Ordering ALS devices

[Mattbaldy]

Can someone post a good link (I haven't found one after 45 minutes of searching) that lists compatible ALS devices or recommended ALS devices? We need to order some and I have not been able to find anything on the Church's website that helps. Much of it is just chasing its own tail or linking to articles that do not list how or what to purchase. Thank you.

[russellhltn]

Put in a request with the FM group. They can order them for the meetinghouse.

[LSUinSLC]

Any ideas for equipment that could be used to assist the hearing impaired in second hour classes?

[dave.swartz]

I am assuming that you are in the US. See https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/design ... 2010-stds/ and scroll down to Section 219. Pay particular note to 219.1 where "Assisted listening systems shall be provided..." and the exception "assistive listening systems shall not be required where audio amplification is not provided." My experience is that audio amplification is provided in the Chapel, Cultural Center, Children's Meeting Room, and Relief Society room. These rooms are often used as a classroom. No accommodation for this ADA requirement is typically provided for in the design of these rooms with the exception of the Chapel. Table 219.3 states that a room with 50 or less seats needs to have a minimum number of receivers of 2 of which 2 need to be hearing aid compatible.

Now that we know the requirements, what can be done.

1. The class can be held in the chapel since the chapel does comply with ALS requirements.
2. The FM group can (but may not want to) provide a Williams AV PPA T27 portable transmitter typically used for wards with translation requirements for use in the classroom. Since the ALS transmitters and the translation transmitters share the same channels they are interoperable with each other. If your members need the inductive loop support for their hearing aids then you will need to borrow some of the receivers from the chapel. The current standard is either the Listen Technologies LR-4200-072 or LR-5200-072. These devices are field configurable (with a computer and the software from Listen) so you can have more than one frequency in use. For example one frequency for the chapel and a second frequency for the RS room. More simply you can reach out to the FM group and ask how they intend to solve this challenge. The ADA does have financial incentives (fines) for encouraging compliance.
3. If you are still using Zoom in the classroom (not common anymore, but we are doing it) then turning on closed captioning and having them watch on their phone the captioned Zoom session, perhaps with audio as well, is a poor but perhaps possible option. That was the option used by one of our deaf members. The captioning sometimes gets messed up but he could figure out what was happening.
4. Purchase your own hardware. You can find the transmitters often on eBay for around $100. Here are the frequencies that the receivers need to tune to.

Group Channel Frequency
1 A (1) 72.1
1 E (5) 72.9
1 H (8) 75.9
1 J (10) 75.3

Channel A is usually the chapel. This group of frequencies has been selected to reduce the likelihood of intermodulation interference. (Ask your Amateur Radio friends what this is)

The building should have ample receivers since having units for the chapel is part of the standard technology offering. You are looking for the Listen Technology receivers not the ancient Comtek ear bud receivers. If you members have inductive loop compatible hearing aids then that may be your way in to get the newer stuff from FMG.

Good luck. Post here if you have additional questions.

[brucejohnhansen]

Following up question are the hard of hearing devices able to be used in another parts of the church building other then the chapel? We have a sister attending Elders Quorum because she can not hear the lesson in the Relief Society room.

[russellhltn]

I don't think the ALS transmitter is installed anywhere except the chapel. But you can ask FM if they're willing to have another installed.

[BrianEdwards]

Of course, another alternative is to have the RS meet in a room with a microphone access, and have the sisters all use the mic when participating. I know lot's of units do this for SS classes as well. Perhaps not as good as using the ASL device, but at least it helps many members with hearing challenges.

Your RS may already be using a mic, so just adding the comment for reference.