Tim Gaule
I am a member of the SaddleBrooke Hearing Discussion Group. In previous articles I have mentioned MobileConnect. It is a wireless audio streaming system that allows users to receive audio directly on their smartphone. The MobileConnect app then uses your phone’s Bluetooth connection to send audio to your hearing aids.
This fall, SaddleBrooke One installed this system at the upper level of the SaddleBrooke One clubhouse. SaddleBrooke TWO has now installed MobileConnect in both MountainView Ballrooms East and West, as well as the Sonoran Room.
As is the case in SaddleBrooke One, you need to first connect to the correct Wi-Fi network. In SaddleBrooke One, you connect to the SaddleBrooke One network named “HearingAssist.” In SaddleBrooke TWO, you connect to the Wi-Fi network dedicated to the room in which you are located. In Ballroom East, you connect to “East Mobile Connect.” In Ballroom West, you connect to “West Mobile Connect.” And, finally, in the Sonoran Room, you connect to “Sonoran Mobile Connect.” No password is required for MobileConnect networks, and these networks do not have internet access.
Once you have connected to the correct network, open the Sennheiser MobileConnect app on your device. Then select the appropriate Venue Audio Channel. The app will automatically display available channels for your location. In SaddleBrooke One, tap Channel 1. If you are in the ballroom, tap either Ballroom East or Ballroom West. If you are in the Sonoran Room, tap the Sonoran Channel. The app only displays the available channels for your location, so if you are in the Sonoran Room, you will only see the Sonoran Channel displayed.
The reason that there are three Wi-Fi networks in the MountainView clubhouse is to allow assistive listening support for concurrent meetings in each of the three rooms. The previous loop system did not support concurrent meetings in Ballrooms East and West.
Once you have connected, you can use your device’s volume buttons or the in-app volume slider to adjust the volume to a comfortable level. You can use the pause button to temporarily pause the audio stream so you can converse with a neighbor in the audience.
A few members of our hearing group had the opportunity to demonstrate the SaddleBrooke TWO installation. Previously with the loop, there were several dead spots in the ballroom. The signal was also impacted by simply moving my head up or down. I was able to walk throughout the ballroom and hear the same quality audio stream no matter where I was or how I moved my head. The previous loop in the Sonoran Room had a lot of static in the signal due to electrical interference. There was no static with MobileConnect.
Our group meets on the second Friday of every month at 10 a.m. Stop by if you would like help or have questions. If you would like to have your email added to our distribution list, contact me at tgaule@outlook.com.