starkey halo

Thanks, Mike! I wasn't aware that there was new Starkey firmware. I'll have to ask my audi to install it for me.

I've been doing a lot of work with Bluetooth recently, and have a pair of VERY LONG RANGE BLUETOOTH DEVICES: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00713RSE0/ref=pe_385040_127541850_TE_item

I don't use these with the Starkeys, but have been using them with Bluetooth headsets, and getting 200 metres range! Note these can be EITHER a transmitter OR a receiver. Used as a pair, with external antennas, you can achieve several MILES.

That said, I've had a lot of trouble PAIRING and CONNECTING my Starkeys WHILE AT HOME because of all the Bluetooth signals at my house. But if I drive out of range of other Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals, I have no trouble at all with pairing or connecting.

I have a client who bought Farrah Fawcett's mansion, a half-hours drive from my house. I've been using that location to test Bluetooth because it is in an "RF FREE ZONE" -No signals at all. It is deep in the woods, far from other homes or even roads. You cannot see another house from there, except a narrow sliver of Littleton Colorado, 20 miles away, seen between two distant mountains.

Hi DS

Thanks for this info. Seems to me Bluetooth is developing, or at least able to be developed, at quite a rate. Keep us updated!

Cheers

Mike

Have you tried pairing or connecting at home, with your aids actually sitting on the phone?

I have had 2 experiences where that worked in a high BT traffic area.

I had to send my aids to Starkey for a repair, I received them back while at a hotel, I had to re-pair them. They wouldn't pair, I tried every trick, turning everything off, no wifi, toggling BT etc, I took the aids out of my ears, opened the battery doors and put the aids on top of the phone, closed the battery doors, instantly, I got the pair request.

Just last week, I went to an apple store, I was having problems with my phone, thought it was a hardware issue, turned out to be software, they did a complete restore which upgraded me to the most recent version of iOS8. I had to repair my aids, in the apple store! First attempt failed, so recalling what happened at the hotel, I took my aids out, put them on the phone and it worked perfectly.

In my logical mind, I figured the closer the aids were to the phone the less likely interference would come into play...I have no idea if that is true, but it's worked for me twice LOL

So where or how did you get this 8.2 beta? And is it free. I know you can pay $100 if you register as a developer and get the betas. Is thre another way?

Thanks for the suggestion! I've had them right next to the phone, but not right on top. I'll have to give that a try.

Another tip that may be a red herring but seems to work for me is to extend the time available to connect by selecting "Never". in autolock while the phone is connected to power. Remember to return to your preference after pairing.

Starkey denies a firmare update has been released. They also continue to blame Apple for Bluetooth connectivity issues. They hope the next version of the iOS will fix that but do not admit to trying the beta version available to developers. Same song and dance. Unimpressive to this user.

I Have no idea where this is all coming from. I just had my Halo's firmware updated by my Audi on Tues. it brought many new features to life especially Stream Boost which really did a major upgrade to the sound quality while streaming. I also installed iOS 8.2 beta 5. The combination has completely stopped all of the connection issues I was having. Also, connecting to the TruLink app has become flawless.

SO, go to your Audi. When they connect to your Halos, their software will alert them that a firmware upgrade is available.

From my audiologist today.

"This is the latest from my Starkey Rep.

There is no firmware update yet. Apples latest software update, did cause Bluetooth connectivity issues on a wide variety of devices, and are very aware of the issue. We expect them to be coming out with a new iOS update soon, that will address the issues. Apple unfortunately does not announce the dates of the next software updates, so we unfortunately don’t know a firm timeline of when this next update will be available."

Different messages for sure. There is a n update to OS 8.1.3 and Trulink 2 but I cannot find info about a hearing aid firmware update. Details woul be appreciated.

Yes, there was an update to TruLink to take it to version 2. So, to see if you have the latest firmware, go to the app and see if there is a Stream Boost program. You should see "Normal", "TruLink", and "Stream Boost." If you don't, then you do not have the latest firmware installed on your RIC 13 Halos.

I Honestly believe that your rep is behind in their information. Also, make sure your Audi has version 15 of their programming software from Starkey. Also, if your Audi is having issues, have them contact Starkey technical support and ask for Michael. He will know what to do.

Much thanks. Back to the phone Monday. Is there different firmware for different Halo models. I have the Halo i110.

I got the firmware updatre. Stream boost is a bust for me. I had worked with my audi on streaming program and got it to where it provided much better sound. Now when streaming I have to change from stream boost to stremaing because Starkey made Stream Boost the go to program when streaming. The new app is as opaque as always and I cannot figure out how to change so when I'm streaming the app takes me where I want to go. I also had my streaming program set so the microphones went to off. That got changed in the app and also Stream Boost does not set mics to off. I guess if I went to the Audi again he may be able to set it.

The other thing I noticed is that when driving my car, the hearing aid car program works on and off in my right aid. Every so often it goes from no car swooshing to car swooshing. Real irritating.

One other thing. I had a couple of programs GPS specific. Now the app decides I am at one of those places despite being miles away and I wonder why I am not hearing normally.

Hi Parrish,

A couple of things.

1. The firmware just "houses" the programming for the units. It does not dictate the settings on your Halos. That is what the app is for. So for the issue of Stream Boost not working for you, you would change the app to go to your "streaming" memory instead of Stream Boost. To do that, press the settings "gear" on the home page of the app, then the "settings" button on the next page. You would want to set "Auto-Streaming" to "on" and select which memory you would like auto-streaming to go to for "other" and "Phone." You should see the memory that your Audi did for you. Also, for both "Other" and "Phone", you can set to "no change". "decrease" or "mute" your pics when in auto-streaming.

For the car issue, make sure "Car" is set to which ever memory you prefer when driving. I have a memory that cuts down 90% of the low freqs when in car mode and it works well. Last but not least, the GPS issue has nothing to do with your Halos. This is a built-in function between the iPhone and the app. So make sure that the pins you dropped originally are still where you want them. Hope this helps.

Dave

Bummer, Parrish. Keep us updated as you work through these issues.

My audi is going to a Starkey class at the end of March to learn about this upgrade, and then he will use ME as a GUINEA PIG. I'll update after that.

Also, there's a LLAMA and ALPACA expert that is doing a program for Animal Control Officers next month, and has asked me to do a videography of the presentation, to be distributed nationwide. To do this, I needed a remote microphone for her to wear, so I've ordered a pair of the radios that are used by your TV stations, using a lapel microphone. I'm not sure what I'll learn from this exercise, but if I learn something useful, I'll post here. This is a "high end" remote mike setup.

Thanks for trying to help. All the instructions you give me do is create more frustration.

I tried first step and when I clicked to continue it made me name a new program. Now I have several programs I need to delete but see no way to do it.

I do not see how the suggestion on car will work when I had the car mode working and now it does not.

As far as I can tell all I can do is change Auto-streaming to on or off, then set "Other", whatever that means, to some already determined program. And then Phone can be set to something and car can be set to shomething. But, I can do nothing to the somethings. Why can't I edit any of the things I've created and why can't I delete anything I created?

I am not a technology idiot but this APP drives me nuts.