Etymotic Research ER80 Companion Bluetooth Mics User Manual
Etymotic Research, Inc. Companion Bluetooth Mics Users Manual
Users Manual
ETYMOTIC RESEARCH, INC.
Companion Mics™
User Guide
Listener Unit Talker Units
Etymotic Research
High fidelity, Noise-
isolating Earphones
Charging Unit
On/Off
Volume Control
Earphone Jack
On/Off
Volume control
(enabled only
for special
applications)
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DESCRIPTION
The Companion MicsTM system was developed for persons who have
significant difficulty understanding conversation in background noise
such as restaurants and public places. This system enables one, two
or three talkers (four on special order) to speak to a single listener.
The microphones in this system give a ten-to-one decrease in the
relative noise level that is heard by the listener, which should make
it possible to carry on a normal conversation, even for a listener with
severe-to-profound loss of ability to hear in noise. Battery life is
8-10 hours between charges, which gives ample time for most
applications. A complete charge takes 2-3 hours.
INSTRUCTIONS
STARTUP
• Place units next to each other.
• Turn on all units that will be used.
- Talker Units: Press and hold the On/Off button until the
green light blinks (approximately 1 second).
- Listener Unit: Press and hold On/Off button until the
green light blinks (approximately 1 second).
• Wait until all lights glow steadily, indicating proper communication
with each other.
USE
Instructions for the Listener:
• Plug the earphone into the earphone jack on the Listener Unit
(identified by a clear clasp on neck cord).
• Adjust the volume control for a comfortable level.
• Place the unit around the neck.
• Adjust the neck cord so the unit rests comfortably under the chin.
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• Adjust the volume control after all Talker Units are on. The Listener
should be able to hear each Talker clearly, as if the Talkers were
speaking into the Listener’s ear.
Instructions for Talkers:
• Place Talker Units (identified by a black clasp on neck cord)
around the neck and adjust the cord so the unit rests
comfortably just under the chin.
VOLUME CONTROL (Up/Down Switch)
The overall volume is adjusted on the Listener Unit only.
For ease of identification, the top of the button (Up) has a ridge, the
bottom part of the button (Down) has a groove. Holding the Up/Down
button continuously increases or decreases the volume by four steps
per second.
TEMPORARY DISCONNECT
Talkers can temporarily disconnect their units by pressing the On/Off
button on the Talker Unit until the green light blinks (approximately
one second). A tone in the earphone of the Listener Unit announces
the disconnect. (If a disconnect occurs accidentally, the light on that
Talker Unit will blink to signal the disconnect.)
Reconnect
To reconnect a Talker Unit, the Listener should press the On/Off
button on the Listener Unit for 1-2 seconds.
Interference
If there is severe RF interference, complete recovery from the inter-
ference can be obtained by the following three steps:
1. Turn on any Talker Units whose green lights are not already steady
or blinking.
2. Turn off the Listener Unit by pressing the On/Off button for 1-2
seconds.
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3. Turn the Listener Unit back on by pressing the button for 1-2
seconds.
The units should reconnect in 8 seconds or less.
OPERATING DISTANCE
Under line-of-sight conditions out in the open, the units may operate
over a distance of 150 feet or more. Indoors, where there are
reflections, the units should maintain communication over a distance
of 15 to 20 feet even if the Listener and Talkers occasionally turn
their backs to each other.
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BATTERY CHARGING
To recharge, place units in the Charging Case. Note that a yellow
light will illuminate on each unit. A complete charge takes 2-3 hours.
It is not possible to overcharge the units.They can be left in the
charger indefinitely without damaging the system. Battery life
between full charges is 8-10 hours or longer.
HOW DOES THE COMPANION MICS SYSTEM
WORK?
The Companion Mics system establishes a direct communication
line between the Talkers’ microphones and the Listener’s receiver,
which essentially bypasses the noise and reverberation of the local
acoustic environment. Circuits in the Companion Mics system
operate in the 2.4 GHz band, the same frequency used by today’s
cordless phones. Rather than using a single frequency,where a
competing signal might interfere, a frequency-hopping technique is
used. By jumping quickly from frequency to frequency in a
pseudo-random manner among 79 frequencies, the chance of
interference from microwave ovens, other Companion Mics systems
or Bluetooth is minimized, so that 10 or more sets can operate with
little audible interference even if they are all in the same room. When
the units are first turned on, the Listener Unit starts its repeating
sequence of frequency hops while each Talker Unit waits for one or
another of those frequencies until it receives a transmission
containing the identification code from the Listener Unit. The units
then lock together jumping from frequency to frequency. This
process is repeated until all Talker Units lock on. Once all units are
in communication with each other, the LED lights stop blinking and
the Talkers are heard by the Listener. From then on, each Talker Unit
is in constant communication with the Listener Unit. Volume control
adjustments on the Listener Unit are sent to the Talker Units to set
their microphone gain for optimum performance. The “lock up”
sequence normally takes less than 8 seconds, but—rarely—may
take as long as a minute if heavy interference is present.
SPECIFICATIONS
Operating Voltage: 3.4 to 4.2 Volts
Power Consumption: Approximately 80 mA
Battery Life: 8-10 hours or more (three Talker units)
14-16 hours with single Talker unit
Charging Time: Typically 2-3 hours from “empty”
Environmental Performance: Operating -10 to +45 oC
Charging 0 to +35 oC
Storage -10 to +45 oC
Radio Performance: 20 meters (66 feet) min in free space
Audio Performance:
Frequency Bandwidth: 8 kHz (7 kHz for two-way system)
Acoustic Gain (relative to speech at 40 inches):16 dB default +/- 25 dB VC range
Acoustic Gain (Mic to coupler (Zwislocki)):-4 dB default +/- 25 dB VC range
Total Harmonic Distortion: < 2%
End-to-end Delay:22-32 mS (low interference environments)
30-40 mS (four microphone systems)
Earphone Minimum Output Impedance: 23 Ohms
Telecoil Minimum Output Impedance: 23 Ohms
Max Voltage Swing at Receiver Output: 1.95-2.00 Vpp
Antenna: Internal
Microphone: Noise-canceling electret condenser
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VARIATIONS
A two-unit “walkie talkie” operation is available on special order.
This contains two “Listener” units as combination Listener-Talker
units. A fourth Talker Unit is available on special order.
FCC AND OTHER INFORMATION
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This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that
may cause undesired operation.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in a residential installation. Some equipment operates at frequencies
that may cause interference to nearby TVs and VCRs; to minimize or prevent such
interference, the system base should not be placed near or on top of a TV, PC
monitor, or VCR; and, if interference is experienced, moving the desk station
farther away from the TV or VCR will often reduce or eliminate the interference.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television
reception, which can be determined by turning the system off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
1. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
2. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help.
FCC Health and Safety Information: Your device is a radio transmitter and
receiver. It is designed and manufactured not to exceed the emission limits for
exposure to radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications
Commission of the U.S. Government. The FCC has established criteria for the
amount of radio frequency energy various products may produce depending on
their intended usage. This product has been evaluated and found to comply with
the FCC’s exposure criteria. For body worn operation, the FCC RF exposure
guidelines were also met when used with the accessories supplied or designed for
this product. Use of other accessories may not ensure compliance with FCC
RF exposure guidelines and should be avoided.
Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate this device.
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ETYMOTIC RESEARCH INC.
61 Martin Lane • Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
www.etymotic.com • 1-888-389-6684
Companion Mics is a trademark of Etymotic Research,Inc. The Companion Mics system is covered by U.S.patent:#5,966,639 and other patents
pending.