All Activity

At the time Apex came out, Apex was not only the least expensive simultaneous multifrequency (SMF) detector it was also the least expensive detector featuring selectable single frequencies and I praised Garrett for finally showing up to the party with a compelling Detector to go toe to toe with Minelab. It was at the time a great value for a very capable detector. Garrett was transparent regarding what user expectations should be regarding its capabilities by appropriately associating it with the Ace product line. I considered it to be more than an Ace level but not quite as feature rich (and obviously not waterproof) like the AT series. Make no bones about it, though, the Ace series doesn't mean "entry level" and "lacking performance" it mainly means simple to operate and great value. As you say, Bob, detecting is more about having a decent site (location) and getting your coil over the target (coverage) and being proficient with and confident in whatever detector you use and less about cost and features, bells, and whistles. I grant you that when XP then came out with its SMF answer with the D2 and it's typical stratospheric pricing, especially compared to the Equinox and Apex it was fair to highlight the huge cost Delta to make an argument for comparative value. But 3 years later, it is kind of a stale argument, for two reasons. One was already pointed out but you appear to have dismissed it. Namely, there are a myriad of significantly less expensive and capable D2 configurations centered around the WS6 as the master controller. This highlights one of the most significant strengths of the D2 platform which is wireless component interoperability and reconfigurability which allows the end user to optimize value, capability, or weight as they see fit. But I'm not here to force you to eat a croissant you don't want, I just wanted to point that out for context. The second reason I would not necessarily beat the Apex value/cost drum too loudly is that Nokta came along and blew everyone out of the water with their price point for the Legend SMF, basically an Equinox 800 Plus...with a great selection of accessory coils. And they continue to update its firmware with more capability and features to this very day. Again, I am not saying any one detector is "better" than the other here, just commenting on this whole cost, value, "3x this", "4x that", focus. Cost and value are important but each major brand offers SMF detectors (XP and Minelab included) at price points similar to Apex for their various SMF offerings. Therefore, using cost as an argument for or against is a point that is easy to undercut regardless of whatever detector you are talking about. At this point with SMF detectors basically having similar performance capabilities, hair splitting seems to be the main MO for touting one detector over the other. Getting back to basics, the best detector is the one you want to use and do use most frequently. After all the hot air I just expelled, I am very excited to see Garrett's answer to Apex. Hopefully, the gathering "Storm" at Garrett will wow me as much as the Apex and Axiom product ammouncements once did.

I agree I my opinion that what hurts Minelab one and done one the updates. Look how many they did for dues,also there warranty

Maybe because there was/is lots of gold there. Goes without saying I reckon. D4g

I don't see why anyone would think prospectors don't need ferrous disc. A gold PI is typically going to be designed to hit the tiniest bits possible and that can also mean tiny ferrous bits. A relic PI might be more tuned to hit bullet size targets at max depth while being less sensitive to every tiny bit of ferrous trash. In theory though you can do both in one detector so interesting to see why they feel the need for two models. It could be nothing more than what coil the machine comes with. We have no idea what the detector really looks like but let's go with the fuzzy profile as being real. Standard configuration with collapsing three piece rod, fairly large underarm battery. Big question - it it submersible? Beach hunters will be disappointed once again if the answer is no.

Iron ID/Disc/Blanking

I wonder if the relic version could have some sort of decent iron disc.

Hmmm, interesting! What do you more knowledgeable folks in the PI realm think the differences between the gold prospecting and relic versions could be?

I would name it according to its release date, therefore nokta, I will need some more info 😁

I dug into my records... I bought my Apex first (USA) on 8/26/2020. It did not come with the MS-3 phones or the Pro-Pointer AT, I already had those from previous Garrett detector purchases. My price was $424.95. Then I purchased the Deus II 11" (USA) on 3/17/2022. It came with the WS6 headphones and MI-6 pinpointer and cost me $1758.00. $1758.00/$424.95 = 4.1369572x EXACTLY Oops! My bad, you were correct, I should have said 4 times as much! OK, so let's play fair and not compare apples to croissants, I'll add current retail prices (which I bet have changed upward from when I got my Apex) of the MS-3 Phones ($107.05) + Pro-Pointer ($144.95) = $252.00 $424.95 Apex + $252.00 Accessories = $676.95 total Revised... $1758.00/676.95 = 2.5969421x EXACTLY I'd say I estimated fairly close to 3 times as much. In reality, all I know is what came out of my pocket in the USA was 4 times as much for the Deus II than I paid for my Apex. I had purchased the Deus II to see what all the fervor was about and possibly replace the Apex. I used the Deus II for 6 months to give it a fair trial. Verdict was in, I later sold it in favor of keeping the Apex which I have now used exclusively for nearly 4 years. The Deus II just wasn't my "Croissant"! 🙂

Finally! First we had Algoforce but now the real battle starts in pulse induction, with Nokta likely to set new price/performance ratios i.e. bang for the buck. "Join our naming competition and get a chance to win one of our future Pulse Induction machines! One designed for gold prospecting and another one for relic hunting! These detectors will redefine affordability and performance for you to break free from the grip of overpriced alternatives!" ENTER CONTEST Deadline April 30th

First we had Algoforce but now the real battle starts in pulse induction, with Nokta likely to set new price/performance ratios i.e. bang for the buck. "Join our naming competition and get a chance to win one of our future Pulse Induction machines! One designed for gold prospecting and another one for relic hunting! These detectors will redefine affordability and performance for you to break free from the grip of overpriced alternatives!" ENTER CONTEST Deadline April 30th

Nice to hear a no holds barred no regrets testimonial.

competition to name the two new Nokta pulse detectors. One for the search for gold and another for relics

Hi All, I got hooked into detecting over the last year, spurred on by scoring a Garrett Ace 200 for $25 at Goodwill! I have only detected around my house so far, which as it is an old farmhouse dating back to the 1730s has been plenty!!! Graduated up to a Nokta Legend this spring after I found, and tired of, that the Ace 200 was exceptionally good at finding old hand forged nails. Top scores so far include a silver thimble, a fat 1860 Indian Head cent, an 1896 Indian Head cent, a bunch of wheaties, and just this week a 1927 Mercury dime, my first silver coin! Also found a large copper dandy button, and a copper tag with "Bay State House 29" on it, as well as a door key that fits the old lock of one of the exterior doors! The Bay State tag is definitely old and is somewhat pitted. If anyone has any thoughts on what it is from, let me know! Very much learning the Nokta still, figuring it out and spending way too much time doing so!

The majority of machines I see on the Florida coast are the 800 followed by Excals. I run across one guy from time to time who uses the D2. Some Ace machines on the dry sand but most are snow birds. I was one of the lucky water hunters with my 800 that never flooded. I did break everything else on it, but all was covered under warranty. I was down to one detector and when the Manticore came out I grabbed one and it is my go-to machine all the time now especially since my 800 was long out of warranty. I used a friends D2 on two different occasions and didn't care much for the small, complicated screen. Also had the antennae wire pulled off after seaweed got the best of it.

thanks for the help

Sometimes these sales become price adjustments, as they stick around or never go back up to their full price. I thought the Manticore is overpriced, well still is here. I can buy a Deus 2 WS6 lite whatever it is kit for half the price of a Manticore. Minelab always aim high for pricing, and gradually adjust when they work out they have overshot. The Deus 2 is the competitor to the Manticore and has pretty good popularity, and the Legend competing with the Equinox 800. So, for the first time in some time Minelab has real competition. It will be interesting how Garrett's new detector when it finally comes out adjusts the market uptake but may have been another reason this sale is US only, as the Garrett detector will be virtually USA only too unless they sort out their pricing. My biggest problem with Nokta detectors is their UI is always a poorly thought-out mashup of making too much fit on a screen not suitable. XP face similar issues although not near as bad. The Manticore is so simple to navigate and understand the screen it doesn't even compare in that regard. What was never taken into account it seems was a bulk of people were happy with their 800's, and the changes made especially to the 900 were certainly not enough to entice an "upgrade" unless a water hunter so many will only upgrade once their 800 fails out of warranty. The Manticore was an upgrade but the price increase was far too high for not enough extra for many people. I'm happy with my Manticore though, and glad I bought it, especially now I have the m8 and m15. A very good detector. As Steve said they'll sell a lot of Manticores now during the sale, once the sale is over, they'll be lucky to sell many at all for a long time.

Hobbiton was amazing. Today we go to the Waitomo caves.

My last day of detecting before this trip I went out on the beach with my 800 and my coil ears broke off the 11 inch coil. I wondered if it was an omen. I'd say now I have my answer. Even tho it is just a 'coil' I'm ready to get a Manticore replacement.

You can get them from China as they use them on their clones, you'd want to pop yours open first to just make sure but generally their clone stuff is identical in the way it fits. I'd get a quote from Minelab first, as these Chinese ones aren't even that cheap, they used to be when a lot of sellers had them but now it seems down to one. You could ask Woody at Detectormods as he's tinkered a lot with these fakes. Just 4 screws and a ribbon cable to replace it, although I'd pop off your ribbon cable and clean it with some electronics cleaner or pure alcohol and plug it in again and see if it fixes your screen, as it might, do it at both ends. I think eventually when Minelab stops services the GPX we'll be increasingly relying on these clone parts but while Minelab still services unless the prices are beyond a joke it's best to just let them repair it with their parts.

Progress, but lets not get too optimistic on the timeline. The last time we went through a Nokta naming contest, the Legend showed up 3 years later. Contest started September 2018 Name picked September 2020 Detector Announced Summer 2021 Detector Released December 2021 Perhaps they learned not to draw this out as much this time....

After owning and loving 5 Equinox 600/800s, I thought I just couldn't survive without one. Now I own the Legend and Manticore. I simply do not miss my Equinox 600/800s at all. I don't even think about buying another Equinox or have the slightest bit of seller's remorse. The Legend and Manticore easily out perform the Equinox 600/800 where I detect the most and I don't have to worry about leaking and build quality either.

Finally looking like they will get something out. Hopefully by the end of the year.

Let me rephrase that. Approx 2yrs ago I bought the D2-9” RC with WS6 and at the time I paid about 3x what I paid for the Apex/WHP. Lower cost options for the D2 are available now.

I used to do land boundary survey work and had to go to the county surveyor to look up the most recent plat maps. These maps usually got us in the right places to start looking. Note: On ground markers our what are legally binding unless tampered with. Don’t count on ONX maps or county google map locations as they can be off a little bit or in some cases I have found them off by a 1/4 mile. Caltopo map is a good source for looking the area over for mining areas and then seeing the nad 27 topo overlays.