Steve Herschbach

The difference between the modes will be explained VERY soon. I can confirm people will be getting more in an Equinox than has been revealed so far, that's for sure.

Many companies dress up their "treasure detectors" as "utility detectors". The only difference between the Gemini III and TW-6 is packaged accessory items and the Gemini has a simplified control set. Two box detectors are basically large coils. One box is the transmitter coil, and one the receiver coil. The distance between the two boxes set the size of the "coil". A Gemini III mounted on the connecting rod is basically an induction balance metal detector with a 4 foot coil. Better yet, you can separate the boxes and use in tandem with another person to create what are in effect super large coils. Not sensitive to items much smaller than a softball but lots of depth on large items like fuel tanks, etc. Certainly not obsolete, still standard gear in some surveyor and utility trucks. Gemini III Owner's Manual TW-6 Owner's Manual For Treasure Hunting

Once again, if it is not direct from Minelab it is rumor, nothing more.

Great links David - thanks! Jeff's table of differences covers it - there are really only two MXTs. The others were coil and paint job variants. If the unit has no Ground Grab button it is the newer MXT Pro. Anything without the Ground Grab button is the older MXT.

The CTX 3030 has both automatic and manual Noise Cancel, and so does the Equinox 800. The Equinox 600 only has automatic. From the CTX Owner's Manual page 20: Here are my first videos - sorry about the quality but it's a start... herschbach-eqx800-noise-cancel-automatic.mp4 (4 MB) herschbach-eqx800-noise-cancel-manual.mp4 (6.5 MB)

Sounds like you are set for nugget detecting already Rod. The 19 kHz Gold Bug Pro and 705 with 18.75 kHz coil plus the 19 kHz Nokta FORS Gold+ are roughly comparable in performance on nuggets. The earlier 15 kHz Nokta FORS Gold has been discontinued but is still available new from some dealers. If you just want something new to play with, $250 is a smoking deal on a 705 in good condition. It is certainly a more feature rich detector than either the Gold Bug Pro or Nokta Gold. Be aware X-Terra 705 counterfeits exist. https://www.minelab.com/customer-care/stop-counterfeits

F75 is one of my all time favorite detectors. I wish the could add the ability to adjust the ferrous tone break, but apparently there is something in the basic programming of the machine that prevents that. Great machine, great ergonomics, great coil selection. http://www.fisherlab.com/hobby/finds-Steve-Herschbach.htm

I did not notice that - very slick!

JP manufactures and sells the B&Z Booster. Originally designed for Minelab nugget detectors, it is an audio booster that works on most any detector that has a weak audio. Or people that have poor hearing. More information on this thread

I agree Mike - nothing like a great coil selection to back a great lineup of detectors.

I am sorry - I don’t know. I am not a detector designer or engineer. My function with Minelab is to try different things and to report on what works or not. I don’t ask how they program the detector and would not expect an explanation most of the time even if I did ask. Minelab is very tight-lipped about how they do what they do, and even signing an NDA does not mean they are going to give me proprietary information. Everything is very much on a need to know basis, and my role does not include much need to know these things. It is very likely that you are far more intelligent on these things than I am. The only part I am good at is using a detector and getting it to do what I want it to do. If I can’t get it to do what I want, I tell them. Sometimes my concerns are addressed - sometimes other concerns are more important than mine. I am not ignoring most of your posts and suggestions out of any desire to do that. It is simply that dealing into the internal workings of a detector is something you know far more about than I. My apologies if it appears to be anything other than that. So while I can tell you that the Noise Cancel function works well, I can’t tell you specifically why or how it works well because I just don’t know. If there was enough interest I could set up a technical discussion forum, but I would need somebody smarter than I to moderate it.

Good job, looks like you crafted a nice setup. I may try and mate the Equinox up to mine next. The reality for me is most of the time stock rods are just fine, but for exploring around it is nice to be able to collapse a detector to fit into a backpack with having to disassemble and reassemble it each time.

Welcome to the forum Paul! It is far too early to know how the Equinox will sort out as a nugget detector. Any good detector can find gold nuggets, but machines made specifically for that task have had an edge historically. However, be aware that many hot prospecting detectors do not get along well with saltwater. This is a very generic recommendation but if prospecting really is the primary use, then look for a prospecting detector. If you want a general purpose detector, Equinox is obviously a contender. The Gold Monster has proven to be quite popular and successful in the U.S. where ground conditions tend to be milder than in Oz. The story there appears to be mixed - some people quite happy with the Gold Monster, but quite a few people down under seem to be hating it also. No doubt related to ground conditions. Even though Oz has a reputation for the worst mineralization in the world there are actually large areas of milder mineralization also, so where you are intending to hunt specifically does matter. And as I noted the Monster will detect saltwater and wet saltwater sand so it is not a good beach detector unless the sand is bone dry or a freshwater beach. The main forum has quite a few Aussies hanging out so they may be able to provide insight on that for you. Anyway, back to Equinox. I am sure gold nuggets can be found with it, and if you are in no hurry there will probably be reports on how it performs in Australia coming from Jonathan Porter once the lid comes off. The reason I am hedging is nugget detecting is one of the most technically difficult types of detecting (worst ground, smallest targets) and until people are able to use the final version at locations around the world and report, then it is a bit of an open question. Some of it is coil related because none of the coils projected for intital release are what I would call “nugget coils”. I would very much like to see a 10” elliptical for the Equinox eventually. I will be reporting more on how the Equinox does on gold nuggets in the U.S. later but I am still collecting data myself and waiting for Minelab to give me more leeway to get into details.

I see the Fisher Facebook page has the pinpointers now shipping the week of Jan 22nd so maybe the detectors will ship to dealers then also? I would guess the delays revolve around the move to the new First Texas facility.

Wow Randy, that’s just amazing from my perspective - good for you!

Congrats on the ring - you are officially ahead of me on jewelry finds for the year

Gee, I sure like it when a question is asked and I see answers already provided! Thanks!! Yes, Equinox has a Noise Cancel function that can be invoked at any time, that scans and chooses between 19 “channels” running from -9 to 0 to +9. You may also choose any of those offsets manually if you have an Equinox 800 - the 600 has automatic cancel only. Easy fix number one - reduce sensitivity. Also, choosing specific single frequencies, again with the available channel offsets, is a fallback for the worst situations. In my opinion Equinox handles electrical interference quite well. I work in some areas that have issues, especially in the lower frequency range with some detectors, and have yet to find a place where I can’t get decent operation due to EMI.

I can see how people can view the thread either way, but I don’t think simply pointing out what Minelab themselves is saying is being negative. I do feel a bit sorry for Minelab though when the Equinox is being constantly compared to a couple much more expensive detectors made by the very same company. When people are looking around at detectors they usually have budgets, and are looking at detectors within those budgets. Therefore when comparing anything most people feel that comparisons are only fair when items are similarly priced. Fair question - how does Equinox compare to detectors in the $650 - $900 range. Not quite so fair - how does Equinox compare to detectors in the $1500 - $2500 range. Maybe quite well, but one has to presume there is something to the higher price of those detectors that allows for their continued existence. Anyway, this thread does fall more into what could be expected of the Detector Advice & Comparison Forum and has been moved there now from the Equinox Fan Club. The Fan Club actually is primarily for people who have already decided they want a Equinox and who are not terribly interested in threads that question that decision. Plenty of that to go around elsewhere. On the other hand it is certainly a question of obvious interest to people and so of value, especially to people who are pre-ordering. All I can say is if this sort of question is really tops on somebody's mind then they really should be waiting for Equinox to hit the streets and independent evaluations to roll in. No harm, no foul, no worries, just a change of venue.

Minelab says "Multi IQ copes with saltwater and beach conditions almost as good as BBS/FBS" Seems straightforward to me. "Almost as good" is not "better". The silver part has nothing to do with the beach part of the statement. We are talking "coping with saltwater and beach conditions". My expectation is that Equinox will crush the intended competition in saltwater - similarly priced waterproof single frequency detectors. I have said it before and I will say it again - I still believe there is a place for Excalibur and CTX. Why anyone expects Equinox to handle saltwater and beach conditions better than BBS and FBS when even Minelab is making no claim of that sort is beyond me. When you expect something nobody is promising, it would seem to be a recipe for disappointment. I ditched my CTX mainly over the cost, the weight, and it being a bummer to pack. I figure only that Equinox will be "good enough" for my saltwater needs, nothing more. I expect it will be far better than many alternatives on the market. But I do not expect a detector good to 10 feet to replace a detector good to 250 feet (Excalibur) and I will be tickled pink if a $900 detector manages to be roughly in the same ballpark as a $2500 detector. Now freshwater is another story. I expect Equinox to slay BBS and FBS in situations where it can be run hotter than is possible in saltwater. The same would be true when actually out of the saltwater and up on the drier sand regions of the beach. But when Equinox hits the saltwater, the Beach Mode must downshift enough that the saltwater itself does not signal. That simple constraint imposes a limit on all detectors that operate in saltwater and Equinox is no different. This link compiles all the Minelab Multi-IQ tech docs that have been released so far.... http://www.detectorprospector.com/metal-detecting/minelab-multi-iq-technology-details-explained.htm

A new Treasure Talk blog by Gary Drayton... The CTX 3030 Road Warrior

A little ways down the first page of this forum you will find the Equinox Parts & Accessories Page. On that page the Equinox headphones are listed with part number.... The connector is totally different than the CTX connector and therefore these are a different part number.

I found this 1.11 ounce nugget back in 2002 at Ganes Creek, Alaska. My wife and I had four English bulldogs at the time, and this one reminded me of them so I dubbed it "The Bulldog Nugget". I later was with my mom showing her the gold, and she took an instant liking to it, so I gave it to her. She wanted it made into a pendant. I think it is a bit large for a pendant for a woman (be better for a football player) but that is what she wanted so I had it made up into a necklace for her. It's an even bet half the time that when I see mom she will have this nugget out and wearing it.

Not normally something to post about but since you all started it up - my first nuggets of 2018, a whole 0.7 grams of gold. Just 30.4 grams to go for my first ounce! Actually a little surprising to me how many people have already been out and found gold in the first week of the year.

Judy, if you are actually interested in waiting for the Equinox then perhaps just break out that Sovereign and take it for another spin? If not, there are many alternatives available on the market. Lets be real about timelines. From the December 21st official Minelab release date announcement: “Minelab is pleased to announce that the new EQUINOX Series of detectors is expected to be available for purchase worldwide from late January, 2018 onwards*. Since we first announced EQUINOX at Detectival in September, there has been unprecedented market interest in this product range. Volume production of detectors has started and will continue at a rapid rate across December and into the new year. Detectors are expected to be delivered to our sales channels in late January, subject to transportation scheduling. Customers who have pre-ordered detectors should thus expect to start receiving them from late January. We appreciate everyone’s patience in waiting for EQUINOX to be released and your ongoing interest. *Initial availability will be limited in all regions due to the very high pre-release demand. Please contact your local dealer for specific price and availability information. We will be doing our best to get detectors into the hands of our valued customers as soon as we possibly can.” Here is the key phrase: “Detectors are expected to be delivered to our sales channels in late January, subject to transportation scheduling. Customers who have pre-ordered detectors should thus expect to start receiving them from late January.” People tend to use the most optimistic interpretation of such notices. I always assume the worst. The notice tells me Minelab has until January 31 to “deliver to the sales channel” - in other words, to start shipping product. Seen in that light “start receiving them from late January” is an awkward way of saying “after late January” which translates into..... wait for it...... February! Then, as they note with the asterisk, high demand and rationing to dealers is likely to delay that. If that wait is unappealing there are many detectors under 3 lbs on the market that might serve depending on your own needs and desires in a detector. Several have been mentioned here already. One possibility is to grab one of the many excellent deals on barely used detectors with remaining warranty now appearing for sale on the internet. Then at least you can sell later for near what you paid, something I have done quite a few times. It is quite possible to get a good buy on a like new detector with warranty, use it a few months, and then sell it again with remaining warranty for more than you paid for it!

Welcome to the forum Alexander. I recommend you contact the people making the videos for explanations about the videos they are producing. We are all just viewers like you are. It is interesting because some people watch the videos and like what they see. Others watch the very same videos and are unhappy with what they see.