Hi,
I just had a customer reference this thread. I wrote a detailed response that may be of help. I sell (on secondary/used/international markets) and have experience with most Phonak products. That includes ComPilot, ComPilot II, ComPilot Air II, ICube, ICUBE II, ICOM etc. - Basically all other Phonak and some Unitron.
device(s). Here is the thread I reference with the customer’s question first (names and company removed to avoid promotional use here - write me direct with questions):
Xxxxxx, Thanks for your reply
The only differences i can find between the compilot II and air II remotes is the air’s smaller size and lack of lanyard but i found no differences in functionality. Is this correct? I also found a fair amount of forum postings ( http://www.hearingaidforums.com/showthread.php?18092-ComPilot-II-vs-ComPilot-Air-II-What-are-your-experiences/page2 ) that complain about the relatively poor connectivity of the Air due to it’s internal antenna (vs lanyard antenna). Is this something you’ve experienced? Is the lanyard able to be completely disconnected for use as a standalone volume and program remote? Also, are the other streamer components (cell, tv, etc.) compatible between the compilot and the compilot air? Do you have the pilot one II, compilot II and air II in your inventory for purchase? thanks, xxx
Compilot II Air System vs. Neck Loop Based Systems
Hi,
Sounds like you are a bit technical so I’ll give you the scoop. The neck loop devices: ComPilot/ComPilot II/ICube/ICOM/ICUBE II - and basically any other Phonak, Unitron or similar device(s) work on the principal of an air-core transformer. We’ll call it “T1”, a typical designation for the “first transformer” in a device. The neck loop is a 1/2 primary of T1. The ComPilot or such device induces a relatively high current in the neck loop that in turn creates a magnetic field, truly a transformer. Although most transformers use an iron core, there are also “Air Core” transformers that are less efficient but exactly what is need in this application - hearing aids. Inside the aid(s) is the secondary of our transformer. Often in older aids this was also the telecoil. Any external magnetic field in proximity of the hearing aid induces a current in the secondary of our transformer, T1 inside the aid. The secondary is physically very small, but has many turns in order to pick up sufficient signal to be amplified by the HA, just like audio from the HA’s mics is amplified and reproduced in the ear as acoustic sound. The ComPilot Air II uses a completely different system. (Also other aids like Resound Linx –sharing the same problems.) The Air II and the aids use an RF (Radio Frequency) transmitter/receiver in the 2.4 GHz band. This is the same band as microwave ovens, routers, Bluetooth device etc. (Check the FCC ID Plates). See: Bluetooth - Wikipedia The 2.4 GHz band is basically an open band and the basic usage rules are that the device must not cause, but must tolerate any interference from other devices this “share” band! The real issue at hand: Hearing aid battery consumption and life. In these systems, hearing aid battery capacity and life is the major concern. Reliable RF links simply require more current and capacity (amp-hours & max current draw) than the hearing aid batteries (low current Zinc-Air) can provide. The ComPilot Air II and “V” aids utilize an ultra-low power 2.4 GHz proprietary RF communication system between them. This is the source of the problems you read about. Any local device(s) in that same shared band will often clobber the ComPilot Air II & V Series aids system! Note the range spec on the Air II is a few inches and most Bluetooth devices spec a range between 10 meters to 100 meters – 32 to 320 feet! These types of devices use Frequency Modulation (FM) and a “squelch” system so the user only senses a loss of signal or dropout when it gets clobbered by grandma’s microwave of that F16 30 miles out using high-power radar. So, as Forrest Gump would say “And that’s all I have to say about that” (unless you have questions and I’m happy to answer). – Xxxxxxxd /Xxxxxxxx.org