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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is Bluetooth?
A1: Bluetooth is the name for a short-range, digital, radio-frequency (RF) technology that transmits voice and data over short distances between compatible electronic devices. The effective range of Bluetooth-device transmission is 33 feet (10 meters).

Q2: Why is the technology called Bluetooth?
A2: When Bluetooth wireless technology was created, its purpose was to unite elements of the telecommunications and computer industries. In that spirit of unification, the name refers to Danish King Harald “Bluetooth” Blatand, who unified Denmark and Norway. The king's nickname comes from his almost constant consumption of his favorite fruit, blueberries.

Q3: How is Bluetooth used?
A3: Basically, Bluetooth technology provides secure communication of audio signals and data from one device to another without using cables. Different Bluetooth applications have the ability to connect various devices to one another — for example, computers to their peripherals, telephones to ear-level receivers, stereo amplifiers to speakers, personal digital assistants to computers — in a growing community of electronic gadgets.

Q4: Are different brands of Bluetooth products compatible?
A4: Yes. Adherence to the Bluetooth design standards guarantees compatibility across manufacturers. Indeed, this compatibility is the very motivation behind Bluetooth's development. Keep in mind that Bluetooth is not a product; it should be thought of as “an enabling technology.”

Q5: How secure is a Bluetooth network?
A5: Bluetooth is extremely secure because Bluetooth devices combine the use of a Pass Key and a specific address to identify other Bluetooth devices. Encryption can also be used to supplement the level of Bluetooth security.

Q6: Will other RF devices interfere with Bluetooth Devices?
A6: No. Several design features of Bluetooth devices — including their intentional short range, frequency hopping and small data packets — make them extremely resistant to RF interference.

Q7: Who invented Bluetooth?
A7: A consortium of companies, including Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, Toshiba, 3Com, Lucent, Microsoft and Motorola, developed the technology in 1998.

Q8: What companies are using Bluetooth?
A8: More than 2500 companies have acquired Bluetooth licenses so far, so just about everyone involved in electronics is working with Bluetooth.

Q9: How will ELI DirX help the hearing impaired?
A9: As the first wearable Bluetooth device designed specifically for hard of hearing people, the ELI DirX Ear-Level Instrument will solve virtually all of the problems that hearing aid wearers typically encounter with telephones, including acoustic feedback, insufficient volume, noise from other electrical sources and mobile phone interference. Furthermore, ELI DirX sends the telephone signal through the wearer's own personal hearing aid, where it is customized to that individual's type and degree of hearing loss. Bluetooth also alows connection between the hearing instruments and other Bluetooth-enabled devices like televisions, pagers, audio systems and others.

Q10: What styles of hearing aids can use ELI DirX?
A10: The ELI DirX Module can be used with any behind-the-ear (BTE) instrument that can be attached to a direct audio input boot and with any hearing aid, custom or BTE, with a switchable telecoil. A specially designed ELI DirX Adapted Neck Loop is required for custom instruments. Your hearing professional can advise you about the ability of your hearing aids to use ELI DirX.

Q11: I have very poor hearing and have pretty much given up on using the phone. Will ELI DirX make the phone loud enough for me to hear?
A11: Most likely, yes. The amplification of a voice from the mobile phone through ELI DirX is governed by your personal hearing aid. If you have powerful hearing aids, that same power will be applied to the voice from the phone. You will be able to hear on the phone as you hear in a quiet room. The volume control on the mobile phone can give an extra boost if needed.

Q12: How do I know if my phone is Bluetooth compatible?
A12: That information should be in your owner's manual. If you don't have your owner's manual, contact your mobile phone provider or look for that information on the provider's Web site.

Q13: Is ELI DirX expensive?
A13: ELI DirX will cost more than a standard Bluetooth headset, but the technology is very reasonable in light of the advantages and convenience of direct connection between your mobile phone and your own hearing aid. In other words, its benefits will far outweigh its cost.

Q14: How will the people I'm calling hear me?
A14: ELI DirX's microphone is located under a small opening at the bottom of the module. Because the microphone is close to your mouth, the sound of your voice will be picked up loud and clear. ELI DirX sends your voice to your mobile phone, and the mobile phone sends it on to the other end of the line.

Q15: Will others using a Bluetooth phone be able to hear my conversation?
A15: No. Your ELI DirX and your phone will be paired and connected, creating a secure, point-to-point communication link. The signals they send back and forth cannot be picked up by other phones.

Q16: What do the terms pairing and connecting mean?
A16: Pairing is the process by which two Bluetooth enabled devices see one another and recognize that they have the ability to share data. Connecting is the process by which the two devices are linked and made ready to share information. It is analogous to plugging in a cable to connect the two. These processes take less than a minute, and their details are dictated by the particular mobile phone you use.

Q17: Does my phone have to be paired with ELI DirX every time I get a call?
A17: No. You will pair your phone with ELI DirX when you first start using the device, and you should not have to pair it again.

Q18: Does my phone have to be connected with ELI DirX every time I get a call?
A18: No. You only have to reconnect ELI DirX and the mobile phone each time you turn them on or after using ELI DirX with a different device.

Q19. Occasionally, the connection between my mobile phone and ELI DirX is lost. A beep in my hearing aid usually precedes the occurrence. Why does ELI DirX disconnect from my phone and what are some possible solutions?
A19. A disconnection signaled by a beep tone typically occurs when ELI DirX moves farther than 10 meters from the signal source, in this case your mobile phone. When the connection is lost, re-establish the connection either by pressing ELI DirX’s Master Control or by pressing the appropriate keys on the phone. Since Bluetooth is an evolving technology, software issues between some mobile phones and Bluetooth devices sometimes arise, which can cause certain phones to disconnect. This problem exists in the phone, not in ELI DirX. Consult with your mobile phone provider to see if your phone recently received a software upgrade or if other users have experienced the same problem. If your phone is incompatible with other Bluetooth devices, your best option would be to exchange it for a phone that is compatible.

Q20: What's coming next?
A20: The ELI DirX Ear-Level Instrument and Adapted Neck Loop are the initial offerings in a series of innovative Bluetooth products to serve hard of hearing and normal hearing people. Several additional projects are under way. Check back on elihearing.com periodically to find out what's new.

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