Skip to content
HearingTracker
Log in

Phonak TV Connector interfering with Wi-Fi signal

This topic is closed.

12 replies3.4k viewsLast reply

Link to this topic
Edited

Using a new Phonak bluetooth streaming device connected to LG TV PCM optical out conncecting to Phonak bluetooth hearing aids. My problem is that the streaming device interferes with WIFI signal. When it’s on I can’t connect the TV to WIFI at all. When I turn it off the streaming device I get WIFI again.

Streaming device works fine using regular broadcast TV.

5 people in this conversation3 min readJump to latest

I’m no expert by any means, but this sounds like 2.4 ghz interference. Both Wireless N wifi and the Phonak TVConnect operate at 2.4 ghz (as do microwaves and other electronic devices) Do you know if your wifi router and TV support 5ghz wifi? If so, I think this would fix the problem. (but again, note my first line–I’m no expert.

Another non-expert but if your TV and router both have available ethernet ports (and they aren’t too far apart), you might connect them with an ethernet cable. That will usually give you a (much) faster and way more reliable connection between the router and the TV (or other pair of devices) than WiFi. Ethernet is quite resistant to interference, especially if at least one device has a grounded ethernet receptacle and you use a shielded ethernet cable.

I don’t know what frequency the router is using. However, I know it’s maybe 5-6 years old or more. I’ll check to see what it uses.

In reply to @jamesyager

It “might.” But besides having a router that would do 5ghz, you’d also need to make sure the TV was compatible. It’s also possible the issue is something completely different, but 2.4 Ghz is definitely a known thing. My microwave will mess up wifi with my hearing aids. Even though TV and router are on different floors, a wired connection still might be the simplest solution. A downside of 5 Ghz wifi is that it doesn’t have quite the range that 2.4 Ghz does.

In reply to @jamesyager

@jamesyager said:

Looking at the router manual it appears to be a 2.4 GHz. If I understand you correctly, if the router and TV or 5 GHz and the streaming deviceAnd the hearing aids are 2.5 that might correct the problem?

Older WiFi devices typically operate only in the 2.4 GHz band - many newer ones can operate in either band and the newest ones in both simultaneously. If your TV can operate in the 5 GHz band (like the newer WiFi versions 802.11AC or 802.11AX) and your router is old and the firmware is original or old (and then most likely insecure), you might consider getting new dual frequency router. Or you could get a mesh WiFi setup where the base unit replaces your router and a remote unit goes upstairs next to the TV. Some mesh units have ethernet ports - if your TV has one then plug the TV into the mesh remote. Many of the higher end mesh setups use 5GHz (or both 2.4 and 5 GHz simultaneously) for relaying the signal between units. Many newer WiFi routers and mesh units can scan the bands for possible interference and select the most appropriate frequencies in each band to use.

In reply to @MDB

Wired is great if the house is already prewired. I am completely wireless due to an older home. All of the walls in my home are center block, which makes the additional wiring not practical. And due to pets I will not have a bunch of wires running around the walls. With the newer WiFi routers and the use of the settings it is easy to prevent the interference. It does take playing with the WiFi channels at times. I have about 20 devices connected within my home at any one time and I haven’t had any interference

Really appreciate all the help here! This streaming device is for my 83 yr old mother-in-law who really likes watching “Grey’s Anatomy”.

I think I’ll try changing the channel on the router first. if that doesn’t work we’ll upgrade to a duel-frequency or mesh router.

Or simply try and move the TV connecter to a different position away from the TV as it might be interfering with the TV’s Wifi antenna, in which case a channel change may not work.

Thanks again for the advice! After a long wait for shipment of an optical splitter and extension cable, I moved the streaming device about 5 feet away from the tv. Works perfectly!

Active discussions

What the forum has been talking about this week.