Alan Applegate
Sr. Member
- Aug 20, 2013
- 257
- 131
- Detector(s) used
- Ace 250, GTI-2500
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
For the last several years, I've been using a pair of Radio Shack wireless headphones. One set bit the dust earlier this year, and the second one started giving me problems. I managed to fix it twice, but surface mounted technology is hard to work on even when you have schematics and the tools as I do. So my project a month ago was to find an alternative.
I have had experience with Bluetooth as a result of my other hobby, Amateur Radio. With my knowledge, I purchased a transmit only, stereo dongle from Overstock.com. The part number is 14154430. They sell for $20. The headphones I selected—they're actually a headset as they have a built in, unused microphone—was Overstock's part number 14497257 which sells for $26.49. They have others, but they're all the same except for the selling price. Neither unit comes with a charger, but they do come with a mini USB to USB cable. Either a cellphone charger of your computer can charge them easily. I just upgraded my cellphones, so I have working chargers with the mini USB already attached.
Pairing the two units is straight forward. The only issue is remembering to turn on the transmitter first, then the headphones. If you do it backwards, you might have to re-pair them which is a 20 second process. I attached the transmitter to the bottom of my normal detector (GTI-2500) with velcro. I use a Radio Shack 90° adapter which makes wiring simple.
After using the units for about 5 field trips, I have to say I'm impressed. They work flawlessly, although the phones over the head design makes wearing a hat problematic. There has been no negative issues at all. The only weird issue is when I lay down the detector to dig a hole. The capacitance of the ground causes the phones to lose contact with the transmitter. That is really serendipitous as it makes hearing the pinpointer easier. Once you pick up the detector, the phones reconnect in about 5 seconds with a high-pitched beep in your ear.
All in all, it was an inexpensive solution to the dangling cord syndrome, and I am pleased. At least with myself!
I have had experience with Bluetooth as a result of my other hobby, Amateur Radio. With my knowledge, I purchased a transmit only, stereo dongle from Overstock.com. The part number is 14154430. They sell for $20. The headphones I selected—they're actually a headset as they have a built in, unused microphone—was Overstock's part number 14497257 which sells for $26.49. They have others, but they're all the same except for the selling price. Neither unit comes with a charger, but they do come with a mini USB to USB cable. Either a cellphone charger of your computer can charge them easily. I just upgraded my cellphones, so I have working chargers with the mini USB already attached.
Pairing the two units is straight forward. The only issue is remembering to turn on the transmitter first, then the headphones. If you do it backwards, you might have to re-pair them which is a 20 second process. I attached the transmitter to the bottom of my normal detector (GTI-2500) with velcro. I use a Radio Shack 90° adapter which makes wiring simple.
After using the units for about 5 field trips, I have to say I'm impressed. They work flawlessly, although the phones over the head design makes wearing a hat problematic. There has been no negative issues at all. The only weird issue is when I lay down the detector to dig a hole. The capacitance of the ground causes the phones to lose contact with the transmitter. That is really serendipitous as it makes hearing the pinpointer easier. Once you pick up the detector, the phones reconnect in about 5 seconds with a high-pitched beep in your ear.
All in all, it was an inexpensive solution to the dangling cord syndrome, and I am pleased. At least with myself!
