New Finds With The Nugget Finder Z Search Searchcoil

[jasong]

1 hour ago, Rob Allison said:

Lastly, If one manufacture can make a coil for the GPZ with the correct connector that just plugs in, why can't X-coils?  What is the reason for the adapter? 

Rob

Rob, you might have missed all the lengthy discussions on this topic on this forum when X Coils first came out. But X Coils did want to make plug in Minelab approved coils (and I think they still do), and they tried to work with Minelab to do this. However, the coil plug has a security chip in it which can only be sourced from Minelab, and Minelab did not want to sell or let X Coils use their coil plug. 

So, the adapter is the work around solution. No one likes it and no one wants it. But plenty of customers do want GPZ coil selections, so some of us made adapters in order to run the equipment we need.

X Coils could absolutely make a coil that just plugs in - if Minelab would let them. But Minelab will not provide the chipped connector. And so we have customers forced to build adapters if they wanted to run a coil other than stock, which is by no small fault Minelab's, for failing for over 5 years to provide a coil that customers wanted or needed.

Keep in mind that at 5+ years old, the GPZ is probably in the mature or end stages of it's product lifecycle, based on Minelab history. The fact that Coiltek still hasn't released a GPZ coil and it took NF 5+ years to release a coil shows exactly how hard ML is making it on manufacturers to work with them IMO. The adapter is in no small part, caused by Minelab's ridiculous coil security scheme and inability to follow through with promised coils that people actually want to use (Z19, looking at you).

[afreakofnature]

Wonder when the last time Xcoils contacted Minelab.  Its seems these coils have upgraded over the last 2 years, might be worth another call.

[flakmagnet]

This whole problem with difficulty in working out ways to provide additional coils for the 7000 can be laid directly at MineLabs feet. As has been said (many times), before, there was absolutely an implication if not an outright statement that there would be other coil(s) for the GPZ and it took years for the 19" and then nothing. In exchange for asking us to pay ten thousand (or whatever) dollars for their top-of-the-line detector, that is ML simply not being honest with their customers. 

[egixe4]

Minelab had no qualms taking coil manufacturing away from their two local and loyal 3^rd party coil makers, Coiltek and Nugget Finder essentially giving them the bird.

I was somewhat surprised when Nugget finder started building coils for them again.

I don’t like chipped coils that limit the consumers choice and usability of 3^rd party coils on what are not cheap Detectors.

Without X coil I doubt Nugget finder would be building Z coils.

Giving the Chip to one and not all, could be considered Anti-competitive behaviour.

[Rob Allison]

Hey Guys,

   Great comments from all you and Thanks for the better explanation about the patch lead.  I'm still a bit stumped, Nugget Finder is not endorsed by Minelab, but they somehow got around and built the cable that will just plug right in.  This would be nice for X-coils, Coiltek or anyone else that would like to design coils for the GPZ or future detectors.  

I 100% agree about aftermarket coils, their company loyalty to Minelab and the fact with them, Minelab is selling many more detectors.  

I'm still selling Coiltek, Nugget Finder and Detacc searchcoils for detectors that are 15 years old and older.  All these additional coils give the end user many more options on gold types, ground mineralization, ground terrain, more depth, more coverage, weight, greater sensitivity to small gold and on ......

I think Coiltek, Nugget Finder and many other companies, plus others that are newer should be able to prove their worth to Minelab as down the line it would only increase more sales. 

Just my thoughts.  Hope I didn't offend anyone originally, that was no my intentions whatsoever.

Rob

[jasong]

Rob, keep us updated on the NF coils, and also what you find out regarding the NF/Minelab endorsement. I suspect they do have an endorsement because that connector is only available from Minelab. Though, it's somewhat surprising that this information appears to be lacking from both Minelab and Nugget Finder, even though there is clearly a question about it. You would think there would be a statement, or "ML approved" logo or something?

Also confusing to me is that I heard almost 2 years ago that Coiltek was building a GPZ coil from a reliable source. And I was told in no uncertain terms only a few weeks ago that Coiltek had indeed already built a GPZ coil and was still trying to get it to market or pass Minelab specifications, or something unclear to that effect. But it appears Coiltek is no closer to bringing a GPZ coil to the market still. That's the part that mystifies me, if they are the "official" Minelab coil partner, why haven't they come out with a GPZ coil when the market clearly has a large demand for such a product?

[Jonathan Porter]

So many suppositions. What is clear is the lead and plug and play nature of the NF ZSearch, that fact alone speaks volumes regardless of any official announcement. We finally have a sanctioned, tacit or otherwise, coil choice that will grow.

Fact: The ZSearch coils have to go through an approval process to access the leads.
Fact: I was using prototype NF GPZ coils a long time ago (over 5 years ago with an adapter) well before Xcoils were even known. 
Fact: Anyone can buy an X coil, no one is stopping you. I have a number of them myself.

The subject of X coils has been done to death and I for one do not want to risk this most excellent forum or my close friendship with SteveH by constantly being dragged into emotive discussions on the subject.

It is what it is, for piece of mind go plug and play, if your adventurous then go grab an X coil and find a good technician...... 

JP

[AussieMatt]

Good summary JP 👍

[madtuna]

2 hours ago, kiwijw said:

Absolutely guaranteed they wouldn't be building them. So you can all thank X coils for what has come about.👋

JW 🤠

 

Not quite correct, NF were farting about with GPZ coils well before X was admitted as a letter of the alphabet

[madtuna]

24 minutes ago, kiwijw said:

If so Steve, How were they getting around the chip? Happy new year to you. 

JW 🤠

An adapter the same as X coil is doing now.

In my gold detecting Utopia all coils would be plug and play like the new Z search. But if the best performance comes from a coil where I have to use an adapter, so be it. At this stage I will probably get both.

Now even though I cannot and don't speak for Rohan or Minelab and seriously have no clue of the reasoning either, I am going to do what everyone else has done and tell you exactly the reason why The Z search coil is the way it is.😁

It's because just like Putin would have killed for the leads and chips for his X coils, Minelab said if you want them you have to build coils to these certain parameters or specifications. NF agreed. 

I bet my left one Rohan would kill to have free reign with leads and chips and if he did what we'd have would most likely be way different than the Z search. But, knowing NF, the Z search will be a performer anyway. 

Like I said, I have no idea..but that's exactly what happened.😄

 

ps. Happy new one to you too.