Where I live we put all batteries out for trash pickup in a ziplock baggie and they are taken separate from the trash and recycled. Also even if the batteries ended up in the landfill they no longer have mercury in them and the zinc came from the ground anyway.
Yep, I was serious about the little HA batteries, I do understand these have no mercury. I had taken to saving all my exhausted batteries including alkaline and had a 2 pound coffee can full of them when I checked with the township recycle program. They said just throw those batteries in the trash, guess they are pretty clean. They still wan to recycle rechargeables: lead acid, nicad, halide and lithium Ion… others? Seems maybe not the Zinc Air, I’ll just pitch them in the kitchen trash, only a oz or two per week anyway.
I still love my new Signature 5 HAs, I think my brain is starting to adjust to hearing high frequencies again, I find HF sounds I now hear less disturbing.
I found rechargeable 312 HA batteries on Amazon, but unfortunately between the cost of the batteries and the charger it’s much more expensive than the zinc batteries.
I’m continuing to adjust to the Sig 5s as well. Now I miss them if I don’t put them on right away 
FYI I saw the Costco fitter yesterday for my second follow up. I asked him about using a dryer, and he said given our location (southern California) and the fact that the HAs are “nano coated” a dryer is not necessary. I also asked him about the bluetooth phone clip and I was surprised that he didn’t recommend it. He says his other clients report that it tends to lose connection with the phone when people turn their heads. I’d be interested to hear what people who have clips have to say about this. I have a bluetooth hands-free system built in to my car stereo which works OK, but I was thinking having the sound go directly to the HAs would be better…?
The phone clip + works better than the phone clip, and doesn’t lose connection when you turn your head as much as the phone clip.
With regard to the dryer, the fitter is ignoring the fact that we perspire, and the receiver is stuck in a dark, moist area all day. A dryer with a UV light will keep bacteria in check, and dry the wax on the domes, making it easier to keep clean and in top operating condition.
The phone clip+ does not lose connections. It is much better than the original phone clip. I use it every day. Phone calls going directly to the hearing aids are much easier to hear. I have mine set to mute the mics completely on a phone call, so on a phone call all I hear is the caller.
I am headed in Monday to Costco I really want to get the Kirkland 5’s but not sure If the blue tooth phone clip is also needed. My Blackberry has Bluetooth and just wondering is the “clip” part of the remote or do you need to carry both with you? Or does the Bluetooth go directly to the HA’s?
How much more does the Bluetooth to phone clip cost?
Been using some Sieman’s eBay HA’s for about 2 years and I think its time to move on.
Thanks for reading.
The Phone Clip+ is a separate unit from the Remote Control 2, but it can be used as a basic remote control in addition to the Bluetooth streaming. The cost is $210 at Costco.
You need the phone clip+ for hands-free bluetooth phone use or bluetooth streaming. The hearing aids themselves do not provide an actual bluetooth connection. It is a small device that also serves as a remote. I wear mine around my neck on a lanyard, under my shirt but you can also clip it somewhere on your person if you prefer. You don’t need the remote if you get the Phone Clip+.
The phone clip+ talks to your phone, and then transmits the incoming phone signal to the hearing aids. The phone clip+ has the microphone for the outgoing side of the phone call. It is not perfect but it is very usable and I use mine every day.
So basically it is a remote and phone clip at the same time. I can’t see using the microphone in the clip, but assuming I can use the phone as is but I would be hearing through both hearing aids and speaking into the phone mike, is that correct?
Is it programmable by the user or just a couple of buttons to press? The way it is now with these hearing aids to really hear on the phone I have to remove one and put the phone up to my ear or use the speaker phone.
OK Did a search and found the info on the Resound website, but I guess the Big question… is it worth it?
No, you have to speak into the Phone Clip+ in order for the other party to hear you. It’s similar to using a Bluetooth headset.
It is worth it to me. I would not want to be without it. As a remote it changes the program you are on and raises or lowers the volume. It has a volume control on the side so if I’m talking to someone and they are a low talker I can press the volume up button on the side, through my shirt, and almost instantly raise the volume.
On a phone call, as Rasmus said, both sides of the call go through the Phone Clip+. The actual phone can stay in your pocket. You can answer and end the call on the Phone Clip+ (using the main button on the Phone Clip+), just like a Bluetooth headset.
I have mine setup to mute the hearing aid mics when I’m on a call, so I hear very little environmental sounds when on a call. I just hear the caller loud and clear in both hearing aids.
It sounds like something I want to have. Thank you all for the postings.