Assistive Listening Devices

Assistive Listening Devices (ALD) are personal hearing devices that can be used along with hearing aids or with headphones to enhance the listening experience.  Several classrooms at McMaster University include ALD systems that work with classroom microphones and presentation sound. Personal ALD receivers can be borrowed from McMaster University Library. 

Technical Support

Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) are supported by Campus Classroom Technologies (CCT). Contact CCT for any technical assistance or to report any problems with the classroom signal quality.

Campus Classroom Technologies

Overview

Overview

ALD systems that use wireless 72 MHz RF signals are installed in several classrooms at McMaster University.  The ALD systems are integrated with the classroom presentation equipment allowing the classroom microphones and presentation sound to seamlessly transmit to a personal ALD receiver.   

Personal ALD receivers can be borrowed from McMaster University Library. Tune the personal receiver to the appropriate channel for each classroom to use the ALD system.  Classrooms equipped with ALD systems have signage indicating the appropriate channel for the room.  These ALD receivers can work with T-coil-equipped hearing aids. 

Any personal ALD receiver can also be used in the classroom if it is compatible with the Listen Technologies 72 MHz RF band. Please refer to the 72 MHz Compatibility Chart on page 15 of the LT-800 Stationary RF Transmitter manual.  

Listen Technologies - iDSP Receivers Quick Tour 

ALD Accordian

Students, instructors, staff, faculty and visitors can borrow ALD kits from Mills Library or Thode Library service desks for a one term duration allowing users to become familiar with the device and ensure that it is reliably charged and in working order for every class.  

Each kit contains:  

  • (1) Listen Technologies LR-4200-072 Intelligent DSP RF receiver 

  • (1) LR-430 Neck Look Lanyard that works with T-coil-equipped hearing aids 

  • (1) Micro USB charging cable 

Assistive Listening Device kit includes personal receiver, neck loop lanyard and USB to micro USB charging cable.

The LR-4200-072 personal receiver works with any 3.5mm headphones jack. 

Charge the device: 

Make sure your ALD receiver is charged and in proper working order before each class. Use a Micro USB Cable to charge the receiver.  A LED light on the top of the device flashes to indicate the device is charging. 

Each time you power on the device, the battery level is indicated on the front LED screen. Tap the power button to reveal battery level indicator again. 

Assistive Listening Device diagram: Arrow pointing to a button on the top of the ALD reads "power." Arrow pointing to an LED light on the top of the ALD reads "LED charging indicator."

Power the device on and off: 

The power button is located on the top of the receiver.  Press and hold the power button for three seconds to power the device on.  Press and hold the power button for three seconds to power the device off. 

Adjust the volume: 

Use the arrow up and arrow down buttons to adjust the device volume.  The front LED screen indicates the volume percentage level. 

Assistive Listening Device diagram: Arrow pointing to a silver buttons on the face of the ALD read "volume up" and "volume down." The volume level is shown on an LED screen between the buttons.

Tune the device to the appropriate channel: 

The ADL system in each classroom uses a 72 MHz RF signal. Signage in the classroom will indicate if an ALD system is available and which channel to tune your personal receiver to in order to pick up the signal.   

  1. To tune the device, push and hold both the up and down volume arrows simultaneously for five seconds. The front LED screen will display the current channel tuning for the device.  The channel indicator will flash on the LED screen while in channel selection mode. 
  2. Push the up or down volume arrows to tune the device up or down until it shows the appropriate matching channel for the classroom.  
  3. When the appropriate channel is selected, tap the power button to exit channel selection mode.  
  4. You can now use the ALD system to hear the classroom microphones and presentation sound. 

Assistive Listening Device diagram: arrows point to two buttons on the face of the ALD read "channel selection mode: push + hold."

Assistive Listening Device diagram: Arrows point to silver buttons on the face of the ALD read "channel up" and "channel down." An LED screen between the buttons indicates the current channel selected.   

Any personal ALD receiver can also be used in the classroom if it is compatible with the Listen Technologies 72 MHz RF band. Please refer to the 72 MHz Compatibility Chart on page 19 of the LT-800 Stationary RF Transmitter manual.   

The following classrooms are equipped with ALD systems that can enhance the listening experience.   

RoomChannelRoomChannelRoomChannelRoomChannel
ABB 136EBSB 238ABETB 237PMDCL 1102E
ABB 162HBSB B103KETB 238/239OMDCL 1105P
ABB 163RBSB B138BHH 102KMDCL 1110C
ABB 164SBSB B139CHH 104EMDCL 1305/1307K
ABB 165JBSB B140DHH 109CMDCL 1309I
ABB 166GBSB B142EHH 217SPC 155E
ABB 270OBSB B154FHH 302EPGCLL 124B
ABB 271NBSB B155GHH 305TPGCLL 127B
BSB 104HBSB B156EITB 137APGCLL B131K
BSB 105ICNH 102EITB 139CPGCLL B138A
BSB 106JCNH 104EITB AB102EPGCLL M12F
BSB 108KCNH 106FIWC 223FPGCLL M16E
BSB 115NCNH 207GIWC 224EPGCLL M21D
BSB 117OCNH 223HIWC E201EPGCLL M22D
BSB 117AECNH B107KJHE 264EPGCLL M24T
BSB 119EETB 119OJHE 376FPGCLL M25A
BSB 120RETB 224RKTH B135ITSH 120E
BSB 121SETB 227SLRW 1055JTSH B128G
BSB 137TETB 228TLRW 1056NUH 101N
BSB 138IETB 230NLRW 1057GUH 102F
BSB 147AETB 235/236KLRW B1007EUH 112C
BSB 238A