Minelab Customer Care Coordinator's response about headphone issue with external speaker

[earthmansurfer]

Here is my correspondence with Minelab thus far:

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Hello,

I have a new CTX 3030 as well as a new pair of Gray Ghost Headphones. I am using an adapter which sticks out the back by 2" to solve the problem right now, but it is an accident waiting to happen as far as damaging the headphone module. I am aware that Minelab has stated they will not offer a software fix for this problem.

Regarding the PDF released by Minelab stating that Minelab is following the industry standard and some headphone manufacturers aren't - The different wiring's was apparently done to suite different machines. There really isn't an industry standard in the detecting industry.
Alternative wiring is so common in the industry and that is why there are so many brands affected - for starters Gray Ghosts, Sun Ray and Chef Phones. Gray Ghost even told me they will not rewire their headphones as it will affect other detectors. They have a pretty valid point.

Regardless of Minelab not being at fault, what I don't understand is this - Why not just write a simple patch to fix the problem? Why not just make the customer happy? In the time it took to write that PDF (apparently after the problem was discovered) you could have taken an engineer and just written a short fix. I measured the pins using an ohm/volt meter and even the 3 brands which don't turn off the speaker are giving an ohm reading on the third pin from the top, to the right on the headphone module. So, there is a circuit there, it is not open. It appears the CTX merely needs to listen for this. It really seems like a convenient excuse to say you followed the industry standard and the manufacturers didn't. If I am wrong about the software fix my apologies, but then an Engineer from Minelab should make a statement explaining why it isn't possible as quite a few people are unhappy about this. I don't mean a statement saying you aren't responsible. I'm more so asking for Minelab to show some heart here (and I really mean that in a good way, as "heart" is intended.)

A software fix is easier and safer than everything being suggested at this time. Just do it for the many customers...

Sincerely,
Albert

Hello Albert, the industry standard doesn

 

[earthmansurfer]

Here is there reply. If indeed true, this puts the software fix to rest:

Albert-

Thank you for the email. First let me start by saying Brian is the Customer Care Coordinator and for all intents and purposes is an expert at repairing and supporting Minelab Metal detectors. He also has a Bachelor

 

[Reeseb]

-- moved topic --

 

[Digger]

There is not a software related fix to this as this is controlled by the circuitry of the PCB which is exclusive to the CTX control box due to the fact that the waterproof headphones use the same port. Other detectors have a physical switch as well as the WM10 that open and close circuits enabling/disabling the external speaker. This option was not available as we needed a waterproof solution that could handle both the waterproof headphones and the regular