Ken probably has the answer. While the updates to the aids or the Bluetooth can only be done at Costco, the app itself must need access to get updates from the app store? That makes sense.
There is no privacy statement. I’m not worried about big brother, but I don’t allow Microsoft updates on crashes etc as it burns up my processing time. I wasn’t allowing it until I figured out why it needs access but I think Ken nailed it.
When I think about it, the app itself would not contain any data as it is not connected to the aids unless I use my Bluetooth, which I seldom wear. I usually only wear it when I go somewhere that I want to fine tune the aids, meetings, parties etc or when I want to listen to music.
I was worried it may report that I heard some bad words or something or I was listening to too many words in a day as I think the warranty only covers so many words/sounds/day
As Evil mentioned, it would be nice to do our own firmware updates. I think we should have that capability if we have the Bluetooth…but we dont’
I definitely was not lied to but the lady was obviously not very knowledgeable about the product. I’m ok with that.
I have since set up another appointment to discuss my choice.
I’m now thinking I should go with the Kirkland signature 6.0. They are Bluetooth compatible right away and about $1300 less than the trax 42.
Can anyone tell me why I would choose the Trax 42 over the 6.0? I would sure appreciate some guidance.
Thanks
Bluetooth is a Battery Buster… It is a very big battery power user.
the reason of the separate “neck device” is that it doesn’t require Bluetooth to communicate withthe EAR Device… i.e., the Hearing Aid.
The Solution is to use TWO separate and different Communication Technologies..
Example:
A “smart phone” communicates with the “neck device” – both use Bluetooth communications technology.
The “neck device” in turn communicates with the “Hearing Aids”. - They use a Different low power communications technology.
This different communications method has a very short range… and therefore does NOT require nearly as much Battery Power.
Hey roger. I’ve long since reconciled the Bluetooth issue for myself anyway The biggest benefit of the pendant for many people, will be the ability to talk handsfree as it is also a mic. As I understand, the k6 requires you to “speak” through your phone. So you wind up with an ancillary piece of equipment anyway.
Also, it controls various functions of the aids so uu don’t need to unlock your phone etc to make some changes.
The pendant has qualities for sure
Certainly the device has merit. But, the KS6 version is a clip on with no necklace, also is hands free, also controls aid.
(My dogs as big or bigger than your dog.)
Ken, I know that you had the Trax 42 and then went to the KS6. I have my appointment at Costco on Monday to see what they say should be the best aid for me. I have read so many threads, I don’t know which one I saw where you gave your reasons for going with the KS6, other than the obvious one for me, price. Did you find that the KS6 was just as good or better for speech in noise over the Trax? I realize that everyone’s experience is different and that the Trax does have the new quad core technology that should be better.
I don’t have the normal aging profile. I had Menieres that left me with a sudden loss that’s a bit unique with poor . So, take what I have to say with a grain of salt. I found noise better with the KS6. Others may find the opposite. Tonality was as good for with the KS6.
All the extra channels and higher limits seemed more advertising than benefit with the Trax. And then of course price. I don’t like the necklace on the compilot and the clip-on KS6 unit seems handier.
It really boils down to personal choice. That really trumps brand features in my book.
Certainly the device has merit. But, the KS6 version is a clip on with no necklace, also is hands free, also controls aid.
(My dogs as big or bigger than your dog.)
All true…but clip on or pendant…marginal difference. Except the pendant looks really cool and makes me look soooo hi-tech. Women dig that!! Plus I’m sure the pendant costs more!!
looking for my first .
I went to my audi yesterday at local costco and he told me that now Trax 42 functionality is available in from Rexton. Of course there may be certain limitations but he indicated that the same programs from Trax 42 are available in CIC - with only 2 MICs in CIC, as opposed to 4 MICs in .
Has anyone tried that ? or has any opinion from what you have learned ? any separate threads that I should be looking at as opposed to this one ?
I am looking at CIC and if I can get performance of a Trax-42 BTE ( Of course with certain limitations ) in CIC, i want to try that .
Just got my Trax 42 cic. So far not to bad. I’m getting used to all the sound haven’t heard in years. The Smart Connect works great. I hardly notice I’m wearing it. I love being able to answer calls over bluetooth. I will update in a few weeks after more use.
I’ve been trying the Trax 42 for about 6 weeks now and it’s going pretty well except for one major problem. We travel a lot by car, and I’m getting poor performance from them in that setting. The major problem is noise from the driver’s side window. Although it is generated by wind turbulence, inside the car it sounds more like white noise than wind, The auto program is supposed to detect the car environment and go to car mode which I understand is similar to the iFocus 360 program. I think it may well be doing that, and after about 15 seconds, the noise fades out quite a bit as the noise reduction kicks in. The problem is that with any new sound the noise level pops back up. The louder the sound, the greater the increase in noise. It can be my own voice, anyone else speaking, meeting another car, a stone hitting the inside of the fender, even the click of the turn signal switch. With speech, the increase in noise is enough to negate the benefit of increased gain and microphone focus for the speech. My first said that I was expecting too much and to just use the noise/party program. I pointed out that I wanted to hear my wife in the passenger seat, not the engine. She said she could fix that, and on the way home, I figured out that what she did was just increased the beam angle to 180 degrees. Great. Now the were focused on both my wife and the noise! I switched to a more experienced audi at the same Costco, and we set up a iFocus360 program specifically for in the car with noise reduction set to maximum. Pretty much the same result. After going to that program, the noise is initially loud, but within about 15 seconds, it fades out almost completely, until my wife speaks (or there is any other sound). the noise then comes back strong. The increase in noise is actually greater than in the Auto program, probably because it starts out at a quieter level. Once the other sound stops, the noise level again fades out. The noise level constantly going up and down is terribly annoying, and if there is much other sound, the noise pretty much masks everything else. With several people talking, the noise was so bad that I could hear better with the HAs turned off. The frequency of the noise is such that i don’t hear it without the aids. I should add that I get the same results to varying degrees in three different vehicles. Anyone have any idea what’s going on and how to correct it? At first, I thought that maybe the directional microphones were getting confused and focusing the wrong way, but I don’t think that is it, because the same thing happens in the noise/party program which I understand does not change focus direction (only beam angle). A number of people have commented here on how well the Trax 42 worked for them in the car, so I’m quite disappointed. I know that there are some very experienced smart people on this forum, so I hope I can get some ideas to take to my audi for my next appointment.
I only wish it was as simple as rolling up the window. The window is rolled up. It’s winter, and I’m in Montana! I wouldn’t expect any hearing aid to handle the wind noise from a rolled down window, but this is noise inside that is caused by wind turbulence on the outside of the window. There is nothing unusual about this sound. I get it to varying degrees from all my vehicles.
NW Indiana
Wales, UK