One of the best features of hörbert is the freedom to play anything you want with hörbert. You can upload your own music and audio plays to his memory card, which you can conveniently access through the nine playlists. This makes hörbert a mobile children’s player with a huge amount of content.
You might already be familiar with hörbert’s Bluetooth module for retrofitting. This allows you to use Bluetooth headphones with hörbert – and even two headphones at the same time with hörbert. Double the fun in one device.
But
did you know that hörbert can also become a Bluetooth speaker with the Bluetooth module? This way, you expand hörbert with a whole new universe of possibilities:
Streaming!
With streaming, the content is not stored on hörbert’s memory card, but is sent directly from another device to hörbert while you listen. There are many internet services that offer music and audio plays through streaming, and you can also listen to them with hörbert. Find out how it works elegantly here.
The principle is quite simple
For streaming, you need a device to play content, which hörbert can connect to. On this device, you set what hörbert plays as a Bluetooth speaker. (hörbert can play only one “transmitter” that you set on the device, the colorful buttons are not in function.)
And where do you get such a device? You probably have several lying in a drawer, as most old smartphones or tablets are quite suitable for this purpose. You don’t need a mobile contract for this, and there are many free streaming services available on the internet.
Your device is somewhere on a shelf or cupboard, and hörbert can connect to it via Bluetooth within a radius of about 10 meters. This is sufficient for a normal child’s room, with larger or smaller ranges depending on the structural conditions.
Every time you switch your hörbert to
Bluetooth Speaker Mode, it will automatically play these streaming contents.
Setting up your phone or tablet player:
1.) Plug in your phone or tablet that you want to use as a player to its charger. This will provide continuous power to your player in the future.
2.) Ensure that your player cannot receive calls or perform other unexpected actions, as they could disrupt reliable operation. As a precaution, delete all alarms and apps with notifications. It would be ideal to reset your phone or tablet to its factory settings.
3.) Install an app that can play streaming content. For example, let’s consider Audible. Further details on app requirements and specifics can be found below.
4.) Test the app by selecting content and pressing “Play.” The content should be audible on your phone or tablet’s speaker. Press “Pause” after the test.
5.) Now activate Bluetooth in the settings and scan for new devices in the vicinity.
Connecting hörbert with the player:
1.) Your hörbert must be equipped with a Bluetooth module. If you don’t have one yet, you can buy the Bluetooth module for hörbert here.
2.) Your hörbert should be turned off during the setup phase.
3.) Turn on the “Bluetooth,” “Pair,” and “Autoplay” functions on the Bluetooth module by setting switches 5, 6, and 7 to “ON.”
4.) Now turn on your hörbert, then off within a second. This puts hörbert in
Bluetooth Speaker Mode, and you will hear two tones ascending in pitch. Now, hörbert becomes visible in its Bluetooth environment.
5.) On your player, you should now see a Bluetooth device named “hörbert.” Pair hörbert with your player. Pairing may sound funny, but it simply means the two devices will recognize each other in the future. Unfortunately, this does not result in the creation of mini hörberts or phones.
6.) Press “Play” in the Audible app on your player. You will hear the content through hörbert’s speaker and no longer through the phone or tablet.
7.) Now switch hörbert’s toggle switch (turn hörbert on). This should make hörbert automatically play content from its memory card.
8.) Toggle hörbert’s switch again (turn hörbert off). Now hörbert is truly off and no longer in Bluetooth Speaker Mode.
9.) To prevent hörbert from trying to connect to other devices in the future, turn off its pairing now. Set switch 6 (“Pair”) on the Bluetooth module to “OFF.” Keep all other switches unchanged.
These were all the settings, now you can use hörbert as a radio.
And here’s how:
Your player is set up and streaming app is active, paused, and ready on the shelf or cupboard.
A) Turn on hörbert and off within a second.
B) You will hear the two ascending tones, followed by hörbert instructing your player to start playing.
C) …this may take a few seconds, as the player connects to Audible and looks for the last played position.
D) Then hörbert starts playing the content!
E) If you toggle hörbert’s switch twice, it is truly turned off and no longer in Bluetooth Speaker Mode.
When you want to resume listening later, start again with Step A.
Requirements for apps and specific considerations
First off: Not every app is suitable for this purpose.
Some apps do not stop the sound when hörbert is turned off, and instead continue playing through the phone/tablet speaker. This is not desired when the device is placed high up on a shelf.
Other apps do not start playing through hörbert when the phone or tablet’s lock screen activates. For such apps, the lock screen must be disabled.
Examples of apps that work with this guide:
Audible,
Radio.de, Spotify
Examples of apps with issues:
Spotify Kids – sound plays through the phone/tablet speaker when hörbert is turned off
Radio Teddy – does not function with the lock screen activated
Please share your experiences with other apps in the comments. There are too many for us to list.
Power consumption of the player?
A phone plugged in and waiting for a connection with an active lock screen consumes some power. Not a lot, but still, some. Typically, a phone consumes less power than a tablet.
If you are using an app that requires the lock screen to be active, the device will consume more power. If possible, enable all power-saving options on the phone or tablet and disable all background apps. Animated wallpapers or similar features are unnecessary.
When not connected to hörbert, the phone or tablet does not download data from the internet or transmit much. In this scenario, the device has the lowest power consumption.
Electromagnetic radiation?
If you already have a Wi-Fi network at home, the player is just another device using that network. Additionally, the player on the shelf or cupboard is far away from your child.
hörbert’s Bluetooth connection depends on the reception situation and emits minimal power compared to Wi-Fi (Bluetooth up to 2.5 milliwatts, Wi-Fi up to 1000 milliwatts in extreme cases). This way, you have as little radiation as possible near your child. Less radiation can only be achieved by turning off Bluetooth and forgoing streaming.
https://www.bfs.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/BfS/DE/broschueren/emf/info-bluethooth-und-wlan.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=7
Ideas for the hardcore enthusiasts and final tips:
• Instead of Wi-Fi, you could use a phone with a SIM card and valid plan to connect to the internet. The main thing is that the phone finds a way online. However, note that streaming will consume your data volume, which can incur high costs depending on your plan. Additionally, phones may reach 2000 milliwatts of power in areas with poor reception.
•
Tip: Place the phone or tablet face down on the shelf or cupboard so that it does not emit light at night – for example, from an LED.
•
Tip: Ensure the charging cable is placed out of reach for safety. There is a risk of strangulation or the device falling on the child if they pull the cable.
•
Tip: If you have set an auto-off time on your Bluetooth module, hörbert will also turn off in Bluetooth Speaker Mode after this time.
Now, enjoy streaming!
Have you tried it out? Share your experiences in the comments!
