Q: starkey halo

Not chimed in in a while but I am still having the problem of my iPad hijacking one of my hearing aides whenever I have Bluetooth on. This is disturbing since it affects my being able to control the aides with my iPhone. One looks to be off in TruLink. When this happens I cannot stream anything through the hearing aid that was hijacked. I cannot see why making it possible to set aids to communicate only with the device you want is so hard. And yes I have told the iPad to forget the device and no the aid is not paired with the iPad. It just won't work if the iPad has BT on. I need to be able to have BT on as I use a BT keyboard with the iPad.

On APPS and deleting and downloading. Assuming your APP came from the APP store, it is always available for re-download if you got it free or bought it.

Other than the hijack problem, my aids are working well. Not having the problems regarding batteries. I use the ones my audiologist provides.

Parrish - have you disabled the Handoff option? I don't have an iPad and the only control I can find is on my Mac. Are you using a Mac?

Who manufactures the batteries provided by your audiologist and how long are they lasting?

Hey guys.  Hope all is well.  Not been on here a while, as all seems to be working well with the Halos.

My audiologist is coming to see me this week with what appears to be a firmware update for the Halos.  Anyone know anything more about this?

Also, I have just upgraded to iOS 8.2 beta 5.  Is anyone else using this?  After 24 hours, I can say the connectivity is ten times better than before.  Immediate, stable and long-lasting.  Having said this, I do realise that I should give it a lot longer before a proper appraisal, but these are my first impressions.

Mike.

Hi Mike,

Your post was well-timed.  I am still in the process of troubleshooting an ongoing issue with my Bluetooth connectivity dropping (only at my home) when I have both Bluetooth and WiFi up.  When both are enabled, Bluetooth drops intermittently thus losing streaming capability for 1 or 2 seconds.  It has become maddening when on a phone call.  I have been working with Apple and we're now to the point of restoring my iPhone 6 to original settings, testing streaming and rebuilding as I go.  I believe this is a unique issue with me and not an issue at-large.

Good to hear about 8.2 b5. Maybe I will bite the bullet and load that while I'm in the status I'm in and see what happens.  It's worth a shot.  Also curious about this firmware upgrade.  Do you have any additional info on it?

Thanks,

Dave

Hi Dave

I had been Googling Halo firmware, and I came across this review of the Trulink app (below)  This is what made me bite the bullet.  If it is true, it looks to be really exciting.

Mike.

Update your Halo Firmware!

While you’re waiting for Apple to release iOS 8.2 (with significant BTLE improvements that address the pairing problems) contact your audiologist and make an appointment to have your Halos’ firmware upgraded. Besides much-improved connectivity and more reliable auto-stream switching, the new firmware adds two new features: “Stream Boost” (You have to try it to believe it - the difference is like going from an AM radio to FM with a subwoofer) and “Comfort Boost” (additional on-demand noise reduction.) I had my firmware updated this afternoon. It takes about 20 minutes and is well worth the effort.

.. and here's the link I found it on ...

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trulink-hearing-control/id775168025?mt=8

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.