Steve Herschbach

I have hunted Florida beaches just a tiny little bit. Most are HUGE and hunted by entire troops of local retirees daily. My main advice - extreme patience. Targets can be very few and far between. You almost have to live there so you can take advantage of storm conditions that strip beaches of sand. Otherwise beaches get “sanded in” between storms and the only finds are what was dropped in the last few weeks - and missed by the troops. I would personally seek out weird oddball places that might be less hunted. Any big popular beaches are obvious targets and very well hunted.

Minelab – register online at https://register.minelab.com/index.html#/form/product LIMITED PRODUCT WARRANTY CONDITIONS 1. Subject to the terms and conditions outlined in this express warranty, Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd (ACN 008 208 446) (“Minelab”) warrants that its products (“Products”) will be free from defects in materials or workmanship for the periods specified in paragraph 2 (“Minelab’s Warranty”). 2. Subject to condition 12, Minelab’s Warranty periods in respect of each of the Products are detailed at http://www.minelab.com/warranty-periods (“Warranty Periods”). A printed copy of the Warranty Periods for the Products is available upon written request. 3. The Warranty Periods in respect of each of the Products will commence on the date of purchase of the relevant Product. To avoid doubt, such date will appear on the customer sales receipt obtained by the purchaser of the Product(s) at the time of purchase (“Date of Purchase”). 4. 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Equinox comes with a full set of different language screen protectors. Use the one you prefer and the rest are backups that can be used as is, or the lower portion with the menu options can be trimmed off and discarded. They are really just “training wheels” for people new to the Minelab icon set. People who have used models like the E-TRAC, X-Terra, and CTX will already know what most of these icons mean.

I have to bump this as it is extremely important for people who are comparing Equinox modes to understand the different modes have different ground balance settings. If you ground balance in one mode and then start comparing other modes without ground balancing them you will not be comparing apples to apples.

Terry and I and some others have a similar problem. We are getting older and we have too many detectors. When I got my hands on Equinox I had the same epiphany as Terry - I just don’t need all these other detector’s anymore, and this one is lighter and more capable than all of them so time to simplify things. If I had to get rid of every detector I own but one, I would keep the Equinox. And that includes my GPZ 7000!

Minelab actually shipped out a lot of units, and it is obvious now they scattered them around to dealers all over and not all just to a few large dealers. The reality people have to keep in mind is most detector users are not on the internet. I have gone to club meetings where 100 people were present and was quite surprised at how few people would raise hands when asked if they visit forums or other internet “groups”. When you see what happened on some sites with Equinox that should not surprise anyone. The good news is we are starting to see more reports than anticipated just a couple weeks ago as people check in.

Gold coin numbers - thanks Steve! Did you get an Equinox yet and report on it? If so I missed that.

JP did get those small bits at depth in Australian soil. That was me just tweaking a friend! Everyone says they hate hype so I have been underselling the capability of the Equinox in nearly all regards. Part of the fun of the intro has been sitting back and letting people discover this machine for themselves. I think Equinox will end up displacing most single frequency gold nugget detectors eventually but it may take a model make specifically for prospecting for that to really happen, or at least some coils made specifically for the purpose. The power is there for sure, Multi-IQ is really powerful. Just mind my caveat - it is not a GPX 5000 or a GPZ 7000. However when it comes to weight and price that’s not entirely a bad thing. When it comes to gold in Australian soil however I have learned to never speak for Aussies so I can promise JP will be saying a lot more on the subject soon. Just hang in there folks!

If you have ferrous rejected you can get high tone false signals from ferrous. Accepting ferrous so that you can hear the ferrous low tone component of the signal will eliminate the vast majority of ferrous because you will then discern the target is throwing off 95% low tones with a few high tone squeaks. Equinox is super powerful, and you will find many targets can be detected well away from the perimeter of the coil. Back the coil off center of the target, and a bottle cap that squeaks high when you are dead over it will go massively ferrous if approached from the perimeter. That said, I highly recommend continuing to dig in excess while incorporating these types of “tricks” to gain confidence in your ability to separate ferrous from non-ferrous. No detector situation is 100% predictable due to ground conditions. Mixed trash in the ground with a good item can also give mixed signals i.e. something like a dime in a hole with three nails. What I have found is I can pass on nearly all ferrous when I want to, but when I get aggressive looking for that dime in the same hole as nails my ferrous take will jump way up. There is a balance there you have to reach because digging too much trash wastes time that could be better used going after better targets. In areas pounded for decades however only the most aggressive techniques will get results. We have to decide for ourselves as individuals where that line is drawn. You just did what I would do with any new detector. Dig darn near everything while paying attention to responses and experiment with settings like iron bias. So far I have run mine at zero since it was a late addition to the feature set and I was too busy to mess with it at all. I don’t mind digging a little junk and in fact worry if I don’t!

Man, what a way to start out - congratulations! There are not too many people running the 600 and posting - see the Post about Terry Soloman. I want to reiterate to everyone that the Equinox 600 is and Equinox 800 under the hood. The main difference is the User Profile button is missing, and a number of tuning options, mostly revolving around audio customization, are kept simple. The Gold Mode really is a specialty “Pro Mode” that is of interest mainly to gold prospectors. However, if you compare the Equinox 600 to other $649 detectors to say it is feature limited would be an injustice. There is nothing like it for the price. The bottom line is an Equinox 600 and Equinox 800 that are set up exactly the same will have the exact same performance. I predict that forum denizens will flock to the Equinox 800 but the Equinox 600 is going to be the big seller in the long run. http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/4608-equinox-600-versus-equinox-800/?do=findComment&comment=48982

Welcome to the forum and thanks for the info!

They already just designed and have a nice new mold they can use....

Hi Terry, I have reported the Gold Mode settings I used... http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/5102-my-first-equinox-gold-nuggets/ So I am not sure about the secrecy thing but perhaps you were referring to JP since he started this thread.

I would think that beauty will fetch a premium price. And good on Minelab for replacing your detector!

The pod and handle/grip are a complete unit (the battery is in the handle) but can be separated from the rod if need be by removing four bolts and the base cap. Note the hole in rod where the positioning pin in the cap goes to lock the handle assembly in place

Minelab generally does not list prices on their website because the prices vary around the world. But yeah, we really do need prices!

Nope, not just you. They must be rearranging things? https://www.minelab.com/usa/accessories-1/by-detector/equinox-series My copy is still available however.

Equinox 600 versus Equinox 800 Equinox First Gold Nugget Photos My First Equinox Gold Nuggets So What Is Gold Mode Exactly Gold Monster 1000 versus Equinox 800

“Three new models are now available – the GO-FIND 22, 44 and 66, which will replace the GO-FIND 20, 40, and 60 models. New GO-FIND Series models have been designed with increased sensitivity so that targets can be identified at greater depth when compared to the original GO-FIND Series models. The new models are constructed using the same proven collapsible, lightweight platform and feature the same easy-to-use consumer interface which the original GO-FIND Series successfully brought to market in 2015. New GO-FIND Series models feature proprietary Minelab VFLEX digital electronics to enhance standard single frequency VLF detection technology.” More details here The new Go-Find page at the Minelab website: http://www.go-find.minelab.com/en/

Rumor is March but that is all it is - a rumor.

Tim... I appreciate random acts of kindness. That was nice. I assure everyone, most dealers are even more frustrated than their customers right now.

Wow, that made my morning! I read you post last thing before turning in last night and was considering how to explain the 50 mode thing and trying to figure out exactly what was going on with your adjustment. Most detector’s are easy because the tones are factory preset to match the target id numbers and there is no adjustment. The X-Terra 705 for instance - just choose multi tones and you are done. Minelab has added the ability to adjust the multitone setting in a unique fashion and I admit to have not using the adjustment myself but once so far. I usually just pick 50 tones and go on my merry way. I need to play with it more to gain a better understanding of the adjustment myself. Long story short there are many times the discrimination settings can trip a person up when adjusting tones because target id segments are blocked and cannot be heard. It is good to develop a habit of clearing all blocked target id numbers (All Metal “Horseshoe” button) before making tone setting adjustments.

Minelab never told me any of that and I have been plugging into any old USB gizmo and some low output ones at that. Never had any issues so I think they are covering their posteriors “just in case”. That said, no point in gambling with the new toys. Update 6/18/2018 - There is a sheet inside the Equinox box which does warn about amperages, etc. Here is an updated image below (click for larger version) and the pdf version attached for download. EQUINOX Battery Charging Recommendations Use a high quality charger for your high performance detector 1. High Quality 2A Chargers - Charge the EQUINOX battery with a USB charger that has a minimum capacity of 2A @ +5V (e.g. Apple™ or Samsung™). This will result in a full charge time of less than 4 hours. 2. Minelab USB Chargers - Charge the EQUINOX battery with a Minelab Accessory USB charger, that has a minimum capacity of 2A @ +5V. This will result in a full charge time of less than 4 hours. 3. Laptop Standard USB 2.0 Port - Charge the EQUINOX battery with a USB charger that has a maximum capacity of 0.5A @ +5V (e.g. a standard USB 2.0 port on a laptop). This will result in a full charge time of approximately 18 hours. WARNING! DO NOT USE a mid-capacity USB charger. For example, using a reputable and certified USB charger (e.g. Apple™ or Samsung™), rated at1A @ +5V, the USB charger will typically engage its thermal protection safety function and automatically shut-down - the detector may NOT charge fully. A non-certified and sub-standard USB charger, rated at 1A @+5V may NOT have a safety function and could overheat and potentially fail completely. It is important to ensure you use a reputable and certified USB charger when charging the EQUINOX battery. Some USB chargers have NOT been certified to the relevant safety standards (e.g. C-Tick, CE, EAC, UL/ETL) and therefore may NOT provide protection or their rated charging current (e.g. cheap devices sourced online).Look for the following symbols on the USB charger intended for charging the EQUINOX detector: In no event shall Minelab Electronics Pty Ltd (Minelab) or any of its related entities be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential damages or loss, to property or life, whatsoever arising out of or connected with the charging of a Minelab EQUINOX unit with a charging accessory that does meet relevant CE, C-Tick, EAC, UL/ETL or other in-country compliance regulations, or is not of the quality and certified standard as described in this recommendation. battery warning.pdf

Here is the blurb from the White’s website: The TDI SL Metal Detector has pulse induction power that provides unbeatable depth and sensitivity in its price range. And now the deal is even better. More than a new paint job, this Special Edition features key changes to the TDI platform aimed at serious prospectors. First and foremost, this detector ships with an 8 x 12″ Miner John Designs Folded Mono search coil. This choice was made to give gold prospectors better depth on large nuggets, but also increased sensitivity to small specimen gold that other pulse machines might miss. We also swapped the intermediate and lower shafts to create a streamlined “straight shaft” configuration preferred by gold hunters. Finally, to top it all off we revamped the control box with a desert tan paint scheme ideal for hot environments. This package is offered for a limited time and at a discounted price. And best of all the detector and coil are Made in America. The rechargeable NIMH battery lasts up to 6 hours, and a backup AA battery back will power all-day exploration. At a weight of only 3.3 lbs, and rugged metal construction, this Special Edition TDI SL is ready for serious prospecting. Are you? If you already have the TDI and just want to buy this awesome coil, please visit Miner John’s website. Download Product Manual White's TDI SL Special Edition Data & Reviews SKU: 800-0332-MJD MSRP $1099.95 White's TDI SL Special Edition metal detector for gold prospecting White's TDI SL Special Edition studio photo White's TDI SL Special Edition close up of controls White's TDI SL Special Edition close up of Miner John Folded Mono Coil

This one is interesting because if any of you are familiar with Terry, he may be the worlds number one Tesoro Fan. I mean seriously so. And with that said.... http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/equinox/569005-first-beach-hunt-equinox-600-a.html