Headphone Power Level

[cx3]

I was tinkering with the V today and reading in the manual when I noticed that having too high power level for the headphones would affect battery life. I checked my power level and found it was set at 5, I decided to try a power level of 2. As I was scanning in my test garden I noticed that the audio would drag for an excessisve amount of time after you swept a target. although the threshold tone sounded fine. I tinkered for around 30 minutes with different adjustments trying to git the V settled down. Initially I thought the large amount of water in the ground from the snow and rain we have had may be the problem, but then it hit me ref. changing the power level on the headphones. I increased the power level to 3 and like magic the V worked properly again. If you change the power level on your headphones and reduce it to much it will definitely affect the operation of the detector. HH


Jerry Murphy

 

[tab-nabit]

Back near the beginning when the Vision was introduced, there was some discussion on this. I mentioned on a reply about increasing & decreasing the power levels affecting battery power, but someone ripped on me stating how increasing the power level does not have an effect. Huh.... I blew it off as being a HAM operator and work related equipment, you can not increase transmit power all else being the same without consuming more power. Besides, as you stated, it was also in the manual. So someone wasn't tuned into this.
Anyway, when things go fine, I normally use the power level at 3. If interference cause any problems, try different frequency/channel, and keep in mind although you may find the cleanest available, there could be times that in addition to a cleaner channel, increase the power level may help. I have to do this for one of the areas I hunt with the Vision.
When I hunted with another Vision user, we at one time connected both our headphones to the machine I was using. This way he could hear basically what I was hearing while I was detecting. And while he took a break sitting at a bench, I turned up the power so he stayed connected and was able to listen with no problem. Kind of a nice feature going wireless and having others in on the audio.
But normally by myself and no interference I run at a power level of 3 in most cases.

 

[Rob (IL)]

I don't know why you got ripped?

The wireless transmitter draw is 7 to 15mA at 10V. The power setting on the wireless will have an effect on the battery life. The back light setting will affect the battery life. I usually run the back light off when hunting and a power setting of 5 to 7 on the wireless headphones Bob@Whites

As you see this straight from Whites. They also recommended 5 as the lowest setting. It doesn't mean that lower won't work but can lead to some of the audio drag mentioned. Run it as low as you don't have problems. Rob

 

[Larry (IL)]

I think it was Carl@White's that stated a power level of 7 was still negligible battery drain. If it is 15 mA, it is a very small amount, hardly a noticeable battery drain. I run mine about a 3 or 4 not for the batteries, but to keep interference to a minimum for fellow V3 users in the club. I think we have 7 with V's. I have heard other V3's 300 feet away with power level 7 and it dropped down to about 20 feet on power level 3.

 

[tab-nabit]

I don't know why I got ripped on either.
And I still can't understand how one can increase transmit power and not consume more battery power all else being equal.
That's why I blew it off.
I know that when I cranked up my HAM gear, and when I increased transmit power, my power supply amps increase. All else being equal > (didn't change antenna gain, coaxial, ground plane etc.).
I just let it go - makes no difference to me.
The main thing is that I'm hooked on the wireless headphone feature.
Unfortunately the first area I hunted with the Vision is the spot I earlier talked about. I had to know then about the power level, channels etc., and in addition, I had to lower the Rx and do a few other tweaks (can't recall all and to what settings) to get it somewhat manageable to detect. Also one of the first was changing batteries. I didn't know at first what was going on. By the time my friend got his Vision going, he was having difficulty also, but we soon figured out how it behaved when we moves about 50 yards from where we started.
We were more stoked at playing with the Visions than focusing on digging although we dug up probably 1/3 of the targets. We were out to have fun and that's what we got. Admiring the wireless feature, color display, and data displayed. Getting a feel for the machine if you will.

 

[CROCK of COINS]

A funny thing happend when I took my V3 to its first hunt:

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?66,933560,933560#msg-933560

Jerry

 

[tab-nabit]

That's funny - it does help to have it turned on, does me anyway.

 

[magicpsn]

A funny thing happend when I took my V3 to its first hunt:

http://www.findmall.com/read.php?66,933560,933560#msg-933560

Jerry

That's just too funny!!! It does help to have it turned on, but it is also nice to have it set for another frequency. That was one of the first things that I did along with changing the power level to 4...which work for me.

 

[ak_1234]

Changing the power level will change the current draw on the detector. But, fairly insignificantly compared to what it takes to run everything else. However, the headphones are always set to a power level of 7. They do not change. So, the battery life on the headphones won't be affected from the wireless module. What might save battery life is missing audio packets, so the audio doesn't end up drawing more current. But if that's happening, you probably are missing targets because it's not sounding the audio for your targets either.

Hopefully I hadn't made a post that sounded ripping. I never intended to, but I have responded to posts trying to explain this. So if it was my post - my apologies. I can't think of anytime that I was ripping though.