FAQ's

• While there are no numerical limits to the number of SurfLink Medias which can be used within a building, it is good practice to separate the units by 40 feet (13 meters) or more to minimize unintended interference.

• Any electronic device with an Audio Output jack (RCA connectors, Digital Optical, Digital Coaxial) can be directly connected to the SurfLink Media. In addition, an External Microphone (part# 52640-000) can provide indirect audio input to the SurfLink Media when a direct connection is not possible.

• It is not necessary for a patient to pair their hearing aid to the SurfLink Media.

• During a Fitting Session, a professional can enable/disable streaming in each hearing aid memory. In use, a SurfLink Media streams audio to all “streaming-enabled” hearing aids within range. Depending on the hearing aid setup, each hearing aid can begin streaming either “Automatically” or “Manually” upon a SurfLink Advanced Remote “Start Streaming” command (“star” button).

• The SurfLink Media is capable of streaming to multiple hearing aids in a typical listening environment.

1. Power on the hearing aids.

2. Turn on the Audio Source connected to the SurfLink Media.

3. Turn on the SurfLink Media.

4. If hearing aids are setup for “Automatic” streaming, then streamed audio should start when hearing aids are within RANGE.

5. If hearing aids are setup for “Manual” streaming, a “Start Streaming” command via the “star” button on the SurfLink Advanced Remote will begin streaming to hearing aids within RANGE of the SurfLink Media.

6. If the audio stream does not start, wait 5 seconds, and press the “star” button on the SurfLink Advanced Remote again.

1. Press “star” button on the SurfLink Advanced Remote.

2. Switch to a hearing aid memory environment that isn’t setup for audio streaming.

3. Turn off the Audio Source.

4. Turn off the SurfLink Media.

• Anytime a hearing aid is connected to a SurfLink Media, the battery will be discharged at an accelerated rate. The actual discharge rate will vary according to hearing aid matrix, transmitted sound variety (silence vs. rock music), how long a streaming session lasts, patient’s audiogram, etc. As many variables come into play, there is no exact answer to how long batteries may last when using a SurfLink Media for a few hours per day. However, combining typical usage patterns with 40-60 gain receivers, typical Wireless hearing aid battery life may decrease by 15% - 35%.

• In general, the RANGE setting (lower slider bar) on the SurfLink Media modifies the distance that hearing aids will be able to start streaming. It has no effect on the active audio streaming distance, which is fixed and not user adjustable. If a patient is in “Manual” streaming mode, pushes “star button”, and they are outside of RANGE broadcast distance, then no audio stream will be heard. Both “Automatic” mode and “Manual” mode must be close enough to RANGE to activate “streaming.” Once streaming is active, “Manual” mode and “Automatic” mode behave the same.

Note:  If RANGE slider is farthest left (one blue dot), this is a test mode (6” – 12” activation distance). Two blue dots typically activates within 4’-8’.

• In rare cases where there is strong local interference, streaming audio may be discontinued until the patient moves back into the RANGE setting distance, whereby the hearing aid reacquire the streamed audio from the SurfLink Media.

• During a fitting session, the professional sets up hearing aid microphones to be either On (0 to 9dB attenuation) or Off during streaming in all hearing aid memories.

• During a streaming session, the SurfLink Advanced Remote or hearing aid user control adjusts the hearing aid volume, effectively changing both streaming volume AND environmental sound levels (received through hearing aid microphones if the hearing aid microphone is set to be On during streaming).

• Volume adjustment made using the top slider bar on the front of the SurfLink Media changes streamed audio level, but does not change environmental sound levels.

• During a Fitting Session, each hearing aid memory is setup to be Omni, Directional, or Dynamic Directional (default). For example, memory 1 is set to Dynamic Directionality.

• If streaming is enabled in memory 1, Dynamic Directionality will still be active meaning that a hearing aid microphone could switch between Omni and Directional modes during a streaming session.

• During streaming, microphone behavior should be the same as when not streaming.

• The hearing aid applies environmental adaptive features to BOTH streamed audio and hearing aid microphone audio. Depending on the type of audio input and settings for hearing aid adaptive features, higher levels of attenuation for the hearing aid microphone audio are possible. This is expected and normal.  

• If “too much” audio is being attenuated by the hearing aid microphone, we recommend using Inspire to create a “dedicated streaming memory” and make the following adjustments:

• • Reduce “Voice iQ” setting to 0 or 1

  • Reduce “Wind” setting to 0 or 1

  • Reduce “Machine Noise” setting to 0 or 1

  • Set directional microphone to “OMNI”

  • “Quiet” environmental adaptation should not be active during streaming sessions, so it can be left unchanged.

• If the Audio Source or SurfLink Media are turned off (streaming connection lost), the hearing aids will no longer be streaming, but they will still be in “streaming mode.” Whenever the streaming restarts (e.g. TV or SurfLink Media turned on), then hearing aids will restart streaming without patient intervention.

• SurfLink Media streaming is disabled in telephone memories.

• • Example: Patient has streaming enabled in Memories 1, 2, and 3. If patient is streaming audio in Memory 3, uses the SurfLink Remote to cycle to Memory 4 (which is in rotation), then streaming would stop. Memory cycling to Memory 1 would re-start streaming in both hearing aids.

Note:  While streaming audio, ear-to-ear commands are not possible.

1. • Example: Assume patient has setup hearing aid Memory 4 to be autocoil or ATR. If a telephone call is received during an active streaming session (e.g. Memory 2), then “phone ear” will enter Memory 4. All streamed audio to “phone ear” will stop during telephone call. “Non-phone” ear (still in Memory 2) will continue streaming at same audio level. After telephone call ends, “phone ear” hearing aid returns to Memory 2 and audio will restart streaming.

• The electronics used inside the SurfLink Media are optimized for speech transmission, rather than full-fidelity music transmission. As a result, the SurfLink Media primarily transmits frequencies that are below 4000 Hz and samples audio input at rates consistent with speech (which is less often than musical audio sources), slightly reducing fidelity. It is not a flaw, but rather a design decision to prioritize speech recognition.

• Think of the SurfLink Media as a TV/Speech streamer, not as a Hi-Fidelity Music streamer. It will sound different than High-Fidelity headphones, and this is by design. If the patient has their hearing aid microphone on during streaming, any sounds gathered directly from the environment (via hearing aid microphone) should sound the same. If attenuation is enabled, it may get applied during active streaming sessions.

• The most common interferer for Specsavers wireless products is the Plantronics CS50, a wireless headset that operates at 900 MHz. The best solution is to eliminate the CS50 and replace it with a CS55 unit.

• The Plantronics CS55, CS70, and Savi series headsets use a different band (1.9 GHz) that does not interfere with Specsavers wireless products.

• At present time, we do not support concurrent streaming and programming.

• There are no plans to offer a “neck loop” system that would convert a 900 MHz wireless signal from the SurfLink Media and then connect to the telecoil of an older generation hearing aid.

• Our Wireless hearing aids use a proprietary digital radio and communications protocol to prevent random 900 MHz signals from impacting a patient’s hearing aids. As a result, Specsavers' hearing aids will not, accidentally or intentionally, process other 900 MHz signals.

• Up to 4000 Hz. The SurfLink Media was designed for maximizing speech audibility, not perfect replication of music.

• Valid US system:  SurfLink Media (Serial number starts with “M”) and SurfLink Remote (Serial number starts with “N”).

• A SurfLink Advanced Remote button push event is not an instantaneous event. It gets routed through the SurfLink Media, which may add a slight delay (up to 5 seconds), on its way to the hearing aids. 

• The SurfLink Media sends out non-audio (informational) data to hearing aids within range at least every five seconds. Five seconds balances the hearing aid “looking for information” and “processing sounds.”   

• Many older televisions and many new flat-panel televisions have no Audio Output jacks. The External Microphone (part# 52640-000) provides a means to receive audio and stream it to the patient’s hearing aids. 

• For patients participating in multi-speaker conversations, placing 2 External microphones 6-9 feet [2-3 meters] apart can increase speech intelligibility. For this type of setup, two External Microphones are inserted into a specialty Splitter Cable (part# 52624-000), which consolidates the audio gathered by both microphones prior to transmission by the SurfLink Media.

• We suggest the options below (in this order) during the initial setup.

  Connector Type	Item (Connects to Audio Source or Power Supply)	Item (Connects Into back of SurfLink Media)	SurfLink Media Jack	Part Number, Price
  	Analog RCA (red-white) Cable	Analog RCA (red-white) Cable	2	Part# 52642-000, $5.99 each
  	Digital S/PDIF Toslink Optical Cable	Digital S/PDIF Toslink Optical Cable	3	Part# 52641-000, $12.99 each
  	Digital S/PDIF Coaxial Cable	Digital S/PDIF Coaxial Cable	4	Part# 52643-000, $4.99 each
  	3.5 mm diameter male jack	Analog RCA (red-white) Cable	2	Part# 52644-000, $4.99 each
  	External Microphone	3.5 mm (1/8”) diameter male jack	1	Part# 52640-000, $15.99 each
  	Two 3.5mm (1/8”) diameter female jacks	3.5 mm (1/8”) diameter male jack	1	Part# 52624-000, $3.99
  	AC Power Supply	Micro-USB Power Cable	5	Part# 52645-000, $13.99

• “In rare instances, high-powered nearby 900 MHz electronic equipment can cause unintended interference with the SurfLink Media or SurfLink Programmer, typically resulting in lower transmission ranges, disrupted signals, and/or decreased audio quality.

Common types of 900 MHz equipment may include cordless phones, wireless office products (headsets, headphones, speakers, keyboards), baby monitors, and some security systems. In most environments, our Adaptive Frequency Agility technology finds an interference free channel and there is no issue. However, if the interfering equipment is close enough, or putting out a very strong signal, professionals or patients may notice slight changes in signal quality.

In most instances, simply moving the SurfLink Media or Programmer further from the transmitting 900 MHz equipment will resolve any issues present. On rare occasions where there is insufficient available space to separate the interfering equipment from the SurfLink devices, it may be necessary to replace the interfering equipment.”