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Phonak Ultra upgrade - how do we feel about it?

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OK.. So what do you folks find is better in this update and WHY don’t we have yet -
as a wise member here already asked!

The short answer about why not , Phonak hasn’t updated the firmware as of yet for it. The aids are said to have the capacity once the firmware is final released

In reply to @Hooby

“has been discussed several times in this forum.” — sure, but apparently not in a way that I can actually follow.
I’m still in the dark here and genuinely trying to understand how to do the “Ultra” firmware update correctly:
:one: Where exactly does one get the Target software?
:two: What are the actual steps so I don’t brick my hearing aids?
Unless that’s classified information or you’re too busy, in which case — pardon me for asking.

In reply to @hearingMac

@hearingMac said:

Most installs just say “up to date” because Phonak hides the .fwup files behind its clinic network.
If your copy of Target really includes the Ultra package locally, that’d be great to confirm for everyone.

But this is nonsense, it’s been confirmed so many times, just through the posts all over the forum, yes the latest version of target is required , you’ll get the pop up to update only once your are connected, latest version 11.1 has been mentioned numerous times, obviously you can’t use 9 or 10, so you’ll be good to go with 11.1 and your Noahlink wireless ; )

What I’ve noticed is:

  1. Speech is much clearer in the Calm program.

  2. The Spheric program is improved. The background noise is even more reduced, the background no longer sound as wonky and speech is much clearer.

  3. Bluetooth is significantly improved. I’ve had zero drop off in the last two days.

  4. Battery consumption has improved too.

I’ll post more observations as I notice them. I wouldn’t say this is a major upgrade. More of a refinement.

Jordan

In reply to @hearingMac

Get the software, (and NoahLink wireless), open the Target software version 11.1 software in Windows, click “Trial & tools” at the bottom of the first page, click “”Firmware update”, click “hearing Aids” then Wait about seven minutes for the update to download and install into the hearing aids.

In reply to @tenkan

Exactly. Let’s be honest — Phonak isn’t “waiting for to be ready,” they’re waiting to figure out how to keep charging for Roger.
The moment they enable full and Auracast support, their entire Roger ecosystem becomes redundant. So instead of a firmware update, they’ll roll it out under a shiny new platform name and make everyone buy new hearing aids to get what’s already technically possible.
Classic Phonak — innovation throttled by monetization.

@hearingMac said:

Let’s be honest — Phonak isn’t “waiting for Auracast to be ready,” they’re waiting to figure out how to keep charging for Roger

Yes 100% agree, and who can blame them, have you seen the the prices for Roger stuff!

My feelings is this. I love le audio. The connectivity is great. But where I live support is not happening. Maybe if I lived in a city larger city. But I could care less about the cities. I grew up on a farm worked an lived in some of the largest cities and hated it. I hated the crowds, the noise pollution, and the pollution. I can understand why do.many people are ill most of the time. Cities will do that to the best of us.

In reply to @JordanK

Thanks, Jordan — my experience tracks yours, just a bit more modest.
• Calm: a touch clearer.
• Sphere: background noise a little less “swimmy.”
• Bluetooth: feels steadier.
• Battery: maybe a small bump. Maybe not.
Nice refinement, not a night-and-day change. Worth doing as maintenance, but not something I’d call a major upgrade. Injoy wants $395 for this fw upgrade. Without, audiologist fixes are at least 50% upgrade v 5% w “ultra.” Phonak overplayed this hand. What frustrates me is how Phonak overseld this firmware tweak like it’s a moon landing. Their marketing percentages and “ breakthroughs” are wildly inflated compared to what users actually hear. It’s a refinement, not a reinvention — and they should stop pretending otherwise.

In reply to @Neville

@Neville, they basically said as much. Anyway, a quote from LinkedIn (from an equipment supplier with their own axe to grind)…

I read our competitor’s blog whereby they say (and I’m paraphrasing) that Auracast just isn’t ready yet and therefore they will hold off including Auracast in their hearing aids and in their classroom audio distribution system . . . for now (or perhaps for years; basically as long as possible). Sad to say, there was some misinformation included in the blog and while I’m not going to respond point by point,

In reply to @raylock1

@raylock1 said:

Get the software, (and NoahLink wireless), open the Target software version 11.1 software in Windows, click “Trial & tools” at the bottom of the first page, click “”Firmware update”, click “hearing Aids”

This is exactly why it’s so frustrating about .

Not everyone is suited to do self programming.

It’s a never ending story to help and explain things. Very tiring

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