Resound Linx

Oh too easy! Wow. THanks Rasmus! (I always forget the swipe up world)

@mkertzman said:

I just got the firmware update installed on my Linx hearing aids and the difference in connection time to my iPhone 6 Plus is remarkable. In particular, I was experiencing long delays in connecting to the Linx on an incoming phone call - I’d have to wait quite a while to begin the conversation. After the firmware update, it’s pretty close to instantaneous - very short delay. I’d encourage anyone experiencing this kind of issue to get your audiologist to install the firmware update.

I went to see the audi yesterday to get the Linx firmware update but she wasn’t aware of it. She called the ReSound NZ rep who confirmed an update had just been released but they hadn’t yet advised the audis in the weekly ReSound newsletter. So I got her to make a couple of other adjustments in the meantime and then she will call me in the next few days to come in and get the update applied. I was really hoping to get it there and then so I could test the improvements with incoming call connectivity.

Meantime I have reached boiling point with iOS 8.1.1 and my new iPhone 6. Some of you may recall that I had an iPhone 5S and upgraded to 8.1.1 and didn’t have any issues. Well over the weekend I backed up my 5S and restored to the new 6. Everything went well and from the short period (a few hours) that I was running iOS 8.1 on the new phone everything was fine with BT and the Linx. The phone later advised me that 8.1.1 was available and it had duly downloaded it and prompted me to install. I clicked yes. Big bloody mistake that was…!!

As soon as the upgrade happened my phone lost the pairing with my HAs and couldn’t get it back. I tried all sorts of things, except for “forget this device” - since it couldn’t actually find the HAs to begin with. I toggeld BT on and off, opened the ReSound app, closed it and swiped it away, turned phone off then on a few times, hard reset the phone…all without success. Then just as I was about to throw the damn phone against the wall in frustration the pairing was successful. I did have a few more issues with it in that the left HA was not pairing. This went on for a another half hour before it started working.

And now for the major issue - which is a 19 on the 1 to 10 pain scale: the BT appears to go to “sleep” ALL the time. The BT icon in the status bar is greyed out and when I swipe the Control Center up, it shows BT is connected but my HAs do not appear in the bottom right corner next to the AirDrop as they normally do. I have to toggle BT off then on again for it to work, but then the ReSound app loses the connection and I have to shut it down and then start it up again at least 2-3 times to get the connection back. I cannot answer calls thru the HAs when they come in, I can’t stream music, and I can’t use the ReSound app (being a new user still, I am constantly using the app to fine tune and experiment with volume and bass and treble to suit different environments). For me personally, this issue is completely unacceptable and beyond frustrating. This issue is there whether I am using WiFi or not.

This weekend I am going to erase my phone, reinstall iOS 8.1.1 and then restore my backup and see if that cures it. I am glad I am technically literate when it comes to this sort of thing, and can totally sympathize with those who are not and have to put up with it until Apple gets its s*** together and sorts this out once and for all.

Cicada and others, have any of you experienced this same issue with the iPhone 6 or 6+ and iOS 8.1.1? Would be interested to know.

Cheers,
Richard

@ReSound said:

Hi wire_weaver, we hope to launch the ReSound Smart app for Android phones sometime in the future, however ReSound LiNX is still a great option for hearing aid wearers no matter what type of phone they have. By using the ReSound Unite Phone Clip+ with ReSound LiNX, you can stream to your hearing aids from your Android phone (with the ReSound Control app, available in Google Play). Additionally, the Made for iPhone functionality is just one feature of ReSound LiNX in addition to the top-rated sound quality, discreet design and durable technology.

Thank you Resound for confirming you do plan to launch the ReSound Smart app for Android phones. If it is unavailable by January I might ask something like “when are you hoping to have it released ?” but in the mean time I appreciate you didn’t want to commit to any time frame. However you didn’t confirm if the app would permit streaming audio from an Android phone (whose H/W supports Low Energy BT). Will it ? If not it will simply only function as a remote control.

I’m sure the LiNX is a very capable H’aid even without the ability to stream audio directly to one’s smart phone, however with its high price tag, the audio streaming turns out to be relatively unique and a key differentiating feature to other high end H’aids. Streaming via an accessory (in this case the Unite Phone Ciip+) is not a unique feature to H’aids these days and adds to the bulk and inconvenience compared to direct streaming from phone->H’aid

@wire_weaver said:

Thank you Resound for confirming you do plan to launch the ReSound Smart app for Android phones. If it is unavailable by January I might ask something like “when are you hoping to have it released ?” but in the mean time I appreciate you didn’t want to commit to any time frame. However you didn’t confirm if the app would permit streaming audio from an Android phone (whose H/W supports Low Energy BT). Will it ? If not it will simply only function as a remote control.

I’m sure the LiNX is a very capable H’aid even without the ability to stream audio directly to one’s smart phone, however with its high price tag, the audio streaming turns out to be relatively unique and a key differentiating feature to other high end H’aids. Streaming via an accessory (in this case the Unite Phone Ciip+) is not a unique feature to H’aids these days and adds to the bulk and inconvenience compared to direct streaming from phone->H’aid

Hi wire_weaver, we are always exploring opportunities to enhance the connectivity of our hearing aids, including functionality across platforms. Unfortunately, we’re unable to comment in detail on future product releases, especially when working with other entities. As we mentioned before, there are so many other features that you could benefit from so we still hope you would consider ReSound LiNX to see what you think. Do you currently have a hearing care professional or do you need help finding someone? We’d be happy to help!

Hi Richard,
As mkertzman says in response to your BT problem, my iPhone 6 perked up considerably after the Linx firmware update and I am currently running iOS 8.1.1. I highly recommend the firmware update as it may be key in getting all this sorted out. I am still having a few problems with Wi-Fi timing out and I have to toggle it off and back on again to get it to work. I do remember that before the firmware update, I had problems with streaming, but if I turned off Wi-Fi, it seemd to work much better. You might try that in the meantime. The BT connection to the ReSound Smart App (version 1.3.0) is better also, gone from somewhere way over 30 seconds to connect to between 5-15 seconds now. The phone does connect much faster when answering calls also. I have noticed that when I turn off my aids at night and then power up in the morning, I still sometimes need to toggle BT off and on again to wake it and then it connects pretty fast. I just read an article on Forbes site about iOS 8.1.2 that Mark Rogowsky says has alot more in it that Apple is publicly saying. He doesn’t have hearing aids but says it fixed his BT problems. The link to the article is:Did Apple Sneak Stealth Bluetooth Fixes Into iOS 8.1.2? It Sure Seems So
If I were you, I would make sure I had the ReSound firmware update from your audi and the ReSound Smart App current version before moving forward. As I am a techy (slang for a gluton for punishment) I plan to update my iPhone to 8.1.2 soon. I’ll let you know how it goes after completing the upgrade and testing.

I have been having problems with not being able to connect, or only one aid connecting. I have not updated my iOS, but I will, and I have an appointment tomorrow to have firmware update installed. I hope this helps. My iPad hardly ever connects.

Hi Cicada,

Thanks for the info. I have an appointment in an hour or so to see my audi for some adjustments and she should be doing the firmware update at the same time. I’m having a hell of a time hearing voices clearly in social environments. She has boosted the soft speech a little and narrowed the mic beam but I still get excessive background noise and the voices to me sound the same as if I am not wearing my aids. Incredibly frustrating and I know there is a lot of trial and error and adjusting involved, but with the audi being fully booked I have to wait about 2 weeks before I can see her. She has suggested I could try the tulip domes to see if that helps so I will get her to do that today.

Re the iPhone side of things, I’ve updated to iOS 8.1.2 and I have the latest version of the ReSound app. Even on 8.1.2 I’ve noticed the BT seems to go into ‘sleep’ mode after a while and the BT icon is greyed out on the status bar at the top of the screen. I would have thought that because the connected device is a HAs then there would be a persistent connection and it would not go to sleep at all. The only way to ‘wake’ it again is to toggle off then on the BT - which off course drops the connection to the ReSound app and that takes another 20-60 seconds to come back. Hopefully the new firmware update in conjunction with iOS 8.1.2 will fix this.

On another note I am definitely looking forward to having the audio for incoming calls connect much faster - it can be extremely embarrassing answering a call then waiting 8-10 seconds for it to connect, all the time while the person on the other end is saying “hello? hellllloooooo…?” and about ready to hang up.

I’m hoping to get everything re BT and the adjustments sorted once and for all in the next couple of days as I am overseas on holiday next week for 3 weeks. I’m probably being way too optimistic…

I will report back in the next day or so.

Cheers,
Richard

Hi,
I just wanted to pass along that Apple released iOS 8.1.3 this week and I have installed it.I also have the latedt firmware from ReSound. It seems to work well with the Linx 961s. The new iOS seems to still have a problem with dropping wi-fi but I guess Apple will never figure that one out as all the 8.x.x releases have had it as far as I can tell. I just swipe up and toggle wi-fi off then back on and it then works again. Music streamed seems livelier but may be my imagination, not sure yet. I always adjust the bass and treble up when streaming or it sounds like AM radio. I’ll write up a longer review a bit later as I just downloaded it a couple of days back.

I picked up my Resound Linx 7 HA 2 days ago. At this early date I have had a mixed experience. I’m using them in concert with my iPhone 6. Overall I would say that these new devices are a major improvement over the Starkey aids they are replacing. These are my early impressions and experiences:

Streaming music from my iPhone, either from my iTunes playlist or from Pandora, ranges from an excellent experience to an irritation. At times, and often for a prolonged period the audio quality is very good and pleasant to listen to. But then at other times the music is so distorted and artificially sounding that it is quite unpleasant. Sometimes it seems related to my location. Perhaps this suggests interference from other signals? Occasionally I will hear garbled sound that seems almost like I am picking up someone’s walkie-talkie voice audio superimposed on my music. Other times there is an annoying warbling sound superimposed on the music. Like a strange sort of static as though there is a very brief clipping of the sound. But at the same time the music continues without any noticeable delay or interruption. Hard to explain beyond this.

Audio with phone calls is also somewhat variable. Most of the time I find the audio through the HAs to be quite acceptable. Clearly better than trying to listen to the iPhone against my ear. Other times the voices seem tinny and unreal. Those on the other end of the call usually report that they can “hear me fine”, maybe just a little subdued. In general I am satisfied with the audio quality of the phone calls. I just wish there was a hands-free means of taking the incoming calls without having to “accept” the call on my iPhone screen.

I’ve had no problems with pairing with my iPhone or my iPad. An occasional brief drop-out of one HA, but not enough to be a real problem. I have the newest iOS (8.1.3), actually just updated earlier today.

I will have my first follow-up visit with my audiologist in 2 weeks. Maybe he can do a little fine tuning. On another site I saw a post where the poster stated that he had spoken with a ReSound representative that had stated that there would be a new updated Linx released in March of this year which would include improvements including a built-in telecoil. I have no way of knowing if this is accurate information or not. But I’m not real eager to commit to a pair of HAs if an improved version is only weeks away.
John

@jbaugh said:

On another site I saw a post where the poster stated that he had spoken with a ReSound representative that had stated that there would be a new updated Linx released in March of this year which would include improvements including a built-in telecoil. I have no way of knowing if this is accurate information or not. But I’m not real eager to commit to a pair of HAs if an improved version is only weeks away.
John

Lol, I think that may have been in the comments section of my blog post where I reviewed LiNX. The new versions are already listed in my software and on ReSound’s website, so they should be available now:

“The new frequency compression algorithm, Sound ShaperTM, lets you fit ReSound LiNX on patients who need the flexibility of a fully featured BTE including telecoil and DAI functionality.
All of this in a 13 battery BTE that streams stereo sound directly from an iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch® with ReSound LiNX 9 and 7 devices.”

It’s just a designation that ReSound uses for one of their receiver-in-the-ear (RIE) instruments. For example, you probably have the LiNX 761 right now. The 7 refers to the technology level, and 61 refers to a particular RIE form factor. The LiNX2 has some software and hardware improvements, but the most significant features are only available at the 9 level. I don’t think you’ll notice any meaningful difference between LiNX 7 and LiNX2 7.

@rasmus_braun said:

It’s just a designation that ReSound uses for one of their receiver-in-the-ear (RIE) instruments. For example, you probably have the LiNX 761 right now. The 7 refers to the technology level, and 61 refers to a particular RIE form factor. The LiNX2 has some software and hardware improvements, but the most significant features are only available at the 9 level. I don’t think you’ll notice any meaningful difference between LiNX 7 and LiNX2 7.

Am in the process NOW of getting LINX trial, will discuss details w/ Audi next week, and wondering if latest model available in SoCal and would it be appropriate for my loss? Looking for any info on LINX and HALO to help my discussion.
Thanks,

I have updated the Linx software to Aventa 3.7.0.120. I have upgraded the iPhone iOS to 8.1.3.
I recently did a wipe and rebuild of the phone. In other words, I eliminated all other potential app issues and paired the HAs and tested connections and streaming with the same results. Connections can be erratic and streaming with wifi enabled on the phone is impossible. Below is an email to a ReSound rep and her reply:

…To summarize, the iphone strreaming has always been terrible. No matter which app, books or music the sound would wow and flutter like it was under water, until it would disconnect entirely. This was consistent even after upgrading the Linx and the iphone to new devices.
After a lot of experimenting, I discovered that if I turn wifi off I can get a fairly reliable stream. And by adjusting the bass and treble in the “Smart” app I could get something good for audiobooks and barely okay for music. (Unfortunately, the settings are never remembered in the app and must be reset every time).
So before doing a factory restore and rebuild of my iphone (as suggested by reSound tech), I’m tempted to pair it with my wife’s ipad or iphone to see if it duplicates the problem, when I can find the time.
Meanwhile, I turn off wifi when I want to stream anything. It also makes answering a phone calls cumbersome, if I forget and have wifi on. Even if wifi is disabled incoming calls can be slow to connect. Over 3 seconds of silence before the caller can hear me say hello.
Your advice is welcome, thanks.

Thank you for the info, David. Yes, both Apple and ReSound recommend disabling wifi during streaming for the very reasons you mentioned. We also recommend disabling Multi-Device Support in Settings, if you are using a version of iOS that includes that feature. There is also a recently established Consumer Support Team who may be able to really hone in on what the problem(s) is/are. Their number is 888-735-4327.

Here is an updated report on my experience in hopes that it might help someone. Now, after about 10 days with my LiNX 7 HAs I have had the opportunity to do some testing of the various factors that might be affecting the bluetooth functioning of the HAs. After about 4 days of using the LiNX almost exclusively in my home environment I announced to my wife that I was going to return them to the audiologist because of the unacceptable performance of the bluetooth functions– audio on phone calls and audio with streaming.
BUT THEN I decided to give them one more chance. I wore them all day Sunday. Before leaving home I noticed the terrible “wow and flutter” underwater distortion of the audio while streaming from Pandora on my iPhone 6. As soon as I was two blocks away from my house in my car I noticed a sudden and impressive improvement in the quality of the streaming audio. The wow and flutter were markedly reduced and at times imperceptible. When I arrived at church, I noticed an almost instantaneous return of the wow and flutter sounds, not quite as bad as I experienced at home, but definitely unacceptable. (I should note that my iPhone automatically logs in to the church WiFi when i go there). Driving home from church the sound quality was good to almost excellent all the way up to my garage. When I entered my house I was back to being “underwater”. This all seemed to suggest to me that a common factor in bad bluetooth functioning was connection to/interference with WiFi. Then I read the post here where it is noted that ReSound recommends “disabling WiFi when streaming”. So I disabled WiFi on my iPhone and sure enough there was a dramatic improvement in the audio quality during streaming, even while sitting in my computer room in my house. Not a complete disappearance of the wow and flutter but a substantial decrease. If I were to make an arbitrary scale from 1-10 to describe the intensity of the wow and flutter and intermittent break in streaming (with 10 being the worst imaginable), I would say that at home with my WiFi enabled the audio distortion would be in the 6-8 range, sometimes worse. With WiFi disabled the audio distortion is more in the 1-2 range. A significant difference. So, it seems for me, that as long as I have WiFi turned off on my iPhone or I am in a sparsely populated area with little or no discernible WiFi signals with WiFi still enabled on my iPhone I get reasonable, acceptable bluetooth performance.

The obvious problem with all of this is that requiring WiFi to be disabled on your iPhone in order to enjoy the benefits of bluetooth connectivity is not an acceptable solution. This would require either exclusive usage of my service provider’s data when I use my iPhone or the almost unimaginable frustration it would cause to have to be continuously turning WiFi off or on depending upon your need at that moment. Just imagine– I’m streaming music from Pandora and I receive a phone call. I would have to answer the call and then pause while I quickly disable WiFi. Then I would have to remember to turn WiFi back on after the call to preserve my data allotment.

I’m still not certain what I will do with these HAs. They are such an improvement in terms of traditional hearing aid function compared to my old Starkeys that I am strongly inclined to keep them and live with the limitations until, and if, these problems can be resolved.
John