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Steve Herschbach

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  1. I agree that the increase in TX Boost is a good thing, and thank you for that great post EL NINO. I mainly want to warn people not to think 50% more voltage to the coil means 50% more depth, and some people might very well jump to that conclusion. People make assumptions that when overstated end up in disappointment. I prefer to undersell and over-deliver and stay conservative always when talking about performance increases. I would rather people be pleasantly surprised than the other way around. Like everything metal detecting increases are hard to come by and are small in nature.
  2. Thanks Glenn, always nice to see numbers instead of opinions. It all very much jives with what I would guess. The bottom line is the online users are a sort of elite who rapidly move to the latest and greatest. The larger mass of club type users is a slower moving demographic, often only going to newer machines after critical mass is hit and they see lots of other club members with them. Deus and Equinox just depends on your crowd. Relic hunters drift to Deus, park and beach hunters to Equinox.
  3. I'm with you Joe, it's about site selection and dig dig dig. I have to be honest I just want a new toy. It needs to have raw power and decent ergonomics, and I'm seeing both here. So a new toy, and better yet something actually new from a company I have been wanting to root for but have not had good reason in some time. It's hard to understand why the old Impulse went away so many years ago and was never replaced, but that's all water under the bridge now. This is still analog and it will be exciting to see where it goes with the leap to digital and the advanced signal processing that is then possible. Many of us believe some audio nuance gets lost with digital signal processing however so I am sure a last go at analog before making that leap will be just fine with a lot of people. Anyway Joe I'm looking forward to comparing AQ notes with you. Thanks for joining the forum.
  4. Just so people know what Gerry is referring to: "Featuring a 50% increase in coil voltage over previous models along with an all-new XGB ground balance system, take your prospecting to new depths with the Goldmaster 24k. This machine represents a new generation of VLF detection technology, with features that both sourdough and greenhorn prospectors can appreciate. Starting with the industry-standard 48 kHz operating frequency, we’ve packed all the necessities into one package to put you on the gold. A large, backlit display shows you all the machine’s settings as well as valuable target information. The Target Graph at the top of the display shows Ferrous, Gold, and High Conductor ranges, which is mirrored with Target ID numbers ranging from 0-99. An all-new XGB ground balance system can handle mineralized ground unlike other VLF prospecting machines." Source: Goldmaster 24K brochure Though the brochure says 50% not 54% but that could be marketing talking in round numbers. I’m not Jim but I’ll take a stab at that. Though it seems like if you have used both the GMT and 24K you would be in a position to better answer your own question Gerry than hear it from others. I'm sure the engineers have tools to measure these things though since the brochure and the number you quote conflict I am not sure we are being all that exact. You have probably used the V3i and are familiar with TX Boost? That’s all we are talking about. The 24K and GMX Sport employ full time TX Boost. It’s not linear, 50% more voltage to the coil does not give 50% more depth. The ground determines what happens, and in bad ground it can actually work at cross purposes and offer little or no gain, especially with larger coils. Think of it in terms of turning the sensitivity control up too high in bad ground. Here is what the V3i manual has to say about TX Boost: “Tx Boost – Dramatically increases the signal being sent (transmitted) to the search coil (loop). By increasing the transmit signal, the receive signal is also increased. In low mineralized ground, Tx Boost will increase detection depth, however, battery life is also reduced significantly, perhaps as much as 50%. May require adjustment to Rx Gain, Discrimination, and All Metal sensitivity levels. Tx Boost may not be usable in some ground.” From my report on the V3i: “The White's V3i does have a 22.5 kHz Prospecting Mode and other features that in theory make it a proficient prospecting detector. The machine is hot on small gold in the 22.5 kHz mode. When the original Vision came out I did some bench tests on it versus the MXT using a 0.7 grain test nugget (480 grains per Troy ounce). An MXT with a 4" x 6" Shooter coil at max Gain would barely signal on the nugget within 1/4" of the coil. The same Shooter coil was used on the Vision in Prospecting Mode (22.5 kHz only), with no tweaks except max RX Gain. The threshold a bit ratty but no worse than MXT at max Gain. The Vision got a good hit at 2" and whisper at 3". I then engaged the TX (transmit) Boost, raising voltage to the coil from 10V to 30V. I then got a good hit at 3" and whisper at 4". That is a 50% increase on a tiny nugget by engaging TX Boost. This is easily better than MXT performance and actually closer to what I'd expect from a GMT.” So with the V3i a 300% boost in voltage to the coil resulted in 50% more air test depth on a 0.7 grain nugget. I’d have to guess that even in normal soil under real world conditions that would be cut to a depth increase on a tiny nugget to less than I saw in the air test. If that is what we are seeing with the V3i then what might we see with machines running at twice the frequency with only a 54% boost in the voltage? You have used the GMT and 24K and can already probably answer that question but my answer is “just a little bit.” I'm doubtful people using a GMT and 24K would note much real world difference with identical coils in actual use. It's probable the GMT already has higher voltage to the coil than the normal V3i setting of 10V. I also suspect boosting it even more would have eaten up too much battery life for too little or no increase at all and so we ended up at 50% (or 54% - whatever) instead of 300%.
  5. Same housing as MX Sport, should be same weight, 4.2 lbs. If weight is your issue stick with the 24K at 3.5 lbs. It’s not all about weight when it comes to comfort. Balance matters, and the well balanced 4.2 lb MX Sport feels better on arm than some lighter nose-heavy detectors. In water it’s almost weightless, and it’s waterproof to use in water. Otherwise there really is no need to get one... the 24K is the lighter option.
  6. People think many things. Minelab said ZVT is the platform for the next ten years or more, not that the GPZ was. Minelab is in the business of selling metal detectors and it is disingenuous to pretend otherwise. We all know the program, they have been introducing new gold machines every few years. I always assumed the GPZ was just the first in a new series and can’t see how anyone would think otherwise. Unless told so by an overzealous salesperson... I have to grant you that. Fact is nobody need buy anything. Plenty of happy GPX owners out there.
  7. They are Google Ads and everyone sees different stuff based on whatever Google knows about you. I quite honestly have no idea what ads appear to different people... I only know the ones I see. Those are some fine looking “best” metal detectors!
  8. This was first seen last June and expected last fall but looks like ready for prime time finally. As near as I can tell the GMX Sport is a White's 24K in an MX Sport housing. The control pad and LCD display are identical to the 24K but with the 10 foot waterproof rating of the MX Sport. Since introduction appears close I am running with this and have created a new detector entry in our database which I will update as new information comes in. Good to see the 4" x 6" coil finally for the 24K also. It's hard to tell in the video but it appears they hopefully shaved the useless airspace off the bottom as was done with the 6" concentric. White's GMX Sport Data & Specifications For what it is worth I have found the White's 24K to be a very capable VLF nugget hunter and if the GMX Sport is running the same circuit it will be a good performing detector. Main markets will be gold nuggets and jewelry detecting in freshwater and hot on micro jewelry in tot lots and volleyball courts, etc. Too hot for saltwater however but may handle bone dry sand up higher on the beach i.e. the "towel line".
  9. The download ability always was intended to be nothing more than a bug fix utility. There was never any Minelab advertising that said it was "infinitely upgradable". GPZ Update 1 GPZ Update 2
  10. This was first seen last June and expected last fall but looks like ready for prime time finally. As near as I can tell the GMX Sport is a White's 24K in an MX Sport housing. The control pad and LCD display are identical to the 24K but with the 10 foot waterproof rating of the MX Sport. Since introduction appears close I am running with this and have created a new detector entry in our database which I will update as new information comes in. Good to see the 4" x 6" coil finally for the 24K also. It's hard to tell in the video but it appears they hopefully shaved the useless airspace off the bottom as was done with the 6" concentric. White's GMX Sport Data & Specifications For what it is worth I have found the White's 24K to be a very capable VLF nugget hunter and if the GMX Sport is running the same circuit it will be a good performing detector. Main markets will be gold nuggets and jewelry detecting in freshwater and hot on micro jewelry in tot lots and volleyball courts, etc. Too hot for saltwater however but may handle bone dry sand up higher on the beach i.e. the "towel line".
  11. The White's GMX Sport metal detector was introduced in 2020 and was still in production when White’s closed up shop in that same year. That makes the GMX the last detector model to be designed and sold by White’s Electronics after 50 years in business. The GMX is a 48 kHz induction balance metal detector waterproof to ten feet aimed primarily at the jewelry detecting and gold prospecting markets. The GMX Sport is physically based on the White's MX Sport housing but otherwise is a Goldmaster 24K electronically. The control functions are identical the the Goldmaster 24K and the display screen is also identical to the 24K. The introductory offer for the White’s GMX Sport includes TWO search coils, the round 6.5" concentric, and the 4" x 6" DD oval. The Whites waterproof headphones are also included, plus an adapter for standard 1/4" detector headphones. The GMX Sport MSRP is $899.95 with an internet price of $827.95 White's Goldmaster GMX Sport metal detector For advanced users of the White's GMX Sport, TracLock and Ground Grab are just a tap of button away. You can assign a ground balance offset in both TracLock or XGB modes. To help prospectors that prefer drywashing, sluicing, or panning, the GMX features a Ground Scan mode that can show you where valuable paystreaks are in stream beds and washes. The GMX Sport offers 10 levels of adjustable sensitivity, adjustable audio volume with two levels of Boost, adjustable discrimination, vSAT, adjustable threshold, non-motion pinpoint, and a Tone ID mode. But don’t let that scare you if this is your first prospecting machine – this is a turn-on-and-go machine, with advanced features you can grow into as you gain experience. WATERPROOF HOUSING IP-68 certified waterproof to 10 feet COILS - 6” round concentric and 4" x 6" DD coils both included as part of the Introductory Special. Optional "6 x 10" DD and 8" x 14" DD coils are available. SENSITIVITY – Set the sensitivity at a level that does not result in false signals from the ground. Very strong ground may result in the symbol on screen and a loud sound – this means the sensitivity is too high. GROUND BALANCE – With the default setting, the detector will use XGB to automatically ground balance. Tap to lock the ground balance to the current setting. Tapping when the ground balance is locked will update the current ground setting to what is under the coil. GROUND SCAN – Hold to put the detector into Ground Scan mode. The top bar displays the ground strength and the two digit numbers display the ground type (phase). Useful for tracing paystreaks. IRON CANCEL – Tap to silence hot rocks, trash and mineral changes in both audio modes. Hold to select the Iron Cancel setting (1 bar is default). Note that this setting may decrease the detector’s sensitivity to very small gold, but is necessary in difficult ground conditions. VOLUME and THRESHOLD – Tap to adjust the volume with the up and down buttons. Hold to adjust the threshold with the up and down buttons (“th” displays on screen). Set these to a comfortable level for your hearing and preference. AUDIO MODE – With the displayed on screen, the detector is in “BEEP” audio mode (high tone = good target, low tone = bad target). The default setting (without on screen) is a traditional All-Metal audio mode with greater sensitivity to small targets. SAT – SAT can smooth out ground inconsistencies. Hold to adjust it (“Sa” displays on screen, 2 is the default setting). PINPOINT – Hold for non-motion pinpoint mode. In difficult ground this mode may be affected by mineralization. BACKLIGHT – Tap to enable the backlight (this reduces battery life). FREQUENCY SHIFT – Hold when turning the detector on to shift frequency (useful when there is EMI). Power off to save the selection. FACTORY RESET – Hold when turning the detector on to perform a factory reset. AUDIO - Built in speaker, 1/4” headphone jack adapter cable included WATERPROOF SPORT HEADPHONES included as part of the Introductory Special LENGTH - 45 inches collapsed, 55 inches fully extended BATTERIES - 8 AA BATTERY LIFE - 20 to 40 hours WEIGHT - 4.0 lbs WARRANTY - Two Year Transferable Official White's Goldmaster GMX Sport Product Page White's Goldmaster GMX Sport Owner's Manual White's Goldmaster XGB Ground Tracking Explained Forum threads tagged "whites 24k gmx" White’s Metal Detector Forum
  12. Well I guess that answers that on the small coil at least....
  13. Spud Diggers Jan 1st - "It's always a good day when everyone finds gold! We had a lot of fun metal detecting for gold in California. We found some nice relics and gold. We were using the White's GMT, 24k and the New GMX."
  14. They are actually the same detector, just the E600 is "feature limited". Set exactly the same performance should be identical. That being the case Robs first unit may have had an issue of some sort.
  15. There are plenty of people selling those already! You guys tell yourselves whatever you need to keep the dream alive. You ever hear the term "whistling past the graveyard?" But we are off topic now so time to put an end to the nonsense and get back to AQ discrimination advantages and caveats.
  16. An honest answer from somebody doing this for going on 50 years now and with some perspective? Somebody not selling detectors? Good finds will deplete to the point where for many people metal detecting will not be worth their time any longer. I am already seeing this in the gold prospecting world. Nobody is dropping new gold nuggets, and the gains from new detectors have largely been realized already. The GPZ 7000 gave things a lift for a few years, but now the gold patches have seen several years activity with the GPZ and large gold is getting quite rare. People are turning to detectors like the Gold Bug 2, Gold Monster, and Goldmaster 24K to chase the more prevalent gold weighed in grains, not grams. This however is more for the fun of it, and I know many older prospectors used to seeing an ounce of gold in a day who are now retiring as getting an ounce a week is now extremely challenging. I have dropped my goal to 1/2 ounce per week average and that is getting hard to hit. It actually is the rising gold prices over the last twenty years that kept things alive more than better detectors. At $300 an ounce all the serious guys would already be long gone. I always thought jewelry detecting would last forever. However, when I started beach detecting in Hawaii 20 year ago I went straight to pulse induction starting with the White's Surf PI then graduating to various ground balancing PI detectors to deal with the volcanic sand and cobbles. I did very well, but I realize now in retrospect I was already mining those deeper old layers VLF detectors had left behind. The rings all showed evidence of being in the water for decades. As I have gone back to those places in recent years I have found that there are now far more people beach detecting than 20 years ago, and it really is getting to be more about recent drops. The number of finds per hour for me has dropped dramatically compared to 20 years ago. The older stuff is that took decades to build up is being found and depleted. So the old layers are already depleting, especially as locals pounce after storms when those layers are near surface. People are dropping new stuff, but it is not what it was as young people prefer a new iPhone over expensive jewelry. I note that many younger people simply do not wear wedding rings these days. Tungsten and titanium and even silicone rings are common. And I think people seeing metal detectors on a beach every day warns people to be more careful with their jewelry. The honest truth from my perspective is I am the right age to have enjoyed the Golden Age of Metal Detecting. I got to detect when silver coins were common. I got to nugget hunt while large nuggets were common. And I saw some of the best years in beach detecting. I hate to also mention that more areas are off limits every year. I do not think well of the longer term aspects of metal detecting going forward. We are getting one last burst of activity driven by fantastic detectors and bargain prices, but this actually spells the end game for many of us. Way too much competition now. The only saving grace I can see would be if somebody could make a detector that truly could see though trash, because target masking is hiding more good stuff than depth. Something based on sound that used metal density perhaps to see through aluminum and spot gold. A true mini ground radar. But using current electromagnetic based technology we are hitting serious limits for the future of metal detecting. I think we are already at or slightly past "peak detecting". That may be gloomy thinking for some but not for me. The fact is I am getting old and my days now are numbered. I don't need to worry about detecting 30 years from now. All I need to do is use a high power machine like the Impulse AQ to seek out those few remaining places where deeper older finds still lurk before somebody else gets them. Actually to be honest I was doing just fine with the Garrett ATX, but got tired of it's 7 lb weight and sold it after it failed in the middle of my last Hawaii trip. I've been waiting for something new ever since, and the Impulse looks to be it. After that I will probably be content to be an old guy wandering a beach with a good discrimination detector digging shallow targets simply because that's all I'll physically be able to do, and I will be more in it for the walk than the rare ring I might find. My timing in all this has been near perfect!
  17. Not really missing anything, both are great choices I would choose from myself. For me waterproof mattered so my decision was easy. If that does not matter it really just boils down to comparing the features carefully to see if some particular feature grabs you. Tones adjustments for instance. If you spent 100% of your time in dense ferrous many people still lean XP there and the main strength of the XP detectors is separating ferrous from non-ferrous. Target id maybe not so much. For groomed park detecting I think the Equinox holds better target id at depth. But seriously you can't go wrong with either detector.
  18. There are two basic mindsets at work in metal detecting. There are some that prefer to maximize returns per dig by using discrimination and who are willing to give up depth to have good discrimination. Then there is the power crowd who tends to go for power first with discrimination being a secondary concern, more a bonus than anything. Nearly all park detectorists fall into the discrimination camp. Nearly all serious gold prospectors fall into the high power camp. Beach and relic hunters swing both ways. However, the trend I have seen is that as shallower finds play out and good valuable finds remain at depth, people turn to power over discrimination. A fine example are the Culpepper relic hunters. That is tough ground that really impedes VLF performance. They cleaned things out with VLF, but then nearly everyone switched to pulse induction as the shallow VLF finds depleted out. Beach detecting is no different. Nobody is going to dig a ton of junk for pennies. But when a beach gets to where a VLF no longer is making many good gold finds you have only two options. Go somewhere else, or break out the big guns. That means pulse induction. The real question then simply becomes which PI unit to use. I have always favored PI detectors for gold prospecting and beach detecting. VLF detectors have always been more like playthings in my world; it's the PI detectors that put pounds of gold in my pockets.... and yes, I dug many more pounds of junk to get there! This is pretty much a rule of detecting. People will do what is easiest. If a VLF means you make good finds while digging less junk that is what people will do. But there comes a time when the VLFs no longer produce, unless you are willing to chase recent drops. At that point some people will go the next step and use PI detectors. And even then there is an eventual end. I have seen many nugget locations go though this cycle. VLF first, leave most of the trash. Then in come the PI detectors. The mindset changes. As long as you can find junk gold still can be found! Ever hear of target masking? So people continue to attack the location, digging everything. And a day comes when you can't even find trash anymore. The location goes quiet as a mouse. Then people start moving rocks and scraping the surface to get the coil closer to the gold! It's actually inevitable and it will happen on any beach where gold can be found. It is only a matter of time.
  19. I'll tell you manufacturers what I really need and am will to pay top dollar for. A detector as powerful as a GPZ but with 100% accurate ferrous discrimination. Even the best VLF detectors pick up too much flat steel and broken square nails in old mining areas. If there is a payday waiting for me it is in areas full of ferrous junk where a VLF does not go deep enough but a GPZ or PI will kill me digging junk. Forget more depth and give me genuine, accurate ferrous discrimination in a detector more powerful than the best VLF. For that, I will dig very deep into my wallet, and that's a promise.
  20. If you are looking for a real adventure I suggest you check out AKAU at Nome, Alaska. I know several people who have been there. All speak well of the operation, and a couple found quite a few ounces of gold on their visits. It’s really the only real operation of the sort in the country now since Ganes Creek and Moore Creek shut down. Other than that and if you want more hands on guidance, contacting dealers like Gerry McMullen or Rob Allison about their training field trips is an excellent option.
  21. The next new challenger is now in view and almost sure to show up in 2020 according to this post. Two differing technologies are being evaluated for best results in the upcoming prospecting version of the Fisher Impulse. I am going to get the beach version, the Fisher Impulse AQ and hunt jewelry while I wait and see what develops with the prospecting version of the detector. I’ll keep an eye on QED developments also, but to get my interest beyond where it is they will need to establish a U.S. dealer network. I’ve never bought a detector yet that did not have U.S. dealers and service support and am not changing that policy at this late stage of my detecting career. White’s is still the safe choice in this category with their revamped TDI Hi-Q but I have owned too many TDI models now to go back down that road. And despite all my drum pounding on this subject I’m still pretty practical about the price performance ratio. Right this minute, January 2, 2020, if I had to pull the trigger I’d probably still choose the Minelab GPX 4500 at 5.3 lbs weight on arm (battery not included, on backpack) and $2699 as getting me as close as possible to my goal without giving up more power and reliability than I am actually willing to give up. The Fisher is looking more like maybe 4.5 lbs (battery included!) and $2500 but that’s just educated guessing. A big step in the right direction though. Nokta/Makro is in the game but other than that we know nothing. Not a peep from Garrett or Minelab but the year is as young as it can get so we will see. White’s TDI Hi-Q metal detector
  22. I’m not expecting much magic. The GPZ 7000 was the leap to Zero Voltage Technology (ZVT), just like the SD 2000 was the leap to Multi Period Sensing (MPS). For many years after the SD 2000 we saw refining of the basic technology but maximum depth on large gold did not change much. ZVT basically filled in the gaps by specifically targeting types of gold that all the previous MPS detectors were weak on. No doubt whatever comes next will refine ZVT, but the major gains seen by the switch in basic technology are likely already baked in. For those of you who have been around the block a few times you know what I am talking about. How much difference did you see going from the GP 3000 to the GP 3500? Or going from the GPX 4000 to the GPX 4500? Improvements for sure, but incremental, not revolutionary. But at every single turn the price went up with each new model. I’m not trying to be a bummer but I got this sense with the GPZ 7000 I was cleaning up leftovers and now after a few years of that even the leftovers are getting sparse. The real problem we face now is not the technology but gold geology itself. There are sound reasons why in desert placers and washed placer areas going deeper often does not reveal much more gold. I guess long story short is the gold is depleting out and the gains to be had with new detectors is depleting along with it. That being the case putting out astronomical sums of money for a new detector is an equation that does not add up any more for a lot of us. That is why for the last few years I have been advocating for lighter weight, less expensive detectors. My challenge at the link may have set a tough bar for both price and weight but I believe it is setting tough goals that makes us strive. It’s not always about hitting the goal but just trying as hard as you can to get there, and personally I’m done with machines that are too expensive or too heavy.
  23. If you go to the original post in this thread I explain why expecting to not dig any ferrous with this type system is unrealistic. Even VLF detectors struggle with many bottle caps. Bottle caps are a mixed target and some literally have a non-ferrous liner or coating. PI detectors do not discriminate based on ferrous/non-ferrous but on different time constants or signal decay rates. Like any discrimination system increasing target rejection can affect target signal strength and therefore depth. There is some kind of ferrous target at every possible resultant time constant and all you can do is maximize gold ring returns while minimizing ferrous returns. This must all be done while also attempting to retain maximum depth so it is a judgement call where trade-offs will be made at the discretion of the operator. Some people will choose all metal for maximum performance but dig more trash. Some will choose to minimize trash with some resultant loss in performance and loss of some good targets. Most will be somewhere in the middle depending on location and settings. It’s a choice each person will make for themselves. I think getting expectations too high will be damaging and one reason I started this thread was to be sure people are realistic about pulse induction discrimination at this stage of development. There is no way I am going to be disappointed as I simply want better than what I have had in the past and I am sure Alexandre is going to deliver. The results however will be very dependent on the exact beach location and the particular mix of ferrous targets. I expect at some locations hardly any ferrous will be recovered. I also expect some places with an unlucky set of circumstances will still see you digging plenty of trash to get the gold. Operator patience in learning the detector will of course matter a lot and those who have hunted more by ear than by numbers will be ahead in the game. I think the more experienced pulse users with realistic expectations are going to love the Impulse AQ. I also think there will be some who get it thinking it is a VLF type discriminator and they will end up disappointed and blame the detector. Anyone having any doubts in this regard should simply wait it out and not be first in line to buy one. I also think the best results will come from high mineral locations where VLF detectors struggle the most, favoring west coast and volcanic island hunters. Hunters in Florida pure white sand where VLF detectors work as well as is possible will see less benefit compared to something like a CTX 3030 with a 17" coil. PI detectors do best compared to VLF detectors where the ground conditions are the worst Again, I do not have nor have I ever had an Impulse so this is my best explanation of what I think is realistic based on my having been involved in this type of detector for about as long as they have been around. When I was a dealer I believed in undersell and over-deliver and never regretted it. I do not have a horse in this race at all. But the fact is I very much would like Fisher to do well with this machine and continue to offer competition while advancing the technology. That will only happen if people are properly educated about what to expect so as to not have any unpleasant surprises. Fisher Impulse AQ metal detector
  24. Only a gold-centric viewpoint would say Minelab has not been releasing new detectors at a fast clip and is steadily taking market share from other companies.
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