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Hearing loop alternative on people’s own headsets
Community groups, halls and other venues often ask what to do when a hearing loop is hard to fit, or when many guests do not have telecoil hearing aids. This page explains the common options in everyday language, including a hearing loop alternative that works on phones. It is general information only — not legal advice.
What is a hearing loop?
An induction loop runs a carefully designed cable (or array) around a listening area. The sound from the mixer or microphone drives an amplifier into that loop. Hearing aids and cochlear implants switched to telecoil mode pick up the magnetic signal and turn it back into sound for the wearer. Guests without a telecoil do not hear the loop.
What are the telecoil limits?
Telecoils are excellent when they are present and the loop is well installed. Many modern hearing aids omit a telecoil to save space, or users leave them in microphone mode. Visitors from outside the congregation may have no telecoil at all. A loop alone therefore leaves some people out — including anyone who simply wants clearer sound in ordinary earbuds.
What about FM and infrared (IR)?
FM and infrared assistive listening systems send sound to dedicated receivers that the venue lends out, often with headphones or a neck loop. They are proven and can serve people without telecoils. The trade-off is hardware to buy, charge, hand out and collect, and training for ushers.
How does Wi-Fi to phones work?
Wi-Fi streaming lets people use the phones and earbuds they already carry. Commercial products exist for this; RoomCast is a free Mac app that streams the room sound over local Wi-Fi so guests listen right in their phone’s browser with a QR code. That can help hard-of-hearing guests, overflow seating and quiet side rooms without a tray of receivers. RoomCast’s delay is usually around half a second, even on busy Wi-Fi — fine for talks and music listening; not for lip-sync to a video screen.
Read more: Auracast vs hearing loop vs RoomCast.
How do a hearing loop, FM/IR and RoomCast on phones compare?
| Hearing loop | FM / infrared | RoomCast on phones | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How sound reaches the listener | A cable or array around the listening area drives a magnetic signal. Hearing aids and cochlear implants in telecoil mode turn it back into sound | A transmitter sends sound to dedicated receivers the venue lends out, often with headphones or a neck loop | The room sound streams over local Wi-Fi. Guests scan a QR poster and listen in the phone browser |
| Who it serves | People with a telecoil. Guests without a telecoil do not hear the loop. Many modern hearing aids omit a telecoil | People without telecoils too, if they collect a receiver | Anyone with a phone and earbuds or headphones. Hearing aids that stream from a phone over Bluetooth can take that audio the same way they would a podcast or call |
| Hardware | A carefully designed loop or array and an amplifier, installed in the room | Receivers to buy, charge, hand out and collect, plus training for ushers | A Mac running the free RoomCast app, and a QR poster. Guests listen in their phone's browser — no tray of receivers |
| Phone required? | No — a loop works without a phone | No — guests use a lent receiver | Yes — or a shared listening phone or laptop |
| Delay | Not stated on this site | Not stated on this site | Usually around half a second, even on busy Wi-Fi; fine for talks and music listening, not for lip-sync to a video screen |
| Building rules | Loops are well understood and are still the standard answer in many halls and places of worship. Some buildings require a listed hearing-augmentation system | FM and infrared can be listed approaches for hearing augmentation, depending on the building and the applicable code | A supplement, not a replacement, for a legally required loop or other mandated system. RoomCast is not a certified assistive listening system |
| How many listeners | Set by the installed loop — this site does not quote a capacity | Set by how many receivers you have | About 50 phones on a modern Wi-Fi router; the real number depends on the router, other traffic on the network, distance and walls, and the quality setting. |
How do I set up RoomCast as a hearing loop alternative on people’s own headsets?
Mixer or microphone into a Mac, then RoomCast over the local Wi-Fi, then phones in the browser. Use this alongside any loop, FM or infrared system your building rules require.
- 1
Feed the Mac
Take a line or USB interface from the mixing desk, or a microphone, into the Mac, and choose that input in RoomCast.
- 2
Broadcast on the venue Wi-Fi
Press Broadcast on the local Wi-Fi the Mac and phones will share. That network does not need internet.
- 3
Show the QR poster
Display the poster so guests can scan it and listen in their phone's browser.
- 4
Invite people who need a phone path
Tell guests without a telecoil, or who prefer earbuds, that they can hear on the phones they already carry.
- 5
Keep any required system in place
RoomCast supplements a legally required hearing loop or other mandated system; it does not replace one.
How does RoomCast compare with commercial Wi-Fi ALS?
Products such as Listen Everywhere / ListenWIFI and AudioFetch are commercial Wi-Fi assistive listening systems built for venues. On latency, they are marketed as low latency; real-world delay depends on conditions. RoomCast states its delay plainly: usually around half a second, even on busy Wi-Fi. Guests listen in their phone’s browser on the same local Wi-Fi as the Mac. About 50 phones on a modern Wi-Fi router can listen at once. The real number depends on the router, other traffic on the network, distance and walls, and the quality setting.
Those commercial systems can shine for permanent installs, multi-channel workflows, and compliance accessories such as dedicated receivers. RoomCast is a practical supplement for phone users, overflow, parents’ rooms and community nights — not a drop-in for a legally required hearing loop or other mandated system. Fair side-by-side: Listen Everywhere & AudioFetch vs RoomCast.
What does Australia’s NCC say about hearing augmentation?
In Australia, the National Construction Code (NCC) and related disability access provisions set expectations for hearing augmentation in certain buildings and rooms (for example some assembly spaces). Exactly what counts as compliant hearing augmentation — a loop, an infrared or FM system, or another listed approach — depends on the building class, the room, and the applicable edition of the code and standards. State and territory variations can apply.
This is not legal advice. If you are building, renovating or certifying a venue, talk to your access consultant, acoustic designer or building surveyor. Do not treat a webpage as a substitute for the NCC or for professional advice.
How does RoomCast fit — as a supplement, not a replacement?
RoomCast supplements a legally required hearing loop or other mandated system; it does not replace one. Keep (or install) whatever the code and your advisors require. Use RoomCast alongside that for guests who prefer a phone and earbuds, for a parents' room or foyer feed, or for soft-voiced speakers when a full ALS install is not the question you are answering today.
- Mixer or microphone → Mac → RoomCast → local Wi-Fi → phones in the browser.
- Guests scan a QR poster and listen in their phone's browser.
- Works for community groups and halls, and in mosques, temples, synagogues, gurdwaras and meditation centres as well as conferences.
See also overflow, parents' room and foyer audio without cabling and the worship FAQ.
Questions about a hearing loop alternative on people’s own headsets
Is RoomCast a substitute for a legally required hearing loop?
No. RoomCast supplements a legally required hearing loop or other mandated system; it does not replace one. It is not a certified assistive listening system. If a building rule, accessibility plan, or Australian NCC hearing-augmentation requirement calls for a loop, infrared, FM, or another listed system, follow that plan and talk to your access consultant or building surveyor. This page is general information only — not legal advice.
Who can hear a hearing loop?
Hearing aids and cochlear implants switched to telecoil mode pick up the magnetic signal and turn it back into sound. Guests without a telecoil do not hear the loop. Many modern hearing aids omit a telecoil to save space, or users leave them in microphone mode. Visitors may have no telecoil at all.
How is an FM or infrared system different from listening on phones?
FM and infrared assistive listening systems send sound to dedicated receivers that the venue lends out, often with headphones or a neck loop. They are proven and can serve people without telecoils. The trade-off is hardware to buy, charge, hand out and collect, and training for ushers. RoomCast uses the phones and earbuds people already carry, so there is no tray of receivers to manage.
How do guests listen to a hearing loop alternative on their phones?
Feed a mixer or microphone into a Mac, broadcast with RoomCast over the local Wi-Fi, and show a QR poster. Guests scan the code and listen in their phone's browser. Hearing aids that stream from a phone over Bluetooth can take that browser audio the same way they would a podcast or call; exact steps depend on the aid and phone.
What delay should people expect when they listen on phones?
RoomCast’s delay is usually around half a second, even on busy Wi-Fi — fine for talks and music listening, not for lip-sync to a video screen. About 50 phones on a modern Wi-Fi router can listen at once. The real number depends on the router, other traffic on the network, distance and walls, and the quality setting.
Can a community group or place of worship use RoomCast alongside a loop?
Yes. Keep or install whatever the code and your advisors require. Use RoomCast alongside that system for guests who prefer a phone and earbuds, for a parents’ room or foyer feed, or for soft-voiced speakers. It works for community groups and halls, and in mosques, temples, synagogues, gurdwaras and meditation centres as well as conferences.
Free Mac app · listeners use the browser · local Wi-Fi
More questions? Read the RoomCast FAQ →