Steve Herschbach

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.

I don't think people bringing stuff up is saying you don't know about it - just people discussing and helping each other. Definitely not seeing any worms except digging holes in turf. Keeping stuff to oneself makes for a dull party so thanks for sharing!!

OK, I admit to being caught completely off guard on this one. I normally do not pay attention to how coins I find are oriented, except the obvious that the vast majority are parallel to the ground surface. Bottom line right this moment is I haven't a clue but I will pay more attention to that now that you brought it up. Thanks for the kind comment on the forum

I follow your posts for the same reason Danial - we struggle with similar issues. The Equinox like all VLF detectors will eventually report a non-ferrous target as ferrous at depth. The reason I have been so upbeat about the machine is that in my ground it does seem to get that "extra inch". I usually hunt wide open full tones, and these usually reveal as a ferrous "donut" with a non-ferrous high tone "squeak" in the middle. The borderline ones are interesting because you can almost feel the machine making the switch from non-ferrous to ferrous. They are the targets I like the most as you know they are the deep ones. I have no idea how this will all sort out around the world. All I can go by is what I observe here, and what I am observing here is good. No matter what, at least this detector does not break the bank to just buy and try. The thing is this is still a VLF and with so many people now using PI detectors for places like Culpepper I doubt there will be a rush to go back to VLFs there. You still can't beat a PI for sheer depth. Those who can't handle all the trash and / or can't afford a good PI will hopefully find the Equinox to be another useful tool in the toolbox.

This quote from the report below caught my eye: "Aside from its obvious use as a pinpointer that helps you retrieve coins, I really feel like the PRO-FIND 35 can be a great standalone tool for people searching crevices for gold, ESPECIALLY those that are searching bedrock nooks and crannies in rivers. The PRO-FIND’s slim, waterproof design combined with high sensitivity and Ferrous Tone ID makes it a perfect tool to detect hard to reach places with the confidence of recovering only non-ferrous targets." The Pro-Find as far as I know is the first standard handheld metal detector pinpointer to feature ferrous discrimination. Like all discrimination the depth of the ferrous discrimination is less than the all metal depth. Still, this could make the Pro-Find 35 an effective tool for crevicing bedrock. At least a good portion of the ferrous bits stuck in cracks and crevices could be eliminated, saving the crevice splitting for non-ferrous targets like lead fishing sinkers or bullets - and maybe gold! The waterproof design means a person could even use it under water when dredging to check crevices (less than 10 feet). From https://www.minelab.com/anz/go-minelabbing/treasure-talk/my-pro-find-35-review My PRO-FIND 35 Review by Brandon Neice By now you’ve probably read all about the Minelab PRO-FIND 35 handheld metal detecting pinpointer. You already know that it can distinguish ferrous metals from non-ferrous metals and that it’s fully submersible. And if you know that, then you most likely also know that the PRO-FIND 35 has built-in shielding so it won’t interfere with your metal detector (or your friends) and that it has built-in vibration for silent searching or for the hearing impaired. It also has a bright LED for searching in low light situations. But most of all, you know that this innovative handheld pinpointer is an amazing bargain when compared to other pinpointers on the market. But what you haven’t heard is that the PRO-FIND 35 is also great for prospecting! In this month’s video, I tested this pinpointer on some sub-gram gold nuggets. Actually… come to think of it… I’m not sure the gold that I tested could even be classified as a “nugget” because it was so incredibly small! Maybe it would be better classified as a “picker”? Either way, the new PRO-FIND was able to sniff out all the gold that I tested. Aside from its obvious use as a pinpointer that helps you retrieve coins, I really feel like the PRO-FIND 35 can be a great standalone tool for people searching crevices for gold, ESPECIALLY those that are searching bedrock nooks and crannies in rivers. The PRO-FIND’s slim, waterproof design combined with high sensitivity and Ferrous Tone ID makes it a perfect tool to detect hard to reach places with the confidence of recovering only non-ferrous targets. People often ask me, “What can I do to better my odds of making good finds?” For me, the answer is to search in hard to reach places that other people either can’t get to or are too lazy to try. This pinpointer will certainly open up some of those hard to reach places and those who are willing to put forth the effort are sure to be rewarded. Check out my video to see how well the PRO-FIND 35 performs on small gold.

From https://www.minelab.com/anz/go-minelabbing/treasure-talk/my-pro-find-35-review My PRO-FIND 35 Review by Brandon Neice By now you’ve probably read all about the Minelab PRO-FIND 35 handheld metal detecting pinpointer. You already know that it can distinguish ferrous metals from non-ferrous metals and that it’s fully submersible. And if you know that, then you most likely also know that the PRO-FIND 35 has built-in shielding so it won’t interfere with your metal detector (or your friends) and that it has built-in vibration for silent searching or for the hearing impaired. It also has a bright LED for searching in low light situations. But most of all, you know that this innovative handheld pinpointer is an amazing bargain when compared to other pinpointers on the market. But what you haven’t heard is that the PRO-FIND 35 is also great for prospecting! In this month’s video, I tested this pinpointer on some sub-gram gold nuggets. Actually… come to think of it… I’m not sure the gold that I tested could even be classified as a “nugget” because it was so incredibly small! Maybe it would be better classified as a “picker”? Either way, the new PRO-FIND was able to sniff out all the gold that I tested. Aside from its obvious use as a pinpointer that helps you retrieve coins, I really feel like the PRO-FIND 35 can be a great standalone tool for people searching crevices for gold, ESPECIALLY those that are searching bedrock nooks and crannies in rivers. The PRO-FIND’s slim, waterproof design combined with high sensitivity and Ferrous Tone ID makes it a perfect tool to detect hard to reach places with the confidence of recovering only non-ferrous targets. People often ask me, “What can I do to better my odds of making good finds?” For me, the answer is to search in hard to reach places that other people either can’t get to or are too lazy to try. This pinpointer will certainly open up some of those hard to reach places and those who are willing to put forth the effort are sure to be rewarded. Check out my video to see how well the PRO-FIND 35 performs on small gold.

I was curious how the Gold Monster might work on meteorites. Good job!

I am sorry to hear the coil is not working for you. Unfortunately you really don’t know if the coil worked for the previous owner or not, other than their word for it. Second hand coils are not covered under the NEL warranty. This is where buying product not made in the U.S. gets difficult as just postage to Ukraine and back is probably more that the coil is worth. From http://nel-coils.com/index.php/en/warranty 1. How long is the warranty for my NEL product? At NEL we provide a full 2 year (+1 year extended warranty upon registration) warranty on all of our manufactured coils. This warranty starts from the date of purchase by the customer. This is applicable worldwide. This warranty covers any manufacturing errors like cracks in plastics or performance issues like no response which are from manufacturing faults – usually these are noticeable within the first few hours of use. The warranty does not cover normal use or misuse of the product. For a coil to continue to perform well it must be treated with care and not be used in a way that will jar or incur any sudden impact. This sudden impact may result in developing a noisy product. NEL, at its sole discretion, will determine the nature of the returned item and decide whether it is a warranty issue. Each individual case will be reviewed on its own merits and the more information you can provide the easier it will be for us to make a quick decision. 2. Is the warranty transferable? No, the warranty is only applicable for the original owner. For out of warranty coils there is a service fee for more information please contact your nearest dealer. 3. What do I do to claim warranty? When wanting to claim warranty within Ukraine, you can either return it to your place of purchase or send it direct to NEL, Str. Klochkovskaya 192а, ap.327 Kharkov, Ukraine, 61145. It is essential you include your proof of purchase docket and a short note informing us of the problem which has occurred. Also include your return address and phone number as we may need to contact you regarding the product. If you have purchased a product outside of Ukraine you must return it with your proof of purchase to your local dealer who will handle the warranty claims. Ensure you include your return address and phone number whenever returning a product.

On how to do updates or how to fix the headphone issue? Link? The Nokta Impact Software Update page covers the "how to do update" part.

Yes indeed. That is why the audio is telling me “deep”.

Never heard if this was resolved or not. One person suggests that after the upgrade the headphones have to be "unpaired" and then reconnected but I am not clear on how on how that is done.

I can even guess it happened on the Fourth of July. There is no more important holiday in the Alaska mining camps, with mines often closing and miners getting together for miner's meetings and such. The Fortymile Mining District 4th of July event is still very big, with miners coming out of the woods from creeks all around to attend. So I am seeing this as a possible 4th of July competition. That's the fun of detecting. What is it? Who held it last? Why did it get lost? We enjoy a direct connection to history few others enjoy.

I can say right now that the aptX Bluetooth on Equinox is superb and all I require. If there is a lag it is so small I don't notice it at all. Regular Bluetooth is included just to extend compatibility to nearly all Bluetooth devices, though there will be lag that some will not like, especially in dense targets. Others who swing for long periods between targets probably won't care. The real standard setting is happening with Bluetooth and eventually a version will be fast enough and gain widespread acceptance. Then these proprietary fixes can go away.

Thanks Tyran, and welcome to the forum! I have been posting on forums on the internet since 1998 - twenty years now. That is a huge backhistory available to anyone that knows how Google works and who wants to research my history on posting about various brands and makes of detectors. In the last twenty years I have talked about and helped people with all the brands and in general I have just been going from one new model to the next as they appear over the years. However, in every case it has always been about adding another detector to the existing collection or swapping one out. I have never had a new model show up before that made me decide I did not need half the number of detectors I have normally had over the years. The big problem in going by my judgement or opinion is we each have our own needs and desires when it comes to detecting. And my goal in all this stuff is not to prove the Equinox is good by somehow taking a shot at other detectors people own. Is the Equinox "better" than a Deus? No. It is different than a Deus, that is all. Some people will continue to use and love the Deus and I am not trying to sway them otherwise. Or an MX Sport. Or an AT Max. Whatever. There are in every case however clear differences. The Equinox offers some feature the others completely lack. In the case of the Deus, the Equinox is fully submersible out of box and the Deus is not. That makes for a clear, simple reason why a person might want one over the other. In the case of the AT Max, the Equinox offers multifrequency and the AT Max does not, making the Equinox a better choice for saltwater. Etc. Etc. These are the kinds of things that clearly define detectors and make choices easy in my opinion. Those however who want ironclad proof that the Equinox detects deeper than "this machine" or has a faster recovery speed than "that machine" are probably not going to get much satisfaction from me. Trying to make those kinds of cases inevitably means trying to show one machine in a poor light as compared to another, and that in turn raises hell with everyone regarding tuning, soil types, techniques, or outright bias. There is not a single video on YouTube that I cannot protest in some way and argue about the results shown. I am going to leave it up to others to try and "prove" things. All I can do is tell people I have been detecting 45 years, like to do it all, and have used a ton of detectors over the years. I have twenty years published record to show my bias or lack thereof. The vast majority of my posts are just trying to help people get answers. There are many very good detectors on the market. The Equinox wins for me in basically combining the most desired features I have wanted into a single machine at a great price and better yet in a lightweight package. The performance is going to be excellent across the board for nearly all uses. Will it outperform many top machines at many things. Yes. Will it outperform everything everywhere under all circumstances? Unlikely. It is after all a metal detector, not a magic wand. At the end of the day I am burning up twenty years of accumulated reputation and going out on a limb on this one due to the absolute faith I have in the machine and the company behind it delivering a product that the vast majority of you will love. If I prove to be wrong my reputation will be toast and I will have mud all over my face and more. I will have proven the trolls right. These are things I take seriously and which I considered long and hard before deciding to get on board with this thing like I have. I am in fact being opportunistic in hitching my wagon up to what I see as a winning horse for a long and fun ride.

"Metal detector finds are on the rise, new Government figures show, as the popularity of TV programmes such as Time Team and Detectorists tempts more people to take up treasure hunting. Statistics released by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport show that the overall number of treasure discoveries rose to 1,121 in 2016, up from 1,005 in 2015. Experts say programmes such as Detectorists, a BBC sitcom starring Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones which began airing in 2014, have tempted more amateur searchers to try out the hobby." Full Story Here

That would require a transmitter box or dongle since the Gold Monster does not have built in wireless, and such a system should work with other detectors. I would not be surprised to see something based on the new WM08 module being developed for the Equinox. Minelab in my opinion needs to start over with wireless to a certain extent and come up with a system that is common to all their machines. Right now the CTX wireless, GPZ wireless, and Pro-Sonic wireless are all basically incompatible. Just start with the new system and phase out or retrofit the rest over time.