I have an Oticon Streamer Pro 1.3 (I think, it’s an early pro model) with firmware updated this past January, and Agil Pro BTE hearing aids. I use the streamer as my primary connection to my phone (currently an iPhone 5s). I have come to use and rely on this setup over the past few years.
For the past 6-8 months (with either a late version of iOS 8, or maybe just iOS 9 versions, I can’t be certain) I’ve been having problems with my streamer/phone setup. The phone usually does not respond to my streamer button presses (this used to be totally reliable). Calls often don’t ring in my hearing aids (but the phone thinks it is paired so won’t ring audibly) so I’m missing calls, sometimes minutes after having up from another call. The streamer disappears from the iPhone connection list during calls every so often, so it seems like the call is dropped, but in reality it’s switched to the phone mic and speaker—power the streamer off/on, and it reconnects and I can continue the call. I have at least one of these things happen to me every day.
I got a streamer firmware update in January in the hopes of addressing this problem, but it didn’t help.
I just talked to a friend with a similar setup to mine who is being frustrated by losing their streamer mid call. I’ve only found one reference to a similar problem on the web, at I phone 6 Oticon Streamer Pro 1.3 contect… - Apple Community, currently with no solution. With both my friend and I having these issues, I’d expect others would be having trouble as well.
So is anyone out there having this problem, or has heard anything about it, or has any details to contribute?
In the almost two months I’ve been wearing HAs I have had my Streamr Pro 1.3 losing the BT connection at random intervals. Just as randomly it reacquired the connection. The first time I was indoors in a very quiet place and could hear the caller faintly from the phone speaker otherwise I may have just thought it a dropped call. When I took it back to the audiologist she called Oticon support and it was suggested to replace the neck antenna loop. That made absolutely no difference. The iOS update is currently installing and hopefully it fixes the issue.
I am frequently amazed and baffled when calling my provider (AT&T) or Apple support lines. They usually both act like the issue I’m calling about is a new and unusual experience. Each one will suggest contacting the other since they have never heard about the issue until my call. I reply that I find it hard to believe that with multi-millions users and subscribers that it is unique to just me. It makes me feel like I’m dealing with a bunch of little kids and their only reply is, “I didn’t do it.”
Well, if it doesn’t, it is possible to regress to the one that worked. The other thing you can do is go to the reset and have it reset the network and delete the pairing. Reinitializing everything fresh could possibly avoid the problem.
I was outside working this morning, the first opportunity to use the Streamer after the iOS update. It lost the connection within the first few minutes of a call. I have a 6s so maybe the update wasn’t addressing this iPhone. For the record the Streamer is on the longer antenna around my neck and the iPhone on my belt, all within close proximity. I had removed the Bluetooth connection and re-established the pairing when I first noticed this happening. The Audiologist tech also re-paired it with my HAs. When it drops the connection the Oticon ConnectLine app on my phone is still aware of the Streamer Pro. I’m not sure I would have bought the Streamer for any other reason except the cellphone pairing. I really wonder if it is really only a few of us users having this issue. - George
You see this problem all the time and it always seems to involve only Apple products. Personally, I’ve always had issues with anything made by Apple and my Streamer. The only way I could get a reliable link is to use the patch cord that came with my Streamer, but then you are tethered to the phone all the time. I finally got a Samsung phone that works every time and doesn’t drop out.
Well I have another appointment setup with the audiologist this Thursday. Perhaps more will be revealed. I do believe that there is an issue with the iPhone though. I have a hands-free car radio that at times I can hear a caller but they are having a hard time hearing me. It generally works to hang up and call again. It seems as Apple has moved further away from the iPhone as a phone it has deteriorated in it’s Bluetooth abilities. Sadly I’ve become accustomed to having a micro-computer in the guise of a phone with me. I used to have a Samsung cell phone the company provided but then I ended up with two devices which was a pain. They now give me compensation for using my phone which meant one device. It’s only with the Streamer Pro that I find it a problem. - George
I’ve been following the Apple forum link xrogers posted in the first post. Some one responded with:
I called Oticon tech support and found out that this is a known issue. It has to do with Apple continually upgrading their iOS. When the Streamer was designed, it worked with the current iOS at the time, but as Apple has continually upgraded, the Streamer unfortunately hasn’t. They said they are working on it, but the workaround solution for now is to connect the stereo cable that came with the Streamer to the headphone jack of the iPhone. This should bypass the Bluetooth connection.They also said to make sure the Bluetooth is off on the phone. It’s a pain to do but definitely better than having the phone cut in and out during a conversation and missing a few sentences.
Since only a few people actually post to forums I also wonder about the scope of the issue. Since it’s been happening to me for a couple of months and has never worked correctly how long does it take fix the issue?
The latest/greatest Oticon OPN devices are due out soon. If I recall the iPhone connection is a major aspect of the new aids. It will be interesting to see how both Apple and Oticon work out connection issues as they arise.
So I went for a visit to the audiologist office today and spent some time with the tech there. She finally called Orticon and basically was told the same thing as the person from the Apple support forum. They are aware of the issue and have been working with Apple for a solution. She also said that clients using the Android platform where a recent update of the OS had been performed were also experiencing similar issues. One of the superintendents at work said his Android phone is having connection issues with his bluetooth hands free ear device as well as his bluetooth car hands free connection. I’m guessing there has been some anti-hacking/bluetooth security development changes. Hopefully a software/firmware update for the Streamer Pro is just around the corner. I still find it hard to believe that after two months (for me) and probably longer for others a solution hasn’t been developed. I suggested the reason more clients haven’t been complaining is many folks don’t update there cellular devices. I’m wondering if it’s just the 6s group of phones?
I updated my 5s with the latest firmware, and can confirm that it hasn’t fixed my problems. I’ve missed at least one call since (I was waiting for a call, didn’t hear a thing, and then looked at my phone and had a call three minutes ago), and had dropped connections (power off streamer, power back on, reconnects). So it’s at least 5s and up for the problem.
I’m happy that Oticon realizes there is a problem and are working on it, but also am disappointed—I’ve had this problem going on for about six months, and three months after it started my audi knew nothing about it. I think another part of the problem is that we go through an audiologist, adding delay and inconvenience in fixing it. I like my audi, but in this case, I’d prefer just dealing directly with the manufacturer.
I’ll give Oticon a call to let them know they have another affected customer.
xrogers I think what I’m bothered by as much as the Streamer not functioning correctly is a lack of notice from Oticon. If there is anything on their website about any kind of issue I can’t find it. I could have saved a lot of time knowing it was an issue and there was nothing I could do about it. There’s lots of content telling me how wonderful the Oticon world is though. When I look at the global website every country has a contact phone number except the USA, it only has an email address. It would also seem they do not let their dealers know of current problems unless they call them directly. I’d really like to be the proverbial squeaky wheel but I need a direction to squeak at.
The issue is not so much with the streamer pro as it is with the IOS bluetooth component of the IPhone. I have the streamer pro 1.3 with the IPhone 5S and I have the same issue at times. I have even tried it with the IPhone 6 and 6S and it seems even worse. I have managed to use it with android phones with out as much an issue. But was not able to use the Oticon connection app with it. My Iphone is on IOS 9.3.2 and the blue tooth is staying connected better than before, but it still seems to drop at times and also have times it will not connect with out being forced. I also use my streamer with the Oticon TV connect and the home Phone Connect with out any issues with connection dropping.
I have come to believe it is not the streamer but the Iphone that is the issue.
My only dislike of the streamer is that it does not stream in stereo.
Chuck I’m beginning to think the iPhone bluetooth connection has been problematic for a long time. It’s just that having it directly in the ear and then out makes it very noticeable. I’ve had issues with different car hands free device connections for years. There are three component devices, the aids, the streamer and the phone. All three of them are beyond my level of expertise to diagnose. I can only observe. Adding them together…?
I also can’t help but wonder about the number of different bluetooth device that I personally have in my environment let alone out in the world.
I agree with you about the number of different bluetooth devices that are in my environment. I have noticed that I will be listening to TV over the TV connect and I will go to check my email on my IPhone and it will interfere with the sound coming in over the TV connect streaming. But what is interesting is that I can turn off the bluetooth on my IPhone and it will still interfere with the streaming.
Now days everything has bluetooth, my step daughter has it with bluetooth headset on her smartphone and table, and there are time I thing it also interferes with my TV streaming. Also my wife will open here laptop and I will hear the interference for a short time. So yes that could also be a cause. I have read that the IPhones and IPads use a very low power version of the bluetooth. I can be as far as about 30 to 40 feet from my TV connect and still have good connection, but there are times that I can have my Iphone in my cargo pants pocket on my thigh and it will not connect correctly with my streamer around my neck. So I do feel it is the IPhones bluetooth that is the issue.
I have emailed Oticon about this issue, this is their reply
We appreciate how frustrating it is to have reduced use of your Streamer Pro. Developers at Oticon’s headquarters remain in contact with Apple. To our knowledge, there’s no target date for Apple to roll out a fix for the dropped-call issue. It continues to occur across Bluetooth headsets, including Streamer Pro.
The latest fix that Apple released was unrelated to the dropped calls. Colleagues confirm that it didn’t resolve that particular issue. As noted in the thread in your email, the issue started with recent Apple updates. We have heard that some patients have reverted to earlier iOS firmware. That allows them to stream calls from their iPhones. Otherwise, the wired solution we suggested in April may work for you until Apple rolls out the fix.
I’m having the same issue, and posted on the Apple forum. I have the most recent iOS update, 9.3.3 and still no fix. I’ve been using this Streamer Pro with Oticon Chili aids and iPhones since the 4s (I’m currently using a 6s). This is unacceptable. Of course, Oticon is like a black hole – consumers can’t complain except to your audiologist who can only relay the BS they’re getting from Oticon. I have a profound hearing loss and depend on this Streamer Pro. Apple has no fix either. I’ve been wearing Oticon aids for decades, but will reconsider when it’s time for new ones. No one seems to really give a damn that people are having this on-going issue.
I have a Motorola Droid Maxx 2 and am testing Oticon Sensei aids with the Streamer Pro. I have had the same problem with dropped calls. I also get other weird interference noises when bluetooth is on. I thought it was my unfamiliarity with the device, but now I’m thinking it is a manufacturer defect.
I found the Phonak ComPilot much more reliable and with better sound quality. But I hated the Phonak aids that I tested.
Same issue here. I have iphone 6S Plus. It all started after updating to IOS 9.3. it was working OK on 9.2.1 but unfortunately you cannot roll back to 9.2.1
Yesterday I tried IOS 10 Beta 2 and the issue was getting worse! Oticon should update the Streamer Pro firmware to support Apple’s new bluetooth stack. I doubt they will do it since they are now focusing on OPN.
Besides dropping bluetooth connection, anybody noticed that the phone wakes up randomly and sometimes volume level changes while streamer is paired with iphone?