Steve Herschbach

No takers on the challenge? OK, this chart is from my latest update to the Waterproof VLF Metal Detector Comparison thread. The closest you will get to an Equinox in an underwater VLF for ergonomics are the brand new 3.0 lb Makro Kruzer models and the 3.0 lb Garrett AT models. These are all about the same weight, but also have the top mounted boxes and all will be slightly nose heavy due to no underarm counterbalance. The 4.23 lbs MX Sport does weigh over a pound more, but much of that is due to the 8 AA battery underarm pod that results in a well balanced detector.

White's MX Sport internet price $749 White's MX Sport Owners Manual White's MX Sport Data & Reviews Color Flyer - click for larger versions

It does not relate to ground balance or ground tracking at all other than the idea that both controls attempt to manage how the detector reacts to the ground. Threshold Autotune, SAT & V/SAT are all methods for managing the threshold tone and so they are part of the audio control. Ground balance and ground tracking are all about how the detector ground balances and how it maintains the ground balance. You could look at it as ground balance attempting to completely tune out the ground first. Then, whatever ground effects are left can be further managed by varying the autotune speed, if that capability is present in the detector you own. Most detectors have the threshold autotune rate preset by the factory.

I would not expect any other answer - the last guy who mentioned what’s in the lab no longer works at Minelab! All you need for discrimination is phase information, and the GPZ as a continuous wave detector should be perfectly capable of collecting and processing that information. I could of course just be wrong about that!

Nobody least of all me is trying to convince anyone to use discrimination while nugget detecting. If at all possible a person should dig all targets. I always do so whenever possible and anyone thinking I am advocating anything else is misunderstanding my intent.

The problem is not the Equinox and Canadian coins. It is Canadian coins and any metal detector since modern Canadian clad is basically a steel (ferrous) target. After 2000 - 4.4 94% steel, 3.8% Cu, 2.2% Ni plating $1 1987- 7 91.5% Ni electroplated with 8.5% bronze plating $2 1996- 7.3 outer ring = 99% Ni Inner core = 92% Cu, 2% Ni, 6% Al This means that most Canadian coins read the same as trash and are hard to detect for as a result. You will run into this with any detector. Equinox Canadian Coin IDs

Good point I had forgotten - thanks Nenad. The Gold Racer Pro Pack with two coils etc. runs US$799. That would tend to make it seem the Gold Racers days are numbered. I have not seen anything about a larger coil for the Gold Kruzer. I like that coil, but there may not be much actual demand for it. Still, I see they have the big coil out for the Multi Kruzer.

Terrific post Chase!

Here are all the MAP or Internet Prices for all the Equinox accessory items except the 15" coil.... EQX 06 Double-D Smart Coil (includes skidplate) Part No. 3011-0333 $179.00 EQX 11 Double-D Smart Coil (includes skidplate) Part No. 3011-0334 $229.00 EQX 15 Double-D Smart Coil (includes skidplate) Part No. 3011-0335 Unknown EQX 06 Skidplate Part No. 3011-0376 $10.00 EQX 11 Skidplate Part No. 3011-0377 $18.00 EQX 15 Skidplate Part No. 3011-0378 Unknown USB Charging Cable with Magnetic Connector Part No. 3011-0368 $20.00 2-Way USB Car Charger Part No. 3011-0375 $20.00 4-Way Universal AC Charger Part No. 3011-0374 $40.00 WM 08 Wireless Audio Module Part No. 3011-0371 $259.00 Minelab Bluetooth / apt-X Low Latency Headphones Part No. 3011-0370 $139.00 Waterproof Equinox Headphones Part No. 3011-0372 $149.00 Headphones (wired) 3.5mm / 1/8-inch Part No. 3011- 0364 $30.00 Headphone Adaptor Cable 3.5mm (1/8-inch) to 6.35mm (1/4-inch) Part No. 3011-0369 $40.00 Screen Protectors (Set) Part No. 3011-0379 $12.00

Lots of noise / chatter. If noise cancel is not getting rid of this reduce your sensitivity. I have had to go to 18 in some places to deal with EMI. Earlier thread with getting started tips

Anyway, back to the 56 kHz Gold Racer. At US$599 it compares well to other detectors running at 30 kHz or higher. However, the big question is whether it will continue to be manufactured or whether the soon to be released 61 kHz Makro Gold Kruzer will replace it. The Gold Kruzer is waterproof and offers a three tone mode versus the two tone modes available on the Gold Racer. That does make it better suited for hunting for micro jewelry. However, it also runs $749 and I am not sure that it will find nuggets any better than a Gold Racer. The 5 kHz difference is not enough anyone would see any difference in the field due strictly to the slightly higher frequency.

Discrimination on the GPZ has little to do with prospecting and everything to do with the next generation of coin, relic, and jewelry machines. As far as prospecting goes, discrimination is an option you can use or not as you desire, if you detector includes the capability. If two nugget detectors find gold equally well, but one offers ferrous discrimination capability, I will always go with the machine that offers more capability myself. Digging everything sounds really nice until you face a situation with one thousand nails, four gold nuggets, and two hours to sort them out.

The discrimination capability is not “built into” the GPZ7000. It’s just that unlike PI there is nothing in the ZVT technology that precludes discrimination from being added. As people who know this industry would say “don’t hold your breath” but someday. Don’t go expecting discrimination via an update either. More like how much do you think a GPZ 8000 with disc would sell for?

Yeah, something seems wrong with that. Though some dealers out of defensiveness may be quoting far out dates just so as to not get caught short. Underpromise and overdeliver....

I think most of us think the same thing which is why I undertook the experiment. That was a few months ago and I don’t remember anything being especially deep. They were probably all 6” or less. The only way to learn really is to experiment. It does not take any guts because it’s pretty risk free. Nothing says you can’t go back and hunt the same place again with different settings so just give it a go and see what happens. The horseshoe button makes it easy to set up a pattern with almost every thing blocked. You can flip back and forth between extreme disc settings and wide open and compare signals on targets found in the field before digging.

Thanks for the kind words! Most targets produce multiple target id numbers. That’s why target id numbers jump around. When you block any part of the signal, and one of those jumpy numbers, you reduce the target signal strength. You might even miss a target completely. We usually get one chance of detecting a target. That one pass. Let’s say you have a nickel that might read 12 or 13 depending on how you sweep it. You have 12 blocked and 13 open. The nickel on the first and only pass reads 12 so you miss it. I normally hunt 50 tones wide open for this reason. However, there is no right and wrong, just different methods depending on the goal. I have also experimented with aggressive discrimination and been happy with the results. If a target hits hard in the region I have left open the depth loss I feel is minimal or non-existent. The weaker/jumpier the target, the more chance it is producing multiple target id numbers or skewed numbers, the more chance it could fall into a region I have rejected and be either weaker or missed. Target id on any detector can vary due to mineralization and nearby trash pulling numbers one way or the other. Again, no right or wrong, just a judgement call on where to draw the line and what works best for you personally. Some like to cherry pick, some hate the thought of missing anything at all. Here is a hunt where I blocked everything but 12 - 13 - 14.

Welcome to the forum! Here is a recent thread on the subject.... plus some videos that might help... https://youtu.be/_Mlu1zwsdpo

So did everyone get their detector? Anyone still waiting, and how long have you been waiting?

We probably went on too long as we wandered off subject. Anything past an hour is really too much, but time flies when yakking about detecting!

I do my absolute best to be an invisible detectorist. Oddball hours, rainy days, and when I see people go the other way or leave. I suppose I might be missing an encounter that has some positive aspect but in general I think it best for the detecting community that we are seen by as few people as possible. Somebody catching me and chatting me up is my clue it’s time to go somewhere else.

The Impact is a great machine but the Multi Kruzer would be more my style I think. Looks like a great all around detector. Thanks for the report Terry!

The photo link was broken and I could not see a way to fix it so needs to be posted again.

My hopes just dropped a notch that this machine would be a machine for both beach and prospecting uses. According to Rick on this Dankowski thread: "Pulse delay and SAT are fully variable - the accept/reject is likewise so - it is a form of GB, but optimized for the beach - not a GB to cope with goldfield minerals." To which I responded: "If this baby can't ground balance then it better get tested in Hawaii. I did ok with the Surf PI in Hawaii but the problem always was false signals bouncing over the bottom or going over basalt cobbles due to the inability to ground balance. A waterproof TDI was my desire from day one, but never happened. The Infinium worked but had issues of its own with false signals in saltwater. The ATX fixed that and is operationally the best PI I have used in Hawaii for ignoring both the saltwater and the intense mineralization. The ATX ergonomics however are the worst ever. 7us and no ground balance except for a limited range to enable ferrous id sounds like the machine may love those Hawaii hot rocks. The pulse delay being variable may help if the range is wide enough but of course low delay times to ignore the hot rocks will send small gold capability out the door also. Still, I sold my ATX in anticipation of this detector and am cautiously optimistic. The market is still wide open for a waterproof PI that performs better than a TDI SL but with ergonomics better than an ATX. Two pretty low bars in my opinion."

Listen to "Steve Herschbeck" on Spreaker. but it is Steve Herschbach

Can’t do it on a single swing. Identifying a square tab takes multiple swings rotating around it to get an audio handle on the fact you are dealing with a square edged rectangular object versus a round object. Best done at higher recovery speeds in 50 tones. Even then some will trick you.