Auracast
If a product or venue has Auracast, you will see this symbol:
To use Auracast in a venue or at home, you will need a device with an Auracast compatible receiver.
Auracast receivers are in a variety of devices:
- NHS and private hearing aids
- hearing implants
- earbuds
- headphones
- neckloops
Some devices sold as “Auracast ready” do not yet work with Auracast. Check with the manufacturer when they plan to enable Auracast before purchasing.
Many venues with Auracast can lend you a neckloop receiver if you do not have an Auracast receiver in your hearing device. This means if you already have a telecoil-enabled hearing device, you can use Auracast in these venues.
How to use Auracast
It’s possible to have several Auracast broadcasts available in the same place. You’ll need to select which broadcast you want to listen to.
Hearing device with built-in Auracast
You can connect to Auracast using your smartphone.
Look for a list of Auracast broadcasts in your hearing device app or your phone’s Bluetooth settings.
You can then select the one you want to listen to.
Some hearing devices have a charging case with a touchscreen that you can use to select the broadcast to listen to.
Standalone Auracast receiver
This is a handheld device with a display and buttons for selecting the broadcast.
You can plug in headphones to listen to the broadcast directly.
You can also plug in a neckloop to listen if you have a hearing device with a built-in telecoil.
Auracast is a Bluetooth audio broadcasting technology that enables one-to-many sharing.
All kinds of devices can be Auracast transmitters, meaning it’s possible to create an ALS anywhere.
Auracast broadcasts can be encrypted if the audio needs to stay private. In this case, you’ll need to enter a password or scan a QR code to hear the audio.
Encrypting a broadcast could exclude some people because some Auracast assistants cannot enter a password or scan a QR code.
Explore how Auracast works in RNID’s Auracast report.