Does anyone know if there exists a Bluetooth adapter that will allow me to use my Jabra Enhance Pro 20s with my work and personal laptops?
I have 3 computers…some have Win10, some Win11…none have the latest whatever-it-is that Jabra needs to connect. And I’m lost. My Oticon OPN3’s from >5 yrs ago connected just fine without any problem.
I’d rather use my hearing aids than something like AirPods, where I have to first remove my aids. I have a standard headset now (work-issued), but it broke because I have to commute and travel with it (no case or anything). I’d rather be able to travel lightly.
I’m just dipping a toe into this. My KS10s are getting on, so I’m trying to get up-to-speed on new tech. The Pro 20s are an option for me.
The Big New Thing that is stirring things up right now is Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast (which the Pro 20s have). It only works with a few new (and mostly expensive) phones. (If anyone is unhappy about having to get an expensive new phone to go with their expensive new HAs, look for a used or new-old-stock Google Pixel 8. Not 8a, not sure about 9. I got a new 8 for $400.)
What I’ve learned so far is that my KS10s’ ability to consistently and reliably connect to phone and computer - with no accessories - is pretty rare. And if I upgrade to new HAs I may lose the ability to connect to a computer with pre-LE Audio Bluetooth. Also the ability to connect to two BT devices simultaneously.
Apparently you’re saying you can connect to your phone and converse hands-free, presumably consistently, reliably and without accessory devices. Is that true? But you can’t connect to your computer at all. Can you connect to two devices simultaneously?
For connecting to pre-LE Audio BT on a computer, one kind respondent told me about a FlooGoo conversion dongle. Looks like it speaks LE Audio and Auracast, plugs into a USB-A socket and costs around $45. I’d prefer to not have to deal with that, but it’s a solution nonetheless.
Thank you for all of this explanation and context to your experience! Yes, it seems like Bluetooth LE and Auracast changed a lot of things and I just haven’t kept up with the technology. It’s hard for me to understand how they differ and what the associated problems are with each, etc.
Yes, I can connect the hearing aids to my iPhone 13 Mini fairly reliably (it’s not great…frankly, my old Oticon OPN3’s connected to iPhones and my car more easily and seamlessly). The microphone doesn’t seem to work that well, but I think that’s just a limitation of the aids. I can’t really justify purchasing the Oitcons, so I have to deal with the lower-quality Costco ones (and between Phillips and Jabra, the Jabra are working much better). I can connect it to my car fairly easily, too. I just can’t connect them to ANY computers. From what I read online, you need 3 things: Win11, a specific release version (like 2H22 or something like that…I forgot the version ID), and Bluetooth LE Audio adapter (I think…it’s something special about the Bluetooth adapter). And all three of my computers (non are Apple - I have a Lenovo ThinkPad, a Dell, and an HP ProBook) have 1 or 2 but not all 3 of those. None of them connect to the Jabras.
I’ve never tried to connect to two devices simultaneously…I didn’t know what was possible at all, actually. I don’t think it was possible with my OPN3s…any time I need to switch between computers, I had to “forget” on one and then pair/connect to the other.
Thanks for linking that dongle. Bummer that it costs $45! But better than nothing. I appreciate your help!
My understanding of the things you mention (specific release of Win 11 and LE Audio compatible Bluetooth) is that if the computer had those things you would be able to connect the hearing aid directly without an adaptor or USB dongle. From what I can tell not many computers currently meet those requirements. My hope is in the future more and more computers will be compatible and be able to directly connect to hearing aids.
In the meantime, the FlooGoo FMA120 doesn’t have those requirements and should work on Windows, Mac, and Linux. There may be other adaptors that work, and will probably will be more in the future to help fill in this transition gap. Reason I mention the FMA120 is because it is the one I own and it works well. FlooGoo has also been doing a good job of listening to customer feedback and improving it with firmware updates.
FlooGoo also in represented here by an actual person that posts here and genuinely wants their product work with our hearing aids. That’s something you don’t see much anywhere else.
Ok One thing I have found is that you could move the configured FMA120 from system to system as the majority of the config resides in the dongle. This would make the connection stay the same on anything you plug it into. However, it could cause issues with dongle over time.
I have gotten the BT LE Audio features in the 24h2 version of windows 11 to at least show up by changing the interface card (m2 slot). If that last part was at all unknown to you get someone who is more hardware savvy to help you. It did not solve connections to my wife’s Phonak but it at least windows sees the hearing aids now.
To connect to the Windows PC or the TV, I use the HomeSpot BA210 v2 Auracast transmitter. Both my TV and PC have Bluetooth, but are three to four years old and will not connect to the HAs except through the Homespot. I find the Homespot preferable to the FlooGoo USB dongle. The dongle only works with your PC because it is limited to a USB connection, while the Homespot works with the TV because it has a variety of connections. Even though your TV has a USB connection on the back it most likely is for audio input only and does not provide the needed audio output. See Auracast transmitter tests - #17 by JG1 for insight into the Homespot and FlooGoo solutions.
I have used the HomeSpot BA210 successfully on my LG TV and my Macbook Air using the HomeSpot JY300 earbuds as well as the Jabra Enhance Pro 20 hearing aids. I installed the HomeSpot QK Connect app on my iPhone 15 Pro for the JY300s and the Jabra app for the Pro 20s.