SteveJJ

Yup, it can be sensitive. It might help to use velcro straps to hold the coil wire snugly against the shaft so it doesn't have any wiggle when bumped. Like loose socks, it can slough down and wiggle when bumped, and being metal... Others have commented that noisy coil can come from dirt under the coil protector. I've not pried mine off yet but should. That too might help. You started with an awesome machine and likely won't feel a need to upgrade any time soon, unless you want to get into some specific detecting that would do better with a machine focused to that task. They say 100 hours use to gain competency, and I believe it. I learn more each time out and am nowhere near 100 hours yet. There's still lots of settings to explore/learn about. Enjoy your time, take good mental notes and don't worry about digging everything at first, it's how we've all learned! Welcome aboard, we're all in for a great ride!

I've learned to be a late adapter of new firmware/os. Especially on a mission critical device.

I'm curious to hear how it stacks up against GoldMonster, or if it's even close.

We used Google maps to find the piles, pretty obvious in satellite images. Some we took a chance on to see if it was posted no trespassing or not. If not, we hiked in (most were gated or marked no vehicles) and detected the piles. Yes, we were only expecting copper but some mines also had silver so we dug many hot rocks. Mostly the copper is in sheets, but there is also float copper chunks or nuggets left by glaciation. Some float gets an inch or two thick. Most sheets are a quarter inch or much less in thickness. Sometimes the copper has crystallized and creates rare beauty. Ill try and take some photos of my chunks as they were found, then again after soaking in vinegar to remove the rock. This was from hard rock mining, blasted and hauled out of the mine. If the ore wasn't high grade enough it was discarded. We searched the discard piles. We both found deep targets in areas it was obvious others had detected in. Both Eq800. We both found bits of chiseled copper where miners would chisel off chunks of large sheets to haul out. Likely from 1800's. pretty uncommon to find those. I reworked an area I'd first set tight discrimination on, others came along behind us and hit the crushed pile thoroughly. I found some deeper copper all had missed by running plain park 2, and lots of low grade copper oxides (I'm sure there are many mineral names I could learn and identify, but haven't, so I just call it low grade oxides). I was paying attention to fainter signals and slowing down to sift and sort through them. Much to my pleasure I was understanding what it was telling me. I removed rock slowly and rescanned frequently and found the lower grade near and above the deeper purer copper. I'm just learning this machine, but already,liking what I'm learning. I hope these notes help others both learn and enjoy!

Not that I can with current bandwidth limitations. Once I return, then gladly. I found today that copper that was freshly crushed out of embedding rock isn't as oxidized as some released long ago. It appears either the mixture of metals differs from site to site, or the level of oxidation as well as size can give it quite differing numbers. So, it's prudent to start digging everything to learn what you want to avoid then adjust accordingly. I learned today that one's site's settings don't pan out for other sites! Still learning, but liking this detector all the more as I do! Curious about the ground balance numbers being as high as mid 70's! Wasn't just my detector, my friend's was too! Going to turn on the auto tracking and see how that works tomorrow. What a great machine!

Ok, back on the Keweenaw Peninsula detecting on copper mine tailings. I quickly knocked off all signals below 18 and learned to not dig anything below 20 (in Park 2, sensitivity 18, speed 6) Not sure the number of tones, 5 maybe. It's like cheating! 20 and up, except some 30's (big iron, go figure) were all sizable copper metal. No hot rocks, no ores, just copper metal. Seems the larger the piece or vein, the higher the number. I dug more copper in the first hour than I'd get in a day with my F75 or Vaquero. It ran silent until something worth digging was there. I may have missed small bits but I am not disappointed in the quantity and quality of the metal found this way. I will dig the higher numbers as there is sometimes silver mixed in with the copper, and I do not yet know what that would read, but suspect above 18. If you get a chance to come up this way and don't care to dig nails or hot rocks, try the numbers above. I got to them by example, the hot rocks I'd dug were 16 or lower on plain ole Park 2 so saw that flakes of metal were 20 and up so knocked off all below 18. It did not take long to do. I worked a pile that was recently crushed, destined to be laid down on logging roads Bet they won't miss the copper I left with. The Equinox 800 is such a versatile tool, it is almost cheating!

My 800 is the same. Have to hit it just right to turn on, and haven't found a consistent way to do so. Might try the warranty swap if it really helps.

I think a third party solid coil cover would sell extremely well, for any Equinox coil!

I am curious if F-Pulse reacts to hot rocks or not. Anyone tested that?

That says a lot. I was about to push the button on a CTX 3030 purchase when I shifted gears and chose the 800 instead. I've had my vendor hold my 15% military discount as a down payment on a 6" coil. Yet another wait, but the ground is ice just few inches down where it isn't covered in snow, so I can be patient. I hope!

If I bent the aluminum upper shaft, I'd very likely use carbon fiber as a replacement just for the strength/resilience of it. I'm guessing it's tougher than aluminum. Sexier looking too!

When you run out of cards, can you share a PDF version? Very kind of you to take this on. Appreciated.

I've had my vendor hold my 15% military discount as a down payment for the 6" coil. I hope it isn't a long wait!

Sorry for your snow Mark. My area was blessed this time. By some gift, a major storm didn't occur in the Twin Cities last night. Observing the radar video was very interesting. It appeared there was resistance from the metro area that held it at bay until it dissipated. Really weird, almost as if it were some psychic force keeping it back. It was too far off to be the 'thermal island' effect often mentioned. However it happened, I'm grateful I'm not out shoveling 5-9 inches of the heavy wet snow we get in the spring. I did some detecting yesterday in a cleared bulldozed (was oak-forested) lot and found some clear targets, but 2-4" down it was ice. They'll have to wait a while. It was strange not having a constant tone in my ears, but I did notice I was aware of noises nearby through the headphones. Wish I could have dug what the Eq8 was telling me about though so I'd learn its language.

Rockwestcomposites dot com has them too. Also carbon fiber shafts. HTH

What materials did you use? Where does one find carbon fiber shafts?

Approaching retirement and the end of paychecks, I'm 'gearing up' for what I hope will be my retirement plan, boondocking in gold country. Until I'm living the concept, I won't be getting a GPZ, and it may be a GPZ7500 when I do. Short of that, I have an Eq8 I have everything to learn about and intend to get smaller and larger coils for it, and a couple gold machines purchased from members here that have moved up. A GB2 and a TDI SL. Those 3 have cost me a couple grand and should stand me well for starters. If it all "pans out" (I have pans too) and I get to live my dream, then I'll look to the major cost of a GPZ, for what it too can bring to the table. Who knows, maybe there's an EQZ in the future?

I'm naive, but I want it all! both 15" and 6" when they come out, and any gold I can get the coils over. Eq8's a very capable detector, and the additional coils will give it greater versatility. It really is a game changer. Now to get out there before everyone has one!

Thank you for the info Judy. Appreciated

Ok, now I need to know about those bikes! Looks like foldable electric, but I can't see a label to know who makes it. Please share! Thanks!

I'm not in it! Some day, Gerry...

Some years have passed since I bought my last tent and sleeping pad, and they haven't been used but once now. When setting it all up, my friend told me everyone's going with hammocks these days. So I did some online research and found a hammock forums (dot net) site that was as good for hammocks as this one is for prospecting and metal detecting (my opinion). After reading many many hours, I bought a nearly new hammock and slept in that. Oh my, very comfortable but was smallish, darkish, and strange at first. Many experiments later using large tablecloth blanks and home made suspensions, with eye hooks across the living room for tests (no wife to complain, she passed on before me), I came up with a size and width that was really great. I came up with ideas for zippers and such and found a cottage vendor that had a similar product to what I'd make myself if my sewing skills could handle it. I've been sleeping in it most every night since. I have never slept better nor more comfortably than a good hammock. Not even the select comfort bed comes close. So, I can recommend you do some due diligence and look into hammock sleeping. Folks with bad backs have reported losing their back problems even. There are bug nets to keep the skeeters out, and tarps for rain, overcovers for retaining warmth in the cold, and down quilts, top and bottom for even sub zero temps (google frozen butt hang in Minnesota for some real gonzo enthusiasts). I can go back to ground if I absolutely have to, but will make all efforts to avoid it. Just my two cents.

I was just thinking the same this morning. Sell my F75 and use the funds for the 600, as a backup/loaner. I'm so far away from salt water that didn't cross my mind until your post. I can see value in focusing my learning to the Equinox as well. Seems very different from the capable F75 in tones and readings. Thanks for the write up!

Depends on too many variables to get into here. Will have to research for your camera and computer operating system for scrubbing software to edit/remove the meta data. Might be fun to insert coordinates for LaBrea Tar Pits or some such...

Does it detect pickers? How small and how far? Would it be useful in checking crevices? In streams? Does black sand trip its trigger so to speak? Very curious how it does on gold, especially in comparison to Minelab's 35 and Garrett Carrot. I like my carrot but if one of the others will signal small gold better, I'd buy it. I don't need a better pinpointer for coin shooting, but one that could signal small gold would be especially interesting and useful. Thanks!