iPFG is the software for the Core processor pre Spice processor which requires Target software. As yet the Target software set is not available as a Phonak download (to non professionals at any rate).
Regards,
TerryB
PS If you haven’t seen this section of Phonak’s website, check it out. It’s their training for pros, you get to see a bit of the software, overviews of the features, etc. etc.
http://www.phonakpro.com/com/b2b/en/elearning/products/phonak_target.html
I am considering the purchase of a pair of Phonak Naida IX SP BTE. I too am very interested in obtaining the Target Software for many of the same reasons that have been expressed here. I found a place on the Phonak Pro website to request the software. I sent in request and received the following reply from Phonak:
Thank you for your inquiry on the Phonak website.
Phonak Target fitting software is provided to hearing professionals for the express purpose of fitting Phonak hearing instruments. We do not distribute our fitting software outside of that channel, as Phonak remains committed to supporting the critical role that hearing professionals play in the successful delivery of services to the hearing-impaired.
If you are a hearing professional with a Phonak account, please provide me with that information and I would be happy to accommodate.
Regards,
Diane R. Hammel, Au.D., FAAA
Sr. Manager, Technical and Software Support
Phonak US
diane.hammel@phonak.com
1-800-777-7333 ext 5292
The Naida programs with Ipfg not target.
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I meant to write Naida S. Which does require Target.
None of the big manufacturers want to support end user software for economic reasons.
Their customer is the licensed professional and they will do everything legally possible to protect the profitability of those retailing their products.
If the mfg’s were to open distribution of their hardware and/or software it would seriously undermine the pro’s profit by introducing open market price competition. The professional has expenses to pay and would switch from unprotected brands to assured gross margin (profit) brands.
There will never be open price competition in the hearing aid industry as long as the governments classify aids as medical devices, thereby avoiding Restraint of Trade Laws.
$4,000 to over $6,000 per pair for top line aids which really are just minature audio amplifiers/sound conditioners quite similiar to Bluetooth in-the-ear devices sold at Radio Shack for under $ 150 each.
As I and others have said many times today’s technology would make it possible to mass retail aids to handle the majority of hard of hearing for a small fraction of today’s effective prices. Self fitting is possible for many HOH.
Though severe/Profound or complicated losses would still need skilled professional fitting. Just my personal opinion, Ed
Aint it something. Phonak upgraded the Naida line to the Spice Chip with little fanfare. I have been waiting for this info and you brought it forward. Sure enough its there on the Phonak website.
So Target can’t programme aids before Spice?
No, it’s only for the Spice (and Spice+) range. I still have to keep a copy of iPFG on my work machines in case someone comes in with an older aid…
Ed I don’t disagree with a lot of what you wrote, but the consequence would likely be a lack of service for people with profound or severe hearing loss. You cant both cut into audiologists revenue streams and also expect them to stay around. So if everyone with my type of hearing loss was able to bypass the audiologist, there probably wouldn’t be any audiologists for people who really really need a trained pro.
Having said that, Phonak openly and actively support self programming of back generation hearing aids. iPFG2.6 is freely available and this is not a mistake. Phonak wants everyone who wants it to have it. I cant post the link, but it is not hidden. They are doing that because they make money off of Core generation aids and self programmers.
That creates a very unwholesome relationship between audiologists and phonak in my mind. But who am I to judge. They make a great hearing aid. Really great.
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Phonak openly and actively support self programming of back generation hearing aids. iPFG2.6 is freely available and this is not a mistake. Phonak wants everyone who wants it to have it. I cant post the link, but it is not hidden. They are doing that because they make money off of Core generation aids and self programmers.
Doesn’t sound right to me.
If this were the case in the UK I would know about it. I have spoken to the MDs of most of the major suppliers about self programming and other novel marketing ideas and at NO time have I been encouraged to support self-programming.
I really can’t see that they make money from self-programmers … where do the aids to be self-programmed come from? They MUST come from registered dispensers.
And what proportion of users are self-programmers? Maybe 0.1%? Not exactly a mountain of revenue there.
None of the big manufacturers want to support end user software for economic reasons.
Their customer is the licensed professional and they will do everything legally possible to protect the profitability of those retailing their products.
Both perfectly correct. Nothing wrong with that. It’s part of a tiered distribution model. It applies to phone manufacturers, washing machine manufactures etc etc too.
You are well intentioned, but the rest of your post drifts off into La-La land.
English, I am really new to all of this. About 6 weeks ago I just could not understand my kids in the car on a two hour drive to a zoo. Here I am fixing that. What I see are three markets: 1) Vanilla sales of new aids from audiologists, 2) supposedly unsupported sales of new aids on the internet and 3) internet sales of refurbished aids. Number 2 and 3 are supported by the hearing aid manufacturers. The manufacturers could end 2 in a heart beat but do not. The manufacturers claim to only sell to audiologists, but frankly they are clearly lieing. I can order any aid I want right now and I am sitting in my bathtub. The manufacturers know that and are going to ship another shipment of aids to the internet stores tomorrow.
Its also true that iPFG is freely available, even when you read the fine print. Also think about refurbished aids. Whoever is refurbishing is loading phonaks algorithms. Look this is one dirty business from what I can tell.
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I have spoken to the manufacturers about these aids that appear on ebay etc.
Most seem to be bought by registered suppliers … who then slip them into the ‘grey market’.
Some very low end aids seem to be Third World model BTEs which make their way back to the West.
The Internet aids are often from minor Italian and American manufacturers who supply both retail & Web suppliers. These aids are OK - but certainly nowhere near as advanced as the top retail-only products.
I have no idea where ‘reburbished’ aids come from - maybe dealers putting returns etc into the grey market?
Also, maybe some of these aids have been stolen. For example, I know that many aids disappear from the NHS stock cupboards.
Whatever you think, the major manufacturers are certainly not keen to have their aids swilling about the Web being sold by ‘unusual’ suppliers.
I run a mail order hearing aids parts business … and my supply contracts INSIST that I do NOT supply aids via the Web … just sundries. I would be an ideal outlet for mail order aids for the key manufacturers - but they clearly have no interest in Web aid sales.
However with so many ‘official’ aid suppliers globally it’s no great surprise to see a few aids being sold on the Web etc.
Look this is one dirty business from what I can tell.
Any business has its ‘dark corners’. Why should the hearing aid sector be any different? No conspiracy theories needed.
Every industry has some type of grey market. Doesn’t mean it’s a dirty industry but a few dirty people can dirty up anything.
About the manufacturers, they all want to sell as many hearing aids as they can. All the big ones have decided it is in their best interests to supply to retail channels where the end consumer gets the personal support of a licensed professional. They also realize some people want just a product and someone will figure out ways to get the product into a grey market, ebay, internet sales situation.
How vigorously the manufacturers pursue those outlets varies. I would say Starkey, Resound, Phonak pursue those 100%. Oticon, maybe 97%, and Siemens, maybe 90%. So it would be possible for a person to find some high end aids through other channels while the manufacturers insist you must go through a professional.
I can’t find Target. IFPG 2.6 does not have a selection for audeo Bs. Is there an IFPG update?
Look into the DIY forum area.
I’ve seen seen posts from several people offering different opinions on the ability of early versions of Target to update themselves.
Has anyone recently had an installed version earlier than Target 5.0 (i.e. 3.3) update itself to 5.? or 6.?
Thanks
SB
Anything under Target 5 won’t be able to be updated above Target 5.
How can I obtain Target so that I can program myself? I cant seem to find any working links or anything on ebay etc.