Steve Herschbach

You too George! You in Alaska or Tennessee?

TDI and ATX versus AQ... well, people always focus on depth, while I’m looking at other factors. I’ll give the nod to AQ for sheer depth. The AQ adds some discrimination tools the others lack, but the difference there is not huge. A skilled TDI operator should be able to pass trash nearly as well as a AQ operator, but with more depth loss while doing so. The AQ has a far more efficient system with less attendant depth loss, which the TDI is well known to have in ground balance mode. The only way to get the real power out of the TDI is to shut off the ground balance and go straight PI. The problem is hot rocks. The AQ ground balance has been hijacked to created a discrimination control. It therefore has no adjustable ground balance, unlike both the ATX and TDI. They had to toss in Volcanic Mode on the AQ to help compensate for this missing capability. The main defining factor on the upcoming Impulse Gold is that it will have the adjustable ground balance the AQ lacks. And also therefore probably lose the discrimination settings. The reasoning for this is that gold prospectors will encounter bad ground and hot rocks the AQ cannot handle well, and so a separate detector is required. We are being to,d specifically the AQ will not be good for gold prospecting due to this lack of capability. So that tells you where the weakness is with AQ vs TDI and ATX, both of which are used by gold prospectors. There are hot rocks and ground the AQ has problems with. If I wanted to show the TDI or ATX in their best light, I would seek out hot rocks and beach conditions the AQ cannot eliminate. Whatever it is the AQ lacks that the Impulse Gold is going to fix. Then highlight the TDI and ATX adjustable ground balance systems and the benefit they offer. So my favorite battleground, Hawaii. How does the AQ handle those nasty basalt hot rocks buried in tan beach sands? Hawaii is reason why I liked the Infinium and ATX and I am sure TDI Beachhunter if Whites had ever made one before I gave up on them. My TDI prototype was a dream unit in Hawaii and I advocated for a waterproof version before the TDI even hit the streets as a new detector model. But I digress. It’s those kinds of situations where I would question the AQ. It may be that the Volcanic Mode does the trick, but if so, at what depth loss compared to the ATX and TDI? Personally, I am sold on the AQ. But as my posts above indicate I also know the technology well enough to know what it can and can’t do versus the competition, so for me the questions that trouble others are of little or no concern. But I’m more than happy to lift a pointy finger for those who want to delve into and attempt to illustrate those issues for others. My strength is telling people about stuff. Whether they want to listen or not, well, I can’t do anything about that.

Since we posted near same time Barry, I’m not sure if you saw my other post. I was not thinking of all the people who think this is a replacement for their VLF, so serious discrimination tests using various items like steel wire, hairpins, and bottle caps would be very helpful for that crowd. Not depth tests so much as discrimination tests. That’s the ticket! So back to plan A, Equinox and Excalibur, plus Tarsacci if you can lay your hands on one. Test AQ versus VLF on stuff in left of photo...

Well, I can see due to the early promotional material put out, why lots of people are thinking the AQ is possibly a super discriminating PI that will somehow replace their VLF. In that case tests of the AQ in Tone Mode or Mute Mode versus VLF detectors would be of great interest to them, and certainly something Barry could focus on with great intent from his viewers. I think the AQ is a step up from the discrimination on the Beachhunter TDI and ATX, both of which are tone based, the TDI adjustable, the ATX less so. In my case though VLF and PI remain different tools for different jobs, and I advocate having both. My Equinox is sure not going anywhere. The AQ complements the Equinox, it does not replace it, as both have strengths where the other is weakest. The AQ plus Excalibur or Equinox or possibly a Tarsacci is a near perfect pairing in my opinion.

Last mention I saw from Rick is that eight have been sold, and half delivered. FT only seems to be shipping one or two a week.

So you want to bring a gun to a knife fight? Testing a high power PI against a VLF can be informative, but testing against other competitive PI detectors would be more apples to apples. I’d suggest the TDI Beachhunter and ATX as the two main competitors. Looking forward to your tests. 👍🏼 Waterproof Pulse Induction (PI) Detectors Compared

No, this thing is tiny and dainty. I’d certainly not mess with trying something like that. Best to replace. I could maybe use it as a pigtail to create a splitter for the power and audio but not something I want to mess with at the moment.

This went out to dealers. It will be interesting to see if there is an official public statement at some point, or just lights out, nobody home, like Tesoro pulled.

It would seem to me the plastic should be more pliable than it obviously is.

The dog bark is a cute way of covering up profanity.

Looks like blocky decomposed siltstone bedrock. There are plenty of places in Alaska like that where if it beeps, it’s gold. They said they had already found lots of nuggets in the bank, so may have decided to set up and film one. Yeah, it could be fake, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. The bank caving was definitely real!

The White’s GMT came out in 2000. Two decades ago! Twenty years ago!!! Some new detectorists were not even born yet when it came out. This is technology. Electronics. Who still makes anything electronic just like it was made 20 years ago? Almost nobody. You may as well sign up for the “take your time to copy me, you have all the time you need” counterfeit volunteer list. There are many reasons for innovating, and not being a sitting duck is one of them.

They are mostly state parks at Tahoe, both Nevada and California. Remember, it is a lake, not an ocean. http://parks.nv.gov/parks/lake-tahoe-nevada-state-park https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=511 https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506

Maybe Monday. Tahoe is so busy now the beach entry closes an hour after opening on weekends. They are trying to keep things from getting too packed. Even on weekdays I need to be there right at opening.

Maybe if you buy it with American Express. No, I’m not kidding. https://www.americanexpress.com/content/dam/amex/us/credit-cards/features-benefits/policies/pdf/EW_Benefit_Guide_Tier_1_Rev_9-17.pdf Other cards offer similar plans, read your card agreement. Minelab is sold at Cabelas, and I think they offer extended warranty on electronics for an extra charge.

I was detecting nuggets with the Equinox before anyone in the U.S. and wrote it up as a nugget machine way before others even thought of giving it a try. Nice to see others eventually see the light. https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/7468-my-tips-on-nugget-detecting-with-the-minelab-equinox/ But I’d still recommend a dedicated unit unless you perceive value in the other functionality the Equinox offers. Sometimes excess capability gets in people’s way. The Gold Monster is a far better choice for people who just want to get the job done. If you read my link above, you will see you just don’t grab and go detect nuggets with an Equinox. You have to master the skill. I’m Equinox fan number 1, but it’s not for everyone when it comes to nugget detecting. However, if you are willing to take the time and seriously apply yourself to mastering it, it is an amazing machine. The 24K is now kind of off the list with White’s going by the wayside.

Yup, the buck stops at the top. If a family was to put somebody in place that runs something based in their own agenda... that’s on the family. I was and am still a business owner, and every horrible thing done by any employee I ever had ultimately was my fault, because I hired them. If they did stuff I did not know about, that’s on me for not looking. Never give business owners and managers a pass. Never. When I hear business owners making excuses and passing the buck to others under them, I just gag. What drivel. But hey, dodging responsibility is a national sport these days. The big box, big meter, went all the way back to Ken White Sr. He took a circuit board and put it in a big box with a big meter. Then put the same board in a bigger box with a bigger meter and sold it for more money. And then he would put it in a bigger box still, and I’m not kidding... add another huge meter! And sell it for even more money. Size equating to perceived value is in the White’s DNA. https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/3688-whites-electronics-visit-and-a-new-v3i/

Our conversation perfectly illustrates the difference in thinking between engineers and sales/marketing types! Ken’s mistake would be in thinking anything is worth more than it can be sold for. Things are only worth what they can get on the open market, nothing more. What he has invested or emotional value is meaningless to anyone but him.

Like I said, some Chinese outfit. Buy the name, move manufacturing to China. But Ken may want too much money, and then he just gets liquidation value. His choices are a very low price, or a super low price. All I can tell you as a business owner/entrepreneur there is value here I could sell, and something is better than nothing. But Ken may be a “by God, I’ll take nothing before I’ll sell to the Chinese” type. Whatever, it’s all just blah blah blah anyway. Time will tell.

Funny, my DFX, V3i, and 24K have not one knob among the three. I actually like knobs from an operational standpoint, but for Alaska style rain and mud, wipe off touch pads were a big step forward.

About as close as you could get to these in a slightly newer model was the Compass Challenger series - X70, X80, X100, and X200

The first aftermarket shaft I got for my Equinox was a Golden mask telescoping shaft. The early version took a lot of crude adapting to make work. Later versions had custom adapters made for a more finished product. I also ended up getting a TeleNox telescoping rod. https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/6247-equinox-golden-mask-shaft-conversion/ https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/8628-new-minelab-micronox/ https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/10299-tele-nox-rods/ https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/10716-aftermarket-shafts-for-in-water-use/ Between the two they are both fine but I like the Golden Mask version a little more. A bit stouter, no flex, and less levers and other moving parts. The plus for the Telenox is it is directly compatible with the Equinox rod size and therefore the pod/handle swaps over with no fuss. The Golden Mask requires the adapter and its own armrest due to the larger rod diameter. The Telenox starts with the smaller rod and so the last section is thinner than with the Golden Mask, which starts with a larger diameter rod (a need for adapter) but then ends with a larger diameter rod section also. There was a final Golden Mask kit you could buy that had everything you need, but now it seems to be no longer available. EDIT 8/14/22 - A new version of the Golden Mask rod appears to be available now, bolt on ready, no fuss, and a great price here! Here is the alternate non-folding version So what did I do a while back? I know much better than to ever leave my detector leaning on the rear end of my truck. But I did it anyway and backed over the detector. Right over the pod. Crushed the handle completely! A testament to the Equinox is after I pried the pod out of the ground it still worked. I had to clamp and glue the lower part of the face back to the housing later but it is still working fine. But the rod was a total loss. All I scavenged was the adapter parts and the armrest. With no more Golden Mast complete assembly available, after lots of Googling I found what looked like a possible replacement rod and took a gamble and ordered it. If nothing else I figured I would end up with a new walking stick. $46 delivered from Amazon. I got lucky - seems to be the same rod, except if anything of higher quality. I peeled off the foam hand grip and removed the last rod section, which is too small and makes it too long anyway. I am lucky in that I have a lot of Equinox lower rods sitting around, because I had to cut and grind the part needed to bolt this rod to a coil from a spare lower rod. That could be a tad expensive otherwise. I glued it into the lower rod opening, drilled the new armrest holes and bolted it on, and used the adapter to add the Equinox pod/handle. Finished item is probably a little nicer than what I ran over, same exact length, etc. That worked out quite well and at $46 a lot cheaper than if I had been able to find a new Golden mask assembly. But like I said, I had all the other parts required. If you get this rod, the Equinox handle and armrest will not adapter directly to it without additional adapters. Bonus is I have a nice case for the rod when not in use, and an adapter sticking out of the end that I am going to use to create a removable coil counterweight. Not needed at all for the 6" coil, but nice for the larger coils. Custom carbon fiber telescoping rod for Minelab Equinox 2 lbs 10 oz x 20” long Custom carbon fiber telescoping rod for Minelab Equinox

Headphones as far as I know nobody else is using the same fitting as the Impulse (it is a conspiracy that they all be different), so you would need to replace the waterproof connector on other models on the market for them to work. I am going to make an adapter to 1/4" or 1/8" very soon so I can go wireless, and will start a new thread on that. This version a complete rod replacement is at least a possibility for those so inclined. The new model when it comes out will have the batteries integrated into the design, making a rod replacement an even more difficult proposition. Since the Limited is going to have no more than 99 units made, I don't see anyone jumping into making custom rods for them. That middle rod is not easy to find for something used on so many First Texas (Fisher, Bounty Hunter, Teknetics) detectors. Black, gold, and gray versions are made. I got my spare at Kellyco for $9.99 and I had a $5 off coupon so half off, but with shipping ended up being $12 delivered. https://www.kellycodetectors.com/catalog/middle-rod-only-current-models

No, Equinox does not even fit other Minelab product. Why would you not just buy the $10 Fisher middle rod? If you are thinking complete rod replacement, think again. Look at the lower rod again - brand new yoke design, you will not find it anywhere else but Fisher at this time. And that upper rod assembly? The power and audio routes through the handle into the sealed end cap behind the elbow. You just don't remove the handle and put on another rod, you need to rewire everything and recreate the power and audio outlets. The only reasonable solution at this time is that $10 middle section.