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I would imagine that splash resistance is fine for 99.9% of the users. Just being able to hunt wet salt sand without all the falsing from a single frequency machine will be the selling point to most new users. Water hunting is tough work and the casual beginner will likely never submerge the detector. I would wager that the vast majority of AT series, NokMak Anfibs/Kruzer, and Equinox are never actually used in the water. I’m hoping that we are going to see these new coil sizes for the Vanquish offered for the Equinox.

Sorry, I have been out of town and just got back today. In my opinion I would not use a MXT for detecting wire, leaf and crystalline gold. You would have limited success with a MXT because of the lower frequency and would be better off with a higher frequency VLF detector with a frequency of 40 kHz and above. A high frequency VLF detector with some iron discrimination would be a plus if you are working tailing piles. A quality set of headphones are just as important as a good VLF detector and learning to recognize and hear the extremely faint signals as most of this type of gold is going to be very small.

Was debating on taking my AT Pro or try my luck with the Sea Hunter at local pond I have hit before where there is a sandy beach with little trash. Ended up with the Pro and snagged this bracelet 14k 1.42grams, rest of the jewelry is gold plated but still gets your blood moving when you see it in the water. Very tricky fishing the earings out through my scoop and lost a few others as they were just too small for me to see in the water. For those that still use the AT Pro just set it to zero mode and turn off the iron audio. I fly by audio mostly anyways and occasionally look at the vid.

That is a good question. The "auto-tune" feature that enables a detector to not have to be constantly retuned is a convenience feature that resulted in the boon of motion based induction balance detectors in the 80's. Detectorists were enamored with not having to futz with re-tuning their detectors to provide the ideal threshold level which was easily thrown off by various things including drift in the detector circuitry to changing the height of the coil above the ground or changes in ground characteristics. This ultimately resulted in silent sweep detectors where the threshold was eliminated completely. The problem with auto tune was that the coil DID have to remain in continuous motion in order to hear the target otherwise the auto tune circuit would cancel out the target signal. Having a true threashold and non-motion detection without the benefit of autotuning results in the most sensitive detector overall. So the autotune circuit does tend to reduce sensitivity because it manipulates the output requiring swing motion vs. a true all metal, non-motion mode, but not because signal processing filtering is going on, in the strictest sense of what "filtering" means. Steve's article on Threshold Autotune, Sat, and V/Sat explains the background on how induction balance detectors evolved from primarily non-motion mode to motion mode, a lot better than I did here.

One of the few benefits of being 5' 7"... Good luck.

So you're on the wagon for now, but you (and everyone else here) know how easy it is to fall off!

You guys know better than to hold your breath hoping that Minelab does something that puts customer wishes ahead of profit. What surprises me (a bit) is why they didn't use the same coils available on the Equinox (6", 11", 12"x15"). Possibly there is a different inductance requirement, but even then they could have used the same hoursings (which I think the CTX 3030 and Equinox share already). Of course all this assumes that the leaked e-mail is legit. We *should* know in 3 hours or so, but even that is too long to hold your breath unless you are a beetle.

I think it does depend on the detector. I think in the pure audio mixed mode implementations that Mike was referring to as the more traditional mixed mode implementation, you do no lose anything. AM on the F75 is AM and the AM audio is unaffected even though you do get a visual target ID. The issue arises regarding whether the detector in "All Metal" is truly giving a raw, unfiltered all metal audio signal or simply processed audio but devoid of any "discrimination" filtering. In other words, no discrimination "pseudo All Metal" does not necessarily equate to "true All Metal" where no signal processing/filtering is occurring. In the former, even though there is no discrimination filtering occurring, there may be other signal processing/filtering going on. I think the Equinox is a good example of this as well as the Deus, where a true all metal audio output is more a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) audio that is proportional to signal strength (volume) and phase shift (pitch) of the target signal. The Equinox does not do this when all discrimination is removed (even in the pseudo VCO audio of gold mode) and with the Deus, even though a VCO output is provided in Gold Field mode (perhaps the closest thing on the Deus to true all metal) the signal is still processed through various signal processing filters.

Haha, yes sooner then later is good. I think we did meet, you pulled up on the ATV. I'm 6'6", stick out like a sore thumb in the dessert

OK - so the big reveal has occurred and now it is time to start discussing what we know, what we don't, what we want to know (Equinox cross compatibility), the good, the bad, the ugly (definitely ugly) of the new Vanquish series. Here is the link to the specs. From there you can deep dive into each model and get more information. Some interesting tidbits about the 540 (I will focus on the 540 because it the full up model that is most comparable to Equinox). What I like: The standard/accessory coils look great, hoping for Equinox cross compatibility (V12 12" x 9" Double-D, V10 10" x 7" Double-D, V8 8" x 5" Double-D) Not a big fan of the housing but like the stem Good basic entry level detector. If you consider that two coils and wireless phones are included on the 540 pro pack, then the $499 US seems reasonable. Like thd red backlight. What I don't like: While I understand this is entry level, I really struggle with some of what is left off the detector -specifically single frequency operation appears to be absent. Iron Bias - fine, I guess, except you can't turn it off. Would have rather seen variable recovery speed, which also appears absent. 5 Tones only (cannot be reduced to 2 or 3, or increased above 5 and tone breaks are probably not adjustable either). I can live without greater than 5 tones, but locking into 5 and not being able to reduce to 3 or 2 is a tad disappointing. Questions and other Tidbits It looks like ground balancing is automatic Multi IQ compensation (not auto tracking, but auto Multi IQ balanced - i.e., what you get when you leave GB at 0 on the Equinox). Speculating here. Don't know what "Custom" search mode means because there is not much you can adjust. Not clear what audio accessories are included with the 540/540 Pro other than non-descript wireless headphones are included with the 540 pro. Note only 25 disc segments, so individual TIDs cannot be notched out. 540 Uses Rechargeable NiMH AA batteries. Not sure if they can be charged while installed or if they have to be charged externally. 340/440 use standard alkaline cells though I suppose you could put your own NiMH cells in there. Kellyco is advertising "Early 2020" availability and the following price points V340 = $199, V440 = $279, V540 = $369, and V540 Pro Pack (includes V8 and V12 coils and BT APTX LL Phones) = $499. I think the V440 most closely aligns with Simplex but lacks the wireless audio and total submersibility of the Simplex. Simplex lacks Multi Frequency. Pick your poison. Note that the coils are waterproof to only "1 m (3 ft.)" Not sure whether this is because the entire detector cannot be submerged (the housing needs a rain cover) so there is no need to specify anything greater or if the coils truly cannot be submerged deeper than 1 m, which would limit their usefulness as underwater coils with the Equinox, if they are even compatible in the first place. The limitations, though expected, really make the Equinox 600 look like a CTX vs.even the 540. Lol. More to come when I have a chance to provide a more detailed comparison of features between the Equinox 600 and the Simplex. Click on image below for larger version... Minelab Vanquish Controls & Displays All Models Minelab Vanquish 340 Detector Database Entry Minelab Vanquish 440 Detector Database Entry Minelab Vanquish 540 Detector Database Entry

Also a nice comparison chart on Minelab's site here. https://www.minelab.com/vanquish-series The million dollar question is will the Vanquish coils work on the Equinox... 8" x 5" Double-D anyone.... Not making it waterproof seems a bit odd (coil only).

Vanquish now on pre-order @ kellyco. Specs listed for each model https://www.kellycodetectors.com/catalog/pre-order-minelab-vanquish-series-metal-detectors?utm_source=Kellyco+Metal+Detectors+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cc41c5716a-Minelab_Vanquish_Preorder_Announcement&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e6ea2c8771-cc41c5716a-91045201

Chuck. Yes I have the 6". If the 8" is elliptical (e.g., 8x10 or 8x11 or even 6x8) like the other 2 Vanquish coils shown and if they are compatible with Equinox, I will have found the perfect Equinox everyday coil. The 6" is fine but the limited 6" if swing coverage vs. an elliptical coil makes it a study in frustration for me in any situation other than searching around stationary obstacles or in other confined areas.

Chase You have to understand what a Texan says and what he means may be two different things . I’ve got to give you credit for trying to understand me but if you can’t don’t feel bad . My wife has the same problem. You said you’d like to have the 8” coil that’s going to comes with the Vanquish . Do you have the 6” coil for your Nox? Chuck

Thanks for that explanation and double thanks for linking to Steve's excellent article (original from 2010?). Even though I had read it before I had forgotten about it AND it hadn't really sunk in. Both are common for me these days. 🙄

Chuck - is this a word jumble puzzle? [jk - I think I know what you meant - basically there haven't been many detectors you haven't thought weren't worth at least a buy and a try, so your dealer(s) will be sad to see you go some day]

Glenn, Well then it's a good thing that I didn't go with my old MXT and found a great deal on the White's 24K with both coils! Read all the reports on this forum from Steve H., Lunk and Jim M.'s input and it looked like the best "fit" for CO wire gold. Hope to see you in the gold fields. Bill

More info

I want that 8" elliptical coil that comes with the 540 Pro Pack for my Equinox!!!

One of the rules is keep a VERY LOW profile when on gold.......It looks like you will find that hard to do.😁 Rule 7....When you have found more than an ounce in less than a gram bits or 100 fly Sh!t bits. Goto to rule 8.

Fred, I hope we hear something back on what happened, did he find it, did he give up, or is it still missing?

Face of a Garrett AT, shaft and grip of an XP, back of a X-Terra, color of it’s own. It'll sell, depending on price.

I assume there are more modes outside the frame of the picture. But not waterproof and ugly are problems.

They don't cover your ear completely but sound good.

There is a lot of meat in this article! https://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a20066497/shawn-ryan-ground-truth-gold-rush/

Thank you Mitchel, This is an amazing article. I had no idea how advanced state of the art prospecting had become or the size of the effort.

I like running mixed mode with 3 frequency Correlate on my V3. I get to hear everything in the ground in the all metal channel but only hear the targets that correlate in the Disc mode. Another way I like Mixed mode is to reject the targets I'm after so that that they are only reported by the all metal channel.....reverse mixed mode is how its referred to I think. Mixed mode is very handy sometimes. I wish more models offered it. Sure you can hunt in the AM mode of the F75 but you have to watch the screen. With an audio mixed mode you do it all by ear. HH Mike

MN, That was about as interesting a story as I’ve ever read about a “professional prospector”...... Thank you Shawn Ryan has advanced our endeavors by a giant step and an incredible understanding of what the indicators are! His “doctor” needs to publish some of his innovations & inventions. His developments in tools are “outside the box” type of thinking in their applications. Thanks again! D

...more bearded guys...running around..... ...oh brother... cjc

I wish I could give you two thumbs up for this. This is very solid basic info that seems to get missed way too much.

Rule 1---- Remember you are learning. Rule 2---- Start where you know Gold has been found. Rule 3---- Know what size most of the gold was found there, then hunt for a bit small gold. Rule 4---- Know what depth most of the gold was found there, then hunt at an appropriate swing speed. Rule 5---- Have many target Buried in a 10 foot square of the size in Rule 3, and include a dime and a Dollar coin. Now swing your detector first at a pace you think is correct then go down in speed in a few steps. Rule 6---- Ask someone else for advice, Now you will be able to sort the Gold from the sh!t of the advice given.

Will we ever know the rest of this story? fred

THANKS FOR THE REPLIES EVERYONE😊

Sometimes “old school” is the best solution.

Not your typical loner prospector wandering around with all his earthly possessions on the back of a mule.

A cool article and an eye-opener as far as using technology, knowledge and effort goes. No wonder these guys find gold, they work for it.

Thoroughly enjoyed the video Cal!!! Interesting assortment of recoveries, and appreciate your comments about the numerous relics, it's an educational experience each and every time I view your posts. Thanks Cal, looking forward to your next field adventure. ☺️ Jim.

Yes, so will your Equinox and GB2. In the place I went, I'd use the EQ800 personally for the VDI capability, but that's just me. My buddy does great with the GB2. Be careful though, some of these places aren't really the types you can just wander around and detect randomly. There is a reason a lot of people don't post to forums about it and keep it secretive. I had to do a ton of research just to find a few stray polygons of land, and I'm not talking about the kind of basic research most do to go out prospecting in NV or AZ. Some don't bother with that, and that's gonna get them shut down eventually IMO. These spots are too small to handle much attention and there is a lot of money and power around some of them who would prefer you not be there. The sheriff will ticket you for parking while poor at one spot if he sees your truck on the side of the road.

I sell mine ever so often, especially when I get all hot and bothered about buying new equipment and need a little extra. Local guy will give me spot less 15% which is pretty good for walk in/walk out cash. HH Mike

Great hunt; thanks for the video! The 1915-S Wheatie sunbaker (you said 13-S originally but it looked like a 15-S to my eye) was in pretty good shape, ignoring the discoloration. That's a very good find, IMO.

The jewelry I find is neat but has no sentimental value so at 1500 an oz. I cashed in and plan to use the proceeds to fund new adventures and some new equipment to enjoy. I will say take a lot of pictures of your finds for future reference, just never know.

The host rock was dissolve by hydrofluoric acid, unfortunately I didn't keep an eye on it while cleaning or I would have left a little rock to help stabilize the specimen. There was a smaller piece and a few wires that did not remain intact and may or may not held all together if I would have left some of the host rock. It can be handled but it’s somewhat delicate. Some of the wire gold specimens I found are more rigid and can be handled without a problem. Leaving some host rock in my opinion makes the wire gold specimen a little more interesting to look at. The gold specimens pictured were ones that I had found and I was using a GMT with the standard coil. The other gold specimen found was a leaf type variety and my friend was using a NOX 800. The others in the group were not as lucky in finding one. Interesting one of the guys had brought a GPX 4500 and could not detect the wire gold specimen, but all of the others who were using a VLF type detector could detect the wire gold specimen. Here is another wire gold specimen I found in the past in which I left a little of the host rock and limonite (before and after pictures):

Week 3 started off a little slow. It rained for 2 days, then a day of sun, then a 3rd day of rain. You just can't drive the Aussie tracks when they're wet. The camp held up well in the rain, no significant leaks. Fortunately, I brought audio books and a Kindle so we kept entertained. All the clouds put our power grid to the test. We had to use Paul's generator a couple times to top off the battery. I'm including a photo of our power grid, looks like a soup sandwich. We're running about 200 watts of flexible solar panels into a 100amp hr Li-Ion battery. With full sun running only the outback refrigerator, our battery stays fully charged. At night with charging our equipment we drop about 1/4 of battery capacity. We should have thought more about charging compatibility, as it stands we need 110AC for the laptop and 2way radios, cigarette lighter plugs for lights and USB for phones and GPS. What a mess trying to keep it all functioning. I had to rewire our cigarette lighter outlet bank, the wires fried somewhere along the line. I'm ordering a backup tonight. We took the time to go into town and do laundry and take hot showers at the Caravan Park. I ran my clothes through twice, I think the Aussie red dirt may be permanent on some of my stuff. We've been out doing real prospecting looking for new patches along the "line of strike". We've been off the beaten path and as a precaution punch in the GPS coordinates of the truck. Like Daniel Boone, I've never been lost, though a might bewildered a few times. Just when I think I'm in unexplored territory, I find and old timer's campsite or dry-blower tailngs where he sampled the same zone. Our only luck has been a few crumbs off old dry-blower zones. Modern mechanized prospectors have often run a dozer over the old timer's tailings and scraped things to bedrock. If there is some of original caprock left, we have a better chance of finding something. Paul has been off on a frolic of his own. We don't expect to see him for another week, in the meantime Trent sold the caravan Paul was using. Paul is homeless, I hope he doesn't repo his pop-up trailer that we're using. Trent is thinking about moving our half of Camp Yank about 60k to the south to detect a new area said to have good gold. It will be a challenge dividing up the campsite necessities and we'll miss nightly entertainment of Paul's crazy stories. Sunset from Downunder. That's all for now.

I mostly mean walking very slowly. The swing rate depends on the recovery speed, etc. Usually quite slow but there is such a thing as too slow. You have to experiment with a target to find the sweep speed that works best. But I mean being far slower and far more methodical than what you are doing. It just depends on what you are doing because ground coverage does count. For that I am walking at a normal rate and swinging at a normal rate. But for "killing" a small patch of ground, sanitizing it of all targets, you have to really slow down and work hard on the whispers. From Equinox Manual page 16: Sweeping the Coil EQUINOX Series detectors are motion detectors, meaning that the coil must be moving across the ground in order to detect a target. If the coil is held stationary over a target, it will not be detected. The side-to-side detecting motion is called 'sweeping' or 'swinging', and with practice will become a comfortable and fast way to cover ground. Sweeping the coil incorrectly can cause you to miss targets or can generate false signals. Though the coil assembly is rigid and durable, sudden jolts or bangs may cause random signals and inaccurate Target IDs, as well as excessive wear and tear. Careful sweeping will ensure the coil performs to an optimum level at all times. Sweep Parallel to the Ground You will obtain the best performance when the coil is swept close and parallel to the ground at all times. This will maximise detection depth and improve the response to small objects. Avoid excessive brushing of the coil on the ground. Overlap Your Sweep Practice sweeping the coil over the ground in a side-to-side motion while slowly walking forward at the end of each sweep. Slightly overlap the previous sweep to ensure full ground coverage. An average sweep speed is 2 to 3 seconds from right-to-left-to-right. More on the above. Classic patch vacuuming techniques also call for hitting a location from multiple different directions. Nuggets can easily signal when swept from one direction and not another. Best practice involves hunting from four different directions. The fact is that the smaller the gold nuggets get, the more plentiful they are. That means I have places where I know there is small gold, and I can almost 100% of the time go back to them and find more gold by employing ever tighter control and patience. It is a game of inches or fractions of inches, such that simply removing any rubble or sticks etc. will usually reveal more gold. Most of my detector nugget testing involves going back to an old patch and just working harder than the last time. Not working harder physically, just concentrating harder and being tuned to the hilt and practicing the best coil control I can manage. And being willing to run hot and dig lots of little hot rocks or borderline wire bits if that is what it takes.

Garikfox Thanks for posting . I guess we’ll know before the day is over with on how hard the pain it will be on our pocketbook . I said I want it to be a sad day for everyone when I go and at the rate of buying detectors it will be, Chuck