Steve Herschbach

I normally do the pump and lock thing. Equinox 800 can do ground grab, auto ground tracking, or you can manually set the GB number. I run in fixed as a matter of habit so I need to play with tracking more. Thanks for the reminder. Minelab’s tracking technology has been getting pretty advanced. The SDC 2300 can only run in tracking, and my GPZ never comes out of tracking. Yet I still have this tendency to avoid tracking with coin type detectors. I guess I still don’t trusting tracking systems in dense trash.

It happens. Nothing memorable to comment on in that regard.

There is talk about lots of stuff but the three coils currently slated are all I know of that are actually in the works. That’s enough to deliver on for now but I am sure more will follow. A 6 x 10 closed would be good but I never hold my breath for stuff like that.

Not at all JP, great stuff, just people expressing opinions. I certainly give a lot of weight to yours! Thanks for posting Funny, I never thought of myself as a GPZ skeptic. I have total faith in mine finding gold if I get over it, including large nuggets at depth.

Actually, I am creating an online "annotated" manual that we can all contribute to. The basics are being put in place using the Equinox field guide as a starting point. I am calling it the Minelab Equinox Advanced User's Guide Not a lot there yet. I was going to wait until it is more complete but it does no harm for you guys to see it now. The idea is to use whatever Minelab gives us as a starting point, then to update and annotate it with more information as people discover it.

That probably only exhibits in real bad ground that is trying to pull targets into the ferrous region. I would not expect it in milder ground. And you have to be in full tones. It is different from ferrous junk targets that also tend to fire off some high squeaks as the ferrous "wraps high". But on equinox there is more spread between the target id of a high ferrous wrap and silver coins then I have seen on other detectors, so they tend to be painfully obvious. I will be able to say more about that whenever Minelab tells me the target id numbers are locked in place but for now I am avoiding talking about specific id numbers and what they might mean. Things may shift still. In other words, I can speak to generalities as best I can, but if I tell you that nickels ring up as 16 it could very well be that the number shifts to 15 or 18 in the final build. No big deal but I don't want to put stuff out there I will have to go back and correct or clean up later any more than I have to.

That is proprietary information that Minelab does not share in detail and I will be surprised if they do. It is in effect the highly secretive and protected "secret sauce". To this day Minelab has cloaked just what it is exactly that BBS and FBS machines are doing. People argue about number of frequencies when that is a red herring. What is Minelab doing internally by way of algorithms to compare and process the multiple frequency information - that is where the real magic is. It is telling that although the BBS patent expired long ago that nobody else has produced a BBS knockoff. The frequency info is easy to determine with a scope, but that tells you nothing about the internal processing. All information about how Multi-IQ works comes direct from Minelab and nowhere else. What you read, I read, and with just as much interest. Minelab will be doing more Multi-IQ information releases that will no doubt shed more light on the matter, but certain details will remain secret no matter what. I mean seriously, how many detector companies keep full time physicists on staff?

I am a hunt by ear guy with meters acting more as confirmation. I like running full tones and I find the audio suits me quite well. The target id on this thing has hair splitting accuracy and stability with solid id locks on all but borderline targets. The deep stuff is harder to describe. Target id will start to vary by swing when targets get borderline. Take a swing, one number, take another swing, another number. There is something about the way I “massage” a deep target with multiple swings and getting multiple numbers back where I make the swing just so, and know it is right. Like knowing you made the perfect golf swing and the number just locks. Hard to describe but you probably know what I am talking about. As the targets shift to ferrous at depth, a ferrous “donut” appears around a coin at depth in full tones, with a high tone squeaky in the middle. If that squeak matches the magic numbers for copper/silver (I specifically am not mentioning what those target id numbers are in case they shift on further tweaking) then it almost assuredly is a deep copper/silver. They are my favorite targets. The target id accuracy makes this a cherry pickers dream. Due to limited time I am doing just that and digging almost nothing but coins.

In my opinion the magic of Equinox is Multi-IQ. The single frequency modes are more like legacy modes that are there for us in case we can find a use for them. I admit that lately what with time being very short (weather is going downhill fast) I have focused on using Multi and finding a few more silver. I need to play more with the single frequency stuff, but honestly, an Equinox running is single frequency is just another metal detector running in single frequency. No magic there except the speed and the ability to pick the frequency. Here is one useful practical aspect of single frequency. You can pick between Multi, 5, 10, 15, and on EQX800 20 and 40 khz. Lets say you are getting a lot of EMI running in Multi that you can’t get to settle down. The Equinox is not particularly prone to EMI but I have experienced it more close to powerlines than was the case with the CTX when running maxed out. Usually all you need to do is lower the sensitivity a few notches and the EMI goes away. If it does not..... Just hit the Frequency button and cycle quickly through each frequency and give it a listen. EMI tends to exhibit more at the low frequencies, so you may see that 5 kHz is noisy and each higher frequency less so. Whatever the case, you will find that with all the frequencies to choose from one will run quiet. Go with it for that location. And remember, each frequency has the Noise Cancel option, which allows for 19 levels of frequency offset to further tune a given frequency to avoid EMI. There is a lot to experiment with here. Four base operating modes with multiple frequency variations and reactivity/recovery speed/detect speed options from extremely slow to lightning fast alone mean more combinations than you can shake a stick at. And nobody should think the names of the modes are more than rough guides. Field Mode is hot on small stuff (think thin hammered and cut silver coins, small gold jewelry) and so may find use with dry sand and tot lot jewelry hunters. It rivals Gold Mode as a potential prospecting mode. And Beach Mode, which runs in Multi only, has potential use in difficult ground mineralization for all types of detecting. Equinox is basically a detector toy box

Going deeper is not the same thing as whether newer detectors can find gold previous detectors missed. Gold that is in theory within range of the earlier models got missed even at shallower depths. Later models exploit weaknesses in earlier models to clean up what was missed. There may exist a sort of “wall” as regards maximum depth but there are many reasons why some large nuggets were missed that are within the max range of various detectors. The GP series and GPX after it not only get better at detecting smaller gold, but offer various “timings” that allow for better operation in ground that was difficult for earlier models to handle. New coils are better than old coils, etc. The GPZ exploits a PI weakness to go after porous, specimen, and ragged, prickly gold that was missed. There are many reasons a newer detector might reveal large nuggets missed in the past that have nothing to do with the theoretical max detection depth limit. If a detector finds a nugget another one misses, even at shallow depth, is it not in effect “going deeper”. There is also the geologic fact that many patches peter out as they get deeper, and the deep nuggets people assume are there really are not. Many patches did consist of relatively large and shallow gold. The nuggets were easy for early detectors to find, and there is not anything down there deeper to find. Finally, people walk around and past items for decades. Any small park will generally still give up old coins if detected hard enough, and nugget patches are the same way. There are targets that only reveal if you are exactly over them and swinging from just the right direction. Add it up and it’s just too much thinking for me. Personally I don’t care how many people have hunted a location before me or what they used. I just always assume they missed something, and that I am going to find it. I love being told about any completely hunted out and dead patch. GPS coordinates cheerfully accepted

The MX Sport has a two year transferable warranty. I assume you are looking at a used unit, so you do want to be aware of the problems. There were three main issues I know of with the MX Sport: 1. Tone smearing. This requires the machine be returned to Whites’s for a firmware update. http://forums.whiteselectronics.com/showthread.php?75527-MX-Sport-Firmware-Update 2. Pod breakage issue. This requires returning to White’s for hardware upgrade. https://www.whiteselectronics.com/product-updates/?lang=us 3. Battery compartment breaking. This requires returning to White’s for hardware upgrade. Details http://forums.whiteselectronics.com/showthread.php?78042-Broken-battery-compartment-story The fix http://forums.whiteselectronics.com/showthread.php?78098-MX-Sport-battery-compartment Newer units are shipping with a "smiley face" applied to the serial number label inside the battery compartment. This indicates that all available updates have been applied. Personally if I was buying a brand new MX Sport I would insist on one of these, not older dealer stock. These are all covered under warranty. White’s may be able to tell you what if any updates were done if you contact them with a serial number. Contact info at the links above. Hope this helps

Thanks Daniel - that made me laugh! All I want a detector to do is two things. 1. Make more finds for me more easily. 2. Do it as ergonomically as possible. When I say ergonomics I mean visual and audio interface as much as physical design. That is what the Equinox is doing for me. Just imagine swinging a FBS machine that is as fast as a DEUS in the trash if not faster. Yet when you are in the open, throttle it back to slow speeds for more depth. Best of both worlds. There is more to it though. Multi-IQ is actually new and by that I mean different. There is something going on there with target id I have not figured out yet. I don't mean that in a bad way at all. This detector really talks to me. I guess I really don't care after all what everyone else ends up thinking about the Equinox. All I know it that is what I am swinging from now on! Well, that and a GPZ

All I know is it is way easier to make a machine heavier than lighter! I expect the aftermarket guys will go nuts on Equinox just like they have with the Excalibur coming up with custom rods, etc. if there is anything they think needs improving in that regard. Not worried about it myself though - I need to get this thing to Hawaii!!

I can't wait to see how the Equinox does for you Daniel. I think Minelab is well aware of where the CTX was weak and Equinox targets those weak areas. I sure was not having silver pop up with my CTX like I am with the Equinox which is why I no longer have the CTX. Even if performance were identical there is the 5.3 lbs versus 2.9 lb thing. At the end of the day it is working for me and the machine just clicks with me on multiple levels. I never did learn the fine details of the menu and options on the CTX. The Equinox is far more intuitive. I am not sure it ever has been mentioned but all the adjustments are "live" and changes in settings can be observed while swinging the coil. I very much admit that I will be relieved at some point to not be the only person reporting. I have these nightmares where everyone gets an Equinox based at least partially on my posts and it bombs, and I end up looking like the biggest idiot in the world, or worse yet, some kind of mega-shill. Then I have to go into hiding on the internet and maybe move in case somebody wants to burn my house down! Kind of like performance anxiety except it is all about me really wanting the machine to perform as well for others as it does for me and worrying that for some crazy reason it won't. But that would mean ignoring what I keep seeing with my own eyes

That is very good information that I will find away in the old memory bank for the future. First time I ever heard a reasonable explanation for why tesoro stopped making those coils. Thanks, and I hope that coil starts magically working!

OK, I promised myself I was not going to do this - start showing finds yet. It seems kind of mean. "Look what I found" when nobody can get their hands on an Equinox yet. I also have a real problem discussing depth on coins in my area, as do a lot of people in the Western U.S. but also anywhere mineralization is very high. Despite all the talk of 10" plus dimes back east or wherever, I never see that kind of depths normally. The soil here is basically decomposed granitic rock and it is heavily laden with magnetite. Just drop a magnet and pick it up, and a big glob of magnetic soil comes up with it. A Gold Bug Pro/Tek G2 will get 6 out of seven bars on the Fe304 meter here. People who have not experienced this type of soil may find it hard to imagine, but getting a dime past 6" here is very hard without using a PI. The dime signal tends to have the target id shift down until at about 6" it turns into a ferrous reading. You can detect it, but it sounds like a nail, and if you have ferrous rejected, you never hear it at all. The problem is not so much depth but accurate target id at depth, and this magnetite really interferes with detectors. I moved to Reno just over 4 years ago, and have spent considerable time park detecting, mostly while testing various detectors one against the other. And the story never changes, no matter the machine. That 6" depth barrier keeps appearing. What that means is that when I say I hit a dime at 7" it is a "whoa, wow" kind of thing. The other issue is the parks have been pretty well detected, and so for the last four years I have made few silver coin finds with VLF detectors. The explanation locally is that the parks are just hunted out, though some experiments with PI detectors had me thinking that was not true. The coins are there in at least some places, but all the detectors over them so far were missing them. Not because they were super deep, but because they read as ferrous targets past that 6" mark. Now I am not going to make crazy claims about the Equinox blowing past this barrier and doubling depth, but it is unlocking stuff by seemingly getting that "extra inch". I think there is more to it than that however. Equinox is not only getting that little bit better target id at depth, but also unlocks coins next to trash, so it is a double whammy. What this leads to is repeated moments like just happened to me a couple hours ago. I went to this little park where I found a 1944 Mercury dime with the Equinox previously. The first silver I found in the park actually. I needed to check some things and figured it was a good spot for a test run. So I fire the Equinox up, and in twenty feet I get a nice high tone, quite clear. An easy signal. I dig a plug and sure enough, at about 6" I see silver. And out pops a 1916 Mercury dime! It was worn but the date was clear. I did not want to rub it and so wrapped it and stuck it in my pocket to examine closely when I got home. The whole time I am wondering if it is one of "those" 1916 Mercury dimes, but for the life of me I could not remember which mint mark was the magic one. So I swing 10 more feet, and another nice clear high tone. It ends up being a second Mercury dime at about 8"! - a1941 S Mercury. OK, I hear everyone going "yeah, yeah, 6" or 8", big deal". That's the whole problem with talking depth with people around the country. All I can tell you is you just don't go to a local park here and walk thirty feet and dig two mercury dimes in a row in ten minutes. I in fact can't remember the last time I dug two mercury dimes in a row, it's been that long. The thing is, I did nothing special. Sensitivity was 22 out of 25 and no magic settings. Just nice high tones, dig, coins. That simple. And decent signals at that. That 1916? I washed it and put it under my 30X scope and the D I hoped for (I had checked the internet by now) turned out to be an S instead. A 1916 D in this condition might be worth around $1000 but the 1916 S, well, this is more like a $3 coin. But an exciting find all the same when it happened, that's for sure. If this was all there was to it it honestly still would be no huge thing, but this kind of thing happens repeatedly and often with the Equinox. I got a really big tease today and I am offering this little tease for you all out there. I sure like this detector! Note added 1/4/2018 - see the followup post at http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/4973-2018-year-of-the-equinox/

I am hard of hearing - and not fond of boosters when a detector should be doing that already. So yeah, I bring it up whenever I can! I love the fact that I don't have to use headphones with the Monster. I have to wonder if these "new wireless headphones" are not possibly just a rumor offshoot of Equinox. It will have wireless built in and there are wireless headphones that come with the Equinox 800. Nice little set, just big enough to go completely over my ears (people with big ears may have issues in that regard). Light, comfortable, decent sound for what is probably not audiophile grade gear. I doubt Minelab makes them since almost any Bluetooth or aptX Bluetooth will work. Anyway, nice little set, and maybe it is the source of this rumor. Minelab Bluetooth / apt-X Low Latency Headphones - Headphones come with regular Bluetooth technology, but also have enhanced, super-fast apt-X Low Latency technology for minimal time delay. Can also be connected directly to the detector's 3.5mm (1/8-inch) headphone socket for wired use, via the included aux cable. Part No. 3011-0370

That would not surprise me Reg. Prototypes were often ungainly analog monstrosities from a retail standpoint, but they sometimes lose something in the translation from wild eyed prototype to well behaved retail product. I will still bet every time on people who have top notch research and prospecting skills first. Asking which detector they use comes second. I like my detectors but frankly I don't see why they get so much credit in finding stuff. Consistently successful prospectors generally go from one machine to another and stay successful. People who don't take care of research and basic prospecting skills - well, half the time it does not matter what detector they use or if they use a detector at all. Bet on the prospector, not the machine.

Smart coils have chips that communicate with the control box to properly match the coil size with the operating parameters of the detectors. This started with Minelab in the X-Terra series but is also done by other companies. The Nokta/Makro coils are sensed by the detector, for instance. The conspiracy theory is this is for no reason other to control coil sales. That may be a side benefit for the manufacturers but the main intent is for the detector to know what coil is attached so that the machine can tune itself for the coil. For instance, depth gauge readings are calibrated to stock coils on detectors. If you run "dumb coil" then going to a larger or smaller coil causes the depth gauge to be inaccurate. On my White's V3i I can manually enter the coil type to compensate. Smart coils go to the next step and do it automatically. Here is how Minelab explains it for the X-Terra. They are single frequency only but you can bet Minelab has taken what they have learned since and applied it to Equinox. World’s First All-Digital Metal Detectors VFLEX transforms conventional single frequency metal detection technology by including two microcontrollers (miniature computers), one inside the control box and one inside the coil. Every time the detector starts up, the microcontrollers establish communication via a digital data link. The coil microcontroller communicates the coil’s configuration, size and exact frequency, so the control box can generate a perfectly matched transmit signal. This significantly reduces distortion and increases Target ID accuracy. Perfect Sine Wave Transmission VFLEX technology generates and transmits a perfect high quality sine wave, using the same technology that is found in high quality digital audio players, and is produced without distortion. The removal of distortion maximises power transmitted from the coil, therefore increasing detection depth and sensitivity. This also results in enhanced Target ID accuracy and greater immunity to both ground and environmental noise. In-Coil Signal Booster Weak target signals are amplified inside the coil, before the receive signal is sent up the coil cable where interference and signal loss can occur. This technique improves immunity to electrical noise by reducing false signals and increasing target signal strength, therefore improving detection depth and sensitivity. Source: https://www.minelab.com/knowledge-base/key-technologies#259047

Coils EQX 06 Double-D Smart Coil The waterproof 6-inch round Double-D coil is very sensitive to small targets, and perfect for finding treasure in high trash areas. It is also ideal for detecting in difficult terrain. A protective skidplate is included. Part No. 3011-0333 EQX 11 Double-D Smart Coil The waterproof 11-inch elliptical Double-D coil provides good all-round performance for general detecting. It provides a good balance between sensitivity, weight, and ground coverage. A protective skidplate is included. Part No. 3011-0334 EQX 15 Double-D Smart Coil The waterproof 15 x 12-inch elliptical Double-D coil provides maximum depth for specialised treasure hunting. It is also great for wide ground coverage in open spaces. A protective skidplate is included. Part No. 3011-0335 Skidplates EQX 06 Skidplate Black replacement skidplate for EQX 06 smart coil. Part No. 3011-0376 EQX 11 Skidplate Black replacement skidplate for EQX 11 smart coil. Part No. 3011-0377 EQX 15 Skidplate Black replacement skidplate for EQX 15 elliptical smart coil. Part No. 3011-0378 Charging Accessories USB Charging Cable with Magnetic Connector A spare or replacement EQUINOX USB charging cable. It features a handy snap-on magnetic connector, so the charging contacts can be easily wiped clean or dried after detecting in water. Can be connected to any standard USB port for charging on the go. Part No. 3011-0368 2-Way USB Car Charger Handy 2-way USB charger that plugs into a standard car charging socket so you can charge on the go. Part No. 3011-0375 4-Way Universal AC Charger A four-way USB AC charger with universal plug pack. Part No. 3011-0374 Audio Accessories WM 08 Wireless Audio Module Allows you to listen to audio wirelessly for greater freedom of movement. Up to four WM 08 Modules can be connected to an EQUINOX detector for group training. Has a 3.5mm (1/8-inch) headphone jack, and also has a threaded socket to use with EQUINOX waterproof headphones. Note that the WM 08 itself is not waterproof. USB charging cable with magnetic connector included. Part No. 3011-0371 Minelab Bluetooth / apt-X Low Latency Headphones Headphones come with regular Bluetooth technology, but also have enhanced, super-fast apt-X Low Latency technology for minimal time delay. Can also be connected directly to the detector's 3.5mm (1/8-inch) headphone socket for wired use, via the included aux cable. Part No. 3011-0370 Waterproof EQUINOX Headphones Waterproof headphones with EQUINOX connector. Can also be connected to a WM 08 Wireless Audio Module. Part No. 3011-0372 Headphones (wired) 3.5mm / 1/8-inch Wired headphones that connect to any standard 3.5mm / 1/8-inch jack. Part No. 3011- 0364 Headphone Adaptor Cable 3.5mm (1/8-inch) to 6.35mm (1/4-inch) Connect 6.3mm (1/4-inch) headphones to your detector or WM 08 Module with this handy adaptor. The 3.5mm (1/8-inch) end forms a waterproof connection so that the cable can be submersed- note that the 6.3mm (1/4-inch) end is not waterproof. Part No. 3011-0369 Screen Protectors EQUINOX Multi-Language Screen Protector Pack Low-reflection screen protector pack. Keeps the original screen free from scratches. Available languages: English, Russian, German, Dutch, Polish, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Czech, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Mongolian, Turkish, Arabic. Part No. 3011-0379 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

I think Minelab finally saw the light about so many of their old machines having soft or weak audio. The Gold Monster is actually LOUD! And Equinox is no problem either with plenty of excess volume available.

Honest opinions well stated don't need to stir a hornet's nest. It is the various side commentary where things tend to go astray. I am a big fan of dispassionate observation and leave the rest out. Does not seem a big deal to me. VLF technology hit max depth by 1990 and probably earlier. The only gains since have been in target id accuracy at depth and recovery speed between adjacent targets. Better packaging. But for just hitting a dime at depth my old Compass Gold Scanner Pro in 1990 was as good as anything since. http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/1424-vlf-detectors-and-depth/ Same deal with PI in my opinion. The Minelab SD series in the late 1990's hits large deep gold about as far as it can be hit. The SD series was not that hot on small gold but that helped it on big gold since it is insensitive to many ground and hot rock issues also. Every Minelab PI model since has focused on improving threshold stability and sensitivity to small nuggets or tackling specific hot rock/salt issues. The GPZ further exploits PI weakness on porous or specimen gold, but I am not one of those that thinks it offers any significant improvement on large solid, sluggy gold in most normal circumstances. As far as the big picture goes I think the bulk of the tech maxed out in the 1990's. What has gone on since is refinement and machines targeting specific weak areas of prior machines. But max depth on larger targets is a very tough nut to crack and I honestly don't pay much attention to claims made in that area. I avoid making such claims myself. The gains if any are so small and so target and site dependent it always boils down to opinionated hair splitting arguments - a waste of time.

Yeah, I have one of the first "brown box" units also. I had some flaky possible EMI related issues this summer that I never could get to repeat since so I am not sure what was up with that. Other than that the unit has run flawlessly for over a thousand hours of detecting. There were isolated issues early on with some screens and other stuff as noted before, but none of it appears to be more than various individual machines, not any particular run of product. The BIG issue with any used Minelab is counterfeits. The GPX, SDC, and GPX can be verified online here.

There is no forum rule against being negative about metal detectors by any make or brand. The only rule as regards that is I prefer honest opinions based on personal use over "I saw a video" or "never used it but I think"... The only reason I go out of my way on this forum to say up front it's a fan club is to warn the trolls that they are not welcome here. If the reason to be here is to be negative for no reason other than being negative, then this is the wrong place. "How long have you been testing Equinox Steve"? Violation of NDA "What issues did you see along the way"? Violation of NDA "How does Minelab's testing work"? Violation of NDA "What is in the NDA"? Violation of NDA To quote myself "Oh, and one last thing. Yes, I have been involved with Minelab on Equinox development and quite proud of it. Unfortunately I can't say a single other thing about that other than to confirm it! It is all about what happens from here on out that matters." I can say it takes years for genuinely new detectors to get to market. People assume things happen a lot faster than they really happen. Engineers tweak and tune right up to the last available second. Ask any engineer - no detector is ever "finished". An engineer can always find something to improve and will do so for eternity. Absolutely every part of the detector has to be made to work well with every other part. People have no idea how much work goes into getting a tone just so or the some other minor detail. EVERY aspect of the detector requires a decision be made, and often making one decision compromises another. Changing one line of code to fix one thing can break another thing. The reality really is that the devil is in the details, and it is getting that last 5% right that makes the difference between good and great. And the tiniest problems sometimes are the hardest to resolve. It is not uncommon for a detector to get 95% done and then stall out in that last 5% trying to fix one tiny but possibly fatal issue. Anybody remember the Pulse Devil? It never got past that last 5% point. It is only when somebody finally says "good enough, stop" that things go to the next level. Every day you push for quick delivery is one less day an engineer might get to come up with another small improvement. You don't want the detector tomorrow. You want it when it is right. Give the engineers all the time they want/need! I am aware of absolutely no public official Minelab announcements regarding timelines or dates. Some dealers are passing on rumors is about it. The Garrett AT Max was announced in May and started shipping in September after customer commentary made Garrett decide to add a volume control. That is four months. And look what happened with Deus V4 (no, you won't see anything near that long with Equinox!) Equinox was announced two months ago. Christmas is a completely arbitrary date as far as the engineers are concerned. Marketing and dealers may not like it but the Equinox will only be released when it is deemed to be the detector we all want, and no amount of posting will change that. Why this early announcement stuff? One upmanship with each company trying to get ahead of the other guy. Announcing something is coming causes people to wait that might otherwise buy something else. It also lets dealers clear shelves of old inventory. The benefit for us can come from all the pre-release commentary and discussion. It allows Minelab to make possible last moment changes based on commentary or have answers ready for things they did not anticipate. The firmware update capability is a huge insurance policy. With something this new and this complex it is almost 100% that some little thing will crop up later. Not anything major - that would get caught. But some little thing about performance with some odd combination of settings would not be a surprise. With most machines that would require a round trip to a repair facility, and as popular as this machine is going to be that would be a disaster. Now all it will take is a download and a few minutes to apply an update. That should offer at least some degree of comfort to those on the early buy list.