New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

The forum has moved to community.paydirt.co.nz, see you there!

This forum is now an archive to preserve the knowledge and finds posted here.

goldbug problem. - headphone really

luke		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 6:23:16 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 54 Location: home Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 13 post(s)		iv now broke about 5 lots of headphone, all at the jack part. i have been buying cheap ones but my good expensive ones where the first to go so don't think its the quality of them. more the fact the headphone jack pokes out the side and catches on things and bends when i lay it down. just wondering if im being to hard on things or if anyone has this problem and found a way round it?
		WWW BLOG

rgmcbrid		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 6:39:35 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		I trashed my first set of headphones, ended up re-soldering them several times and wrapping the wire by the jack with tape to toughen it up a bit but I finally gave up and started using 'Fisher Phones' and have not had any trouble since. Really I got hem because someone had ordered a set and I was very envious and had to get some myself. They have a curley cord, kind like an old phone. They don't seem to hang up on things as bad because the cord is shorter, I tend not to step on it for example, and when it does hang up it kind of bungees and does not hit the jack so hard. The Fisher Phones are really expensive, but I imagine some old 1970 sterio headphines would work just as well.
		WWW

luke		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 8:59:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 54 Location: home Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 13 post(s)		been looking in all the op shops for a set of the old school ones like you said but not found any yet. and like you said, the proper ones cost heaps.
		WWW BLOG

Metal Kiwi		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 9:05:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 19/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,210 Location: Auckland Thanks: 498 times Was thanked: 484 time(s) in 322 post(s)		Originally Posted by: luke been looking in all the op shops for a set of the old school ones like you said but not found any yet. and like you said, the proper ones cost heaps. Hi Luke, Is $95 plus courier too much? Chris DetectNZ
		WWW BLOG

tonznz		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 9:12:35 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 20/07/2011(UTC) Posts: 667 Thanks: 261 times Was thanked: 199 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Mine have broken too several times. I cut off the end, buy a new end from jaycar and solder a new one one. Then it breaks again and I do it again. Its worth doing it though as its a cheap fix.

DrunkBrother		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 9:36:17 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 27/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 911 Location: Auckland Thanks: 21 times Was thanked: 206 time(s) in 161 post(s)		yap, the only downside of Gold bug jack point is that it is on the side, so simple thing to buy this : http://www.dicksmith.co....sonic-headphones-rpht265 Panasonic Headphones - RPHT265 They have 5 meter cable and volume control, So once your jackpoint wears off- cut it and resolder- takes 2 minutes (buy spare open wire jack point from tectonix or any other radio shop for 2$) I was using those for about 100 hours of detecting with my gold bug and didnt wear them off.
		2014Rings PlT/PD=0 GOLD=30 STG=53 Junk=46
		WWW BLOG

rgmcbrid		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 9:41:56 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		Thinking about it another option would be to solder on a 90 degree plug and a whole new curley cord. Do they have those at Jaycar?
		WWW

luke		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 10:04:07 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 54 Location: home Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 13 post(s)		already got 2 plugs to solder on. not tried to do it yet. i did see you could get a 90 degree plug that just plugs in and you then plug your headphone in to that. may have to get one of them and ducktape it all up to protect it all.
		WWW BLOG

DrunkBrother		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 10:05:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 27/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 911 Location: Auckland Thanks: 21 times Was thanked: 206 time(s) in 161 post(s)		And then you can fix it on gold bug and have cable run by the pole back to handle and straight up. and no tangling :-)
		2014Rings PlT/PD=0 GOLD=30 STG=53 Junk=46
		WWW BLOG

lifejockey		Posted : Tuesday, 20 November 2012 10:14:59 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 3/11/2011(UTC) Posts: 68 Location: Thames Thanks: 15 times Was thanked: 24 time(s) in 17 post(s)		Or just attach a bungee cord to your detector and clip to belt. I attached mine to a steel ring and the ring goes through a clip on the belt. The headphone cord goes through the ring too. Keeps the cord neat and out of the way. Need to dig the target....just let go the detector and it swings from the hip. Even kneeling the detector box is not touching the ground. Keeps it clean and the jack doesn't get damaged. The swing is not limited if you have the right length of bungee and shaft length....although it did take me a few trials to get it right. L
		Gold Bug Pro and Lots of Hope

luke		Posted : Thursday, 22 November 2012 12:49:20 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 54 Location: home Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 13 post(s)		well got 2 pairs fixed now, never thought soldering would be so hard. and now going to try and find one of the 90 degree sockets and fingers crossed it all works and no more breakages.
		WWW BLOG

oroplata		Posted : Thursday, 22 November 2012 1:06:58 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		jaycar have 3 options. The 2 mono ones are all metal construction. One being the flat type used on the guitar end of electric guitar cables ($2.50). The other looks robust. $5.90 The stereo one is a crappy cheap one with a hard plastic cover. Don't see it lasting too long. $3. GlobalPC (who bought out the component supply side of Dick Smith?) have mono and stereo versions of the cheap crappy type AND the metal guitar type. So although the gold bug can be used with both stereo and mono headphones, I recommend you go to globalPC and buy the stereo guitar jack, part # P0047, for about $3. (catalog has Aussie prices).
		WWW

kiwijw		Posted : Friday, 23 November 2012 7:32:02 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 28/03/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,152 Thanks: 92 times Was thanked: 658 time(s) in 324 post(s)		Hi guys, Gosh......this sounds like quite a serious design fault if the headphone jack comes out the side of the detector. You would have to learn pretty quick smart not to lay your detector down on that side. Plus it WILL be a lot more prone to catching on bushes & the like as you walk along & poking & proding while detecting. If all you guys have had this much trouble with them, & some more than once in such a short time, imagine on the world wide scale.........Isnt the headphone jack/plug 1/4 inch? If only 3mm like say a walkman type size....that is just crazy for a detector. More so if it is coming out the side. I have & was still using the original minelab Koss headphones that came with my GP 3000 since new. That must be getting close to 8-9 years now. Admitidley the head phones plug in to the battery pack which is warn in a back pack type harness where the battery ends up sitting in the lower crock of your back. So is well & truely out of harms way. The only reason I got some new ones very recently was that the soft cushion material around the ear cups has warn away. I have caught the curly cord heaps on buhes over the years but they have taken all those knocks. I was given a set of Nugget Buster head phones from a detecting friend from Canada. They came with a 90 degree plug which dont really suit some detectors. Depends where the jack point is. Happy hunting JW :) Edited by user Friday, 23 November 2012 7:33:10 AM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

luke		Posted : Friday, 23 November 2012 10:56:49 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 14/10/2012(UTC) Posts: 54 Location: home Thanks: 7 times Was thanked: 41 time(s) in 13 post(s)		sure is a design fault. would be better it it come out the bottom or back. they take both types of headphone jacks but there both on the side.
		WWW BLOG

asterix		Posted : Friday, 23 November 2012 11:58:08 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 14/04/2012(UTC) Posts: 29 Location: Bournemouth UK Was thanked: 6 time(s) in 6 post(s)		I had similar problems with my XTerra several years ago,stupid place to put the jackpoint but as suggested a 90 deg jack sorted it for me.Just recently i brought a good quality set of headphones with military grade lead and 90 deg jack as standard. I always found the cheap ones kept breaking the wires inside from constant swinging,so even tho the initial outlay is expensive,they should pay for themselves within about 2 years,and the lead detaches from the phones so just a small cost to replace eventually. The quality sound and comfort are a bonus,i'm kicking myself for sticking with cheapo ones for so long.... Heres the ones i got,designed and tested by a detectorist for detecting. http://www.chefphones.com/#!cp2/ca5m Edited by user Friday, 23 November 2012 12:02:39 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

rgmcbrid		Posted : Friday, 23 November 2012 4:49:49 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		Wow, those are not cheap either. I would agree, now that I have some high powered head phones I really like them. They have never broken and don't really even show any signs of wear on the plug. My only complaint is that when out detecting with others I can't hear them when they talk. But otherwise they are great; I have to turn the volume way down on the detector to keep from blowing my eardrums which I assume saves the batteries.
		WWW

oroplata		Posted : Friday, 23 November 2012 5:10:15 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered, Moderators Joined: 16/06/2011(UTC) Posts: 1,040 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 211 time(s) in 152 post(s)		Originally Posted by: rgmcbrid My only complaint is that when out detecting with others I can't hear them when they talk. Good god, man. Thats a feature, not a bug!
		WWW

rgmcbrid		Posted : Friday, 23 November 2012 8:56:23 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 3/06/2010(UTC) Posts: 583 Location: Southland Thanks: 23 times Was thanked: 180 time(s) in 140 post(s)		Lol, yes most of the time, but when someone is saying 'look out for thet truck' or something like that it might be nice to hear them.
		WWW