FM mystery

May 11, 2004

Hi everybody - my older son, Tommy is in 5th grade and up until a couple of

months ago, was having great success with his Phonak Claro dAZ hearing aids and

Phonak microlink FM system. The microphone that he was using is the " handi-mic "

(I can't remember if it's a TX-3 or 2 - but believe it's a 3?). All of a sudden

we encountered static problems, and the handi-mic wouldn't work for him. His

hearing aids are in good order - we've ruled them out.

Phonak provided a TX2 that's the small squarish unit with a microphone that

clips on the lapel. We tested the trainer at home - worked beautifully - no

static, all settings worked on his hearing aids including FM only and FM + HA.

Tom's been using a Campus S system loaned to us that also has worked in the

classroom too which compounds the mystery.

We then took it to school. Tom's teacher put the FM on and it was a blast of

static again. We found, however, that by holding the cord straight there was no

static. I reported this information to , the equipment goddess. She said

that she has no trouble with the FM in her office either. How weird! I know

with computers, anything electrical can cause static and am checking with his

teacher to see if anything has been added to the classroom in the last couple of

months that would affect things.

I believe they've already tried a different microphone with similar results - do

any of you have ideas about this? This is totally baffling!

Thanks, as always

Barbara

May 11, 2004

Hi Deb - thanks! it turns out - after much sleuthing by Tom's teacher and SLP

- we think it's because the loaner FM (the campus S) was in the same room.

Interesting that it was turned off but when it was removed from the room, the

FM works. Isn't that strange?

I wondered about the wire too but we swapped wires and it did the same thing.

Take care!

Barbara

--- You wrote:

Hi Barb,

I don't know of any technical advice that I can share. My daughter uses the

same FM system and on occasion it has come home. One of the things I realized

about the FM is that it's very simular to the wireless mics we use in

community theater productions. With our theater mics we were having loads of

trouble with static and sound not always coming through. It was determined

that it was in the wire, and anytime that the actor would move and cause the

wire to move (even the slightest bit) the problems would seem to occur.

Therefore it was decreed that the wires for our mics must not at any time be

wound around the mic pack. It seems to caused the wire to wear inside.

So when I noticed our teacher winding the mic wire around the FM pack, I

politely pointed out that by doing so, she could damage the wire inside,

causing the FM to need repair. She has since stopped doing that and we have

not needed any repairs so far.

Like I said, I'm technically challanged, but could this be part of the problem.

I hope you can figure it out. It's so frustrating.

--- end of quote ---

*******************************

Barbara Mellert

Manager, Social Science Computing

Kiewit Computing Services

Dartmouth College

13A Silsby Hall; HB 6121

Hanover NH 03755

Telephone: 603/646-2877

URL: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ssc

May 11, 2004