Connevans FmGenie User manual

User Guide &
Reference Manual
4th Edition

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Welcome to your new
fmGenie radio aid system
A range of information guides are
supplied with your system.
For those new to radio aids, we
particularly recommend pages 12-17 of
this User Guide and new fmGenie users
will find the Fast Track Guide, pages 5-11, is
the easiest way to get their system working.
User Guide & Reference Manual
This User Guide & Reference Manual contains
everything you could possibly need to know
about an fmGenie in one book.
In its entirety it is ‘intensive reading’ – however, keep this
booklet safe as most users find it useful for future
reference, troubleshooting and for expanding their
system.
We have carefully divided it into structured sections to
help you navigate through the many pages.
We suggest that you become familiar with using your
fmGenie before activating some of the more advanced
features.
If you do not have an adviser to turn to for guidance you are welcome to
contact the fmGenie support team 01737 247571 or email us at
[email protected]
Many questions can be answered by looking in the Questions & Answers
section and the appendices.
Encapsulated Morning &
Evening Check List Card
To help users or carers keep their
equipment up and running.
Single sided
A4 card
for
pinning
up on
the wall.
www.connevans.info/fmgenie
This information website contains the entire
current Connevans Catalogue plus a wealth of
other information, including all the fmGenie
sheets featured here.
Check for new information on the fmGenie or
print spare copies of information sheets.
www.DeafEquipment.co.uk
Online shopping website for all equipment
supplied by Connevans
Including spares and additional items to add to
your fmGenie system.
Fast Track Guide
A basic step by step guide to getting started with a new
fmGenie system so you can use it straight away.
New fmGenie systems come with a separate Fast Track
Guide dedicated to the specific system – such as direct
input, neck loop etc.
This manual also includes a generic fast track guide to cover
the first steps.
Encapsulated Tutor
Courtesy Card
Ideal for lending to a tutor
the first time they use a
radio aid so they
know how and
why they have
to wear the
transmitter.
Double sided A5
card.
Morning Check List Direct Input
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TEST
the overall system.
Give the transmitter to a friend or place it somewhere a few metres
away where it will pick up some identifiable sound and listen to
the output of the hearing aid.
If you are the hearing aid user, make sure that you can hear a clear
sound from the transmitter. If you are a hearing helper, use a
stetoclip and attenuator to listen to the hearing aid.
RECEIVER
Gently wiggle the cables between the receiver and
hearing aid to check that the sound does not break up or crackle.
Shoe connections are a common problem ‒ check that the shoe is
a good fit and does not cause noises if it is touched. Change any
suspect items.
TRANSMITTER
While still listening to the receiver ask your
helper to gently wiggle the cables on the transmitter make sure
that the sound does not break up or crackle. Change any suspect
items.
BATTERY STATUS
Look at each display to see that there is
enough power for the time that the system will be used ‒ but
of course you did check & recharge last night! A pack ofalkaline
batteries can always be carried 'just in case'.
RE-ORDER
spares as required ‒ always
keep spare leads and shoes etc.
CONNECT
up the system as it will
be used & TURN ON.
Remember to check that plugs are
pushed home.
INVESTIGATE
any reported operating
problems from yesterday.
Intermittent sound
problems can be
difficult to trace, ask
the user to explain
what happened
when.
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
Evening Check List
In case of difficulty consult the fmGenie Fastrack Guide
or the User Guide & Reference Manual.
The User Guide contains much useful help,
especially in the appendices.
Do not waste time unnecessarily disconnecting items.
You will only have to put them all back together in the morning and it saves
general wear and tear.
Before you switch off the fmGenie units for the last time of
the day check the battery displays.
If any of the units show two bars or less, put them on
charge before you go home.
(Whilst an fmGenie will run for about 40 hours on a single
charge, there is no need to risk the inconvenience of
running out of power).
Check that the fmGenie units on charge
all have scrolling battery bars.
If there are no scrolling bars then
the unit is not charging ‒ check the
connections.
3
3
Shoes still
connected
1
1
2
2
Check the bars are
scrolling
>>
>
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Output lead passed
under flap for
security if wished
...or
with a
lapel
mic
Either with
an aerial to
use the
internal
mic ...
No need
to unplug
aerial
Aerial passed
through small
hole in pouch
Charger plugs
in here
BFMGCKDI01 V1.5 Feb2012
Connevans Limited
Bridge House,1Nutfield Road, Merstham, Surrey RH1 3EB Helpline: 01737 247571 [e-mail]
Information: www.connevans.info Onlineshopping: www.DeafEquipment.co.uk
Tutor courtesy card ‒direct input
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The fmGenie radio system can bea great help to a hearingaid user ‒ a little of your
time tohelp understand what does what will be much appreciated.
T
P
he
During the lesson try not to draw
attention to the fmGenie user but do
help them by always repeating
questions fromthe floor.
The student should give you
the radio microphone
turned onand ready to use ‒
if you can see thedisplay
then the unit is on.
There is noneed to be self conscious in
wearinga radio microphone ‒ all the best TV
stars do so.
It is important that you are comfortable
wearing the fmGenie. Please ask fora different
harness if you wish.
The tutor wears the radio microphone to
pick up their voice, the student wears a radio
receiver to feed sound directly into their
hearingaid. The result is a greatly improved
and relaxed listening experience for the
hearingaid user.
Microphone
should be
positioned
about the
length of a
birofrom the
mouth.
Avoid
wearing
'noisy'
clinking
jewellery.
Be aware that you have a direct sound
linkto fmGenie users in the room and
mute the microphone when you are
talking to others ‒ always use the
button mutingfacility ‒ donot use the
ON/OFF power switch during lectures.
6 information points
3
3
2
2
1
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4
5
5
6
6
During the
lesson the
fmGenie will
automatically
adjust tolouder
voice levels soyou
need not change
the way you
normally talk.
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150mm
Customer Services: 01737 247571 Minicom: 01737 644016 Fax: [phone]
www.connevans.info www.DeafEquipment.co.uk
CONNEVANS LIMITED
Bridge House, 1 Nutfield Road, Merstham, Surrey, RH1 3EB
User Guide &
Reference Manual
4th Edition
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– Communication for life

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Fast Track Guide
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Generic Fast Track Guide
The fmGenie uses standard size AA batteries. Rechargeable batteries are
the recommended option and, once fitted, are charged ‘in situ’ – just like
a mobile phone.
Rechargeable batteries – nickel metal hydride (NiMH)
New rechargeable batteries require charging before use.
1 To fit the batteries, slide open the battery
cover and insert as shown. The technique
is a combination of ‘squeeze, thumb and
wiggle’– you won’t break it and the
firm fit stops the battery cover accidentally
falling off.
2 Do NOT turn on the fmGenie.
3 Plug the twin tail charger into the socket marked
‘Chg’ and turn on charger – rolling battery bars
should be visible on the right of the status display.
4 The equipment will be given an initial 4 hour charge –
enough for a few days’ use.
5 When display goes blank, the fmGenie is ready for use.
After this initial charge, your fmGenie will automatically
take either a full or top up charge as required.
Non Rechargeable Alkaline batteries
The fmGenie can also be used with alkaline AA batteries – which
can be useful in an emergency – you could even borrow
some from your TV remote control!
The performance is the same whatever type of AA battery is used.
This Generic Fast Track Guide takes you through the basic steps
required to get an fmGenie working – a separate ‘specific use’ Fast
Track guide is supplied with new systems.
Part 1 Batteries
CONTENTS
PAGE 37
1Fast Track Guide 5
2The problem with hearing aids 12
3The fmGenie radio aid system 14
4User operating guide
fmGenie Transmitter 18
fmGenie Receiver 24
Batteries & charging 37
Routine testing & fault finding 41
5User information
Fitting and balancing a radio aid 46
Connecting an fmGenie transmitter to external equipment 48
fmGenie conference microphone 51
Radio aid accessories tester 53
Using the fmGenie with the telephone 56
6fmGenie Questions and Answers 58
7Technical appendices
Appendix 1: fmGenie default channel 64
Appendix 2: Guide to fmGenie transmitter settings 65
Appendix 3: Guide to fmGenie receiver settings 70
Appendix 4: Status display information 74
Appendix 5: Important warnings and cautions 76
Appendix 6: Connevans fmGenie after sales service
and support 78
Appendix 7: Record of your fmGenie settings 80
Appendix 8: Frequency channel coding comparisons 81

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Fast Track Guide
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Fast Track Guide
2 Give the fmGenie transmitter to a colleague and ask them to
walk to the other side of the room while talking normally into the
microphone at 150mm (the length of a biro) from the mouth.
3 Plug the test headphones into the
fmGenie receiver audio output
socket (Audio out).
4 Using the test headphones,
listen to the fmGenie receiver
and adjust the Tx volume to a
comfortable level.
Part 2a Turning on
1 Connect an aerial or lapel microphone into
the fmGenie transmitter external
microphone socket (Ext mic).
Part 2b Using test headphones to check the fmGenie
system
Hearing aid users setting up an fmGenie for themselves should skip
this section and move on to Part 3.
1 Check that ‘HI’ audio output is selected
on the receiver by checking the display.
If is not shown, you will need to refer to
page 9 and set ‘HI’ rather than ‘LO’ .
3 Check that both units are showing
the same channel number.
If they are not, you will need to
match the channels.
Assuming you are able to hear your colleague talking, well done
– you are halfway to a fully working system. The next step is to get the
hearing aid(s) working with the fmGenie receiver.
...or with
a lapel
mic
Either with
an aerial to
use the
internal
mic ...
PAGE 72
PAGES 33 and 64
2 Turn on both the transmitter and receiver by pressing and
holding the ON/OFF button until the display turns on and the
alert indicator flashes once.
It is time rather
than pressure
which turns on an
fmGenie – to prevent
accidental switching
on/off.

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1
Fast Track Guide
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Fast Track Guide
1 Ensure that the ‘Tx vol’ volume is at minimum.
2 Select ‘LO’ audio output in
the battery compartment by
sliding the switch to the left
– this is important in order
not to overload the input
on the hearing aid.
The symbol will then
show on the status display.
3 The hearing aid user should listen at
arms length to somebody talking, to
establish the level of sound from the
hearing aid alone. Page 11 explains
why we do this.
Part 3b – Using an fmGenie receiver with a direct input
hearing aid
1 Ensure that the ‘Tx vol’ volume is at minimum.
2 Check that ‘HI’ audio output is
selected on the receiver by checking
the display.
If is not shown, you will need to refer to
page 9 and set ‘HI’ rather than ‘LO’ .
3 The hearing aid user should listen at arm’s length
to somebody talking to establish the level of sound
from the hearing aid alone – page 11 explains why
we do this.
4 Plug in a neck loop.
5 Make sure that both fmGenie units are
turned on.
6 The hearing aid wearer should take the
receiver and place the neck loop around
their neck. They should then switch
their hearing aid(s) to the loop
programme (T).
7 The helper should take the fmGenie
transmitter and walk to the other side
of the room while talking normally into
the microphone at 150mm (the length
of a biro) from the mouth.
8 The hearing aid user should be
able to hear the helper through
the fmGenie receiver by
adjusting the Tx volume up to
a comfortable level.
Congratulations, it’s as
straightforward as that!
If nothing is heard with the hearing aid, a hearing helper could listen
using a pair of test headphones. If the helper can hear with the
headphones then any problem must lie with either the hearing aid or
the neck loop.
The hearing aid loop programme (T) can be roughly checked by moving
the hearing aid near to a mains transformer (e.g. any plug-in power
supply) when you should hear a buzz or hum. The neck loop can be
checked by exchanging it for a spare one.
Part 3a – Using an fmGenie receiver with a neckloop and
hearing aid on the loop programme (T)
Each type of direct input hearing aid requires a specific
connection shoe. Your hearing aid instruction guide
should tell you the hearing aid programme to use.
For most hearing aids it is necessary for the direct input
option to have been activated when it was programmed –
please refer any hearing aid questions to your
audiological advisor.
T
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Fast Track Guide
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Fast Track Guide
In an ideal world, setting the volume controls (and the treble and bass
tone) would be done with the help of an audiologist, however it is also
straightforward for someone to set their own listening preference.
Very simply, the sound
heard at a distance
through the fmGenie
should be similar to,
or slightly louder than,
the sound heard from
the hearing aid on its
own at close range in
a quiet room.
Volume controls
The fmGenie volume can be set
by a comparison method.
1 Initially establish a
satisfactory listening level
with the hearing aid(s)
alone, at arm’s length
from somebody talking to
you.
2 Turn on the fmGenie system, give the transmitter to your helper
and ask them to walk away whilst talking.
3 You should now listen to the hearing aids but this time through the
fmGenie receiver without changing the hearing aid volume controls.
Adjust the transmitter volume control (Tx vol) to match, or be
slightly louder than, the original listening level through the hearing
aid alone.
Tone controls
Setting the tone controls is straightforward and is basically a matter of
personal preference; most users do not need to adjust them at this stage.
Part 4 – Setting the volume
4 Plug the direct input lead
into the ‘Audio out’
socket and connect to
the direct input shoes
and hearing aids. It may
be necessary to
temporarily remove the
hearing aids to do this.
5 Make sure that both units are turned on.
6 The hearing aid wearer should take the receiver and
can now put their hearing aids back on.
7 The helper should take the fmGenie transmitter and
walk to the other side of the room while talking into the
microphone at 150mm (the length of a biro) from the mouth.
8 The hearing aid user should be
able to hear the helper through
the fmGenie, adjusting the
receiver Tx volume control to
a suitable level as required.
=
fmGenie user features
This generic fast track guide is designed to get you started with
your new fmGenie quickly and easily. To help achieve this, your
fmGenie has been factory set for single channel operation with
some user features disabled.
The available features are all explained in section 4 and, when
you have chosen the features you wish to use, appendices 1-3 will
explain how to access them.
PAGE 73

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2
The problem with hearing aids
The problem with hearing aids
A hearing aid user will often find
that the level of background noise
in a room – general shuffling and
coughing – can be as loud as the
speaker’s voice, and amplified
sound such as the television,
sounds distant and unclear.
Human ears are capable of filtering
out unwanted sounds and ‘tuning
in’ to a conversation, something a
hearing aid is unable to do.
It is important to remember that
while a pair of spectacles can
correct sight, hearing aids do not
fully restore hearing loss.
Getting the most out of your hearing aids
There are many types of hearing aids available and each one has different
characteristics and features. A hearing aid which suits one person may well
be totally unsuitable for another. The most important thing is that a user
feels happy with an aid and that the hearing aid has been correctly set up
by the audiologist.
A hearing aid has both gain (amplification)
and frequency compensation.
The gain counters the level of hearing loss,
and the frequency compensation helps to
adjust for the type of hearing loss.
A hearing aid will perform to the best of its
ability when the person talking is at about
an arms length and facing the person
wearing the hearing aid – providing there
isn’t too much background noise.
Unfortunately, this type of ideal
one-to-one listening situation is rare.
The problem with hearing aids Difficulty hearing at a distance
Unsurprisingly, the effectiveness of the hearing aid
decreases as the distance between the person speaking
and the hearing aid user increases. The sound level of a
speaker’s voice (as picked by the hearing aid
microphone) will be quieter as the person moves
away. It is certainly possible to turn up the
amplification of the aid, which will maintain the
volume level of the speaker, but it will also increase
the level of background and surrounding noise.
The background noise can often be as loud as the
voice you want to hear!
Experience the problem: Most people have used a mobile phone or digital
recorder to record their voice. If you hold the microphone close to you,
your voice is nice and clear, but if you put the microphone on the other
side of a busy room, your voice will sound distant with a lot of background
noise. This is what listening at a distance is like for hearing aid users.
Don’t forget, a hearing aid is essentially a microphone worn on the ear!
Overcoming the problem
Our solution to the problem of hearing at a distance is...
to remove the distance! Instead of relying on the microphone in the
hearing aid, with a personal fm system, the speaker wears a wireless
microphone which will send the sound direct to your hearing aids. With a
personal fm system the hearing aid user will hear no reduction in volume,
with less background
noise, wherever in
the room the person
is talking or facing. It
will sound just as if
they were standing
next to each other!
On the following
pages we explain
more about personal
fm systems.
A personal fm radio aid can make
a real difference out of doors
Social life and hobbies can be enjoyed again by making the most of your
hearing aid with the addition of a personal fm system

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What will a radio aid NOT do?
Well, a radio aid normally adds no gain (or power or volume) to a hearing
aid – so a user will not be given increased amplification. It is the power
output of the hearing aid, NOT the radio aid, that the hearing aid user
listens to.
What does it do then?
The fmGenie will provide a consistent sound feed over varying
distances just as if the person speaking was always
at arm’s length.
The system can be used in conjunction with hearing
aids, cochlear implant processors or headphones.
Who wears what?
The fmGenie transmitter unit is worn by the person
speaking. The fmGenie receiver is worn by the user
who carries it around with them wherever they go.
When using the fmGenie
system, cochlear implant and
hearing aid users still listen
through their own aids but
now the speaker’s voice is
fed ‘directly to the ear of the
user’. Headphone users
simply listen to a receiver.
How does the hearing aid ‘hear’ the radio aid?
The input to the user’s aid, or implant processor, from the radio
microphone receiver can be via a direct input connection (if available) or
using a neck loop connected to the fmGenie receiver.
The fmGenie will provide a consistent level of sound wherever the hearing
aid user or person talking may be in the room. There is a great
improvement in the ‘signal to noise ratio’ heard by the user with much less
background ‘mush’.
What happens if the person speaking talks loudly?
The Connevans fmGenie system has an automatic gain control (AGC) to
prevent loud sounds from causing discomfort or distortion.
Principle of operation
The fmGenie is a wireless communication system
designed specifically for use by people with a hearing
loss. The system consists of two main elements: a
transmitter and a receiver . The transmitter unit
collects the sound and transmits it without loss of
quality to the receiving unit. Both ‘ends’ of the system
are portable and the receiving unit presents this
relayed sound in some way to the user.
Design objectives
Radio systems for deaf and hard of hearing people have been available for
many years. The concept for the fmGenie was to design a product with
visual appeal and acceptance combined with functionality and features
second to none.
The fmGenie has been designed to work with personal hearing aids. It is
the user’s hearing aids that provide the hearing loss correction and the
power or gain for a user. However it would be acceptable to say that a
radio aid adds “effective” gain because as the speaker moves away from
arm’s length distance there is no reduction in the volume (or power!)
presented to the hearing aid user.
The fmGenie provides a high quality sound feed to allow the hearing aids to
work to the best of their ability in a wide range of situations. Your fmGenie
has also been designed to allow you to gain maximum benefit from future
improvements in hearing aids.
What is special about the fmGenie?
The Connevans fmGenie has unrivalled sound
quality, advanced user features and a superb range
of accessories to support & extend system use.
The fmGenie is a multichannel system with team teaching, long battery life,
LCD status display and many innovative features. In this reference guide we
will help you determine the features that are of benefit to you and the
options to select – we will also help you decide which features to lock,
disable or simply ignore.
THE fmGenie RADIO AID SYSTEM
BACKGROUND
3
The fmGenie radio aid system
3
The fmGenie radio aid system

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speaker talking. A radio aid increases the emphasis on sound, but visual
clues are still important. Experience and practice are necessary to make
full use of this available ‘sound’.
Is the fmGenie a true wireless radio system?
Yes. The Connevans fmGenie is an FM radio system working on a similar
basis to the domestic BBC VHF radio network, although the fmGenie
operates at a higher frequency and cannot be picked up on a conventional
domestic radio. BBC Radio 2 transmits between 88-90.2 MHz in the VHF FM
band and narrow band radio microphone systems for the hearing impaired
operate around 173-175 MHz. In order that a number of radio aid systems
may operate on the same site, a number of channels have been allocated,
each with specific frequencies. Manufacturers use varying channel coding
systems; the fmGenie uses a channel number code system (see appendix 8
for a comparison chart).
Who manufactures the fmGenie?
The fmGenie system has been designed by Connevans and is
manufactured, sold and serviced in our factory in Merstham
– Made in Britain.
How well does it work?
The fmGenie has a very good frequency response with low levels of
distortion. For hearing aid users the overall performance of the system will
probably be limited by the user’s own hearing aids. If the hearing aids are
correctly fitted then the overall system will perform well, but if the hearing
aids are badly chosen or fitted it will not. The system will give a range of at
least a room inside or coverage outside of over a football pitch, thus
meeting most requirements.
Who will the fmGenie help?
As a rough guide an fmGenie radio aid will be of benefit to anyone who is a
good hearing aid user. If you are able to sit beside a hearing aid user in a
quiet room and communicate via their hearing aids rather than by lip
reading (i.e. if the person is able to make good use of their hearing aids)
then a radio aid will be of benefit, allowing the hearing aid user to ‘listen at
a distance’. The fmGenie will help to counteract the problems of distracting
sounds outside that quiet room situation. The fmGenie will also help those
with a mild or no hearing loss, who will benefit from help with
concentration in lectures, by using earphones or headphones.
How does it sound?
Using a pair of test headphones it is possible for a hearing person to ‘get a
feel’ for the improvement that an
fmGenie can give in noisy
situations. When demonstrating
an fmGenie to a user sitting
nearby, an initial response from
the hearing aid user of “sounds
the same”, is not unusual. It is
difficult to improve on the
hearing aids themselves and
because a consultation room is
usually quiet it is not until we
move outside into a more usual
level of ambient noise with a
greater distance from the person talking that the user realises the potential
benefit of a radio aid.
Bear in mind however, that a hearing aid user is not used to interpreting
sounds from afar. “Over here” means nothing, people often don’t
understand at first where the sound comes from if they cannot see the
3
The fmGenie radio aid system
3
The fmGenie radio aid system
Where can I find further information?
www.connevans.info/fmgenie

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4
User Operating Guide – Transmitter
18
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User Operating Guide – Transmitter
4
Standard/long
range switch
Plug-in
charger
input
Integral
microphone
External
microphone
socket Auxiliary
input
Threshold
setting
User
preference
settings
fm signal
strength
Aerial symbol
Triangle symbol
Sound symbol
Management
settings
Under flash
Default channel
select:
Tens
Units
Channel down
Alert
indicator
Channel
number
Circle
symbol
Microphone mute
symbol
Status display
Power on/off
Star function
control
Battery level
Battery
symbol
USER OPERATING GUIDE
fmGenie Transmitter
Transmitter front
Transmitter Display
Transmitter top, back and sides
Channel up