Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Audicast 4 TV transmitter

15 replies241 viewsLast reply

Link to this topic
Reply

I just purchased an Audikast 4 TV transmitter to use with my Phonak Eon 90's. I have tried it on my 2 different TV sets with the same results. I use the MyPhonak App. The transmitter works as expected in Bluetooth mode but when I switch the transmitter to and try to connect to my 's I get prompted by the Phonak App to scan a QR code. The Avantree/Audikast help line says no QR code is needed, that the MyPhonak App should recognize it. The Bluetooth function is OK but i would like to see how the Auracast option works. Any suggestions? I should mention that the only QR codes on the transmitter or in the packaging were links to instructions and not any kind of 'access links.

8 people in this conversation6 min readJump to latest

Because of the way Phonak is implementing through their app on iOS and ipadOs, they require you to scan the QR code of the transmitter rather than simply selecting from a list of available auracast broadcasts. Most other brands of hearing aids use MFI (Made for iOS) and can use the broadcast list in their apps on iOS. I think it is a contractual thing relating to the My Phonak app and Apple. I (and the museum I work at) use the HomeSpot Auracast Audio Broadcaster. I contacted the HomeSpot customer support folks and explained the situation with the newly released Eon and soon with the Signia and previous Phonak Infineo hearing aids. They provided me with instructions for getting the QR code for my (and the museum's) transmitters. I suggest you try to contact Customer Support by phone or email. and explain the situation to them. Because the Phonak Eon was just released, they may not be aware of the issue. I'm sure they can help you like HomeSpot did for me. Good Luck. Let's hope that Phonak and Apple work something out (soon) and Phonak can update the My Phonak app for iOS.

Thank you. That is very helpful. I have submitted a service request on the app - maybe I will get a useful response. I bought the transmitter on Amazon just yesterday with a free return option so I won't be out anything if it doesn't work. I can just wait until Phonak gets a better method in place.

In reply to @passinthru

Have you tried it on an Android phone? I'm curious because I'm thinking of buying that Avantree Audiocast 4 as well, but I plan to connect it to a computer. It seems more practical to me for turning it on and off when I want to use it, thanks to the physical button the Audiocast has.

I hope you get a reply. It should work, it's just unhandy. I think you'll have to scan the QR code every time you go to connect. We plan on paying the QR code at the museum in several places. When I tested with several MFI hearing aids, I found it to be quite fun and almost latency free. I had more latency using the transmitter in Bluetooth.

We happened to pick the HomeSpot transmitter because it was just a little cheaper on Amazon and their user support was Morello and responsive at the time.

I have the audikast 4 running with my LG tv works perfectly with my nexia 9n60s and my buds pro 4 well worth it

Well, Avontree support didn't seem to be able to, or want to, provide a QR code. MyPhonak support basically just shrugged and said, "Well, we can't cover every manufacturers device", so I guess I will wait until a better option comes along.

Edited

I don't know if Phonak think this is all very funny. I'm seeing people on various forums trying to find a 'solution' to this issue. It's a deliberately created issue. Phonak just don't like . The best solution- and I know this won't happen- is for customers to hand back their aids to their audiologists with a message for their Phonak reps. That message? Treat us with a bit of respect.

Having got that out of the way, I've managed to find a QR code for my Avantree dongle through their firmware updater app. There are two tabs- Firmware and Advanced. There's a QR under Advanced. I haven't tried this with the Audikast transmitter.

Edit: Assuming this works for you, you'd then take a screenshot and print it... and I can't believe that Phonak thinks it's ok to expect you to jump through those hoops.

I think Signia will have the same "feature". Each individual transmitter will have a unique QR code associated with it just like they each have a specific Broadcast "channel" name. The Tech or customer support of the transmitter manufacturer should be able to tell you how to find the QR code. I wouldn't expect them to be able to give you the QR code since it is tied to the specific transmitter, but they should be able to tell you how to retrieve it. In my case with my HomeSpot Broadcaster, I had to go to the on line "tool" that I would use to configure or rename my transmitter (We renamed the transmitter we have at the museum so its name would "make sense" to our guests. I'd be happy to up load the PDF I put together of the instructions for how to get the QR Code for the HomeSpot transmitters on this form if someone would tell me how to upload or attach a PDF file.

I asked Seri and its Google Gemini assistant and here's what it said:

"You can generate and find the QR code for your Avantree Auracast transmitter (such as the Audikast 4 or MediaCast) by connecting the device to a computer and using the official Avantree PC configuration tool.[https://avantree.com/pages/audikast-4-interactive-user-guide]2

Steps to Generate and Find the QR Code

  • Connect your Avantree transmitter to your computer via USB.
  • Open the official Avantree PC configuration/DFU tool.
  • Navigate to the Advanced screen settings.
  • Customize or confirm your broadcast name and set an optional passcode/encryption if desired.
  • Select the option to Create a join QR code to generate the code for future devices or compatible hearing aids.

If you let me know the exact model of your Avantree transmitter, I can provide more specific steps or check if a mobile app option is available for your device."

I can't guaranty this will work, but its worth a try...

Further to my reply above, once you can see the QR code in the Avantree updater app, click on "Copy URL string". You can use that string to create a QR code. I used Google Chrome. Click on 3 dots in the top right-hand corner. Hover over 'cast, save, and share'. Click on 'create QR code'. Paste the string from your clipboard. Hopefully, Bob's your uncle.

Well, I have returned the Aricast 4 to Amazon. But I see, reading through the above comments, that there are ways around the apparent inablility or inconvenience of connecting the Eon to the transmitter. One comment mentioned switching to 'public' mode on the transmitter. The transmitter that I had did not have that option but I think that, while I was comparing models, some of them did have that feature. That seems like that would be the simplest fix.

Interesting discussion. One thing I've learned from speaking with hearing aid users is that some people love TV transmitters, while others prefer something simpler with fewer compatibility concerns.

I'm the co-founder of Jabees, and we developed HearLink Kit2, which takes a different approach. Instead of connecting directly to the TV, the HearLink microphone can simply be placed near the TV speaker and streams the sound to pre-paired bone conduction headphones.

There's no app, QR code, setup, or TV compatibility requirements. It won't be the right solution for everyone, but some users appreciate the simplicity, especially with older TVs or when they don't want to modify their TV setup. See how it works: https://youtu.be/p5Ld7IoAR-02

I'd be curious to hear whether anyone here has tried a microphone-based listening system for TV viewing.

Related discussions