The products tested had a number of useful features. Those worth looking out for include:

Built-in amplifier

Some neckloops have a built-in amplifier that increases the inductive signal. These often have a volume control and are powered by a battery.

Connections

Wired mobile phone neckloops usually have a 2.5mm jack plug that connects to mobile phones that have this connector. If your mobile phone doesn’t have this connector, you may be able to buy an adapter. The mail order company, Sensorcom (external link, opens new browser window), has a number of adapters for most mobile phones.

Inductive output

A neckloop is really a small induction loop system [link to glossary or example of an induction loop system]. It produces a magnetic field (inductive output) that hearing aids pick up when switched to the telecoil (T) setting. We found that some neckloops are more powerful than others, this includes those with built-in amplification.

Bluetooth

This new wireless radio technology allows communication between different devices over distances of 10 metres or less. Many new mobile phones have Bluetooth and there is a growing number of other devices such as headphones, headsets and computers that have this feature. More devices will use Bluetooth in the future.

Pairing

Before a Bluetooth device can be used, it has to be ‘paired’ with other Bluetooth devices you want to use. Pairing turns on the wireless link between the devices. The user guide supplied with the Bluetooth neckloops we tested gave full instructions on how to do this.

Detachable loop

We are pleased to see that the loop wire on the Nokia LPS-4 and the EM-101 Bluetooth neckloops can be easily detached from the main part of the unit and we would like other neckloop manufacturers to do this . With the other neckloops we tested, the loop wire has to go over the head. For safety, we strongly recommend that these neckloops are not used near machinery and that they be kept out of reach of children because of the loop wire.