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I recently had the opportunity to make it back to the home where I grew up. The property, a rural Wisconsin farmsite, dates back to 1845 when it was given to the first owners by the Unites States government. My parents lived there for 30 years and finally sold the home about 10 years ago. I had detected it before my parents sold it, but that was with a Garrett Treasure Ace 100, a true beep-and-dig machine which found me nothing but iron scrap the one time I used it on the property. Other than that one time, the land has never been detected. I was really wanting to try it with the 800 to see if it was up for the challenge. I called the current owner and asked if it was ok to come out and detect the property. I thought to myself that if I only found one silver coin that it would be a successful hunt. After graciously being given free reign to dig anywhere, I quickly found out just how much iron collects in 174 years. Added to the nails and other farm scrap metal bits were the zillions of BB's from my youth. Let's just say that the 11" coil was busy! I had to run at 7 recovery just to try to sort the barrage of signals. Sadly, the roofing nails were a strong signal that came in at 22-23 with no iron grunt using all-metal mode, and there were thousands of them. I did manage to find some modern coins and a broken silver serving spoon. The best find of the day, and at the top of my lifetime's worth of detecting finds, was a silver dime. It is the oldest dime I have ever found and the first silver for me that was not a Roosevelt dime. To many people it would not be special. For me, just the opportunity to detect at my old home among the large trees that we planted when they were but a foot high was utterly amazing. I know there are many more silver coins still waiting there. I may never get back, but I don't need to. It would be hard to top the experience and joy of sharing my stories of growing up there and the day's finds with the current owner. It was a bucket list experience.

A few days ago I was wadding through a blackberry patch because I had to go around a poison oak thicket and woke up a large rattle snake. I was so focused on the snake that I didn't see the bear. Lucky for me a mountain lion chased off the bear. When I complained to a friend about my miserable day of prospecting he told me "If prospecting was easy the smart people would be doing it". I have had several encounters with bears, mountain lions and snakes and as you might have guessed- I survived. so how far would I go? I suppose as far as necessary.

I'll try it and If it scores me more gold be it because of size, placebo or what ever I'll use it. If it doesn't work I'll go back to the stock ML coils including the 19" which I had good success with. I don't give a fig who makes it and who sells it, I just care if it scores me more gold as that is how I earn my income. I'm still trying to get my head around the moral side of things? What's the big difference between using after market coils on any other machine? Nobody is altering the ML chip or counterfieting it and infact still using it. We put after market chips in cars, computers and any number of other gadgets, we alter crap every day to make things work better that the way they come off the factory floor. How come we suffer moral outrage about somethings and not others.

This story is of a friend of mine, "Bob Ellithorpe" an equipment operator in Colorado. The rock is on display in the Denver Museum of Natural History and I have personally seen it on display! http://pagosasprings.com/the-summitville-141-oz-gold-boulder/

Went to one of my stomping grounds to try out my AT Pro with -5 clicks on GB and noticed the town had done some trimming revealing areas that weren't usually accessible. After an hour in just a small area I got these. The -5 on the Pro gave me more stable vdi numbers, the coins were pretty shallow <8" deep tangled in roots. The copper coin has so much patina on it that I can barely see a face of some sorts. Thinking of sending it out for professional cleanup.

I read a lot of old mining reports or literature relating to the 1850"s - 1870"s when most of the better gold was won. Sometimes I come across information that is really exciting as you know with cross referencing little was mentioned elsewhere about these finds (nuggets - big nuggets!!) So hopefully few people if any have prospected there. The only problem is these areas are often almost impenetrable. There either so steep you can barely walk or so over grown trying to get into the area is almost impossible. My biggest fear in these situations is not getting lost but getting bitten by a snake many miles from help. Some of the tiger snakes here even climb trees or lay in the ferns at head height. Which only leaves the winter time to venture in. however during winter the snow is likely going to be a problem. It's really a month or two window of opportunity each year were you have a chance at getting in. Anyway I've got one gully id like to try (many miles away from any gold workings/activity) but im pretty sure its overgrown with blackberries. I recon it would take a a good mile to even get into this gully from a nearby road. Not to mention hacking away at the blackberries with a machete. Ive located several areas like this and usually wait for a bush fire or controlled burn to clear the spot but sometimes this dosnt happen. It almost feels like one has to start looking in areas like this where most rational folk would dare to venture to find areas that haven't had lots of attention these days. Sometimes i wish id chosen another hobby, lol (Note: I carry a PLB, two way radio, mobile, snake bite kit, lighter, whistle, compass, 2 ltrs water, GPS & spare batteries and sometimes a lever action shotgun for wild dogs. I always communicate exactly where im going and have regular check ins.)

Nah, bears and cougars are easy. Unless you get a crazy one they avoid or ignore you. Your far more likely to run into a crazy person in town than you are a crazy animal out in the wilds.

You nailed it Steve. We alter things every day, such as the diesel tuning chip and modified suspension that I have added to my Triton. We are not making fake copies of the GPZ, just altering it slightly to allow another brand of coil to run. The thing is, despite all the protestations, these Russian jobbies work, and they work well. I have already pulled numerous bits from my " dead " patches just with the 17 inch. I have had none of the " problems " that are supposed to plague these coils. We now have choices, and that is what makes us all happy ! ? Can't wait to see what the " big bertha " 22x21 can do, when it arrives " from Russia with love " !! ? Cheers, Rick

Exactly. Of course it is not going to meet Minelab standards. I am also stuck in this engineering world where "standards" are considered a holy grail word to use. Every company will have it's own design and test standards, Including this Russian maker. When a new company starts out, this is usually all that they have. Then they start building in quality standards, hopefully safety standards, and the list goes on. But to JP's point, testing and quality standards are extremely important. For TV's, this would be drop tests, vibration tests, thermal cycling. For smaller electrical components it might be a resistance test, HIPOT test, etc. When you have one person doing it, the risk is less in my experience. But if this Russian builder were to get a building and hire some people on an assembly line, I would be very afraid. Quality is usually the first thing to go. For now, this Russian guy is testing the waters. He doesn't know if he has a great product. He is probably looking for an investor. It will be curious to see where this goes. But isn't funny that this one Russian was able to do what Minelab engineers have been just trying so... so hard to do for like 4 or 5 years, now? No, Minelab knows exactly how to make a smaller coil. They just don't want to, yet. So the Russian is first to market. That is a big deal in any industry.

The guy who makes the coils is in my opinion a decent person, he has never once asked me to remark or promote favourably on the coils. He has not once questioned or interrogated me on any of my comments here on the forum, and I’m pretty sure he has been well appraised of proceedings. In my opinion he is extremely honorable. He seems to be a passionate detectorist and has shown me some impressive gold during our conversations and I’d say he originally started making the coils as a hobby and local demand soon took over. I’d also say he’s reached out to the wider community to try to connect up with Minelab users around the globe, especially here in Australia in Minelabs home ground, because he feels he’s created something of merit and wants to expose what’s hes done to a wider community. I’m pretty sure Money is not his main motivator. So then you must ask yourself the question why I’ve been so voiciferous on the subject? There are a blend of issues going on here which has been well documented, some of which I do not need to go through again. However the main key issues were: The coils are electronically inferior to the standards set by Minelab when they established the design parameters of the coils for the GPZ, I’ve used those same testing techniques when I’ve tested the X coils and gave feedback accordingly. This is FACT and NOT agenda driven. Secondly there is the major issue I have with the circumvention of Minelabs IP. So as Steve has mentioned the coils are highly experimental, so buyer and user be aware, the subject is highly emotive because there are obviously some issues with a lack of clarity around the subject, largely in part due to the language barrier and what I feel is a lack of upfront information provided by others. Then there are my own personal standards around integrity and being honest and upfront, call it duty if you like but I can’t just stand by on this subject when I was instrumental in bringing about the confidence to market them in Australia in the first place in a misguided attempt to access the much needed IP permissions and accordingly the big need for electronic improvements. So are the coils any good? Absolutely, my first impressions have been quoted elsewhere around the net and I stand by them. I was pleasantly surprised they worked so well. So what does ‘GOOD’ actually mean? It means the ones I used did not cause any damage to my detector, that they generally worked OK and found nuggets and one coil in particular found gold on a flogged training patch which impressed me. In summary the standard wound coils in ground that is not too extreme will provide an advantage thanks to size differences. They will be also be slightly more sensitive because the housing is thinnner thereby bringing the Tx and Rx closer to the ground compared to the thickness of the Minelab coils but that will also exacerbate other issues like saturation etc. They will be easier to use thanks to weight savings which could also equate to better performance due to better coil control and longer detecting hours. You would be amazed how much of a boost a positive outlook will provide to a person going back to an old spot with something new. The Spiral wound coils do seem to provide a sharper signal response but I would only recommend them in quieter soils (non variable soils like in the Pilbara and Kimberly regions of WA or areas that Normal can be used), I’m not certain how many spirals are actually being used in Australia but in a lot of ground they will be problematic. The Spiral wound coils were the only ones that provided a like for like performance difference in my opinion during the testing I did, the others were just down to coil size and shape. Coil weight, size and shape are more than enough reasons to justify the X coils because they are seriously lacking with the GPZ, in a lot of ways Minelab have brought this problem onto themselves for not addressing this HUGE need in a way that is palatable for the faithful end user. The ball is now right in Minelab’s court about how they proceed going forward, I don’t have a crystal ball so have no idea how this is going to play out. It’s seems I’m in a “damned if I do” and “damned if I don’t” situation, I had to choose between getting vilified by people not wanting to hear the truth or getting vilified by my own conscience and end users when they found out I was in possession of the truth, right now going bush prospecting is extremely tantalising. JP

Wasn't found with a metal detector, very nice quartz and gold specimen found in a placer mine in the Huachuca mountains of Arizona.

Enjoy

Two unique pulse induction pinpointers/detectors compared....

19-20 on the ole Nox stamped 14k

My main role with Minelab is to use equipment in the field, at that I am very experienced. Obviously there is an issue of confidentiality and I’m pretty sure I sail pretty close to the wind sometimes. Testing methods and feedback are hugely confidential but I can assure you they are exhaustive both in the lab and also in my role in the field. For instance the 19” so called “DOG” coil performs brilliantly and provides a depth increase from 1 gram and up, I know this because I exhaustively tested this in the field throughout Australia, but alas it is HEAVY!!! Weight kills the perception of depth improvement, it requires HUGE effort to run that coil effectively. My main focus during testing centred around coil behaviour in a variety of soil types and conditions, I have numerous test sites were I perform these tests, these tests sites bring out the worst electronically in any coil and even put the genuine coils through their paces. I desperately wanted to get the X coils over the line so something could be arranged for the chip, testing methods were exhaustive and very time consuming, a lot of feedback was given to the manufacturer and also Minelab. Unfortunately you only get one shot at this type of thing, especially with a company as large as Minelab, so coils being sold prematurely before improvements could be finalised killed off that avenue. I see a lot of negative comment here on the forum about Minelab this and Minelab that, yet Minelab were open to the idea if it could have been demonstrated the coils were better or on par, that was the criteria. My last 22x21 Coil was really problematic especially in General Difficult, if I presented a coil like this to Minelab saying it was OK imagine what this would do to the X coils credibility? To put things into perspective I see a LOT of GPZ 7000s in my role at the shop, hundreds of them over the past 3 years. I have many times taken people on training sessions only to discover there detectors were below par, some of these people are “Experienced” and very “Successful” detector operators yet had no idea there was something wrong with their detector. I am amazed how many people present themselves to me with their understanding and use of GPZ seriously flawed, their machines were making such a racket I’m amazed they found anything! I see comments about justifications for side slipping Minelabs IP, anyone looking at the GPZ very quickly knows the chip in the coil connector is there to protect Minelabs IP, modifying or circumventing that chip is in essence interfering with that prevention, yes it can be done but ethically it is wrong. How you go about justifying the circumvention of that IP then comes down to how felixible you are ethically and explains the constant comments on this forum about Minelab “deserving” this treatment because they have not delivered on a promise etc, this also explains the storm of comments I have suffered through when I’ve tried to keep people informed, obviously a lot of this is directed at Minelab through me. Don’t get me wrong I put myself out there so deserve a few tomatoes thrown at me. I could see all this coming a long time ago, it was laid out in front of me, every bump and pothole in the road, yet I still went ahead and did it anyway (stupid idiot)! I tried so damned hard and I came so close but alas it is what it is. Do not blame Minelab for everything, there is plenty of blame to share around for everyone to get a good taste! Blaming someone no matter how deserved does not justify even worse behaviour from yourself. JP

Tis no curse, is an asset, Jin, the fruit of life. Old saying " The only ones who fail are those who try but they are also the only ones who succeed". I`m with Phrunt, I doubt you can fry the chip soldering wires onto terminals, the chip is a min of 50+mm away and no heat conductive path on the wires concerned. Perhaps if your over zealous with the application of heat to the heat shrink down that end, more likely as Chet stated static discharge is a chance danger. Hot glue guns are handy as and cheap as, once you`ve used one a bit they become one of those tools that are kept handy near the work bench, especially the soldering bench.

Aie bet they did, Flak. My comment was a posted with the tongue in the cheek just a wee bit. Talking tongue in cheek..... there`s a bit of a rumour circulating over here in OZ, that the next batch of X coils are being forced by the authorities to come out with a Wealth Hazard Warning. I guess they`ll have a big sticker on them that says something like "Use of this product could lead to the user waking one morning with a new 4WD Rolls parked in the carport" ?

Jin, your comment of detecting and a bear comes up behind you actually happened to me last year. I was detecting on a creek that dried up and I kept hearing something over behind me to my right side and 3 times I pulled the headphones off and looked back to see what it was. Never saw or heard anything, went back to detecting and I heard it again. Nothing across the creek but something moving on my side of the creek caught my eye. It was a large black bear coming towards me about 75-95 feet roughly away from me. I thought oh crap, all I have with me is my pick and rock hammer for defence. I decided to just stay put and see what happens. The bear looked over in my direction, sniffed the air and turned and went away. I'd be way more scared of snakes. I walked into a snake den in fall and one rattleing next to my left foot and almost stepped on 6-7 baby rattlesnakes. This scared the living crap right out of me. I couldn't stop shaking. Snakes bother me more.

I use the hot glue gun because it dries solid and fills the inner part of the socket between the wires so they can not move at all. It gives a similar effect as a molded plug. I think the liquid tape will still allow for movement of the wires within the socket.

JP that is about as well-said as anyone could wish for. Thank you for taking the time.

Finally got the skunk of the Gold Monster! All small stuff but I've been in such a drought this year I'm happy to detect any gold at all at this point. The stuff on the right side of the pan is my oldest son's, he was using his Gold Bug II. He turned over a boulder and found 19 pieces under it.

That's a good post JP. A couple general interest questions here - are these standards set by Minelab something you can share so we can have an idea which standards they haven't met? If confidential, does falling short of these standards mean the coils are measurably different from a coil which complies with the standards? Or are the standards mostly related to quality control issues, something like FCC regulatory issues, and not performance issues? I'm curious because I've worked in engineering and standards can be relative in the engineering world and don't necessarily mean a product has a flaw. But in other cases that can be exactly what it means. In engineering specs are often derated, like a rope/cable may support 2x it's rated weight, etc. Or the way Intel derates various chips of the same design from the same wafer depending on the frequency it fails at. I'm just trying to understand better what you mean by the standards not being met. Is the issue with IP related to the chip patch or is the DOD design being used in the X Coil the issue?

Here's an article I found searching out of curiosity, this was a 70 ouncer taken from "Dolan Springs". But looking at the gold and the fact Dolan doesn't really have many nuggets, it was almost certainly found in Lost Basin, AZ. https://www.antiquetrader.com/featured/natural-gold-nugget-weighs-in-at-70-ounces-could-top-300k/ So, I think the coin dealer is probably spinning a bit of a tale to get a little more for his nugget.

Since the Equinox first came out and the Facebook groups started up covering it, there have been several examples of settings that are posted and stated as absolutes. One that warrants some discussion is GROUND BALANCE. The common response to the question “Should I Ground Balance my Equinox?” is “No, leave it at preset as there is no need to ground balance it since it is running Multi Frequency.” Before we accept that statement as gospel, let’s step back and ask a basic question which is if there was no need to use the function, why would Minelab had included it in the first place? The answer is they would not have and it is there for a reason which is to address the adverse effect caused by mineralized ground. The more mineralized the ground is at your selected search site the more the performance will be impacted. Remember, the factory preset for this is “0” yet it offers an adjustment range from “-9” to “99” So, do you know how mineralized the ground is in your area or the sites you frequent? Do you know that mineralization levels can change dramatically in a short distance? A good example is an older house where the front yard can be mild in terms of mineralization while the backyard can be severe due to coal cinders and other stuff in the ground. On a site such as this, settings that would be ideal for the front of the house might be mediocre at best in the backyard and ground balance may be the setting that corrects that issue. In the area around where I live in Michigan, the Ground Balance registers between 55 and 75 on the Equinox. I do extensive testing on actual targets before recovering them (great use for poker chips) so I can see if making a change or changes will improve performance and I have found that performing a Ground Balance at my sites makes a noticeable difference over leaving it at preset. In fact, several times I have found that a deeper target either is not detected or mis-identified with the GB at preset compared to setting it correctly. It also runs quieter which helps pick out those marginal signals. So, I could make the absolute statement that “Ground Balancing is always required” but is that really an accurate statement for any location worldwide? This past weekend my wife and I attended a hunt (rally) in central Pennsylvania and we stopped at an old school (circa 1924) on the way to the hunt site. I Ground Balanced the Equinox 800 and the site registered between 14 and 18 . . . much different than my home sites. I searched for a few minutes and got a good, deep signal. I reset the GB to “0” and checked the target . . .it was still discernible. So, in this case, adjusting the GB off of the preset did not buy me anything. The hunt site was a bit different and in some areas, the ground registered 50 or higher. In those cases, coins on edge were not as clear with the GB at preset (0) as compared to setting the unit for the ground conditions. I used the Equinox on my last trip to England and rarely saw GB values above 20 in any of the fields we visited. The takeaway from this is that there is no “one rule fits all conditions” as site conditions can and do change which will cause you to reassess your settings and make the adjustments needed to compensate for those changes. If you want to get an accurate answer to the question “Should I Ground Balance my Equinox?”, do the following . . . . 1) Do an Auto Ground Balance at your site to see what the ground mineralization is. 2) Find and mark a deep target. 3) Sweep over it with the GB set at “0” (preset) and then again with it at the value you found when you GB’ed the Equinox. If you get a cleaner, stronger signal with the GB set off preset, you have your answer for that location. If not, leave it at preset and reap the rewards. But avoid saying it always should be left at Preset based on an Internet forum or Facebook post as the person that made the post might be searching sites totally different than what you are. Dial the detector in to YOUR sites and YOUR targets . . . you will always do better than simply taking advice that might be fine in one area and not another and usually that other area will be yours. Hope this helps . . . . . remember, the answer to virtually any question that pertains to setting a metal detector is almost always "IT DEPENDS" as conditions vary so greatly!

I actually tried liquid tape brushed around the leads first. It was sort of a mess. So I cleaned it up and used hot glue for the rest. I had no problems getting the hot glue between the wires. In hind sight I would just use the glue. But that is just my experience. Overall, the hardest thing about the mod was getting the enamel off the magnet wire. My choice method was 400 grit sand paper. I just lightly dragged it across. Acetone did nothing to remove it. Steel wool tore it up. Tinning process worked fine once i used the sand paper.

I’ve used the liquid tape to repair the wires on my Bose ear buds and the material lasts about a year under use before pealing from the ear bud wire leads. It also remains rubbery after it sets. Hot glue sticks are available in a variety of temperature and set times so you have a little control and it’s easy to use with a couple minutes practice. Ive also used heat guns and soldering irons to remelt move and shape hot glue as well as trim it away with a blade so you have wiggle room if you don’t apply it exactly like you wanted.

This story is of a friend of mine, "Bob Ellithorpe" an equipment operator in Colorado. The rock is on display in the Denver Museum of Natural History and I have personally seen it on display! http://pagosasprings.com/the-summitville-141-oz-gold-boulder/

Snakes are a concern, I`ve formed the opinion that maybe they can sense our detector coils electromagnetic field, and head off well before we get near them, touch wood I hope that`s not just a fable. Rarely see one while swinging but see them occasionally when moving along with the detector off.

You flew over millions of Ozs MN, even in the sea water apparently. We are like fishermen, spend heaps on fast boats so we can drive over lots of fish in a hurry.

This is my concern too. I think the Liquid Tape is a great idea, but I'm not sure if it'd immobilize the wiring enough. If I had 2 cable/chip ends I'd try one in Liquid Tape though as it might not end up mattering, and in theory as Phrunt said it should be easier and potentially better when it comes to shorts. However, with my 4500, tiny movements in the wire, even those up towards the control box, would cause the detector to have fits and make me think the coil was bad. I think the idea with the patch cord should be getting as close as physically possible to making it so that, in effect, the detector doesn't see the cord there at all, which means 100% immobilization.

Congrats. Nothing like going back home, even if it is someone else's. I am sure it brought up some great memories.

I was just curious...a friend told me he read a post on another forum that indicated excellent discrimination with the 5000 and a Detech-dd coil.... If true that would be great for many people... not me, I have a 7000 and 800 sitting around, lonely and blue. fred

Boy I can't even answer. I wouldn't think twice, but we don't have so many creepy crawlies that can kill me. About all we have in Idaho is rattlesnakes and those are easy to avoid.

Don`t procrastinate Jin, just do it, really the job may seem a wee daunting at first but is really easy as. Aie a challenge but that tis the fruit of life, the rewards far outweigh the doubts. Good on ya for aving a go.

Yeah, I`m in two minds there, the hot glue gun method gives a more instant job but requires more a precise amount that can only come from experience using a hot glue gun, yeah I`ll go with Phrunt and just be particular there considering you have not experienced a hot glue guns capability. The idea is simply to stop any movement whilst in use thus pay particular attention and care there. I went with a rubber tape rapped securely around before applying heat shrink. This ensured the diameter was adequate to allow the size of heat shrink to shrink enough, the size of heat shrink is determined by the fittings diameter which considering good heat shrink only shrinks by 2:1 is a wee limiting but just care and don`t rush and you`ll have a top job. Tis really not of much concern just take your time.

MT, your 19 & 14 as good as they are will become redundant, in a few months I suspect the negatives towards the X coils will fall away in history, what I also suspect there will be other aftermarket manufactures following in X coils footprints. Maybe even ML will reverse engineer the X coils too, but no holding breaths on that happening.

Congrats!

Good finds, greater memories, and the scent of skunk is gone. WTG. HH JIm

Yeah, but the bigger the more fun... the memories are the best thing fred

As most private individuals who have X coils have said on this forum, the X coils we have are not knock sensitive, handle the ground conditions we use them under and are very good gold producers, as well as/ or better then MLs coils. Their sizes are what we sought, the 15X I have being the only one close to MLs 14" is a slight bit heavier but it is a fair bit larger, refer to photo on my 15 & 12 thread. The only con I`ve found so far is it sucks having to make a patch lead. It is obvious to me from their performance the fellow making them knows what he`s on about no doubt, and for a "backyard" operation to show up ML in the coil department says it all. I am sorry Steve if standing my ground on this causes you some grief but it is time.

While the standard of Minelab coils have been quite good up till the GPZ19", it has been the exception. Remember that when the GPZ first came on the market with its 14" coil we were promised a larger, lighter coil, and what we eventually got was over rated, over priced and definitely over weight. I can't imagine that Minelab will sell too many of those 'woofers' now, and for that they only have themselves to blame.

.53 grams found detecting between you and your son are much more precious than any three ounces I will ever find.

If only that were true sir lol. .53 grams total.

A heart felt hello to Steve and all the members who make up this site & forums. I have a great respect and appreciation for the outstanding class I have seen demonstrated and found here. Detector Prospector sets the standard in my book. Top notch class without a doubt. I have been lurking here since just before the time all the equinox rumors and hype got started. I still am and was a noob at that time with the first detector i ever owned, gold bug pro. As I was trying to figure out detector prospecting with my new gadget something just seemed off with the gold bug pro. So i checked into a service claim only to find out i was in possession of a counterfeit unit. No service or help needless to say. Thank goodness i had buyer protection and was able to get my money back, because the seller was not cooperating with me.Learn from my misfortune and only buy from authorized dealers instead of looking for a "steal of a deal." By that time the nox was in the hands of you guys and i was excited learning from you all that this was the machine that could both fit my budget and needs. So purchased the 800 i did. I was only able to start to scratch the surface of the capabilities of this machine during my first season with the 800 last year. I seriously want to develop my nugget hunting skills this season. I detect in very hot ground lots of magnetite & hematite , nothing like grabbing the bull by the horns to get acquainted. Therefore as part of my first post /question to you all, is i would like to know if there are restrictions on printing from the forums here? I looked around best i could to try and figure this out but am unable to find this answer. When i try to print something I can only get the first page and all the rest are blank? I detect in a remote / no signal or web area. It would really be helpful if i could print out the very helpful settings/ tips / techniques found here and then be able to apply them in the field under real life conditions to help with the learning curve. In closing I would like to add that i really enjoy this activity and wish i had started detecting long ago. On one of my local park training sessions I unexpectedly spent 3-4 hours entertaining grandmothers, mothers & fathers & children instead of seriously training. Had a 5 & 8 yr olds pestering me using pin pointer to help recover targets and were very happy to keep the coins found. Me sweating bullets while they were all jumping around the detector worrying they would crunch it. Not to mention in the blink of an eye picking up my digging knife. I stayed cool enjoyed them and also the 10 & 12 yr olds that followed next and numerous question from all. I am sure you know what they asked. what did you find? what are you looking for? what are you doing? on & on. I was a bit disappointed that i was unable to get in the training i wanted as i drove home and then it dawned on me. It was more than just about me. Doing this activity i enjoy also allowed me to do my civic duty to others. I felt proud to know that I was able to both provide and share a good time with numerous strangers. Something so missing in our divided and hate filled society of today. Perhaps if more people became detectors the world would be a better place. Respect to all James.

thanks for the welcome and kind words beach hunter.

Hi Horst, If you do make it over to the UK you are welcome to attend any of our digs in West Yorkshire / Lincolnshire we have digs on Sundays and Fridays the same invitation is open to any overseas member of this forum visiting the UK

After less than one year and maybe 20 cycles the battery charger for my SDC2300 quit working. I tried several different things like different batteries, using both 12 volt and 110ac and the unit would not charge. I called MineLab explained my problem and received an RA number. Shipped old charger out on a Tuesday priority mail, they received it on Thursday and I got a confirmation email that they had received it. On Monday I got another email saying the unit had been repaired and was being shipped out. On Friday I received a brand new charger with new batteries (10 days from my original shipment including one weekend). Outstanding customer service and shipping times have made me a happy camper and the SDC is ready to go - Thanks to MineLab

Since far field electromagnetic signals (i.e., radio waves) that cause EMI are highly attenuated in water, noise cancel which finds the "clearest" channel with minimal RF EMI interference is only really effective if the coil and/or control head (the antennas that receive the RF interference into the detector circuits) remain above the water line. So if the control head remains above the water line (even with the coil submerged) then noise cancel will be effective against EMI but it has no effect on wave action and debris causing falsing primarily to varying salinity levels - in that case you might want to try tracking ground balance as recommended on page 41 of the user guide: "Tracking Ground Balance can also be useful when using Beach Mode 2 underwater at the beach (in salt water)." HTH

The first signal I dug with my brand new SD was a 9oz slug. Ian Jaques and I got 65 ozs from that patch. The best time however was the 2 years before the SD was officially released. 'The Unfair Advantage'.

Jack is spot on. In milder soils the Nox will go deeper on bigger bits if you can use it in Multi, but the Monster on a high manual sensitivity is very powerful. As much as I like having an adjustable threshold and ability to run in fixed ground balance on the Nox, the monster sort of latches on to targets better. Hard to explain but it's as if the monster is more sure of itself - it either sees a target or it doesn't - you just have to keep that auto tracking in check.