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Costco Rexton telephone functionality?

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Edited

Question about hearing and speaking through the aids for a Bluetooth phone call…

I’ve been loosely considering aids from costco
either to replace my Phonak Marvel aids, or to act as a backup pair…

The fitter at Costco was steering me to the Rexton aids. She let me try a demo pair in the store for a few minutes. They sounded ok in that one situation…but we couldn’t get them to connect to my cell phone for streaming/phone usage.
It’s an old android.
I called a tech support person at Rexton and confirmed that while my old android is not on the list, some newer options exist that are on the list. I’m open to updating my phone…
BUT
in asking questions while on that call to tech support
I was told that with their aids I would be able to hear the other caller through my aids, that the hearing aid mic’s do not function for the call…so I’d have to speak into the phone.

He said they are working on an update but that functionality isn’t available now.

Is this your experience with rexton aids and android phones?
How about with phones?

11 people in this conversation13 min readJump to latest

I have the Rexton aids and a set of KS9 aids which is reportedly the same as the Marvel.
Bluetooth calls with the Rexton aids are a nightmare in comparison. Volume is poor.
Connection is overall stable, but it doesn’t always support calls. Streaming Bluetooth music doesn’t have the same quality as it does with the Marvel/KS9.

That said, the Rexton aids are fabulous in noisy places.

Some Costco locations are picking up Sennheiser Sonite aids. These are similar to Phonac Lumity aids and the Bluetooth will work as you are accustomed to with your current marvels. I just purchased a set of these over the Bluetooth issues, but fitting is 5 weeks out so I can’t report any impressions.
The Sennheiser is only being sold in limited locations at present. Call around your local stores. I ended up driving 90 minutes away to get mine.

Thanks for that report Timfoil!
It’s a shame. In my little <10 minute trial I liked the Rexton aids well enough. The domes felt ok and the sound in that one situation was fine

As far as I’ve been able to tell the Sennheisers aren’t available at any of my local stores. I’ve not broadened the search though beyond the local metro area. Maybe I’ll check Orlando since I’ll be going down that way a few times in the next couple months!
Otherwise maybe I’ll just hold out for a bit. My audiologist did some programming tweaks late last week that seems so far to have helped…so maybe I’ve bought some time.

claims my Moto G 5G 2023 Android 14 is compatible. But, it only works with the Rexton App (check battery, volume, directional setting). It sure doesn’t work with any audio or telephone streaming. Costco rep said Rexton is compatable with Apple.

Edited

In reply to @bradw

Read post below about Motorola
My 3 year old Rexton are fantastic for background noises. B.T.W. tried some like JLabs. Those are basically amplifiers with some harmonic band adjustments. When on conference calls, my Bose noise cancling headsets (or Bose buds) work so I don’t use the Rexton. I won’t buy Rexton again. Trying to drive with Rexton, then receiving a phone call requires pulling out the Rexton, plugging in any compatible bluetooth ear receiver. Rexton support for Android isn’t to my satisifaction. Have tried multiple times. I have taken my Rexton back to Costco to have them upload the latest Firmware into the Hearing Aids. I will hopefully update my hearing aids around May 2025. Appreciate all the great comments here!

For what it’s worth, I have the latest firmware on mine. I have the option to use le audio showing on my S23+ phone, but clicking it disables any streaming. With it turned off I can stream audio fine, but call volume and clarity are a challenge that intermittently works. It’s just as likely a Samsung problem as it is a Rexton problem.

In reply to @OatMan

@OatMan said:

Rexton support for Android isn’t to my satisifaction.

Rexton states pretty clearly that it streams to phones which support the protocol. The Motos do not support ASHA.

Your problem is NOT with Rexton. It’s with your Lenovo phone. (I’m a fan of Lenovo for computers from laptops to servers, but their phones are bad choices for people.)

THANKS! That is extremely helpful!
Search: Yes, the Moto G 5G 2023 is a Lenovo phone. It’s manufactured by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo.
I spent over 3 hours on the phone with Motorola support. Yes, a complete waste of time! They claimed it was compatible.
I am willing to try a new phone, this time without TMobile recommendation. Where is a list for Rexton that I can trust?

Edited

From the Moto website:

Motorola hearing aid compatible phones have been tested and rated for use with hearing aids for some of the wireless technologies that it uses. However, there may be some newer wireless technologies used in this phone that have not been tested yet for use with hearing aids. It is important to try the different features of this phone thoroughly and in different locations, using your hearing aid or cochlear implant, to determine if you hear any interfering noise. Contact your service provider or motorola for information on hearing aid compatibility. If you have questions about return or exchange policies, contact your service provider or phone retailer.

Lenovo/Moto is pretty silent about . They talk about ‘Hearing Aid Compatibility’, but I believe it’s old-style M an T levels. Maybe a connection will allow streaming. I’ve never seen a statement from Moto that says it’s ASHA compliant.

I finally gave up my Samsung phone and went with the darkside - a used iphone SE 3rd gen. Android is better for everything I want to do with my phone except control my . I stream a lot of TV, and muting ads is my highest priority. The iphones we have do it right 95% of the time. My Samsung S20 5G did it right less than 50% of the time, but apparently the newer Samsungs are a good deal better.

Edited

I switched to iPhone about 7 years ago because they were the only phone that worked with hearing aids. Streaming was great then and is even better now with my Rexton’s Reach an iPhone 14 Pro. Fidelity streaming music is fantastic as are phone calls. I started with Bernafon, MfIF then KS 10 with classic Bluetooth now the Rexton also MfIP and streaming has improved every time I upgraded

In reply to @philbob57

I wasted over two hours with “Motorola technical support”. They pretended to raise me to next levels of support. Each level had zero information, and zero technical ability. At the end, one person was encouraging me to reset my phone to factory, then call them back later. I showed the transcript to my T-Mobile sales person. They told me following those instructions would have invalidated my entire warranty. Later, when T-Mobile updated the 5G towers, my Motorolla was deemed to be a lemon, replaced with a year-later model. At this point the motorolla is almost paid off. I can choose my next brand and model.
I also spent hours with T-Mobile “support”. T-Mobile use to have some huge claim on their website how they support Hearing Challanged employees, some award logo. I finally found a tech that actually understood the technical aspects of the phone, Hearing Aid compatibility. After he checked with his superior, he informed me that T-Mobile could not support any hearing aid questions, that I would need to take that up with Motorola. I did get a response text from Rexton Support. It was actually more ridiculous of all.
I appreciate all of the comments and feedback.
Its 2025, maybe, just maybe this will be the year where Technical Specifications, FCC Regulations, Americans with Disability Act, Federal Trade Commission and companies that Review Hearing Aids can use or Technical Guidance to clearly present unified guidance? Until then, HearingTracker is very likely the best we can hope for.
So please keep the advice, point of views, and suggestions coming! :grin:

No matter what, specs will not detail things a device won’t do. I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect a vendor to say, ‘We don’t do .’ Besides, where should a ‘doesn’t do’ list stop? Would a rechargeable model have to state, ‘You can’t put disposable batteries into the device’?

Do you have some objection to choosing a phone from the compatibility list provided by your ’s manufacturer/marketer?

Yeah it’s all a bit confusing, because is NOT a phone manufacturers “thing” it’s a Google “thing” so any android phone that has at least Android 11 and can use ASHA.

In reply to @philbob57

That’s a great question. Partly due to trying to find the best , then evaluating the price of the phones on their approved list. I am going to set a target of April 1st to give the new line of HA (and evidently phones) to be introduced. It would be nice to have a 3 year return on the investment. But, that might be wishful thinking on my part.

In reply to @OatMan

Big OOPS - - was not watching carefully, deleted the post.
Basically a new web site claims the 2024 (Moto G 5G 2024) version is now compatible with Rexton and list the Fcc Regulation. (www.straighttalk.com/hearing-aid-compatibility3)
I put this into ChatGPT - but the response isn’t exactly “for sure”.

You’re experiencing challenges with your Rexton hearing aids not streaming audio from your Moto G 5G 2023, despite the Rexton app functioning for adjustments. This issue likely stems from compatibility requirements between your hearing aids and smartphone.

Compatibility Requirements:

  • Android Compatibility: Rexton hearing aids support direct streaming to Android devices via the Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids () standard. This requires Android OS version 11 or higher and specific hardware support. It’s important to note that streaming performance can vary based on the phone’s manufacturer and model.

Rexton3

Moto G 5G 2023 Compatibility:

  • ASHA Support: The Moto G 5G 2023 may lack support for the ASHA standard, which is essential for streaming audio directly to hearing aids. This could explain why the Rexton app can adjust settings but cannot stream audio content.

FCC Regulations:

  • Upcoming Requirements: In October 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules mandating that all mobile handsets must be compatible with hearing aids. These rules include a Bluetooth coupling requirement to ensure universal connectivity between mobile phones and hearing aids. However, there is a transition period before these requirements become mandatory for all devices.

Federal Communications Commission

Evaluating an Upgrade:

  • Moto G 5G 2024: If the 2024 model of the Moto G 5G is confirmed to support the ASHA standard, upgrading could resolve your streaming issues. However, it’s crucial to verify this compatibility before making a purchase.
  • Alternative Options: Consider exploring other smartphone models known for robust hearing aid support. For instance, many Samsung Galaxy models are listed as ASHA-supported devices.

Rexton

Recommendations:

  1. Verify Compatibility: Before upgrading, confirm that the Moto G 5G 2024 or any alternative device supports the ASHA standard and is compatible with your Rexton hearing aids.
  2. Consult with Professionals: Speak with your hearing aid provider or an audiologist for personalized advice on compatible devices.
  3. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of FCC regulations and manufacturer announcements to ensure your devices remain compatible in the future.

By carefully evaluating device compatibility and considering upcoming regulatory changes, you can make an informed decision about upgrading your smartphone to achieve seamless audio streaming with your Rexton hearing aids.

You’ll need to cut through marketing hype. ( LE) is different from (which requires BT ), which is different from Made For iphone.

Motorola apparently misleads users by talking about HAC (Hearing Aid Compatibility), which is very different from ASHA, BT, BTLE, and BT LE Audio.

Is there something in the material cited that says Moto will retrofit (or has retrofitted) ASHA onto Moto phones?

Excellent question! I used my subscription ChatGPT provided with some specific sites for Moto. My Moto G 5G 2022 & 2023 has been a disappointment for Rexton. Moto has made a hint that its 2025 will be upgraded. But, I personally have lost faith in them. My ChatGPT had a long detailed response. I have only included the highlights: * ASA (GT LE) and are not mentioned in Motorola’s documentation, while Samsung explicitly supports these in newer models like the S24 FE.

  • This means Samsung devices are more future-proof for next-gen hearing aid streaming via Bluetooth .
Edited

ChatGPT? It doesn’t even mention , though is a BIG step up from HAC.
Have you considered Google phones?

Why not follow ChatGPT’s recommendation? It tells you it doesn’t know what it’s talking about with these wise words:

Recommendations:

  1. Verify Compatibility: Before upgrading, confirm that the Moto G 5G 2024 or any alternative device supports the ASHA standard and is compatible with your Rexton hearing aids.
  2. Consult with Professionals: Speak with your hearing aid provider or an audiologist for personalized advice on compatible devices.
  3. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of FCC regulations and manufacturer announcements to ensure your devices remain compatible in the future.

By carefully evaluating device compatibility and considering upcoming regulatory changes, you can make an informed decision about upgrading your smartphone to achieve seamless audio streaming with your Rexton hearing aids.

Your best bet is to do your own research, starting with the differences (and similarities) between HAC, BT, BT LE, BT LEA, ASHA, , although you can forget HAC, which isn’t about streaming over any sort of BT.

Or you can just call Rexton and ask what phones work with LEA and what you have to do to connect a specific phone to your . (Well, it’s often more complicated than just calling.)

I have the Rexton Reach and a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. I can use my hearing aids for anwering and hanging up calls and as a receiver and microphone. In fact, my wife called my cell phone the other day but I forgot that I had it on a charger, when I was in Bluetooth range I answered her call with the hearing aids and never picked up my phone. Your mileage may vary depending on what device you have.

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