GREAT NEWS!!! I had my app’t with audi today, and she added a “Mute” function to my aids in the NoahLink sw. I can now mute my aids OR turn them completely OFF.
The benefit of the mute is that I can switch the audio in my aids to come from the Roger ON iN mic - and not have the background noise compete with my Phonak mics. YEGODS what an improvement. Now I need to test this further with the TV tonight and then in a noisy restaurant.
I’m SO glad for the many folks here who encouraged me to get the MUTE. Now it is a MOOT point! I can enjoy the benefits of better directionality and clarity without all the ambient noise.
Thanks to you, CombatWombat, raylock1 and no doubt handfuls more over the many months that I’ve struggled to get any value out of the Roger ON iN where I need to use it most: in noisy places, LOL.
For good measure, I downloaded the myRoger app while at the audi’s. Ack, it’s a bit of a turkey! I need to mute my aids with a 1.5-sec press on the DOWN volume button of either aid. (To turn my aids OFF, I still have to press that down volume button of BOTH aids a good 3 sec or more.)
So the phone lets me go from directional to tabletop to presenter. I can do that with my Roger stick! I suppose I could fiddle around with the directionality of my device?
LOL! I did that tonight! Pretty cool! I first put a laptop on my lap and the Roger on a small table nearby. Had it in “Tabletop” mode and cut those pie pieces away as I streamed SNL. Next was to put the mic on a credenza in same mode under the TV’s speaker. Dialed away on the pie and could hear hubs sitting next to me.
Also tested that even tho I’ve got my Phonaks in mute, I can still hear others in the room A-OK if Roger is in tabletop OR pointer, cuz it cuts the audio from my aids and uses just the Roger mic to pick up sound.
Now I have to get out to a NOISY restaurant and try it out there. The myRoger app doesn’t do a whole lot more than make the tabletop mode directional - no volume slider on that app. I was reading the FAQs that come with the app and it says that the default volume is SET on the Roger by the audi - it picks the “optimum” volume given my parameters. So if I really want sound louder or softer, I’d have to return to the audi to have her make an adjustment.
(Or buy the NoahLink software and learn how to do all this myself.)
Despite my newfound success with the Roger ON iN paired + connected to my Phonak Lumity Life aids, I go in next week to pick up Oticon Intent aids and see how THAT kind of “universe” compares in terms of sound quality, hearing in LOUD places, the so-called open paradigm hearing experience and whatnot. Will definitely post my results and impressions.
Good for you, 1bluejay! Like White hat, i like to mute people when i need too!
Also, if i can position myself with my back to the noise, Roger pointed ahead of me, i will take out the 2 back pie slices, and hear everyone at my table! Works best if the table is against the wall and I’m at the end of the table with my back to the noise.
That is kinda what I did tonight! I had my aids in Tabletop mode and removed the slices of pie till it had just ONE slice - the one closest to my hubs across the table, LOL!
OK. So test 1 tonight was at an outdoor noodle bar. Not very busy at “senior hours” of 6pm. Even so, they had music blaring from a speaker right over our table, and the outdoor seating is not far from a busy street.
First I tried Pointer mode. It did OKAY. Not fab, but hey! I then tried Tabletop, then removed slices of pie till I only had a single one left - the one closest to hubs sitting across the table from me. This did even better than Pointer. In fact, I created a custom program right there, calling it “Tabletop Focus” so I can use it in future.
I like the simplicity of the myRoger app. It’s pretty much a no-brainer. Had a disastrous experience moments ago downloading myPhonak - dang thing only paired + connected to ONE aid. Shades of the old Phonak Audeo B-Direct, which streamed to only ONE aid.
I’ll post again after I try this Roger at a busier place with INSIDE dining. But so far, I’m greatly appreciating the MUTE function that enable before turning the Roger on. It seems to take down the ambient noise noticeably. Do you have a mute function?
When I’m in this situation I wedge the mic on something in the table and lock it in pointer if it doesn’t do that automatically. Maybe it is close or the same thing but I like it better.
Agreed. Phonak’s price for Roger On mic is about $1800 and Phonak prevents any competition. In my case, the Roger On mic makes my HA’s about 50% more effective so my need is desperate enough to suffer the price gouging.
A reminder to all Roger On users (from the phonak website):
“MultiBeam 2.0 technology enable the user to hear from what direction someone is talking when they place the Roger On in the center of a table. For best results, make sure the USB port of Roger On is facing you when placed on the table. To use MultiBeam 2.0 Technology the user must have a pair of hearing aids with Roger Direct and the myRogerMic app. In the app under ‘settings’ you can then enable MultiBeam 2.0 Technology. MultiBeam 2.0 will then be activated when you lock your Roger On in table mode.”
NOTE the final sentence. So, the directional capability will only work in locked table mode and not in auto mode. I assume that’s what it means anyway.
Wrongly, I haven’t read all the replies in this thread yet so others may have answered your question more usefully than I have. In my experience: NO the Roger mic is not directional in an audio engineering sense. Pointing (which requires directionality) is Roger’s worst mode, working at short distances only and not effective in isolating background noise / speech babble. The only answer to moderately long range pointing use currently, I feel, is a shotgun mic. I am experimenting with various such mikes: using the Roger simply as an interface between the (analog) output of the mic and the Roger’s FM transmitter and thus to the HAs.
As an aside, for non-directional work, I’m using the Hollyland Lark M2 microphone, with the Roger simply as an interface to the HAs. This low cost system (£169 on Amazon) offers amazing quality and value. It provides TWO tiny badge-like lapel mics and three receiver options. The two mikes can be used in parallel if required. They can be used up to 100-metres from the Roger – ideal if you ask a presenter, tour guide etc, talking at a long distance from you, to wear a ‘badge’. Bluetooth wireless performance and sound quality is exceptional. The only Hollyland receiver option of the three provided, that is applicable to Roger, is its analog one. This receiver plugs into the Roger via its 3.5mm jack plug, setting the Roger to streaming mode, bypassing its mics.
As another aside, I feel Phonak’s pricing and licensing for Roger products is a rip-off. As a result, for those without a Roger ON and wanting an external mic I suggest (as others have said) that you consider buying a used Roger on eBay and use it simply as an interface with the Hollyland mics: you will be amazed. However, be aware of the licensing issue covered by others on this forum. Anyone have a workaround to avoid the licensing cost?
As yet no way to get free licenses,but a friend could give you one set of his ten available to his On In.
My wife has a whisper voice, would the M2 pick it up?
For one thing the Roger devices are very expensive.
Depending on the brand of your hearing aid, you should be able to buy an external mic made for your HAs that costs a lot less than a Roger and is helpful for many situations. A big hall with everyone talking is challenging to most devices, but a simple external mic (I have ReSound/Jabras and rely on MultiMic) can be a huge help when you are talking to one person, or several at a time. In a lecture situation, you can place the mic near the speaker and return to your seat, and pick up the lecture minus all the reverberations.
Late to this thread, but I’m trying Phonak Spheres now, and was wondering if a Roger On might be worth a try. I had the Resound Multi-Mic and Widex Sound Assist with previous aids but had the same result as you describe here in noisy places and never really used them as a result.
I find that I use the Roger On far less often now that I have the spears. That said, I have listed a used Roger ( with a display issue) in the classifieds for $75 and have offered to let a buyer try it before making any payment. If you have any interest in trying the Roger before making a larger commitment, check the classifieds or send me a message.
Thanks Ray, I’ll keep it in mind. Still deciding if I’ll keep the Spheres (probably will tho). Curious what type of dome you use? I use vented now but I tried the Sphere feature also with power domes and they worked better.
