Steve Herschbach

Great finds! For so many years I wanted Fisher to stuff a CZ in the F75 or G2 box. For over twenty years that would have been a winner but they just never got around to it. No point now, and hard to see how the CZ3D at $800 can survive much longer.

When you say all Metal I assume you mean hunting strictly by tones, no items rejected. This is very possible with Equinox, and mostly boils down to whether you prefer 5 tones or 50 tones. The best tone setup for getting really customized is Equinox 800 five tone mode. You can make each of five segments any size you like, and you can assign each segment it’s own tone and volume. Five tone mode can also be manipulated to create four tone and three tone schemes. Pages 46 - 50 of the Equinox Instruction Manual 50 tones is more of a factory preset mode but does offer a little more adjustability than most other models “full tone” settings. From the Minelab Equinox Full Instruction Manual, page 48 (click to enlarge)...

I wish metal detecting worked that way. It’s easier if you accept you will never walk away from any place knowing all the good targets are gone. There are no magic settings that recover all the good stuff unless you are wanting to maybe try recovering every single metal item on the beach. The reality is you are going to probably use some level of discrimination, and discrimination is more a judgement call sort of thing than a certainty. But for saltwater beaches basically it boils down Beach 1 for anything not actually sopping wet, and Beach 2 for in the water. Freshwater beaches you can use any mode since freshwater is more or less invisible to the detector. So on freshwater beaches or bone dry portions of saltwater beaches you can experiment with the Park, Field, and Gold Modes if you wish. That could offer an edge on micro jewelry like single post ear rings or fine chains.

The very first thing I would not do is go to the very worst place you can think of for the maiden voyage. Do a little bench testing with coins or whatever to get familiar with target id numbers and controls, then go detecting. The presets are actually very good, needing little more than adjusting the sensitivity. My first outings I like sand boxes or beaches - easy digging - to get familiar with machines and targets by digging everything. The Quick Start Guide above sets out the steps. Choose a starting mode or search profile based on the descriptions below. The assumption seems to be that the defaults settings are no good, so start messing with them right away. The truth is the exact opposite - I highly recommend sticking with the factory default settings with minimal adjustments (sensitivity, number of tones). In my opinion the best way to go wrong with Equinox is to not trust the defaults when starting out. Instruction manual pages 23-24 (emphasis added): Park 1: General / Coins Park 1 is optimised for modern coins and larger jewellery with a default discrimination pattern set to reject many common aluminium foil-like targets (Target ID 1). Therefore this is the ideal profile to start with to learn EQUINOX, before experimenting with the other Modes and more specialist settings. Park 1 Multi-IQ processes a lower frequency weighting of the multi-frequency signal, as well as using algorithms that maximise ground balancing for soil, to achieve the best signal to noise ratio. Hence Park 1 is most suited for general detecting and coin hunting. Park 2: Fine Jewellery (Fine in this context means small) Park 2 is better suited for smaller targets and greater trash densities. It will detect a wider range of targets including low conductors (or higher frequency) targets, e.g. fine jewellery. All non-ferrous targets are accepted by default. Recovery Speed is also increased to clearly identify good targets masked by iron trash. Target Tone is set to 50 to allow greater audible target identification rather than relying more heavily on the visual Target IDs. Park 2 Multi-IQ processes a higher frequency weighted multi-frequency signal while ground balancing for soil. Field 1: Coins / Artefacts Field 1 is for general hunting with high trash rejection. This assists in locating desired targets more easily. The default discrimination pattern is set to reject Target IDs 1 and 2 (most coke signals). The first Tone Break is set so that Target IDs 1 and 2 will produce the same low tone as ferrous targets. Field 1 Multi-IQ processes a lower frequency weighted multi-frequency signal, as well as using algorithms that maximise ground balancing for soil, to achieve the best signal to noise ratio. Hence being most suited for general detecting and coin hunting. Field 2: Fine Coins / Artefacts (Fine in this context means small) Field 2 suits locations with high target and trash densities. It will better detect small hammered coins on their edge or at greater depth. The default discrimination pattern is set to reject Target IDs 1 and 2 (most coke signals). Target Tone is set to 50 tones to enhance audio identification and Recovery Speed is faster. The first Tone Break has been set so that Target IDs 1 and 2 produce the same low tone as ferrous targets. Field 2 Multi-IQ processes a higher frequency weighted multifrequency signal while ground balancing for soil.

Fisher and Minelab did multifrequency first in 1991. In 2001 Whites produces the Beachhunter ID and DFX using multifrequency technology licensed from Minelab. The V3i was developed in-house at Whites and released in 2009. Now Minelab with Equinox in 2018, following a long line of BBS and FBS machines. It’s not like it popped out of nowhere. But I guess if it helps some V3i owner sleep better at night.... http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/3193-selectable-frequency-and-multiple-frequency/ Personally, the only reason I keep my V3i at this point is to run my BigFoot coil.

Yes, the Horseshoe button is the same discriminate mode you are hunting in already. The only change when you push the button is all items are set to accept. Each item is still being discriminated (filtered) but is told that anything going through the filter is a good target. A true all metal mode has no discrimination filter in the first place. Most gold nugget detector primary hunt modes are true unfiltered all metal modes. Gold Mode is a simulated all metal mode in that it features VCO audio, a common feature in all metal modes, but you can still discriminate items, so obviously targets are passing through the discrimination filter. The assumption is a true all metal mode is more powerful than a disc mode set to accept all items. I will be the first to question if that is true with Equinox. It’s disc modes are more powerful than most detectors unfiltered all metal modes. All metal notes Mixed Mode

The ground balance number tell you the TYPE of mineralization, not the AMOUNT of the mineralization. A few machines like the F75 can give you a rough idea of the mineral content via a Fe3O4 meter. GB Numbers = Mineralization? With Equinox it is more about the ground balance number and sensitivity setting it takes to quiet the ground. In All Metal (Horseshoe button, all items accepted) you can hear the ground response in the -9 -8 and -7 numbers. In milder ground you can not even ground balance and hear no noise in the -9 to -7 range. In worse ground you need to ground balance to get that range to be quiet. In severe ground you will have to both ground balance and lower sensitivity to quiet the ground. The lower the sensitivity needs to be to quiet the ground, the more ground mineralization you are dealing with.

The only numbers that actually are designated as ferrous with Equinox are the negative numbers and zero. And for now at least I do not trust even zero and the first few negative numbers to always be ferrous in highly mineralized ground. More on the subject - Tune Out Nails - You Will Miss Gold! Tin, Bolts, Washers, And Other Ferrous Items That Read As Non-Ferrous Adjustable Tone Break Metal Detector Discrimination Really Sucks Metal Detectors With Reliable Target ID Numbers Discriminate, Discriminate, Discriminate! Garrett AT Pro Overlap Range - Note that although 40 is considered the normal start of the non-ferrous range, non-ferrous items can read down to 30 or lower. Detector manufacturers imply this is only tiny foil or gold, but it can also be any larger items at borderline depths. It is not so much what the size or composition of the target is, but the signal strength that the detector has to work with. Weak targets plus highly mineralized ground means any item can be identified as ferrous at borderline depths.

Well, if I left out some particularly useful thread let me know. I cherry picked as best I could but probably missed a few.

A reference collection of threads about the Minelab Equinox, grouped into rough categories. Minelab Equinox 600 Data & User Reviews Minelab Equinox 800 Data & User Reviews Minelab Equinox Software Update 1.7.5 Released Minelab Equinox Software Update 2.1.12 Released Equinox 600 / 800 Full Instruction Manual (English pdf 5.59 MB) Equinox 600 / 800 Getting Started Guide (English pdf 847.71 KB) Equinox Battery Charging Recommendations And Warnings Minelab Equinox Parts & Accessories Page Some Equinox Videos Done By Purchasers Can I Be Critical Of The Equinox Here? Equinox 600 Versus Equinox 800 Minelab E-trac, CTX 3030, Excalibur Versus Equinox Minelab Multi-IQ Technology Explained Selectable Frequency And Multiple Frequency Tips For Getting Started Equinox and Electrical Interference (EMI) Short Bursts Of Intense Static Or Interference More Tips For Getting Started Even More Getting Started Tips Latest Tips For Getting Started And Yet Another Getting Started Tip Loose Rods, Wobbly Rods, Rod Flex Important Tip - Global Vs Local Settings Minelab Equinox Factory Presets Minelab Equinox Tones & Advanced Tone Options Video - Adjusting Zones, Tones, & Tone Volumes On Equinox External Speaker Not Turning Off When I Plug In Wired Headphones Headphones That Work With Nearly All Detectors Equinox Recovery ( Detect Speed ) Settings Recovery Speed & Target Masking Recovery Speed & The Conveyor Belt Ground Balancing The Minelab Equinox Equinox High Mineral Tips If The Audio Is Open Gate Or The Snap Shot Type ? Iron Bias - What It Is Why Only 50 Points Of Target ID Resolution? Nickels Versus Tabs Bottlecaps & Equinox Target ID Normalization Some Minelab Equinox VDI Numbers Another Equinox Target ID Chart Target ID Numbers Can Vary With Search Profile & Frequency More reference links below the ad..... ads by Amazon... UK Target ID Numbers Canadian Target ID Numbers Australian Target ID Numbers U.S. Gold Coin Target ID Numbers Jewelry Target ID Numbers & Tones How Metal Detector Discrimination Works Iron Falsing A New Way To Do 50 Tone Audio Is Park 2 The Magic Mode?? Park 2 Compared To Field 1 Or Field 2? Park 1 & Field 1 versus Park 2 & Field 2 Multi-IQ Frequency Weighting Differences Between Park & Field Modes Number Of Saved Profile Slots For Custom Settings User Profile Button Gold Nugget Detecting Tips More Tips On Nugget Detecting With Equinox More Equinox Gold Prospecting Tips So What Is Gold Mode Exactly? Equinox First Gold Nugget Photos My First Equinox Gold Nuggets Equinox, Micro Nuggets Target ID Numbers For Gold Nuggets & Gold Jewelry Complete Set Of Equinox Physical Measurements Remove Or Reposition Equinox Handle & Pod Assembly? Waterproof Connections & Audio Jack Sizes Equinox, Lithium Batteries, & Air Travel Equinox Battery Life Test Minelab ML80 Wireless Headphones Check ML80 Battery Level Equinox Future Firmware Updates Minelab Discount For U.S. Military 2018 - Year Of The Equinox! Minelab Equinox - The Best All Around Detector I Have Ever Used! The Simple Reason Why Equinox Is Special The Video I Have Most Enjoyed So Far - What Makes Equinox Special I Saw In A Video Where Equinox Got Beat By.... Early Minelab Testers Question?? Equinox 800 - My Take, Commentary, And Testing Is The Equinox A Deep Seeking Machine?? Gold Coin Found With Equinox

Now, no reason for new detectors, remember? There are not many detectors I am interested in but Gold Kruzer is one of them. What the GMT or Gold Bug 2 could have been if they were ever updated. Equinox may be getting the buzz but it is Nokta / Makro that is poised to obsolete a lot of competitive product from slower moving companies.

How many hours do you have on the Equinox so far Mike?

As one of those people I don’t buy the argument that just because some detectors weigh too much that it should not be a goal to have lighter weight detectors. I don’t think ANY detector should weigh over 4 lbs, period, and that under three pounds is a worthy goal.

Then keep using what you already have Mike. There is zero reason for people content with what they have to consider anything else. Indeed, what is the fuss all about?

Either machine can be run to find targets the other might struggle on or miss. Equinox is strongest where Explorer is weakest and vice versa. Nice report, though the outcome was predetermined. Minelab E-trac, CTX 3030, Excalibur Versus Equinox

That is not what the word obsolete means. Making products obsolete does not mean the earlier products stop working. I disagree. That remains to be seen. I am seeing no reason at all why Multi-IQ will not supplant single frequency prospecting machines. They are at an inherent disadvantage to true multifrequency. The Eureka was not multifrequency but switchable single frequency.

Funny you mention that Simon. There was quite a bit of complaining about Nokta / Makro putting out new models too quickly!

And luckily except for those who choose to keep on waiting there is no need to keep on waiting. The future arrived while others were still working in it. Bird in the hand and all that. By the time the wait is over for others to release their first generation products Minelab will be well on the way to the second generation. At some point like the thread title says, facing reality has to take precedence over glowing promises.

There sadly is a point where you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. One of my favorite forums used to be the Metal Detecting Equipment forum. Some really top people used to hang out there and talk detecting. Genuine old timers in the industry. There came a time however when I wanted to discuss some new detector model, and the consensus developed that none of this new digital stuff was as good as those fabulous old analog detectors. I knew then and there the forum was doomed. It turned inward with old people discussing old detectors, and anything new was put down immediately. The forum died a rapid death after that because people like me wanting to keep up on the latest went elsewhere. Metal detecting had always been technology driven, and I think we are entering a new era where multifrequency, combined with computer processors and sophisticated signal processing, is finally delivering results we can see in light weight, affordable packages. The choice in my mind is simple - keep up or get left behind. I don’t want to be that old curmudgeon sitting in a corner waving my old detector at “all the kids and their shiny new toys”. That way lies the pasture, and I am not yet ready to be put out there.

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You asked this question before and it has been answered - are you not checking back on your previous questions/threads? http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/5840-early-minelab-testers-question/ What data specifically are you seeking that is unavailable given the large number of people who currently have an Equinox in hand? It does not matter what prototype machines did or if they even worked at all. The only thing that matters is the performance of detectors available to the public. Performance questions are being asked and answered daily. I have been answering questions about the Equinox for months - people simply don't want to believe what I have been reporting.

10/21 Looks like Equinox 600 is fully caught up now with many dealers reporting units in stock and ready to ship. I expect a bunch of 800s will be hitting U.S. shores next. Though with new orders still piling up there will no doubt be some people waiting still past the end of March. Still, progress being made.

When I got involved with Equinox I was at the end of a couple years of testing various VLF detectors and I was getting a little frustrated. I kept bumping into what I refer to as “the wall”. This magic limit in my bad ground on any detector getting decent depth and target id accuracy. The mineralized ground here cuts depth to about 50% of the max depths reported back east. Further, any single frequency detector suffers from poor target id, especially regarding “up scaling” of aluminum into the silver coin range. The machines that did best for target id, like my Minelab CTX 3030, lacked the depth of the best single frequency detectors, had poor target separation, and were weak on my favorite target - gold. I discuss this at VLF Detectors & Depth and in particular on this long thread on Euro vs U.S. Style Detectors where I mention I am selling my first CTX. ”I don't need many hours to know a CTX can't get a whisper on targets easily found with other detectors in my ground conditions. Masking is not my problem with the CTX, it is lack of depth on a clear target in the open. Single frequency just packs more punch in my ground, and all the hours in the world won't change that.” I therefore kept coming back to single frequency as having the best depth in my ground and far superior recovery speeds / target separation. Yet try as I might I could never find a single frequency VLF that truly blew me away as being much different than a dozen others. First Texas, Nokta/Makro, and XP had me butting one machine against another for quite some time, all extremely good and yet none really putting the others away as markedly superior. In particular a divide existed between the high frequency units hot on tiny gold and the best silver machines. The ability to play well in saltwater was a major sticking point for me also. I was keeping certain detectors simply because they might see use 10 days out of the year in saltwater. No matter what I seemed forced to own at least three VLF detectors to cover the bases. Long story short, I know my detectors and Equinox came along, and I tossed it in the mix. When I got my hands on Equinox I finally saw something different. The Minelab Equinox has performance characteristics that are unique and observable in the field, and as a result I knew just using it that finally something genuinely different was in my hands. BBS/FBS might be the king of silver, and now I could sense true multifrequency finally coming into its own on a machine both hot on gold and with incredible unmasking capability, the two areas where BBS/FBS are weakest. At the very same time, it matched the best single frequency machines for maximum depth, but while delivering more accurate target id results. My first real Silver Finds Post put it like this: ”I am not trying to prove anything per se here, but what I saw convinced me Equinox has that little bit something extra I have been looking for in a coin detector. It is not purely a depth thing but a combination of depth and speed that seems to pull silver out of places where I had not been having much luck for three years with quite a few VLF detectors.” Despite all the talk about hype I purposefully undersold Equinox since day one except to state I believed it would be a best seller. Pretty safe bet there. Performance though I purposely understated and evaded. My belief was that I would be immediately be discounted as a biased shill. The best way to proceed then, given my faith in the detector, was to just sit back and let others “discover” it. Finally, after some months, that is where we are now. Enough people who really know what they are doing in circumstances similar to mine are seeing the same things I saw, and for the very same reasons. There are those who have not laid hands on an Equinox who continue on telling those who are actually using the detector that they know its “just another same old same old”. This leads to a bit of frustration on the part of those who know better. The bottom line is Equinox has a technological advantage over those detectors, and anyone that thinks this is just another VLF detector like the last couple dozen to hit the market honestly needs to take the blinders off.