I’ve been looking for a way for my new Phonak Virtos to pick up the old style . As you may know, the newer phonak ranges don’t support and I believe some other ranges have stopped supporting these as well.
I have a roger on V3 which can take an input via a 3.5MM jack, so I needed a device to pick up the hearing loop, just until everyone gets , which FYI I don’t think will be fully emplemented for a long time yet.
IN the UK where I live this costs about £60 on its own. It’s a battery powered amplifier which can pick up hearing loops and outputs them via a 3.5MM headphones type jack. I will run it directly into my Roger device and it should work a treat. in theory you cshould be able to do this with any other hearing aid that supports connectivity like this, or run directly to a set of headphones.
just until everyone gets Auracast, which FYI I don’t think will be fully emplemented for a long time yet.
I don’t agree. is dirt cheap to implement. For around a $100 USD, you can set Auracast up for your venue.
I think once the word gets out, the number of venues having Auracast will increase exponentially.
I can see where a parishioner would buy a transmitter of under $100 USD and donate it to their local church. Heck, I ordered two transmitters from Avantree and will donate them to my local square dance clubs.
I hope you’re right, but there are a lot of variables.
firstly, many of the newer hearing aids have still to role out the feature properly. It’s been what a year? since the spheres came out, nothing on the horizon for LE audio or to be implemented within the firmware, just a random, some time in the future promise.
Many older hearing aids will never support it and many people do not have the money or the desire to upgrade, at least for a couple of years.
Many venues will continue to use their old in the mean time. I also think many venues won’t even be aware of the new tech unless there is a reason I.E. really good marketing. so bigger places, sure. smaller churches etc, probably not so much.
Then there is the issue of installing the hardware. For some of us this seems no problem, but my local church as an example is totally befuddled, so I’m having to do it for them and luckily I know how.
Until then, those old hearing loops are going to be very active, I think for at least the next few years. Right now Phonak for example are caught in a really bad place. They have no support for hearing loops and no support yet for auracast which TBH is an absolutely rubbish state of affairs if you’ve upgraded and are used to hooking into an external system. So in the mean time, this little device should help. Either through an ad-on to the hearing aids like Roger, or directly via headphones on top of the hearing aids.
firstly, many of the newer hearing aids have still to role out the feature properly. It’s been what a year? since the spheres came out, nothing on the horizon for LE audio or auracast to be implemented within the firmware, just a random, some time in the future promise.
Oticon/Philips/Benafon just updated their latest hearing aids to connect to an broadcast. Resound/Jabra has had it in place for few months now. This Oticon is a major competitor to Phonak.
So now two of the brands sold at all Costcos now have the ability to receive an Auracast broadcast here in the states. A third band, Starkey, is being tested at select Costcos and I believe it too can receive an Auracast broadcast.
A few ear buds can also receive an Auracast broadcast, with more to follow.
Once the word gets out, the installations of Auracast transmitters will grow rapidly since it’s so cheap to install. That’s where we can help get the word out.
Many older hearing aids will never support it and many people do not have the money or the desire to upgrade, at least for a couple of years.
There will always someone who doesn’t have the means to buy any hearing aid or upgrade. However, many folks do have the means. Costco’s pricing makes it possible for more, and more folks.
Many venues will continue to use their old hearing loops in the mean time. I also think many venues won’t even be aware of the new tech unless there is a reason I.E. really good marketing. so bigger places, sure. smaller churches etc, probably not so much.
I see all churches leading the way, large or small. Auracast is dirt cheap, under $100 USD. Someone in the parish will donate a transmitter.
Then there is the issue of installing the hardware. For some of us this seems no problem, but my local church as an example is totally befuddled, so I’m having to do it for them and luckily I know how.
Seems like you can help install a cheap Auracast transmitter for them.
Until then, those old hearing loops are going to be very active, I think for at least the next few years.
The loops are very rare here in the western United States. Anyhow, there is probably no reason to remove them, and I not sure why they can’t coexist with an Auracast transmitter.
I’ve only just seen this and it sounds interesting. I am also in the UK and there are many public places where is used; like you though I have Phonak Sphere and not possible to have telecoil fitted. I have a roger on3 as well and for £60 might be prepared to buy this. How does this work in practice?