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How to buy a mini Pro - USB 2.0 Hearing Aid Programmer [DIY]

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If they are both male, you likely need the null modem. That is if they are spec. Sadly, many devices back in the day had their own (made up) spec. Back in the olden days, I can remember cutting traces and running jumpers. You can throw in that one would be memory address and another port addressed. Believe me, it was an abomination at times.

Today, it should be easy. Note I said should be. I think Wikipedia has a pretty decent tutorial on pin outs that you can expect and compare things. To work straight through, on has to be modem and the other terminal – that refers to the swapping of Tx/Rx (DCE/RTE) that I mention previously.

If you can find it, download the HiPro manual and it should provide pin outs. Or PM @audiometrix_hearing to sell you the right USB>RS233 unit that he is delivering with them.

RS-232

In telecommunications, RS-232 or Recommended Standard 232 is a standard originally introduced in 1960 for serial communication transmission of data. It formally defines signals connecting between a DTE (data terminal equipment) such as a computer terminal or PC, and a DCE (data circuit-terminating equipment or data communication equipment), such as a modem. The standard defines the electrical characteristics and timing of signals, the meaning of signals, and the physical size and pinout of The R...

Too much tech talk for newbies. If you find yourself in possession of an old serial Hi-Pro and you have a computer with a serial port you need a female to female null modem cable. Check eBay for a used one. I paid $3.55 delivered:

RS232 Straight DB9 9 Pin Serial Cable Female-Female Null Modem Cable

I have a laptop (ditched the desktop that originally supported the hipro) that only supports USB, trying to find the right cable to buy in hopes of avoiding buying several to find the right one.

I think KenP’s suggestion of getting what you need from audiometrix was a fine suggestion. You would have an expectation of it working rather than experimenting with something unknown.

Way back in the Spring when I first got interested in the self-programming and was looking for the least cost option… I had wondered about what the aliexpress sellers would do around this particular weekend. Turns out…nothing. No news. Nothing to see. Move along :slight_smile: The price of tea in China remains as it has been for some time. :slight_smile:

I emailed BuyHear, as I did not find a mini pro programmer listed on their website, asking for a price with connecting cables.
I received a quote, a day or so later, for $250. No mention of shipping or how to order or anything else just $250. I called the phone # listed on the website and asked how to order. They took my order by phone. I received a confirmation email stating a 10 shipping estimate. I called 10 days later to check, as I had heard nothing, and was told it was shipping that day.
It arrived by Fedex with CS44 cables and a pair of Flexconnect strips. Their was no addition charge for shipping. It was very well packed and came with a disk labeled MiniPro Software. I plugged it into a Windows 10 PC using a powered HUB connected to a USB 3 port. Windows instantly found the device and automatically installed a stock Windows driver without using the Mini Pro software disk.
It works as intended with no additional software other than the Genie 2 programming application.

The CS44 cables are a pain to connect to the Flexstrip connectors due to the very small pin connectors. They also take more force to connect than you might think for such tiny delicate connectors. There are tiny red dots to be lined up on each part but it is a delicate operation, regardless. Inserting the Flexstrips into the Aids is somewhat tedious also.

Plugged in the cables to the Mini Pro and the USB into the computer, ran the Genie software and everything works fine.
I haven’t looked on the Mini Pro software disk to see just what it contains but if some wants to know I can did up a CD/DVR reader and connect to a computer.

I am very pleased that I decided to buy a programmer. My aids are new OPN’s programmed by an Audi. The first time I tried making a few of changes the results are much improved. I did not think I would ever hear this well again!

Are you in the US? If so that sucks. They started out at $175. Then it became $225 and several people jumped in (myself included). Then we heard of $300 then $250 and talk of shipping. But they seem to provide “free” shipping in the US.
But yes I also had a fine purchasing experience with Buyhear. If Audiometrix had stock when I was interested in pulling triggers then I would have bought the real deal from them for $175.

Edited

I wondered about those numbers. They show 3 variations. 3, 2 and 8.

Edit: I PM’d Aurem and they said the flex strips are singles. So their cables come to about 10 bucks less than the other site we know of.
Still nice to buy as a kit kind of thing from Buyhear or Audiometrix though.

@jtoxx said:

I emailed BuyHear, as I did not find a mini pro programmer listed on their website, asking for a price with connecting cables.

I received a quote, a day or so later, for $250. No mention of shipping or how to order or anything else just $250. I called the phone # listed on the website and asked how to order. They took my order by phone. I received a confirmation email stating a 10 shipping estimate. I called 10 days later to check, as I had heard nothing, and was told it was shipping that day.

It arrived by Fedex with CS44 cables and a pair of Flexconnect strips. Their was no addition charge for shipping. It was very well packed and came with a disk labeled MiniPro Software. I plugged it into a Windows 10 PC using a powered HUB connected to a USB 3 port. Windows instantly found the device and automatically installed a stock Windows driver without using the Mini Pro software disk.

It works as intended with no additional software other than the Genie 2 programming application.

The CS44 cables are a pain to connect to the Flexstrip connectors due to the very small pin connectors. They also take more force to connect than you might think for such tiny delicate connectors. There are tiny red dots to be lined up on each part but it is a delicate operation, regardless. Inserting the Flexstrips into the Aids is somewhat tedious also.

Plugged in the cables to the Mini Pro and the USB into the computer, ran the Genie software and everything works fine.

I haven’t looked on the Mini Pro software disk to see just what it contains but if some wants to know I can did up a CD/DVR reader and connect to a computer.

I am very pleased that I decided to buy a programmer. My aids are new OPN’s programmed by an Audi. The first time I tried making a few of changes the results are much improved. I did not think I would ever hear this well again!

I’ve followed your example and done the same thing…quoted $300 US by Adam Caviness.

Close to $400 Aussie dollars but. Fingers crossed I have the same experience!

Man! This sort of kit started at $175 with them. Then it became $225 when several people bought (myself included). Then we’ve seen $250 and $300. Yikes. If the aliexpress seller would ever sell at $175 again then the set could be put together for about $230 otherwise. Buyhear’s being a little too greedy for my liking. There’s another seller but I won’t mention them.

Yes, I looked at the cost piecemeal and it was about the same after you get the cables. Plus the Aliexpress website unnecessarily demanded personal info which I was not going to provide. Unknown other seller responded with assertion there were performance issues with USB miniPro and suggested serial version Hi-pro for $175 or USB Hi-pro for $300.

My USB miniPro was immediately recognized by Windows 10 and there have been no problems with it. It seems slower than audi’s Noahlink but I have plenty of time.

In reply to @aggie60

If I had known about the serial Hi-Pro availability then I would have preferred it over the minipro if only because it’s the real thing. But as you saw, the minipro works perfectly fine so whatevs.

In reply to @z10user2

It doesn’t seem so expensive compared to going to an Audi, unless it’s free for you. Plus the ability to make as many changes as you like and experiment, That’s worth a lot, at least to me. I never heard as well until I began doing my own settings. It’s also nice to learn and understand more about the disability. Many great people here with a lot of knowledge and willing to help and share. Not saying it is as easy as pie or simple to do. Somewhat fulfilling not to be dependent on someone. Don’t recommend Self Brain Surgery via Youtube but the worse you could do here is mess up the programming and have to have someone straighten it out for you. Even then, at least with the Oticon Genie, software you can just select the basic program. It works very well and is a good place to start.

Yeah, you can readily get a mini Pro on eBay for $215 to $230 including shipping from China, but another $99 for the purple programming cables needed for Starkey ’s plus another $35 for black programming boots and the total separately comes to $350 to $365, so BuyHear is getting closer and closer to matching the separate pieces pricing. But from reading through the past couple of years on the forums it looks like the mini Pro prices have also been rising. It’s not cheap to self program, but some of us just can’t stand not being able to tinker with things. I found I get a better fit doing it myself back when I had HA’s from Sonic Innovations, and now can’t wait to see if I can do it again with Starkeys.

Ok I don’t know about what all is needed for Starkey’s but for my setup of CS44 and flex strip pills it came to $225 from Buyhear. Much better than putting it together with the then current pricing.

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