Turn Your Phone into an Auracast Microphone with FlooGoo FMA120

@Ranson said:

The magic lies in the type of 3.5 mm plug:

• TRS (3 sections, no mic): iPhone keeps using its own microphone. This is what the BT adapter uses.

How does that plug connect to the iPhone? So I need a USB to audio adapter and then this BT module?
Which adapter you like for this?

Please refer to the image below for connection details. For the adapter, you may also check the forum for models that other users have confirmed to work. We have only tested with the FMA121. Since you’ve already confirmed that the FMA120 connects successfully to your Phonak device (with the only limitation being that iPhones do not allow splitting playback and microphone between separate devices), and the FMA121 runs the same firmware, it should also work with your Phonak.

DEAR Ranson

May I ask, under this type of connection, does the FMA121 require an additional external power supply to operate?”

thanks!

Yes, the FMA121 does not have an internal battery. It is designed to draw power from a TV’s DC supply (for example, using the TV’s USB port for power while taking audio through the analog input), or directly from a mobile device’s USB-C connection, which provides both power and audio.

OK - well I purchased the 1mllBT adapter and an iFi Audio Go Link Max.
They work easily and are small and compact.
The mic transmits my voice and the BT adapter does work with hearing aids.
I hear just as good as without all this. But my hearing was not the issue.

My goal was to improve other’s hearing of me, in noisy places, or just in general… when relying on the HA mic. Thing is that I am told that indoors, where most of my conversation occurs…. the hearing aid mic actually sounds better. No clue why?!?
Will test it one more day, but will probably return the both items.

I am enjoying the i17PRO … sound feels better, and speaker is louder. Guess more have lost their hearing from all the earbuds blasting!

Think some here would be interested in this as an alternative sometimes to either the TV streamer, or the Roger ON.

These two items together, can be an interesting tool for us in some situations.

Here is a set of two transmitters with built in32bit digital always on recorders (by always on, what I mean is you can set a menu option that when turned on, they start recording. You should try to get the set that includes a charging case, just like for modern hearing aids. The case charges all three units at once. Also if you want to upload recordings to your computer, just connect the case and all recording are accessible. You have many options as to recordings, which affect length and bit dept/file type etc. Other brands like DJI and maybe SmallRig, might make something similar.

https://www.amazon.com/RØDE-Wireless-Gen-Recording-Automatic/dp/B0DN1PGH94/ref=sr_1_9?crid=17XTHWGVKVJK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.fPh7GCzUHLNEh03nQweC4oQmVAwVKjFoeXrv26Fje_TPW7IN280a9eUkW_cTLEzNd4D2nikCkrAA3bli8GLsjn8XJm_ZcSiP35dVrpYAqRA4qhkS9zRyntITKyQTQ2e5zn1Ur_ZdIXB68rTc1WfnZfgAiPStmdu4PHM3l0JG9REjTVaJ_l8zAFfWiRXOT5NFkUZ6YCX7pToZ_fR9VanqT1vOC9C5O3iAa4dPERJl6Awql1jx2iBvWrMNYYBRwrJ_2wQDX_zFlLACx_-yOZMbU9VyQ6-n08-eWee7SjFk1jw.7zcO7826kEFmYUySLCM4NgnSbPrO8IME4me52QMZiIA&dib_tag=se&keywords=rode%2Bwireless%2Bgo%2Bii&qid=1759369138&s=electronics&sprefix=rode%2Bwireless%2Bgo%2Bii%2Celectronics%2C88&sr=1-9&th=1

Being that they are 32 bit float - the audio recording level, and the sound volume, can be tweaked alter if you have any audio program. But the thing is that they also are transmitters, and will transmit to the third item, which is a receiver. The receiver shows the signal strength as well as the status of the transmitters, so you know they are on, etc.
You plug into the receiver with a tiny cord and connect this device here which allows you to hear in each ear, each hearing aid, I mean, one of the two transmitters!!! Alternately, you may choose to just use one transmitter. In which case it could be monitored in MONO so heard in both ears. You could even monitor one in both ears, while recording the other at a different location placement to listen to later.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08G8Q7NXZ?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=110

which you read about above by Ranson. It allows two connections, so two sets of hearing aids, or one set and another BT device could connect. Nice thing about this, is that it has a built in battery good for about a day. That is important. Means a very compact system that you can use.

So you disconnect your Spheres, from your phone, but leave the LE BT connected. This way you can vary the volume for your hearing aids of this BT system. ALSO since the channels are separate you can control them separetly in the Phonak App. Pretty cool.
Good in a Church, lecture hall, etc. Where you need to come with some system to augment your hearing aids. I have a ROGER ON, but that is only for one location, this allows TWO.

Sorry for the delay. The FMA121 has now been listed on Amazon Australia, but there is currently no stock in Amazon’s warehouse. Customers in Australia can purchase directly from us, and we expect to begin shipping next Wednesday (November 12).

Thanks for the reply. Very cool about being able to power it from a phone if needed.

Do you know how much power it will draw? Curious on how long a 5,000 mAh power bank would last. For portable use on a tour I would only need it to work for a couple hours at the most and would rather get something small / light and sacrifice battery life. (something like what you have pictures looks like it would work well)

The power consumption of the FMA121 depends on the mode used with your hearing aids. Below are the test results measured with a pair of Starkey Edge AI 24:

• High Quality mode: 7 mA @5V

• Gaming mode: 8 mA

• Auracast / Broadcast mode: 19 mA

These values were measured with the LED indicator turned off. If you prefer to keep the LED on, it will draw an additional 4–5 mA while lit.

With a 5,000 mAh power bank, the FMA121 can operate for over 400 hours with the LED on or around 600 hours with the LED off in unicast modes. In broadcast/Auracast mode, the runtime is roughly half of that.

Phone batteries typically have a capacity of around 3,000–4,000 mAh (at 3.7 V), which is roughly half the capacity of a 5,000 mAh power bank. Powering the FMA121 (LED on) in unicast modes from such a phone for about 3 hours would use only around 1.5% of the phone’s battery.

Thanks, that gives some great perspective on battery life. Now I just wish they had a tiny tiny USB C battery packs like they have tiny USB memory sticks!

We recently had a user ask whether this can be used as a remote microphone to assist people with hearing aids.

The answer is yes. For example, a user can pair their Rexton Reach with the FMA120 or FMA121 and set the mode to Gaming for the lowest latency. During a meeting, they can connect the FlooGoo adapter to their phone, open the FlooMic app, and tap Start Broadcasting. In this case, the audio is sent only to the paired Rexton Reach. They can then place the phone near the speaker and clearly hear the speech through their hearing aids.