For Oticon OPN 1, Fitting Link 3 or NoahLink?

Volusiano · July 22, 2020, 5:04pm

Here’s a link that discussed the differences between NoahLINK versus FittingLINK

I don’t have the NoahLink, I have the FittingLink, and the HiPro as well as the miniPro. Here’s a summary of the 4:

HiPro is the original wired interface device. You need to buy a set of compatible cable to connect between the HiPro and your hearing aids. The HiPro also has a connector that you plug into the USB port of your PC for connection to the PC. Firmware upgrade to the hearing aids (not to be confused with firmware upgrade to the HiPro itself) usually requires a wired connection to the hearing aids (to lower the risk of bricking your hearing aids due to a loss in power), so the wired connection of the HiPro is designed to support firmware upgrades with the hearing aids just fine.
The miniPro is the “unofficial” clone of the HiPro, and is usually more popular than the HiPro amongst users simply because it’s cheaper than the HiPro (the professional HCP usually use the HiPro while at-home users go for the miniPro for lower price). The miniPro has wired connections to the hearing aids (must be purchased separately depending on your hearing aids’ brand and model) and USB connection to the PC just like the HiPro. Therefore it can support firmware upgrades to the hearing aids just the same as the HiPro.
FittingLink is the wireless version of the interface sold by Oticon for Oticon hearing aids. I don’t really know if it will work for other brands of hearing aids or not. It has a USB dongle that is connected to the PC, but it has no wired connection to the hearing aids, and it communicates wirelessly between the hearing aids and the USB dongle. There is also a desk stand that can be connected to the PC and the USB dongle is inserted into the desk stand. It’s simply to get the USB dongle to be more within range with the hearing aids, because the HCP may sit behind a desk in front of the client and the USB dongle, if plugged directly in front of the client, is out of range from the hearing aids if the client is wearing the aids on themselves. Because of its wireless nature, it cannot be used for firmware upgrades to the hearing aids. It can only be used for programming. It’s popular because you don’t need the cumbersome connection to the hearing aids, so programming is more effortless.
The NoahLink is also a wireless interface. I don’t have it so my understanding of it is more limited. But I think it’s a Bluetooth device so there’s no USB dongle like the FittingLink has. It simply connects wirelessly to the PC via Bluetooth, and it also connects wirelessly to the hearing aids. One thing it is better than the FittingLink is that it is more universal and is compatible with a wide array of hearing aid brands, as opposed to the FittingLink which is an Oticon device and therefore may only support the Oticon brand hearing aids onlly. Like the FittingLink, the NoahLink cannot be used for firmware upgrades of the hearing aids because there’s no wired connection to the hearing aids. Like I said, I don’t own the NoahLink myself, so anything I say above about the NoahLink that’s not correct, please (anybody) feel free to correct me on.

If you want only 1 hardware interface that can do everything including firmware updates to the hearing aids, I’d recommend to go with the miniPro. That’s what most DIY’ers have. If you can afford a wireless solution on top of that then buy the NoahLink on top of it. Or just buy a NoahLink if you do have support of an audi who can do wired firmware upgrades to the hearing aids for you.

I got the FittingLink and the HiPro for free from an HCP in exchange for my help with some reviews, after I bought the miniPro for myself. Otherwise, if I had the money to spring for a wireless interface on top of the miniPro, I would have picked the NoahLink over the FittingLink because the NoahLink is more universally compatible with almost any brand of hearing aids while the FittingLink (I think) is only compatible with Oticon brand hearing aids.

Um_bongo · July 22, 2020, 5:19pm

Noah Link is Usb to Pc and wireless to all modern Hearing Aids with wireless capabilities.

In terms of what we use in-house, it’s 95% Noah link and 5% Hipro. Mainly for legacy devices and upgrades. If you’re home-brewing, the Noah link makes the most sense at the moment, especially as there’s no cables etc.

If you’re able to see an Audiologist from time to time, they’ll sort upgrades that don’t get done via the App.

Raudrive · July 22, 2020, 5:24pm

I like the way you put that.
Thanks

tim4 · July 22, 2020, 5:24pm

Is this true for Widex also?

tenkan · July 22, 2020, 5:42pm

No,they have ProLink.

Um_bongo · July 22, 2020, 5:43pm

Sorry, except Widex who do things their own and more expensive way.

happymach · July 22, 2020, 6:59pm

My experience with hardware suggests that discontinued equipment rarely receive firmware upgrades, so isn’t it unlikely that the OPN 1 will be updated beyond 6.1?

happymach · July 22, 2020, 7:00pm

I thought Widex already allowed user upgrades?

Volusiano · July 22, 2020, 7:07pm

You’re probably correct. I’ve had the 6.1 update for the OPN 1 probably over 2 years by now and it has not been updated any further since. But 6.1 also seems very stable, so that’s also probably why there’s no further need for update.

BUT, you never know. They also use firmware update to add new functionalities to the hearing aids. For example, Speech Rescue was not available initially and was added via a firmware update. If Oticon has any other new functionality up their sleeves for the original OPN (unlikely), a new firmware update would be the route that they deliver it.

tim4 · July 22, 2020, 7:50pm

That’s what I thought I understood, was hoping different though. I wanted to go ahead and get the hardware for OPN’s and moments if they used the same hardware. I will be choosing one if the two in a couple of months. Another like check mark on OPN’s side.

tenkan · July 22, 2020, 7:55pm

To what? The programming device or are you talking about something else.

Volusiano · July 22, 2020, 10:41pm

Maybe he’s talking about the Widex Remote Care?

happymach · August 5, 2020, 3:09am

No. The last time I tried Widex (the 440s?), I believe the user could upgrade the firmware of the hearing aids through the Widex app.

pvc · August 5, 2020, 6:22pm

Hearing Aid Apps, all of them, with the exception of remote fitting which requires professional assistance in preparing new fitting changes in advance, only do remote control type functions. Things like volume control, graphic equalizer sliders, directional changes, switch programs, select custom program functions.

Heavy duty tasks like firmware updates that might brick your hearing aids? No, no App does that. At least not one that I know about.

happymach · August 5, 2020, 6:34pm

Firmware updates for any device have the ability to “brick” it, but they’re usually applied by users (to computers, cameras, sprinkler timers, etc). My audiologist confirmed at the time that the firmware in the Widex hearing aids was user-updatable.

tenkan · August 5, 2020, 6:45pm

The resound App can also do firmware updates as well.
One member has confirmed he “bricked” his my using the App to update.

pvc · August 5, 2020, 8:25pm

Shut the front door! Well maybe bricking your hearing aids is not a big deal nowadays?? Phonak software has a factory reset. But what do you do with the others brands? Send them back to the factory?

tenkan · August 5, 2020, 9:08pm

Yep back to the manufacturer, it’s a real pain, so the lesson here would be, don’t use the App use the software and a HiPro.

menglxs · August 6, 2020, 1:47am

Widex Compass GPS has a serious bug where the connection between Compass GPS and Evoke hearing aid is suddenly broken when you upgrade the firmware, hearing aid still works and connects to Compass GPS, but it have lost bluetooth,.
I first encountered this bug last September, but the latest Compass GPS still hasn’t fixed it; someone lost their Bluetooth to Evoke AIDS two weeks ago; so far I know a few people who might have had an accident.

pvc · August 6, 2020, 2:18pm

Just to be clear; Sending bricked hearing aids back to the factory is not usually an option for DIYers.

If you bought your hearing aids from a professional audiologist, then yes, the professional audiologist can get them factory serviced for you.
If you bought hearing aids from EBay without knowing the ownership history then there is the possibility that Hearing aids reported lost or stolen may get confiscated. Even if you are able to learn about (from an audiologist) and avoid confiscation beforehand, you are still stuck with bricked hearing aids.
btw> Factory service is rather expensive and may exceed the cost of used hearing aids. So there’s that. Would the factory service fee be waived because it was their factory App that caused it? For a DIYer, I doubt it.