It isn’t the VA it is Oticon that put that in the contract.
The VA isn’t happy about it because it is extra expensive.
I guess they don’t trust VA audi’s to replace batteries, and update Genie2?
It is that it is the revenue. Oticon wants the extra revenue due to the very low amount that the VA pays for the top tier aids.
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@flashb1024: 
You’re the one who made the “chances are slim” assertion, so you get to cite evidence!
And I’m not debating the relative merits of anything, I’m only talking about my case.
My provider (Kaiser CO) will perform Oticon rechargeable battery replacement in the office. I would not have bought the rechargeable version if they had to be sent away for battery replacement.
@oxothuk: That’s fine, if you can afford to ante up after the warranty runs out and wear them once a month if they become your backups.
I ante up for replacing my iPhone battery every 3 years. I don’t see replacing batteries in my HA any differently.
Over a 3 year cycle I suspect that disposable HA batteries are cheaper, but I find rechargeables to be more convenient. YMMV.
@oxothuk: I do, because I don’t keep a backup iPhone, nor is an iPhone essential to my ability to function in everyday life.
The moisture issue on the OPN is real, as I have personally experienced myself through excessive sweating when exercising. And I’ve also heard of numerous folks who mention about their moisture issues in this forum on the OPN as well.
Having said that, I don’t recall as much moisture issue discussion on the More as there was on the OPN. Not that much on the OPN S either if I recall correctly.
The moisture issue on the OPN that I experienced, as have many others as reported in this forum, revolves around the external mic needing to be serviced (8 consecutive beeps, repeated 4 times) because it has excessive moisture build-up in it. So going to a rechargeable system doesn’t necessarily solve this issue because it’s not about the moisture invasion inside the aids, it’s more about the moisture invasion to the external mic, which would be external and exposed on the rechargeable aids just the same.
But like I said, I hardly ever heard about the 8 chimes x 4 times warning on the OPN S nor on the More. I only mostly hear about it on the original OPN. So maybe they did something to minimize the moisture exposure to the external mics on the later models.
I just saw this video on YouTube, in case anyone would be interested to watch.
Unfortunately it was too late to change. By the way, it came with the SmartCharger. Perhaps that is the new default charger.
My current plan is to have my KS8 aids with 312 batteries as a backup.
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To make more money and appear to be environmentally “green”.
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That depends on your country. For instance, they have not yet been released in the US and my audiologist has no information on them.
@prodigyplace: AHA! So this is how Oticon (and the other big makers, no doubt) plan on getting the double hooks into us! Planned obsolescence → product death by power supply failure! BAH!
[Addendum: IF the SmartCharger worked reliably, all the times, and the HA rechargeable batteries lasted for 3 years (or a tad longer) I would probably resist this “Enforced Obsolescence by Power Interruption” with less vehemence. Alas, it does not, and they do not, so I remain firmly esconced in the Disposablite camp!]
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I personally think the same thing about Rexton. After about a year they refused to update their firmware to maintain the features they worked before a new iOS version on my phone. Their solution, as heard on speaker phone with my HIS, was to reboot the aids. Remote support did not work either, a known issue at multiple Costco locations.
I lived with the issues for 3 more years to try and get my money’s worth from their purchase.
@prodigyplace: I’m certain that you’re correct, Bruce. I believe all the Big6 are in cahoots with one another, and are playing this POPS failure game! Shame On Them!
What is your proposed solution or strategy?
Are we to expect SpudGunner hearing aids released to resolve these issues?
Are you planning on moving to Whisper AI aids? When I asked them questions I got the feeling they could use your financial involvement. They still obsolete their hardware though. Subscription only gives access to whatever software updates they release and I think they are getting less frequent.
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@prodigyplace: No, Bruce - not yet, at least - S.pudGunner H.eadquarters for I.ntelligence T.ransfer plans to launch a flotilla of SpudNik satellites to spy on the Danes and the Swiss bankers to learn of their plans…
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@prodigyplace: Nice try, Sneaky Bruce the Moose! I’m not doing the Rechargeable vs Disposable gig, and defenatly not the Whisper gig. Nope! Not this Spud!
I am confused. Do you mean definitely, defiantly, or both??