Re: iConnect, Bluetooth & T-mic, Phonak MLX-S and Smartlink!

[Guest guest]

I thought I'd add some information to this post since Deb commented on the

Nucleus Freedom product:

There is a cost to use the FM system with the Clarion system, i.e. one must

purchase the iConnect adapter and the MLx-s receiver. With the Freedom, there

are no adapters and the receiver is built into the unit that can be purchased

from Phonak. The price of the Phonak product is set by them, not by

Cochlear. Cochlear provides connections to other FM systems as well. If someone

already has a system, they do not need to purchase another one.

As far as power, the Freedom system is very power efficient. There is only

one power source for the Freedom with an FM system. Wouldn't needing 2 power

sources make it more complex to deal with when having to troubleshoot any

problems?

The processor is longer with the FM attached to it - an 1/8 of an inch. It

uses the same three batteries which already power the processor and the built-in

reciever weighs a little less than the MLx-s that plugs into the Clarion

iConnect adapter.

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In a message dated 1/9/2006 8:06:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Debyell4@... writes:

To connect the Smartlink to the Freedom processor, you would need to

purchase the Microlink Freedom FM receiver to snap into the bottom of the

Freedom

processor. Some of the advertising for the Freedom can be confusing as it

may

call the Bluetooth and FM access “integrated†as though it is built right

into the Freedom processor. But in reality, it is not built in at all!

Instead it requires purchase of a Microlink Freedom—a specialty product made

by

Phonak that works only with the Freedom processor. I’ve heard the cost is

around $1300 ( Can anyone verify this? Sounds unreal! ) for the Microlink

Freedom FM receiver. Again, it has to be purchased separately and plugged

into

the Freedom, which makes the processor longer and heavier. It also uses the

cochlear implant processor batteries, so the use of the Microlink Freedom

may

result in the processor batteries being used up quicker.