Issues with (Costco) Phonak Brio 2 / What other HA should I try?

If I wanted to hold my phone to talk, I would not have used the term “hands free”, which employs the plural, meaning both hands.

At this time there is not anything else that can do what you want.

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Thanks for explaining plural; I’ll write that down. :slight_smile:

MFi cannot provide a different microphone. Accessories can. Both Oticon and Resound have modern and fairly unobtrusive clipon units that work with all phones and have their own mic. Also resound has a mic only unit that is useful for handsfree and also noisy situations or lecture halls. That and only that will provide the second mic input.

However, I have at times used my MFi phone handsfree. I put it in my shirt pocket with the phone mic at the top. It work fine for infrequent use. No complaints from the caller.

@AdamsHouseCat and @KenP: Well that’s news to me. And here I thought these new-fangled mePhones were all clever and able to do everything plus make toast.
But seriously…I had assumed the HA was the mic to transmit to the phone with those mfi thingys.

I’m going to try the Costco Ks7, which also uses a streamer, but does not require it for things like volume & program control. That’s what I hate most. I don’t usually wear shirts with pockets, as it’s mostly a men’s Clothing thing, and would also be useless in winter. Glad it works for you. I guess I’m just spoiled by years of great pre-HA Bluetooth service from Motorola. Not enjoying the aging thing so much (already have IOL’s), but at least I haven’t had to replace any joints yet.

I seem to think that there are very few HA’s that have no switches/buttons. Indeed the KS7 can be programmed to control both sides. I have the right set to volume and press/hold for program change. And the left for “tone”. I have the smartphone program for it but actually rarely use it. I don’t have the factory neckloop. I have an aftermarket one that uses the telecoil.
I’m not sure anybody enjoys the aging thing :slight_smile:
What’s an IOL?

Please clarify what you mean here? I don’ know of any aids that require a streamer for volume and program control.

I’m pretty sure IOL is Intra Ocular Lens (like for cataract surgery) I don’t use my smartphone app much with my KS7s now either, although it was a fun toy initially.

I was astounded that a young’n’ in my office could hear the tone it made.
Thanks about IOL.

duplicate post…

I assume you’re talking about the tone the smart phone uses to communicate with the KS7. Yeah, it’s about 12khz. My hearing aid fitter could hear it clearly

Ken P was talking about putting his phone in his pocket, not the streamer.

The Phonak Brio 2, sold by Costco, requires that the Compilot streamer be turned on in order for a phone to communicate with the HA’s. So, no program or volume control without the extra gadget.

I looked at a picture of them on Costco’s site and I see buttons. I would be about certain that those buttons would be able to control volume and program choices.

KenP also mentioned clipon mic’s.

There’s no way I would regularly use a neck loop; I love my jewelry. Are you saying that the KS7’s have control buttons on the HA’s? Using an app on my phone would be second nature for me, so no problem there, though buttons on the HA’s sounds really smart. I’m generally disappointed in the level of tech available. It’s surprising that there is only one truly hands free device on the market, and it has not received rave reviews.

As someone already answered, IOL is Intra Ocular Lens, an artificial replacement for natural lenses clouded by cataracts. They fall short also, but I remember the 2” thick glasses that they replaced, and, yes, I also remember the huge & ugly vintage HA’s. We’ve come a long way & I’m grateful for it all, though it doesn’t keep me from nit picking.

I’m not sure there’s some confusion of what is being controlled and where.

The HA’s (most modern digital ones) have buttons that can control volume and programs on the HA’s.

A streamer is required for many HA’s to allow outside sources to “pipe” into the HA’s and perhaps also in addition to the HA’s themselves to control programs and volume. These sources could be a phone, a music player, a tv etc. Most of these streamers offer wireless connectivity to those devices that can output wirelessly.

Several HA’s can wirelessly connect directly to a device without a streamer ie. iphone and one HA to Android. I assume they would simply use the built-in volume control but not sure about programs. But then they would need to be “connected” to be useful.

And another thing is app control from a smartphone. These can also control volume and program choices.

I’ve made several edits. This is 13:19PST

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Well, there are hearing aids that have a mic hung on them in a wire extension. It is a large CIC model. Know next to nothing about them.

https://www.resoundpro.com/~/media/REFRESH/US/LINX2/MIH.ashx?h=252&w=200&la=en-US

6934ca706e439a3ddaa2-

You are trying to make decisions based on an incomplete understanding of what the various models of hearing aids will and will not do.

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Which is why I have asked questions.

Given that the Phonak B70 (edit Direct B70) is the only aid with hands free calling, and that none of the Costco aids have tinnitus feature…

If you stay with Costco, then KS7, Zerena, and Forte all will control the aids either with an ap, (all 3) or even from the iPhone lock screen (Zerena & Forte). Not sure if Zerena includes both volume and program change directly from aids, but I know the others do.

K7 ap can connect by Bluetooth via the necklace when it is worn. When necklace not worn, it changes volume and programming by sending (semi) inaudible tones to the aids ( one way tones -there is not a connection). the Zerena and Forte connect via Apple’s MFI Bluetooth protocol.

You mention you are wedded to your iPhone so I am surprised MFI was not a consideration that Costco would have mentioned initially. There is additional “free” functionality present there if you have interest.