Steve Herschbach

The Nokta Invenio appears to be a Nokta Impact combined with a visual mapping system. Nokta just released a set of fourteen videos covering all aspects of the detector in detail. Nokta Invenio Video Instruction Series Nokta Invenio Digital Imaging System

Pictures leaked at this Italian website and elsewhere have been floating around the last few months. The Nokta Anfibio is basically what you would get if you crossed a Nokta Impact with a Makro Multi Kruzer. Besides being waterproof the new model has an external wrap coil cable instead of the internal routing used on the Impact. The prototype pictured is from March however and changes may be made before release so take all that with a grain of salt. Use Google translate to read the page in English (or whatever). I would expect this model to be released officially at Detectival in September.

Welcome to the forum! You say you pan, sluice etc. and only use the detector to see if you have missed any gold. Has it been the case that the detector has revealed lots of gold you would have otherwise missed? If not, I can’t see wanting to spend much money for a detector for the task as described. A light weight and relatively inexpensive VLF should do the job just fine. In other words, if the GMT has served you well all these years, why switch? On the other hand if money is no object the SDC 2300 has lots going for it. Power, ease of operation, plus a very compact, waterproof design. The GPZ honestly just seems a poor match for the job. If you stick with VLF, and are interested in GMT type performance but waterproof, check out the Makro Gold Kruzer.

You are slaying the coins Dan! I spent some time beating the 600 drum because I am convinced that it is the true killer bargain. People keep comparing the Equinox models to detectors costing two or three times more money. That’s not how people shop - most people have a budget they want to stick with. And for under $600 with some shopping nothing else comes close to matching the 600 both for features and performance. The 800 gets all the attention but in my mind the 600 is the the one that really wows me. Anyone looking for a new full warranty detector under $600 the Equinox 600 is definitely the one to beat. It’s hard for me to understand why anyone would consider anything else.

This is just a short video clip showing the AT Max in highly mineralized red dirt, on a "live dug" Civil War bullet. Settings were Custom (so that the machine saves the settings) but basically, Pro Zero mode with Iron Disc at 10. The search coil used is the CORS Strike 12" x 13" DD coil (same as NEL Tornado). Published on Nov 16, 2017

I have several Equinox rod assemblies, and only the last one exhibited a looseness that might cause a twisting action, but in actual use it has not been twisting any more than the others. It does appear to me that it is an issue that slipped in at the part sourcing / manufacturing level and so could not be caught at the prototyping stage. I would ask Minelab to replace the rod for you since it is a known problem. I have not used the Multi Kruzer but do have a Gold Kruzer. I can't say I have a preference for either straight rods or S rods. I have used both types and been just fine. I have also had examples of both types that I did not like. The hand grip makes more difference to me, since I do not have large hands. I prefer a smaller grip, with the Fisher F75 defining what my hand thinks is perfection. I also like the grip on the Kruzer more than the Equinox for the same reason. The Equinox grip is just ever so slightly larger in diameter than my hand likes. I have gotten used to it with time however. From an operational perspective the Kruzer models have more of what I think of as a traditional threshold based all metal mode. The Gold Mode on the Equinox is not quite the same thing - more like a digital disc mode simulating an all metal mode. The difference is subtle but I am sure anyone used to running in a true threshold based all metal mode (nugget hunters in particular) would notice the difference. One thing I am learning is just how resistant many detectorists are to learning new tricks. I have quite a bit of faith in the prospecting capability of the Equinox, but have been purposefully staying relatively quiet on the subject. Why? Because of the difference in how the Equinox works and acts in Gold Mode as opposed to what most people would expect when running an "all metal" mode. The Gold Kruzer and I am sure the other Kruzer models in all metal mode feel and behave very much like a Gold Bug 2 or Gold Bug Pro (and numerous other prospecting machines) in all metal mode. The difference is mostly heard/felt as the way the threshold connects with both a target and the ground when ramping up and down. The Kruzer models have the standard smooth connection between threshold, ground, and target, with a equally distributed ramp up and down in the threshold. With the Equinox it is almost all on the ramp down side with very little ramping up in the signal. Again, the effect can be subtle, but is more easily heard at low recovery speeds. Still, having said all that, I have ditched all my other VLF nugget machines in favor of the Equinox. I do believe in leveraging new technology to my advantage as quickly as possible, and I am absolutely convinced that Multi-IQ outperforms single frequency on almost every level. Ironically my main use for single frequencies is to mellow the Equinox out and make it less reactive in bad ground. There honesty is just nothing for me to learn any more regarding typical single frequency all metal modes, and so I am finding some pleasure in discovering just what Multi-IQ can and can't do for me. Sorry for the long dissertation on all metal performance. Many people would not care about that, but it is an area where Equinox and Kruzer part ways. Anyone wanting that good old threshold based all metal mode will be at home with the Kruzer models. The Equinox Gold Mode is a mode that has no real parallel on any other detector and is more for somebody ready to try something new in the way of "all metal" modes.

The forum currently does not allow for videos to be uploaded directly - you have to use a video hosting site like YouTube then post the link on the forum. Does not matter - we believe you. The question is what is up? There is no difference between Gold Mode 1 and Gold Mode 2 except that Gold Mode 2 has a slower Recovery Speed. This allows for more depth in lower mineral ground but it also accentuates false signals from the coil touching items at high sensitivity levels. You need more care with coil control and will generally need to move slower in Gold Mode 2. That being the case Gold Mode 2 should detect anything you can find in Gold Mode 1. If anything Gold Mode 1 is slightly less sensitive due to the faster Recovery Speed setting. First thing I would do is a factory reset, then test again. Hit the Horseshoe button in both modes so that you have no discrimination engaged. Turn off ground tracking before testing any nuggets, as nuggets might track out. It is always best to use manual ground balance when testing, and be sure both modes have the same ground balance number. My guess here is that tracking has caused one mode to get significantly out of whack. If you want, increase Recovery Speed in Gold Mode 2 to 6, at which point the settings will be identical in both modes. Or lower the setting in Gold Mode 1 - whichever.

The 6" coil is a winner for sure. Thanks for the report Lunk! Paul, the 11" works fine. There is nothing wrong using a sensitivity setting of 12. An Equinox with the sensitivity set so that the machine is stable will outperform some other units that run stable at full sensitivity levels. Just because a sensitivity setting is at 50% of max does not mean the machine is getting half the performance of other machines running full out. It just means they have a lower gain level to start with. Personally even with the small coil I prefer stable settings. The last location where I worked the Equinox I was able to scrub the ground just like running a Gold Bug 2 while in Gold Mode and sensitivity set at 18. Once on the gold I may go higher, but don't be surprised if hot rocks pop and coil knock sensitivity increases at higher sensitivity levels.

Well, a person might prefer how the Multi Kruzer feels on their arm, the menu layout, or how the audio sounds compared to the Equinox. These are strictly personal preference things but they do matter to people. Some people just hate Minelab. May not make sense but it is real. From my perspective the only real functional difference I can point out is the Kruzer having a superior coil selection, one that includes a concentric coil. Some people really like concentric coils and so that alone could be a factor. I personally have the Equinox. I do hunt saltwater beaches at least a little every year, and there is no way any single frequency detector is going to match multifrequency for saltwater use. That one factor alone is what makes the decision for me. If I had to choose something else to replace the Equinox however the Multi Kruzer would be it. I like the look of the new Deus X35 setup but ultimately I do prefer a waterproof detector and detectors with affordable accessory coils so for me the Multi Kruzer would be the better option compared to the Deus X35. I have to admit that having the Equinox now has brought calm to my detector life. I still look at other new models when they appear, but for once feel content that I have all I need when it comes to one detector that can do everything well. Makro Multi Kruzer and Minelab Equinox metal detectors

Hi Gene, I am going to hope the career move ends up as a positive for you. Welcome to the forum.... and the “dark side”. I have taken a liking to the 800 also.

I disagree with you on the usefulness of employing a nickel to help determine the relative gold performance of two detectors. We will just have to agree to disagree on that.

I have never prospected in Oregon so can’t help you directly. However, to get started here are some locations: Oregon Gold Placers Most of these areas will have mining claims or land management restrictions. A good place to start learning about these is: MyLandMatters.org Finally, here is an article describing how I go about looking for gold, with New Mexico used as an example: Determining Where To Prospect For Gold Nuggets? I hope this helps get you started.

If you mean upload a video directly to the forum... it won’t work. Currently you are limited to: Accepted file types jpg, jpeg, png, gif, bmp, tif, doc, docx, pdf, txt, rtf, xls, xlsx, gpx, kml, kmz, zip · Max file size 63MB To post a video you need to upload it to YouTube or some other video hosting service, then post the link here.

I have seen gold read anywhere from in the ferrous range all the way up to where an aluminum can reads. In other words, over nearly the entire target id scale, from smallest to largest. The sweet spot for women's rings is below U.S. nickel in the foil range and definitely not a range to exclude. The sweet spot for men's rings is above U.S. nickel where most large pull tabs read. The immediate nickel range is actually a weak spot for gold rings, too high for most women's rings, and too low for most men's rings. That is not to say rings do not appear in the nickel range, just that it is not a hot range for gold rings. Target ID / VDI Numbers For Gold Nuggets And Gold Jewelry There is no way anyone will break me from associating U.S. nickels with gold. I use it as a reference point when jewelry detecting exactly because of where a nickel reading relates both to men's and women's rings. For nugget detecting a U.S. nickel provides an excellent reference point for detector performance comparisons by being a standard and easily obtainable item that falls squarely where one would expect nuggets weighing several grams to appear. Therefore just like a dime being a reference for people hunting silver, a nickel provides a standard reference for people hunting gold. The metal/alloy mix makes no difference - all that matters is the size and target id number. Detectors know nothing about metals and alloys, and anything that reads just like a nickel, whether it is a pull tab beavertail, eraser holder, lead bullet, or gold nugget is all the same as far as the detector is concerned. Gold nuggets are an alloy also, the most common metal in a nugget after silver being copper. My standard references are ferrous, nickel, and zinc penny which act to divide the target id range into three useful "zones": Ferrous Small gold nuggets, necklaces, ear rings, women's rings (and tons of small aluminum trash) U.S. nickel Men's gold rings, larger gold nuggets (pull tabs, larger aluminum trash) Zinc penny Silver and copper coins, silver jewlery For small gold items including women's rings I will concentrate on the zone between ferrous and nickel. For larger gold jewelry I focus on the range between nickel and zinc penny. For silver and copper coins it is anything above zinc penny. This is quick and dirty but with any detector tell me where ferrous, nickel, and zinc penny read, and I can figure out all the rest.