Need Help!!!- Minelab Musketeer Advantage Cable Mod

[lloyd0161]

I recently purchased a Minelab Musketeer Advantage Pro off eBay. I am so tired of eBay since the last 3 detectors I have purchased have had issues; mostly people shortening cables. Probably cause thier dogs, etc. had chewed the cable; who knows? My Tesoro Vaquero off eBay arrived as not working due to some idiot shortening the cable and not soldering the cable connector improperly. The add said "guaranteed not to arrive dead on arrival". I fixed this and it worked great but the coil cable had been shortened to the point of almost being unusable. Fortunately it worked just fine.

This time around I found, and a week after the fact, that the coil cable on the TS800 coil had been shortened to 4'-7" which prohibits hip mounting unless I could become 2'-0" tall. I also got the TS 1000 coil with this but the coil cable had not been shortened enough to be noticeable. This coil cable was measured at 8"-8". Still not factory specs as I determined.

Anyway, I need to create a 5'-0" coil cable extension. Radio Shack could not help me with this project. I need to know where to get the 5 pin male and female connectors compatible with the Minelab type and also the type of cable I will need to complete this modification. I am capable of soldering, etc. If I can actually do this I will then shorten the TS1000 coil cable as well to be the same as the TS800 coil cable. The 5'-0" cable extension will complete the mod assembly.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Llyod, I'm not sure about the cable, but your can find the plugs on Ebay by searching for Microphone plugs or CB plugs. Here's a link to the female ends they use on the Sovereign. Not sure if the Musky connectors are the same or not. Pickup some low temperature shrink tubing as well, it makes for a much stronger connection under the connector.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120023101489

 

[lloyd0161]

Hey Bud

The Musky has a 5 pin jack. I don't recall but someone said the Sovereign is a 7 pin jack; not sure. Anyway, I have also e-Mailed Minelab to see if I can Purchase 5 feet of coil cable.

 

[Sand Scoop]

If you find someone that will sell the coil cable I'd like to buy 10'.

 

[Neil]

I recently purchased a Minelab Musketeer Advantage Pro off eBay. I am so tired of eBay since the last 3 detectors I have purchased have had issues; mostly people shortening cables. Probably cause thier dogs, etc. had chewed the cable; who knows? My Tesoro Vaquero off eBay arrived as not working due to some idiot shortening the cable and not soldering the cable connector improperly. The add said "guaranteed not to arrive dead on arrival". I fixed this and it worked great but the coil cable had been shortened to the point of almost being unusable. Fortunately it worked just fine.

This time around I found, and a week after the fact, that the coil cable on the TS800 coil had been shortened to 4'-7" which prohibits hip mounting unless I could become 2'-0" tall. I also got the TS 1000 coil with this but the coil cable had not been shortened enough to be noticeable. This coil cable was measured at 8"-8". Still not factory specs as I determined.

Anyway, I need to create a 5'-0" coil cable extension. Radio Shack could not help me with this project. I need to know where to get the 5 pin male and female connectors compatible with the Minelab type and also the type of cable I will need to complete this modification. I am capable of soldering, etc. If I can actually do this I will then shorten the TS1000 coil cable as well to be the same as the TS800 coil cable. The 5'-0" cable extension will complete the mod assembly.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Loyd can you pass on where you got the factory specs on the length of the minelab coil cables? From the factory the advantage coil cables are usually about a foot longer than the sov coils, advantage cables being around 8ft and the sovs being about 7ft. Years ago when I was using sovs more it was popular to shorten coil cables down to about 48" to 50", both for lightening up the unit and giving it a cleaner appearance. Some will tell you it improved performance, back then I probably did also
anyways even when you ordered a new sunray coil you could select a longer or shorter cable.
so I would say the cable shortening was done intentionally. if you were lied to about it on an ebay purchase(guessing you asked first), you have recourse to get your money back or at least make it right some way.
I dont think minelab sells parts anymore so an internet search for the mic connectors, mentioned above, should get you to a site that sells both the connectors and the cable. I cant remember who I used back when. Get yourself some heat shrink tubing also, helps alot on keeping the wires seperated at the mic connector.
Good luck!
Neil

 

[Rick(ND)]

Check with Ralph at Sun Ray Detectors he might be able to help you out as he makes extention cables for the Sovereigns and possibly other detectors.

 

[lloyd0161]

Thanks guys for the tips!!!

 

[lloyd0161]

Loyd can you pass on where you got the factory specs on the length of the minelab coil cables? From the factory the advantage coil cables are usually about a foot longer than the sov coils, advantage cables being around 8ft and the sovs being about 7ft. Years ago when I was using sovs more it was popular to shorten coil cables down to about 48" to 50", both for lightening up the unit and giving it a cleaner appearance. Some will tell you it improved performance, back then I probably did also
anyways even when you ordered a new sunray coil you could select a longer or shorter cable.
so I would say the cable shortening was done intentionally. if you were lied to about it on an ebay purchase(guessing you asked first), you have recourse to get your money back or at least make it right some way.
I dont think minelab sells parts anymore so an internet search for the mic connectors, mentioned above, should get you to a site that sells both the connectors and the cable. I cant remember who I used back when. Get yourself some heat shrink tubing also, helps alot on keeping the wires seperated at the mic connector.
Good luck!
Neil[/quote

I guess I do not know the actual factory specs on the length but in remeasuring my TS1000 coil has a 7'-6" approx cable length and my TS800 has a 4'-7" approx cable length. I remember from my first Musketeer Advantage Pro from years ago that the cable length was longer than 7'-6" for both coils due to their being a lot of slack which I liked. I had asked Minelab what the exact cable length should be but never got an answer to this particular question other than the 4'-7" length was definitely too short to be factory.