High price of Roger Pen and Roger Select

Maybe @Blacky can help you?

@WestEndBob has done this himself.
From reading his post it was very easy once he had the equipment.

Just to clarify - I did the license installation from 2 Roger X devices using the Roger Installer, and yes I agree it was a quick and easy thing to do. I don’t know If installing from an IN device is different, but I think it might be as the licence will be in the Pen / Select itself somehow.

Actually, looking at this pdf from Phonak, it looks like it is even easier with an IN device

Thanks but what does “02 receivers licenses” mean?

The Roger iN Select / Pen all have the 03 licenses in them.

Simple google search comes up with your answer.

The 02 allow the EasyGain feature which is how you turn up or down the volume.

https://www.connevans.info/page/020316

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the pricing aspect - which does seem disproportionate to functionality - has some relationship to available subsidies in some jurisdictions.

While getting my most recent hearing aids, an audiologist casually mentioned to me that if I needed an FM system for work then government funding would likely be available (and indicated that the full cost might be covered, unlike hearing aids).

Where I live, the government only pays $500/ear for hearing aids which as anyone here knows is much less than the cost of good-quality HAs… but will pay a maximum of $1,350 (at 75% subsidy, despite what I understood from the audiologist) for an FM system. Lo and behold, the price of Phonak’s Roger Select iN in this market consumes that subsidy just right!

@greg.smith said:

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the pricing aspect - which does seem disproportionate to functionality

In my case, you are wrong, but it is relative. In order for me to continue working, and do my job well, it is important for me to be able to hear and understand what people are saying. I know that some, and perhaps many, here have given up on that. I have not.

For me, the Roger Select and Pen were not expensive because they have more than paid for themselves.

No, I live in Ontario, Canada. The government program in question is called the Assistive Devices Program, which is just a name for the way the province contributes to the purchase of things like hearing aids, wheelchairs, and so forth - specific dollar amounts every few years if you are assessed as “needing” it by your doctor. It’s important, and I understand it’s more than many places, but for most things it’s not enough and in some circumstances may simply inflate the price since “everyone” qualifies.

I’m not suggesting this device isn’t worth a lot of money to a user who can afford it, especially if its features are required for employment. One’s tolerance for expense here will be directly related to earning potential. Is a BMW overpriced? Can a less-expensive vehicle get the job done? Etc.

To be as clear as possible, my point is that based on the bill of materials (that is, the components used to make it) the Roger Select appears to be priced with a significantly higher profit margin than similar devices.

Can somebody please explain how these Roger devices work with other brands? I read above that you need the Roger X Receiver. What does that do and what do you plug it into?

It’s going to depend on what hearing aid and what accessory devices you have. I’m going to speak in generalities so verify specifics before buying. I think there are several possibilities to use with other brands. If the hearing aids have a T-coil, one could get a Roger My-Link to link with Roger devices. This will use t-coil tech so sound quaility may be reduced. If one has BTE hearing aids, it may be possible to get receivers that plug into the bottom of the hearing aid. This will likely require some modifications to the hearing aid. For Resound hearing aids that are compatible with a MultiMic, a receiver can be plugged into the MultiMic. For older Phonak aids that use a Compilot 2, a receiver can also be plugged in. Unless one is a devout Do it yourselfer, this will require the assistance of your audiologist. Other brands may have devices that a receiver can be plugged into.

You don’t mention the Roger X. Phonak’s website says “Roger X is a miniature universal receiver that is compatible with almost every hearing aid and cochlear implant speech processor on the market. It functions when connected to an audio shoe or streamer. Roger X is able to install Roger receiver via the Roger Installer”. So what does it plug into?

Edit: I just noticed my Oticon Streamer Pro has three little holes in the bottom, so I assume it goes in there. Anyone tried a Roger Pen or Roger Select with an Oticon Streamer Pro?

I didn’t mention Roger X because there are a number of Roger Receivers and I don’t know all of the intricacies. Plenty of people buy the wrong thing and are stuck with it. Roger X might be compatible with Oticon Streamer Pro. The references to the Roger Installer are talking about installing Roger “licenses” into Phonak Marvel or Paradise hearing aids.