Steve Herschbach

This comes up with every new detector. Will it detect thin chains and small ear rings in salt water? Yes, but no better than some existing models. Why? Physics. It's not even in question if you know how detectors work. I'm just tired of this one so will leave it there. Believe me or not. Hint. If an item reads in the same range as salt water, and you tune the salt water out, you can't detect the item either.

I assume he is referring to the AQ Limited. Which supposedly was being redesigned physically, because yes, it really needs it. But Kellyco and FT video's imply more on the way in the original Limited housing - which sucks. I'd buy another AQ in a proper housing with drop in batteries, but the Limited design needs to be replaced. So my big question is, did FT abandon the planned redesign of the housing, and is staying with the flawed design? This is what was being promised back in August and earlier: Battery system replaced entirely with four drop in 18650 rechargeable Li-Ion batteries Depth rating to be increased Lower rod made longer to accommodate taller users Headphone connection being relocated to back of pod An 8” accessory coil is in the works (done) https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/13664-more-details-about-next-version-impulse-aq And it was also supposed to be in our hands by now, or at least an announcement made. Well, we got the announcement, but it's apparently just more of the same old same old. The Limited was supposed to be 100 units and no more. So are they still just trying to sell the original 100? What a mess. Here is what Kellyco is hawking as "new for 2022." Looks like just the same old Limited model to me, but maybe they had no photos of the new version? Would be poor advertising were that the case to at least not note that. And the discrimination claims are way over the top still. Worst of all "Written by Corey Hoff, Chief Revenue Officer at First Texas Products." Seriously, the Chief Revenue Officer, whatever that is, is writing ad copy? https://www.kellycodetectors.com/pages/new-tech-feature-fisher-impulse-aq/ I'm sorry to say that my once favorite company has lost all credibility with me. I'll believe it when I see it, and even then only after others have used it first. This reminds me all too much of the final days of the old Los Banos Fisher.

I just added specs and a comment to my post Jeff, while you were posting. It may be that as a military detector the design has extra shielding. One thing they can't have is interference screwing up mine detection and killing someone. The new DD coil design may also have something to do with it. Perhaps a cancellation coil?

Or just Multi-IQ, and a person in marketing doing what they do. Just a note on progression. The SDC housing originated as the F3 Compact countermine detector, in response to a specific government military contract, that had a design spec for waterproof and folding. The Garrett ATX was spawned the same way - same contract actually. Both companies made a waterproof folding mine detector first. Then, to get more money from the expensive housings, they stuff a consumer PI in them. So for Garrett is was Garrett Recon first, ATX second. For Minelab it was F3 Compact first, then SDC 2300. And next up the MF5. Which despite the marketing blurb I really do think it's just Multi-IQ, a stripped Equinox ferrous/non-ferrous circuit, stuffed in the F3 Compact housing. Sadly, I've learned to be pretty cynical when it comes to reading between the lines in marketing info. Read the operating manual and see what you think. https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/444357/4901-0373-1 Inst. Manual, MF5-EN_WEB.pdf It does have a cool new coil with a unique target response: The biggest thing I see is the frequency spread, which tops out at 75 kHz versus Equinox 40 kHz. So it is optimized for finding the tiniest firing pins or thin wires.... and might very well make a nice small nugget VLF. If you wanted to pay the price, and swing the weight, for what would still be a VLF detector.

Yes, Vanquish would be a step up from DFX, though I always have to caveat that with it depends on your ground and your targets. But yeah, I'd put a Vanquish up against a DFX anytime with no fear personally. The only thing the Apex offers you is a really sweet physical package, and nice headphone/pinpointer wireless integration. But keep in mind if you are a control junkie nothing will match the DFX (except V3i), and personally I love the Signagraph meter design, light years beyond a simple target ID number. But in the end I honestly only keep my DFX because it runs my Bigfoot coil. That, and since I started detecting with a White's almost 50 years ago, well, I need to have at least one around.

Actually for the Minelab F3 Compact, from which the SDC physical design was derived. Part numbers galore! Check it out: https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/264523/4904-0005-1 Service Manual, F3 Compact.pdf

I found this new marketing blurb very interesting...... "Minelab’s unique Simultaneous Multi-Frequency Digital technology results in the MF5 providing superior detection capabilities by combining the advantages of Pulse Induction and Continuous Wave technologies." https://www.minelab.com/usa/countermine/detectors/mf5-military-clearance-landmine-detector-by-minelab

Main problem with SDC is it is a hollow, air filled cork, both body and coil. The housing was never designed as a true underwater detector, but as a swim proof military mine detector. The F3 Compact came first, and Minelab merely recycled the housing into a gold prospecting detector. And then added beach detecting to the marketing effort. https://www.minelab.com/usa/countermine/detectors/f3-compact-landmine-detector-by-minelab

True that… I always think Equinox when thinking Multi-IQ. Having run the Equinox, Vanquish, and Apex, I can say Vanquish can equal Equinox in many ways, and is basically just a stripped down variant of the Equinox. Both are 4th generation multi from Minelab. Apex frankly is a first generation effort, more on par with my White’s DFX for performance. But I still have the DFX and sold the Apex, for whatever that’s worth. Until Garret makes a more refined, more powerful version of Multi-Glex, it’s simply not on the same class as Equinox/Vanquish Multi-IQ. All the right ingredients are there though, and I look forward to seeing what Garrett cooks up next. If you are looking for bang for the buck, the Nokta Legend would surely be worth a little waiting.

I doubt XP is that stupid or that unethical.

Because as what has probably been the worlds best selling high performance metal detector for almost four years running, they don’t see the need. I’m a fan of S shaft on light detectors, but trying to do it with Equinox gets klunky. Your best option….

The only difference between Multi-IQ and Multi-Flex that matters is that in real world use Multi-Flex is falling short as a genuine challenger. But frankly, it was never my expectation given the Apex placement as an Ace series detector. The performance matches the category and the price.

It’s not weight above water that matters, but displacement. The SDC is a fail as a water machine for the exact reason you mention. Unfortunately you missed my posts about that. Equinox is just fine in water, though it’s leak rate has been higher than one would like. It’s hard to sort as it’s so popular even a small percentage of fails would mean a lot of leaking machines. And some serious hunters use for three years with no leaks, others have had multiple machines leak. Good news though is no hassle replacement under warranty for three years. Despite the issues the Nox has been one of the most popular water machines ever. It does get the job done very well.

Yeah, in the worst ground coils getting larger coils often gains no depth…. might even get less than smaller coils! Hard for most to believe, but I’ve seen it plenty with VLF, and it is why prospectors have to go PI in bad ground if they want to run large coils. I really get large coils just for ground coverage, and consider any depth gained just a nice bonus. I’d love an Equinox style 15x12 on the D2, would put it on a custom balanced rod, but I don’t expect it to happen, so 13x11 is best I might hope for.

Good to see the post is still helping all these years later. High sensitivity/low volume settings are how I run all my detectors, and basically…. It works. Main thing is you found a setting to handle the volcanic rocks. I have some places where the Z hits on rocks no matter what I do, but they are rare and I just go someplace else. ‘Nice gold, and Happy New Year to you also!

I like small coils and large coils. No 5x10 for D2, so I got the 9”. Hoping they make the 11x13 or larger, I’d probably get one of those. Much as I would have liked the 5x10 I doubt I’d spring for another $400 to get one if I already have the 9” round. Not enough performance spread there for the money. I like my coils to be quite different and distinct from each other, and small, medium, large basically does the trick.

Kudos to you Eric!! 👍🏼

sounds like a great year, and a lot of really nice coins. I’ll have to do more of that this year… if I found a silver coin in 2021 I don’t remember it.

I spent years doing this, but no more! https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/190-ice-cold-gold-dredging-at-crow-creek-alaska/

I got an email inquiry and wanted to share my reply here….. Hello Steve, What's your thoughts on cold weather winter metal detecting, I'm thinking of trying it....... i.e. lowest temperatures for metal detector use, best metal detector for cold weather, etc..etc... Thank you There are no particular limitations around cold weather detecting other than your comfort, and target recovery. The last is why I stop detecting in winter. If snow is in the ground I can’t get to what I want to find, and even if not, the ground is frozen. Frozen dirt is like digging in asphalt. Some very dry desert areas are detectable in frozen conditions, but anyplace with moist ground you may as well just forget it. You can detect snow, like recent drops in playgrounds under equipment, or ski/sledding slopes. Jewelry would be the main goal for those doing that. A small pick or digging shovel works well as long as the device can chip/dig in snow compacted into ice. You don’t detect fresh loose snow, but well traveled packed snow areas. Any detector will work. Some LCD displays may grow dim or even blank in very cold weather, but no way to know which machines are prone to that short of trying them. So in general it would be best to be set to dig more by ear than eyeball. Use low temp batteries like Energizer Lithiums. Some newer models with built in NiMh batteries may get shorter run times due to cold batteries, so replaceable batteries would be more reliable. But not something I’d worry about too much initially. Personally after living a lifetime in Alaska I’m over cold weather, and simply choose to detect when it’s more comfortable. Hope this helps, Steve H The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert W. Service There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, But the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee. Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee, where the cotton blooms and blows. Why he left his home in the South to roam 'round the Pole, God only knows. He was always cold, but the land of gold seemed to hold him like a spell; Though he'd often say in his homely way that "he'd sooner live in hell." On a Christmas Day we were mushing our way over the Dawson trail. Talk of your cold! through the parka's fold it stabbed like a driven nail. If our eyes we'd close, then the lashes froze till sometimes we couldn't see; It wasn't much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam MCGee. And that very night, as we lay packed tight in our robes beneath the snow, And the dogs were fed, and the stars o'erhead were dancing heel and toe, He turned to me, and "Cap," says he, "I'll cash in this trip, I guess; And if I do, I'm asking you that you won't refuse my last request." Well, he seemed so low that I couldn't say no; then he says with a sort of moan: "It's the cursed cold, and it's got right hold till I'm chilled clean through to the bone. Yet 'tain't being dead--it's my awful dread of the icy grave that pains; So I want you to swear that, foul or fair, you'll cremate my last remains." A pal's last need is a thing to heed, so I swore I would not fail; And we started on at the streak of dawn; but God! he looked ghastly pale. He crouched on the sleigh, and he raved all day of his home in Tennessee; And before nightfall a corpse was all that was left of Sam McGee. There wasn't a breath in that land of death, and I hurried, horror-driven With a corpse half hid that I couldn't get rid, because of a promise given' It was lashed to the sleigh, and it seemed to say: "You may tax your brawn and brains, But you promised true, and it's up to you to cremate these last remains." Now a promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code. In the days to come, though my lips were dumb, in my heart how I cursed that load. In the long, long night, by the lone firelight, while the huskies, round in a ring, Howled out their woes to the homeless snows-- O God! how I loathed the thing. And every day that quiet clay seemed to heavy and heavier grow; And on I went, though the dogs were spent and the grub was getting low; The trail was bad, and I felt half mad, but I swore I would not give in; And I'd often sing to the hateful thing, and it harkened with a grin. Till I came to the marge of Lake Lebarge, and a derelict there lay; It was jammed in the ice, but I saw in a trice it was called the "Alice May." And I looked at it, and I thought a bit, and I looked at my frozen chum; Then "Here," said I, with a sudden cry, "is my cre-ma-tor-eum." Some planks I tore from the cabin floor, and I lit the boiler fire; Some coal I found that was lying around, and I heaped the fuel higher; The flames just soared, and the furnace roared--such a blaze you seldom see; And I burrowed a hole in the glowing coal, and I stuffed in Sam McGee. Then I made a hike, for I didn't like to hear him sizzle so; And the heavens scowled, and the huskies howled, and the wind began to blow It was icy cold, but the hot sweat rolled down my cheeks, and I don't know why; And the greasy smoke in an inky cloak went streaking down the sky. I do not know how long in the snow I wrestled with grisly fear; But the stars came out and they danced about ere again I ventured near; I was sick with dread, but I bravely said: "I'll just take peep inside. I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked";. . . then the door I opened wide. And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm, in the heart of the furnace roar; And he wore a smile you could see a mile, and he said: "Please close that door. It's fine in here, but I greatly fear you'll let in the cold and storm-- Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee, it's the first time I've been warm." There are strange things done in the midnight sun By the men who moil for gold; The Arctic trails have their secret tales That would make your blood run cold; The Northern Lights have seen queer sights, But the queerest they ever did see Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee.

Hardware actually does stuff, and not everything can be just a software patch. So basically - no.

Yeah, the SDC is a better gold nugget finder, few people would dispute that. On the other hand, if snorkeling in the surf I’d pick ATX over SDC every time.

The last few detector releases from Minelab were all foreshadowed in the corporate annual reports, and so far nothing on that count. I’d not be holding my breath.

Just had to say I really like that photo. Congratulations on the gold - sounds like you really earned it!

Congratulations on a terrific first year!!!