PSA - apparently all units should have ComTek receivers

I was just told that every meetinghouse should have a ComTek system for the hearing impaired which means that you should have some wireless headsets somewhere in the building. It came up for the first time ever recently and we discovered that we had no such devices.

Oh, we have them, but they usually hide in some forgotten drawer in the meetinghouse library, and have dead 9-volt batteries. Some members have actually purchased their own receivers, which I believe they can obtain at a discounted rate through the Church somehow.

Contact Comtek at 800 496 3463 and ask for an Assisted Listening Device for LDS chapels. They have member direct pricing for the LDS Church.

Your local FM/Facilities Group should be the ones responsible for having the COMTEK systems installed into the buildings and providing the 2 or 3 COMTEK listening devices issued to each building. These are only tied into the Chapel sound system. The COMTEK Broadcast device is generally located wherever the electronics/amplifier boxes are at for the Chapel Sound System. Depending upon how old your building is.

The links below are what they may look like.
The newer units:
http://www.harriscomm.com/media/catalog ... rcvr_2.jpg

Older units
http://www.weazelfactory.com/Site/Comte ... r72b_1.png

This is what the COMTEK Broadcast device looks like in most cases, usually found in the sound/AV cabinet where the chapel Amp is located. (they are generally in metal cabinets that swing open (key controlled) and will find AMPS that control the primary room, cultural hall, and YW room as well)
http://comtek.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BST-75.jpg


Let me know if you have any questions.

Ryan

RyanGard1977 wrote:Your local FM/Facilities Group should be the ones responsible for having the COMTEK systems installed into the buildings and providing the 2 or 3 COMTEK listening devices issued to each building. These are only tied into the Chapel sound system. The COMTEK Broadcast device is generally located wherever the electronics/amplifier boxes are at for the Chapel Sound System. Depending upon how old your building is.

The links below are what they may look like.
The newer units:
http://www.harriscomm.com/media/catalog ... rcvr_2.jpg

Older units
http://www.weazelfactory.com/Site/Comte ... r72b_1.png

This is what the COMTEK Broadcast device looks like in most cases, usually found in the sound/AV cabinet where the chapel Amp is located. (they are generally in metal cabinets that swing open (key controlled) and will find AMPS that control the primary room, cultural hall, and YW room as well)
http://comtek.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/BST-75.jpg


Let me know if you have any questions.

Ryan

Note, That about a year ago, when change to Listen as the standard manufacturer. New buildings, and older systems where the Comtek system has failed are replaced with Listen branded transmitters and receivers. The two are considered compatible, however older systems may have experienced large amounts of frequency drift which will make them appear non-compatible.

Listen System https://www.listentech.com/shop/product ... -receiver/

You mentioned 2 brands COMTEK & ListenTech. Did the Church switch from COMTEK to Listen Tech for new installations or replacements?

Just confused as to which is the newer and preferred system.

Also what have other Stakes been using for a multilingual English/Spanish setup? Could we use 2 transmitters, on separate broadcast channels?

Thanks,

Captain.Moroni wrote:Did the Church switch from COMTEK to Listen Tech for new installations or replacements?

According to the prior post, yes.

Captain.Moroni wrote:Also what have other Stakes been using for a multilingual English/Spanish setup? Could we use 2 transmitters, on separate broadcast channels?

If you're using the two languages at the same time, typically, you'd have a Williams Sound system for carrying the translated audio. If the hearing loss is not too bad, they can use the Williams Sound receivers like those with normal hearing.

ListenTech is currently offering a Wifi system which allows the hearing impaired to use their smart phone and bluetooth capable hearing aids to listen in the chapel. This eliminates the ComTec device and disposable batteries and gives better hearing quality for each individual because their hearing aids are programmed for their personal needs. Is it possible to upgrade our building to this system if we already have Wifi throughout the building?

From the ListenTech FAQ:
Q Can you connect the PL-900 ListenWiFi Server to an existing wireless network to stream audio?
A It is not supported at this time as there are multiple implications to the performance of existing WiFi networks. ListenWiFi is focused on good quality low latency audio, and feel we best achieve this as a stand-alone system, which has been fully tested and guaranteed to work.

bayless wrote:ListenTech is currently offering a Wifi system which allows the hearing impaired to use their smart phone and bluetooth capable hearing aids to listen in the chapel. This eliminates the ComTec device and disposable batteries and gives better hearing quality for each individual because their hearing aids are programmed for their personal needs. Is it possible to upgrade our building to this system if we already have Wifi throughout the building?

As @russellhltn points out, there are numerous issues with the implementation of these in meetinghouses, consequently, we have not adopted them at this time. The Listen system uses rechargeable batteries, so there is less battery waste.

Captain.Moroni wrote:You mentioned 2 brands COMTEK & ListenTech. Did the Church switch from COMTEK to Listen Tech for new installations or replacements?

It depends,
All new projects in North America use the Listen systems. If an entire system fails, it is also replaced with a Listen. If the existing Comtek continues to function, but more receivers are needed, new comtek, or listen receivers can be added, as they are [generally] compatible.

Captain.Moroni wrote: Also what have other Stakes been using for a multilingual English/Spanish setup? Could we use 2 transmitters, on separate broadcast channels?

You cold, though the Standards only provide for a single transmitter. However Language Wards, and Branches (in North America) are authorized for Williams sound translation systems. These use the same channels as the the ALS systems so you could connect one language to the Williams, and the other to the Comtek/Listen. Most newer receivers are frequency agile so will work with both systems. On nice perk of the listen receivers is they will give a name to the channel. ie Chapel, or Spanish to help users know which channel they have selected. This can help eliminate confusion.

StevePoulsen wrote:If the existing Comtek continues to function, but more receivers are needed, new comtek, or listen receivers can be added, as they are [generally] compatible.

You must be referring to the ListenRF72 line. That threw me for a bit.

russellhltn wrote:

StevePoulsen wrote:If the existing Comtek continues to function, but more receivers are needed, new comtek, or listen receivers can be added, as they are [generally] compatible.

You must be referring to the ListenRF72 line. That threw me for a bit.

I am, the systems we use in meetinghouses both operate in the 72 MHz Range. I am not aware of any where we use the 216MHz range.

This is quite an old thread. Just wondering if the Church has any current arrangements with a manufacturer where we can get a better rate than the almost $300 price tag that is shown on the Listen website?

Robby10 wrote: Sun Aug 14, 2022 11:01 am This is quite an old thread. Just wondering if the Church has any current arrangements with a manufacturer where we can get a better rate than the almost $300 price tag that is shown on the Listen website?

Talk to your FM group. Typically they provide the receivers to the units that need them.

However, the preferred vendor may have changed to Listen Technologies. The DSP makes for quiet reception. The two systems are compatible with each other as they use the same 72MHz radio service.

So a bishop in my Stake texted me about this and I replied I was unfamiliar with it, then he sent me pictures of the receivers they have in their clerks office, on some kind of recharging tray (a set of them).

Do these just work? Meaning, is a transmitter likely already set up somewhere and ready to go? Only saw receivers in the picture he sent.

derrickfulkerson wrote: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:33 am Do these just work? Meaning, is a transmitter likely already set up somewhere and ready to go? Only saw receivers in the picture he sent.

Correct. They're a standard part of the sound system and part of the rack. However, you might want to test them out. The transmitter may have died, or the antenna (which is outside of the rack, usually above it somewhere) has been mangled such that it doesn't work properly.

russellhltn wrote: Sun Dec 18, 2022 11:44 am

derrickfulkerson wrote: Sun Dec 18, 2022 9:33 am Do these just work? Meaning, is a transmitter likely already set up somewhere and ready to go? Only saw receivers in the picture he sent.

Correct. They're a standard part of the sound system and part of the rack. However, you might want to test them out. The transmitter may have died, or the antenna (which is outside of the rack, usually above it somewhere) has been mangled such that it doesn't work properly.

Late reply but thanks. They did, in fact, just work. I just wasn’t aware that this building had these as I don't believe our stake center has them. We’ve been due for an AV overhaul but it was delayed because of COVID. I’m guessing we’d probably get these then.

I think it's been a standard part of the rack before 2000. But unless it's used, it can die and no one notices. The problem may be as simple as the antenna has become disconnected or connections corroded.