Connecting Connectclip to PC

Hearing Aids
#31

I have a ConnectClip and OPN S 1 aids. All have the latest firmware as of a few months ago. At my last visit for adjustments, we ended up speaking to Oticon Technical support about why I had issues with an Apple iMac Pro (then with current software updates to macOS (10.15.X) and Bluetooth 5 and BLE) where the sound breaks up when streamed through the ConnetClip. The tech support person strongly suggested that the Sennheiser BTD 800 USB dongle provided with the ConnectClip be used with any PC (Mac or Windows) other than the MacBook Pro. Sure enough, using the dongle instead of the built-in bluetooth to connect with the ConnectClip got rid of the issues with sound streaming from the iMac Pro. It is not needed with my work MacBook Pro which has Bluetooth 4.2 and BLE) - go figure.

The Oticon rep also suggested that the firmware of the USB dongle be checked and updated if not current - that can be done in Windows using the Headset Pro software used to configure Sennheiser bluetooth headsets.

#32

I have the MacBook Air from 2017 and I use it with my connect clip all the time and I am just using the bluetooth that is in my MacBook and I am not having any issues. I do not remember my connect clip coming with a dongle .

#33

The dongle came in separate packaging from the ConnectClip. My ConnectClip was delivered soon after they finally became available in the US. The brown cardboard box was about 5x3.5x1 inch in size with Sennheiser markings.

It may be that all the Apple notebooks have appropriate support (both hardware and software) but the desktops like the iMac don’t. I wonder if the USB dongle supports profiles that the desktop Macs don’t. Profiles listed for the Sennheiser dongle include: HSP 1.2, HFP 1.7, A2DP 1.3, AVRCP 1.6. There are also statements about 25 m (device dependent) range and Narrowband or Wideband A2DP.

#34

I wonder if you got some kind of pre-released ConnectClip if you got it JUST right after it came out to the market like you said you did. The ConnectClip that I got doesn’t have any Sennheiser dongle included. I never have reliability issue in streaming when using my ConnectClip with my Windows 10 laptop or Samsung Note 8 phone. I don’t use Apple computers.

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#35

I have to agree I have not had any issues with connecting my connect clip to MacBook, or windows 10. The Only issue I have is sometimes connecting it to my Phone Connect 2 and I am hoping there is a update to my Phone Connect to take care of that issue.

#36

FWIW: For absolutely no reason I can figure out, after spending WAY too much time trying unsuccessfully to get the ConnectClip for my OPNs working on Windows 10, it started. I was at the point of ordering a Sennheiser dongle, and connected a set of bluetooth headphones for something. Then, just 'cause I saw the ConnectClip listed in the devices I tried connecting it one last time, and it worked.

Still windows 10, still the same bluetooth (4.0 I’ve been told), but it’s been working ever since… Is there any possibility that the most recent update from Microsoft did something to make it work or is it just dumb luck?

#37

There are just way too many factors with the Windows PC world that it’s just impossible to nail it down to one thing that’s a possible cause. Maybe there’s some item(s) in your registry that corrupted something and finally was cleared out or something.

On my Windows 10 PC, I was able to use Bluetooth and the ConnectClip and other BT devices just fine forever, then all of a sudden one day my BT devices stopped working. It turned out that something went wrong with my built-in BT functionality on my PC. So I had to buy an external BT dongle and got it to work with my BT devices again. But then all of a sudden, that made the built-in BT to work again for some reason, so I no longer needed the external BT dongle that I bought. I could never figure out why, but I just counted my blessing that it worked again and I moved on.

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#38

The BTD has drivers for everything, where a PC or Apple is hit or miss on drivers. Another advantage of using the BTD is that you are paired to it, so you can move it to another computer easily.

#39

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

As for Volusiano’s question, I have no idea if my ConnectClip is pre-release or non-standard. It is identified as a “ConnecClip 1.1” by the Apple system information app. If I run the firmware option in Genie II (2019.2) under Windows 10 on my iMac (using Bootcamp), it lists the firmware version as 1.13.0 and “Up to date”. The serial number is: 3183430 (reported by Genie and also by the Apple app).

The Oticon rep I spoke to asked specifically if I was using the Sennheiser dongle that was provided with the ConnectClip. I had not been using it - using it got rid of the problem with my iMac.

I agree that OS and driver updates can cause or fix issues. On my work MacBook Pro I sometimes run Windows to allow connection to lab equipment that has only Windows drivers. A windows update made the Apple bluetooth mouse I typically use unavailable. It was paired and connected according to Windows 10 but it did not work. I finally was able to recover use of it many months later by turning off the option to allow the computer to turn off the bluetooth radio to save power (I had not checked that box myself so I assume an update did as the mouse stopped working immediately after an update). That kind of issue might also affect other bluetooth devices/functions …

#40

So I’ve paired my connectclip with my brand new Win10 computer, listened to some music, had a good phone call on Skype for Business (yes it used the mic from the connectclip), but when I come back hours later - say I took a break for lunch away from my computer. When I come back I pull up the bluetooth devices and click connect it says it can’t connect to the connectclip. So then I delete the device, pair the connect and it works again. The frustrating thing is why doesn’t it just reconnect, I have to do this everyday several times a day.

#41

I having had the issue with the Macbook, my guess is that it has something to do with the device drivers that Windows 10 uses.

#42

Does it connect to your phone when you leave the computer?

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#43

Good question. I’m not 100% sure, I haven’t quite figured out if it is the hearing aid that is connected to the phone or the connect clip. I’ll try it out tomorrow.

#44

Zenrook,

Have you paired your ConnectClip with anything other than your Win 10 computer?

In my case at work, my ConnectClip has been paired with both my MacBook Pro and with a Cisco 8851 VOIP phone (it will connect to bluetooth headsets). The phone sees the ConnectClip as a headset and will connect to it if the ConnectClip is not connected to another device (like the MacBook). I can’t predict which will connect when I power on the ConnectClip but I can disconnect from either the phone or computer using menu items on the phone/computer without unpairing. I can then ask either the phone or computer (again using a menu item) to connect and it happens reliably.

At home, I only have a computer (iMac) that has a BTD 800 plugged into it into and the ConnectClip connects to that when it powers up. If my iPhone is paired with it and nearby, the ConnectClip may connect to the iPhone instead of the computer. I don’t normally have the iPhone or the computer bluetooth paired with the clip; only the BTD 800 (along with the work computer and phone).

On page 37 of my copy of the Instructions for use, the paragraph on the page says one connection at a time. “When paired with several devices (up to eight), the ConnectClip will connect to the first phone available/in range.” I assume they really mean first device rather than phone.

I wonder if your clip is connecting to something else when you walk out of range of the computer? If not, then there may be some incompatibility between the computer bluetooth and the ConnectClip. That might be fixed by a driver update for the bluetooth in the computer. We have found (at work) that the manufacturer provided drivers for many hardware devices are, in many but not all cases, better than the generic Microsoft versions. However, I have zero experience using a ConnectClip with Windows 10.

In my case, Oticon Technical Support suggested that many desktop computers work more reliably with the ConnectClip when the BTD 800 is used rather than the computer bluetooth. I have no idea if that would be the case for your computer.

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#45

I use the ConnectClip with my Windows 10 laptop everyday, and usually they automatically reconnect with each other if I haven’t connected the ConnectClip to anything else (like my Samsung Note 8 phone) in between.

Even so, I never have to deleted the device (ConnectClip) on my laptop and re-pair it again with the laptop to get them working together again. If they don’t automatically reconnect (due to my using it with the Note 8), I only have to make sure I turn off Bluetooth from the Note 8, then just re-“connect” the ConnectClip to the laptop again. No delete/forget and re-pair between them.

The only thing I can think of in your situation is that either your ConnectClip started connecting automatically with something else other than your computer in between the break. Or maybe the computer starts connecting automatically with another Bluetooth device automatically somehow in between the break. But if you don’t use your Connectclip with anything else but your computer, and vice-versa, your computer is not paired with any other Bluetooth devices, then maybe it’s a driver compatibility issue with the Bluetooth on your computer.

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#46

Ok, thanks for your help. So as an experiment I turned off the bluetooth on my cellphone and then opened the bluetooth settings window, clicked connect for the ConnectClip and it worked this time. I didn’t have to go through the pairing process.

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#47

I don’t have nearly the expertise the folks in here do, but I was unable to pair my ConnectClip with my desktop computer. After some discussion I was told it likely wouldn’t pair because the desktop is Bluetooth 4.0 (or something less than 4.2) and I’d need a bluetooth dongle.
For absolutely no reason I can figure, a week or so later, prior to ordering the dongle, I tried again and the CC paired fine. It’s been working for the last 6 months.
I have no idea why it didn’t work OR why it started working, but since it’s almost ALWAYS operator error (if it can be done wrong, I’ll do it wrong), I figure I just got lucky.
Unfortunately, one of these days I need to blow everything away and install a clean copy of Windows 10, after which it may work perfectly OR never work again!

#48

Hi , is there any other cheap bluethooth usb product with similar parameters as sennheiser btd 800 usb dongle imclude: A2DP 1.2, HSP 1.2, HFP 1.6 ??
Since this Sennheiser BTD 800 is too expensive it costs around $60. Because if I need 2 usb BTD 800 for a private and business laptop the cost high 2 x 60$ = 120 $.

#49

Do you really need the dongle? Have you tried the laptops with just their Bluetooth adapters that should be built in. I have a MacBook and my wife has a Dell laptop that are a number of years old and my connect clip works great with both. And I don’t have the dongle.

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#50

Just buy a cheap usb dongle with BT4.0 or 4.1 on Aliexpress. No need the Senheiser’s gadget really…

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