Hi there
I generally get on just fine with my ComPilot but the people who call me just hate it! It seems the mike on the device is picking up too much background noise - it seems to be omni directional as opposed to just focussing in the direction of my voice…
I have checked the manual and there doesn’t seem a way to disable the omnidirectional mike…
Anyone else have this problem?
Cheers
I’ve just started using the ComPilot and yes the mike is very omni-directional. It is also pretty sensitive. I was just acussed of eating potato chips on a conference call. The noice was the rustle between my ComPilot and my shirt.
At the rate I am going I will be giving back the Compilot and going back to my BT headset unless something can be done.
I question to the more experienced members. Is there another BT device that will interface with my HA’s and phone?
Thanks everyone!
I’m seeing my audi about this issue tomorrow - I’ll let you know how I get on.
In the meantime, one answer is to use the external lapel microphone (Phonak MC1) - I expect that this isn’t omni-directional.
I think its crazy that the ComPilot has an omni microphone! No caller ever wants to hear background noise do they?
My phone and use of it is absolutely essential to my job so I need a 100% solution that works…
I have the same issue, and have ordered a lapel mic off the internet…can’t seem to find the Phonak one available anywhere???
My brother-in-law is a videographer and has suggestions for mics, but they are all high end and expensive. The one I have coming is reasonable and supposedlly good quality. I’ll let ya know.
ba
Thanks Sytamra! Please keep us posted on the outcome.
My audi had spoken to Phonak when I went to see her today and was informed that the ComPilot (believe it or not) actually has a directional, not an omni-directional microphone. I am not so sure about this as my callers frequently complain about background chatter from my colleagues which is being picked up by the mike.
Phonak suggested either using a neckloop with a shorter lead (!) or using the lapel mike.
Of the two, I’m hoping the lapel mike will provide a permanent solution…
I’m new to HAs and will need bluetooth capabilities for work. Phonak is one of the brands I’m considering.
When you say lapel mic - do you mean that you still use the Compilot bluetooth but then plug the mic into it so it doesn’t sound so bad to others? Or do you mean that the bluetooth is at fault enough that you are using it at all?
And since we are on the subject, is there anyway to get the ComPilot to work without hanging it around your neck? I’m not looking forward to that idea considering I have to be dressed business professional and a bump under my shirt doesn’t quite look the same on a woman than a man… laughs
Thank you!
I now have the lapel mic and things are apparently better for my callers 
I will continue to give it a test next week and update if the situation changes, but so far, so good.
Cookie Crumbles - the lapel mic is an optional accessory designed for people who want to keep the neckloop under their clothing but still want to be able to send/receive calls (or use BT). The reason I was recommended the lapel mic was because my callers complained that the standard mike on the ComPilot picked up too much of my surround background noise.
For your other question, you have to wear the ComPilot round your neck to use it. If you do not have the neckloop on, then you can use it as a remote for changing programs and adjusting volume.
Its a downside for sure, as no one likes things hanging around their neck but I’ve been prepared to overlook it as the sound quality and performance (for me) is worth it.
I received the lapel mic from Micronic and it has improved the sound quality to the person on the other end to the “sounds like your natural voice” level, but some say there is a bit of “electrical interferrence” type noise, but that it does not in any way compromise the conversation. These comments were from persons I asked specifically “How does this call sound to you?” The mic is $15 and maybe a better one would be worth investing in, but in general, I’m VERY happy with the outcome.
Cookie Crumbles: Don’t try to hide your disability. The ComPilot will never compliment fine clothing or jewelry, but if you had a prosthetic arm or leg you would still do your job as normal. I don’t have BT at work yet, so I have to sometimes appologise for not getting everything out of a phone conversation but when I tell them I have a hearing disability people gladly slow down and enunciate better.
I no longer feel self concious. For that matter, I had a severe hip injury in 1995, and a bad injury to the lower leg on the same side last year. I walk a bit funny. Topping it all off, I’m Polish!!! Ha!
Confront your problems, defeat them, and enjoy life!
ba
I should have mentioned that when ever I say a word starting in “s” I get a whistle on my end. I’m sure that can be adjusted out, and the person on the other end does not hear it.
ba
Well, you would say that but I couldn’t possibly comment…
frankly I don’t understand how they could make evidently very good aids and do such a poor design of the Compilot. particularly when Siemens put the whole deal in the miniTek which is about 2" x 1.5" x .25" and no neck loop.
My problem with the ComPilot is the echo effect. As long as nobody is in the room listening to the same program and has to have the speakers turned on, I am fine. But when the speakers are turned on, there is a lag between what comes out of the speakers and what I hear in my HA’s via the ComPilot. It is only microseconds difference, but enough to make the program unlistenable.
That’s not a compilot issue, that’s a bluetooth issue. BUT, If you have your audi turn down the HA mics while streaming, the problem will improve dramatically.
ba
Does anyone know if there is a way to modulate the mic volumes on the ComPilot?
It doesn’t appear that the internal ComPilot microphone can be adjusted/regulated/modulated, and as several other posts point out, it is hyper-sensitive. Unless you are in a very calm, quiet environment, the feedback and distortion for the other party on the phone is unacceptable.
Please elaborate on the alternatives such as the Phonak lapel microphone.
Any information about alternatives will be welcome. Thanks
Thanks sytamra!
I’ve had the compilot for 2 weeks. That thing is great for conference calls and goto meetings! Admittedly I haven’t tried it for them to hear my voice yet, just for me to hear everyone else’s. I think that’s tomorrow’s project.
And yeah, you are right - confronting problems and enjoying life is a big WIN for all of us. 
I decided I wasn’t going to hide behind such a common and bought bright blue hearing aids. The fun part to me is that instead of the hearing aids alienating me from my co-workers they have actually brought us all closer together. I work in a small space with a bunch of 20 somethings and they are typically the ones that ask me about the technology and the cool features. In fact, when someone who doesn’t know about this journey walks in my co-workers usually say “Look at Cookie’s hearing aids… aren’t they great? You can’t even see them.” I don’t believe “discretion” is part of their vocabulary. laughs
I just did a bit of an experiment. I wrapped a strip of acoustically transparent foam plastic around the ComPilot where the mic is and it seems to have a slight dampening effect on the sound at the other end. The problem is that you really have to pick up the ComPilot and keep it still while speaking directly at the mic (but not too close) and not let it bump around and rub against your clothing. I also found that the ComPilot seems to work better with a Panasonic ‘Link2Cell’ equipped landline phone than with a Cell phone. I don’t know why this is so, since it is intended to be used primarily with a Cell phone, but there it is. But the person at the other end says my voice sounds more natural with the landline phone using ComPilot than with my Cell Phone (Doro)
I recently took this issue of the poor mic quality on the ComPilot to my audi, who promptly got on the phone with tech support. The tech rep acknowledged that the extreme sensitivity of the background noise was something they had heard a lot about, and the issue was now in the hands of the engineers. She pointed out that the MC1 lapel microphone was their suggested solution until either a software update or a ComPilot microphone redesign came out.
I purchased the MC1, and have been using it now for 2 weeks - with great success. The people on the other end of the phone line have not noticed any deterioration in call quality from holding the phone in my hand - and indicated that it sounded like I was in the room speaking personally with them. I recommend obtaining the MC1 lapel mic (or something similar) to anyone who needs to use their bluetooth devices for work or professional conversations.
Let’s hope that the ComPilot microphone issues can be corrected with a software update.