Sonnet 2 not connecting anymore?

[wooly]

Been using sonnet 2 for a year now with no problems. However today the bluetooth/connection to phone stopped working randomly. The implant works fine, I can hear, just no connections. It was acting weird for a few minutes where I can connect to bluetooth on my phone, but soon as I start a song, it would disconnect all together immediately. I tried this a few times and quit. Later on I try again and it's not showing up anymore at all. Even in the audiokey app, I can't connect to the implant nor does it show up. 

In short Implant hearing wise is fine, the bluetooth/connection to phone is dead. I've tried turn it on and off multiple times, new batteries and nothing works. 

 

Any help?

[Mary Beth]

@wooly

Try forgetting this device from your phone.  Delete the app and download the app again and start over.  Sometimes phone updates cause these types of problems.  It’s discussed a lot in various CI brand groups and this work around often helps.

[wooly]

Tried that and didn’t work, it’s now connecting and disconnecting repeatedly. Like it’s shorting out or something it seems.

[Mary Beth]

@wooly

hmmm….

check the o-ring on the Sonnet processor to see if it is stretched or tore (but it’s probably okay if your processor is working fine)

have you cleaned the battery contacts ? Med-El has a YouTube video showing how to do that

is your AudioStream still under warranty?  If yes, contact Med-El for a replacement under warranty.

[Tim]

@wooly @Mary Beth

Starting Friday or so of last week I've suddenly had similar problems of my Audiostream not connecting.  Before that, I had gone 2 or 3 months of relatively trouble free Audiostream access. 

I've done some basic troubleshooting (restart phone, try both batteries, recharge batteries again, etc.) but haven't had the chance to try all of Mary Beth's suggestions yet as I've been away at conferences.

I scheduled a Med-El 1:1 for Wednesday to also try to get it working.  Hoping to get it fixed before then though.

Wooly, it would be helpful to give a little more diagnostic information to see if there is a pattern.  For example, what phone and operating system are you using? 

Pixel 6a, Android OS 14.  For the last 2 months, name in list of BT devices was "Tim's Hearing Device" - no longer shows this and is instead back to "Med-El Audiostream" but doesn't connect.  I also seem to be having more problems with static on the Sonnet 2 that arose at the same time as losing Audiostream connectivity.

Without Audiostream working, I've generally been using my Rondo 3 until I have time to do some troubleshooting.

On the troubleshooting checklist, I'm going to try the following in addition to Mary Beth's suggestions:

• Connect Audiostream to a different BT device (Android tablet)
• Try other battery covers (regular non-Audiostream and big Max sleeve/battery).
• Confirm that Audiokey 2 is still able to connect and change settings on Sonnet 2. 

 

 

[Tim]

Just a quick followup. 

I followed @Mary Beth's advice.  Deleted the app on my phone and reinstalled it.  Also disconnected coil cables and reattached them.  Problem seems to be solved.  As usual, thanks Mary Beth!

Still odd that it is back to describing it as "MED-EL Audiostream" instead of "Tim's Hearing Device" like it had been before trouble last week.  Perhaps that is something that changed with a minor software support file or Android update that I didn't notice. (Android now has some updates rolled out as app updates through the "Play Store" and perhaps something there changed the Bluetooth/Hearing Device support.)

I have spent an hour or two of streaming since it and it seems to be working as well as normal.  (Was on Android 14 before and after onset of problems, no noticeable update, phone is a Google Pixel 6a.)

Hope @wooly is getting some relief.

 

[Mary Beth]

Glad it is back to working again @Tim

That fix  seems to be the answer for all brands on all phones when things go awry.  It has a surprisingly high success rate.

[Tim]

@Mary Beth Argh-I spoke too soon about everything working. That or I jinxed it.

Ten minutes after getting off my 1:1 with Med-El that I scheduled to deal with this, my battery died on my Sonnet 2. 

Swapped to a different battery, and now that won't connect.  Using Audiokey 2 to adjust settings on my Sonnet 2 still works.  

 

Tried taking audiostream & battery off, putting them back on; rebooting phone.  No change.

 

Seems to suggests battery contacts as a problem so I'll check the video that you mentioned when I get home.

 

 

 

[Mary Beth]

@Tim

Sonnet/Sonnet2 battery connections are very picky.  The previous BTE processor (OPUS2) had very easy and reliable battery connections.  I hope the next BTE processor returns to that level of ease and reliability with battery connections.

[Tim]

@Mary Beth Last night I confirmed that my audiostream BT streaming worked with one battery and not the other.  Several swaps to confirm this.

Med-El said to clean the Audiostream's contacts with a Q-Tip and rubbing alcohol and let it dry. 

I did it and let it dry overnight while fully charging the batteries.  This morning, neither battery works for BT streaming via Audiostream.  Med-El is sending out a replacement Audiostream under warranty. 

 

[Mary Beth]

@Tim

So many replacement AudioStream stories.  Sigh.

 

Med-El does recommend using disposable batteries with AudioStream.  I wonder if using disposable batteries with AudioStream has worked better for users?

The Sonnet/Sonnet2 battery contacts are very particular.  I preferred the easy and reliable OPUS2 battery contacts.  8 years and still using the OPUS2 battery packs, battery covers, etc.