MindWave Mobile 2: Brainwave Starter Kit

I had high hopes for the NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 Brainwave Starter Kit, but unfortunately, my experience has been far from satisfactory. One of the major issues I encountered right out of the gate is its lack of compatibility with modern systems. The required drivers are outdated, making it incompatible with newer operating systems like Windows 11. Even on Android devices, most of the games and apps are not optimized for modern Android OS, severely limiting its functionality. Furthermore, the absence of Linux options and the expiration of the Arduino option further restrict its versatility and usefulness for enthusiasts who prefer alternative platforms. The Bluetooth connectivity, touted as a key feature, turned out to be a nightmare to set up. Despite numerous attempts, establishing a stable connection was an arduous task. Despite its potential in terms of affordability and the promising array of games, I've had the MindWave Mobile 2 for quite some time now and still haven't been able to get it to work properly. It's incredibly frustrating to invest in a product that simply doesn't deliver on its promises. In conclusion, I can't recommend the NeuroSky MindWave Mobile 2 Brainwave Starter Kit due to its limited compatibility, connectivity issues, and overall lackluster performance.

My therapist recommended this device to me after my insurance changed and I was no longer able to do neurofeedback with him in the office. Five years ago, personal neurofeedback devices cost significantly more, around $5,000, so I was pleased to see the technology has advanced since then and prices have decreased to be affordable. I use this device for around 10 minutes when I am feeling low or unmotivated. Not something I have to use every day, I use it for around 3-5 days when I begin to feel low and it really helps. I feel much more motivated, focused, energized, and I notice I am able to accomplish a lot more of my work. I have an iPhone, and I bought the The Beauty Within app for $8, which is the only app I recommend for this product. I tried all the free ones and bought one other, which I don't recommend. I also researched the Muse device, but ultimately decided on the MindWave because it was the same device, just less money and less pretty. I use this device while meditating and it give me instant feedback on how I'm doing, and helps to train my neurons to fire in a more effective way.

I am a Middle School student trying to use the MindWave Mobile Neurosky headset. I asked for this headset as my birthday present, and it hasn’t worked. My father in my behalf has contacted your company twice, once by email and the next by a phone call searching for answers. We asked how to record the mindwaves believing that we could use this headset to do so, but apparently it was falsely advertised. Even though the dropbox function was unavailable to neurosky it will never be because no mindwaves are actually recorded. There is no real data collected that can be proven to show if a person is in a meditative state on the App. The blinking wasn’t calibrated correctly. The green light blinked even if a person wasn’t blinking. Neither times we contacted your company, the given answers have been helpful. During this time I contacted three people who majored or are majoring in computer sciences. None of them were able to make the headset work. The MindWave Mobile Tutorial App doesn’t help with pairing the headset to a phone, computer, or tablet. The MindWave Mobile App has only worked correctly with the headset once the first time I used it. After this we tried new batteries, but the device is faulty. For my Christmas break (which is two weeks long) I have researched and attempted different techniques. I bought a new app, because your app does record brainwaves, but it won’t pair, with any device. I tried using a college program MATLAB thinking that the headest wasn’t the problem, but alas it didn’t work either. Thinkgear wouldn’t work with the headset even though it is stated that they will work together in the instructions that came with the headset, and an online manual.

Despite seeing multiple recent reviews stating that this doesn't work or connect, I decided to give it a try. Tested with a pixel 3a running android 10- works flawlessly. No trouble connecting to the device at all. Paired in the Bluetooth menu first- every app I've tried connects to the headset almost instantly. Most of the apps do bring up the warning that they were made for an older version of android, but no functionality seems to be lost there. I also tested on multiple windows 10 pcs. Again, pairing the device in the Bluetooth menu is step one. After this you install the appropriate handler (thinkgear connector) and make note of the com port. All software tested works just fine and connects to the headset almost instantly. I do not understand how on earth people have managed to not connect at all- I intentionally tried to botch the setup on two pcs just to try and replicate the reported issues, but the thing still works as it was meant to. I cannot attest to the accuracy, as I have no baseline device to compare it to. However I can say that the software on the neurosky site is dated and fairly useless- with the exception of the neuroexperimenter (a newer version is freely avaliable on the authors site), which allows you to record and log sessions, apply custom filtering, apply your own formulas to create custom esense waves and outputs complete csv data. As I wanted to study and analyze brainwave patterns during different activities, this is the perfect software to do so. The attention and meditation waves seem to accurately reflect some people while with others they seem to reflect everything in reverse. Its really hit or miss with those, but with the software mentioned above you can create a band that actually does reflect your attentive state. Either way, its 2020 and the device works on modern operating systems. If you are holding back on this purchase due to other reviews claiming that it doesn't work, you are missing out.

What can I say, does what it says on the box, although not cheap, using it with a Soundmachines BI1 brainterface for a synth project.

Trying to use this with the phone app was useless. The phone, even set for the longest delay, only lets it run for 30 minutes, then it shuts down. I should have anticipated that. My bad. Even just a foot or two from the phone, the bluetooth connection kept dropping out & reconnecting. That could be my bad, also. Environment, etc., could have gotten in the way. So, I paired it to my Windows machine & downloaded the software to use it on the PC. MUCH better, but the bluetooth remained unreliable. Before I bought mine, I had one sent to a friend. He gave up using it, too, for the same reasons, though he didn't tell me until after I decided to get one for myself. Try it at your own risk.

Does work properly, does not work with Android, Windows, ect. Most of the apps offered included the Neurosky Mindwave Mobile tutorial native app does not sync in Bluetooth mode with android. By the other side, neurosky offer an email for support and no one answers it. So finally, you buy a product that don't work and there is no real support available. Worst gadget i have bought ever....

Here are some tips based on other reviews I've read of people who have had problems with connection and use: 1. Use good quality Alkaline or Lithium Ion AAA batteries. 2. Gently squeeze the ear clip and press the forehead sensor to make sure it's connected well. (I have to do this on the $20,000 dry electrode 19 Channel EEG cap I use at work too). You might need to wipe the ear lobe and forehead with water or an alcohol wipe. 2.5. To connect, the headset needs to be on your head, and making good contact with the skin. 3. If you have the headset linked to multiple devices (tablet, PC, etc), turn the bluetooth off on the other devices if they are nearby. 4. Read the instructions found in the quick setup and user manual for connection and use from Neurosky. 5. Read the instructions for the app's you are trying to use. 6. For PC, some apps use the Neurosky ThinkGear program, and some don't and connect to the headset directly. The MIndwave Mobile 2 is really amazing when you consider the total package of hardware and apps for Android, IOS, and PC. It has a learning curve though, and I learned the above tips the hard way, so if you're having problems, don't give up.