and the instructions have proven confusing for many people. (Please send feedback if you agree.)
I have worked with a lot of folks in this forum to help figure out how they can apply this firmware update effectively — so I'll cite a few threads that I hope will help you, too.  Here is a recent example. ( A ) and ( B ) are examples where several participants provided feedback after succeeding. ( C ) is a recent case involving a D-Link DBT-120 adapter in which jump (the individual posting) explained some fine points that s/he thought might be helpful to others.
If you do a search — e.g., for [ +("D-Link" OR "DBT-120") +firmware +(update OR updater) ] in the Other Bluetooth Devices forum with results restricted to Alexander Traud — you'll find numerous cases where he has explained this for DBT-120 adapter users who want to utilize a Bluetooth headsets and other BLuetooth-enabled devices. Alexander's post here explains a "tricky" way to confirm whether the updater has been successful.
Warm regards,
Dean
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