Steve Herschbach

Don't take the GPS off my GPZ! Yeah it could be better but by simply mapping my actions on screen as I work an area it has proven to be a huge aid in my efforts. The issues really are more in the XChange software and that can be easily upgraded in the future. Besides, a GPS module costs between $5 - $15 at wholesale. It adds nothing to the retail cost of the detector. The only thing that would happen if they took it out is you would pay exactly the same price but get no GPS. Thanks Rob for the comment. On hold means a whole different thing than not going to make.

First off I want to say I am not advocating anyone do this. It will void your warranty. But I like to know stuff and this is interesting information. Ismael has opened up an SDC and confirmed that the coil is plugged into the control box with a plug connector. He has used an adapter to run some other Minelab coils and in his opinion mono coils seem to work well. http://golddetecting.4umer.net/t22372-coil-question-for-the-sdc-2300#216360 Further down in the same thread there is a picture of the connection, which is under the cover on the housing where the rod assembly pivots. http://golddetecting.4umer.net/t22372-coil-question-for-the-sdc-2300#217008 I hope someday Minelab stuffs the SDC into a standard detector housing, something like the Eureka Gold. And offers a couple other coils. A small 4" x 6" elliptical would be awesome for crevicing and an 8" x 12" elliptical would be great for better ground coverage. A standard control box should lower the price considerably and an ability to hip or chest mount would be really great. I would get one in a heartbeat.

Hopefully Chris will be able to help with calendar show dates since he finds out about most show dates before anyone else.

Good feedback jasong. The GPZ has not been abandoned but your perception that it is so should give Minelab pause. Where was the announcement they will not make a larger capacity battery? I missed that one.

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show added http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/calendar/1-calendar/02-2016

and added November Nuggetshooter Gold Basin Outing http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/calendar/1-calendar/11-2015

Way back in April it was suggested that I add a calendar or event scheduler to the forum http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/topic/885-eventsfield-trip-calender/ This is part of most Invision forums but I had in deactivated for a simple reason. I am a bit of a privacy type person so you may have noticed that this forum does not display who is online. I guess it is supposed to be cool somehow but I do not think most of you want people to know you are logged in online. If you want to post, post. If not, nobody needs to know you are hanging out. Similarly, other forums display birthday info in various ways, especially on the calendars. Now I suppose this is nice as everyone wishes somebody happy birthday. But then others get no birthday wishes at all. Mostly, as far as I am concerned, it is just off topic clutter. Yeah, I know, I am an unsentimental hardass taking this on topic nonsense too far! But that is just the way I like things and so I have finally activated a calendar that does not automatically display birthdays so we are good to go. I should have done it sooner but better late than never. Right now the Rye Patch outing is the only thing on the calendar. I will be adding more stuff soon. You are welcome to also make additions but please keep them somehow related to prospecting, metal detecting, rock collecting, etc. The bottom line is all additions are moderated and will not appear until I approve them so no worries. If I think it is too far off topic I may not approve it. Then again, if it seems really compelling I may just let it go. You are also welcome to just email suggestions to contact@detectorprospector.com or better yet post them on this thread. Let me know if you can't see it or whatever. Link in the menu bar at top of forum or at http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/calendar/ Events also appear on the main forum directory sidebar at http://www.detectorprospector.com/forum/ but it will take an upgrade to IP Board 4 to get them displayed elsewhere, and I am not going there for some time yet. I will see what else I can do in the meantime.

First off, sorry to hear about that. The list of machines Minelab considers obsolete is at http://www.minelab.com/anz/customer-care/product-notices/discontinued-products Even though the GP 3500 is on that list I would encourage you to contact Minelab first before you do anything else. Shipping to Australia and back by itself will not be cheap so a free call to Minelab first is worth a shot. Minelab Americas 1938 A University Lane Lisle, IL 60532 Service Centre: 1-877-SOS-MLAB (1-877-767-6522) Email: service@minelabamericas.com I and others here would be extremely interested in what you hear from Minelab. The only outfit I know of in the US that I would call is Keith Willis at East Texas Metal Detectors http://www.brokendetector.com/prodserv.htm I am not sure he can help you but they have been repairing detectors a long time so are worth trying.

Well, the GPZ 7000 has done again what nearly every new Minelab model has done. Introduction, big debate and controversy, slowly fading to acceptance of what is. It does surprise me how quickly the controversy just cut off however. We had one last burst from a couple guys on Finders Forum who were hating the GPZ, they sold them, and that has been that. Everyone now seems to have moved on and it is hard to find much discussion at all pro or con. Some people seem to think that means sales have not been that good but I do not think that is the case at all. I am more surprised at how many people seem to have a GPZ now because I thought the price would be a real obstacle. I admit to secretly hoping that might prove to be the case (sorry Minelab) as it would not hurt my feelings being the only guy out there swinging a GPZ. Just the opposite however - seems like everyone and their brother has one. Oh well. There is much a person could complain about but despite a couple tries I never could get klunker to really let loose on the forum with his unfiltered thoughts on the GPZ. The reality is all the negatives tend to get offset by one basic fact - the GPZ is a very powerful metal detector. I sold almost all my other nugget detectors and have been swinging the GPZ almost exclusively ever since. It packs both small gold sensitivity and extreme depth into one unit with one coil, and given that I can only swing one detector at a time I have every confidence it is what I want to be using. The only exception is in heavy trash, where I still might switch to a VLF. So those of you with a GPZ. Any thoughts now that some time has passed? Anyone that used one and still just really prefers to use a GPX or something else instead? Come on guys, let it all hang out one last time and give your best summary of what you think about the GPZ for those out there who may still be mulling the whole thing over.

Cell phones absolutely can and very often will cause problems. I would not worry much about a single outing. Just go out again and give it another go in a different location, and leave the cell phone behind or at least turned off.

Cost of a "tune up" would simply depend on the manufacturer. In many cases postage costs may be the majority of the cost. As a rule my detectors either work or they do not. In 40 years and countless detectors I only ever sent one in once to get "tuned up". The odds are pretty low of a detector needing this. If a detector is consistently causing you to think something may be wrong with it, then sending it in to get checked out might be a way to set doubts aside. Most of the modern digital type detectors have very little that can be calibrated, but many older analog designs have numerous internal settings that can be adjusted and that may therefore be out of adjustment. I do not think the GMT is a detector that has any history of calibration issues. Other detectors, like the Fisher CZ series, are kind of famous for it. Tom Dankowski has a little sideline business testing and calibrating Fisher CZ detectors for people. Analog models were often tuned at the factory for the particular coil they shipped with. The one I sent in was a Fisher Gold Bug 2. I got a different coil for it (a smaller one), and sent it in to get the detector specifically tuned for use with that coil. Most Tesoro detectors out there are tuned for the coil they ship with, and making another coil the primary use coil would be a reason to consider getting it retuned. Keep in mind also that when detectors do end up misbehaving, in the vast majority of cases it is a coil and cable issue, not the control box, that is causing the problem. Long story short I wish I had a better answer. It is pretty obvious when a detector goes truly haywire. Determining if a detector is just a bit off is a whole different problem. You could compare air tests on a nickel or dime with other people on the Internet, but frankly that would probably be frustrating also. People interpret what a signal is at fringe distances with considerable variation. I tend to be conservative and note clean, solid, repeatable signals as being what I would quote. Others note the faintest hint of a whisper of a signal as their number. The difference between what I would quote and somebody else would quote air testing the same machine could be measured in inches. All I have ever done with my detectors is just wave something under the coil. If it goes beep, I go detecting. It is entirely possible I have owned detectors that were consistently one inch shy of where they should have been and never knew it. It no doubt does happen with machines that are out there, but unless a person has access to a second identical machine it would be very hard to know.

I have a bunch of picks but you will have to wait a couple days for a picture and commentary. Kind of busy right now.

Absolutely great idea Scott - I should have thought of that! Rye Patch Nugget Shoot Information

I honestly think you are better off nearer to home. Lots of gold near you whereas Rye Patch is beat to death. I admit I do enjoy wandering the desert more than most anything however. In California I spend most of my time digging nails. In Nevada it is more like Australia where you go for ages with no targets at all, but if you get one a good chance it might be gold. The GPX is pretty forgiving, main thing is to just get out and use it. Beginners Guide To Minelab GPX 5000

Good question. The Delorme InReach has a big edge over the Spot due to the InReach having two way messaging. I updated my thread on the subject at Delorme InReach Satellite Text Communicator with the answer to your question. Short answer - highly recommended.

Well, I finally activated my InReach account. There is a one time activation fee. After that, you choose the level of service you want (number of text messages per month). The key thing is the service is by the month and can be activated when you need it, or the account put on hold indefinitely when you do not. The basic plan is only $15 per month http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/subscription-plans.php That only gives me ten text messages sent or received, but the unit allows you to send a few preset messages in unlimited numbers. I created some like "arrived safely", "on way home", and "delaying return". These can be sent to email addresses or as phone texts. I sent one to my wife's email just to make sure it worked and it did just fine. All good as far as I can see and so I sold my satellite phone to a friend. I highly recommend the Delorme InReach for anyone spending much time outside cell range. The minimal cost per month and ability to send two way messages make it a great option. The simple way to look at it is this. The other options let you send for help in an emergency. That is good. But what about an emergency at home? This lets my wife know she can reach me if need be at any time. She can send me a text message. The catch is I have to look for it, an so every morning and evening I check the InReach to see if I have any incoming messages. Otherwise I leave mine off to conserve battery power. Delorme InReach Color Brochure

Welcome to the forum. That is a nice fat nugget, the kind I like to find. Congratulations!

You are doing great Chris - keep it going!

Plenty of bears in Alaska! I spent a lot of time in very remote areas by myself and with no communications. Anything that happened, it was totally on me. In those situations I often packed a bear gun (12 ga pump) but never actually had to use it to defend myself. I saw lots of bears over the years but they had no more interest in trouble than I did. Mountain lions? Now those are spooky. I will take bears any day. I have had so few detector parts failures in 40 years it is not something I worry about much, except for spare batteries. With the SD/GP/GPX I always had a spare coil bolt and battery cable. The GPZ lacks both those items.

Cover for the scale that doubles as a weighing tray. Normally clips over top of the scale. It is an older version of the US Magnum 500

They apparently are made just to be used as promotional items like Minelab did. A couple outfits offer to sell singles as "samples" though. http://www.motivators.com/Promotional-Custom-UrbanPeakHybridHydropack-90166.html? I like mine enough I may just try and get another for when I wear this one out. Lots of other pack options out there however.

Hi Ivan, The number one difference for me from my days in Alaska is how close I can get to most stuff with my 4-Runner. In Nevada I am often parked 5 minutes away!! But I do like to go on walkabouts and the program there is to go that way for a couple hours before looping back to my vehicle so I often get a couple hours detecting distance from the rig. But that is swinging the detector. Actual distance would almost never be more than a couple miles from my truck.

Hi Tom, Yes, that is the Garrett AT Pro Pointer. No advantage in being waterproof in the desert per se but being environmentally protected can't hurt. So far it is my all time favorite pinpointer.

I am not saying my way is the best or anything like that, but I figure for newcomers at least some idea of what a person might need detecting would be helpful. Click images for larger versions. Steve in the field This is what I look like out detecting. In Alaska I would probably be in a rain jacket and mosquito headnet but things are a bit nicer down south! Main thing to note here is I am using a small camelback style rucksack which serves three purposes. It is my detector support harness, it contains some essential items, and it gives me a quick sip of water when I need it. The GPZ 7000 bungee clips to my right shoulder next to the water tube. The speaker module goes on the left shoulder under my good ear. I pretty much always use the module unless wind forces me to go to headphones. The bungee wanted to pull off my shoulder but I found a simple solution by routing it under the cross strap that connects the shoulder straps. I use the standard GPZ 7000 velcro/clip on the detector itself to attach the bungee. I really like how easy it is to disconnect from the detector while digging, etc. which is also facilitated by the remote speaker. Closeup of bungee routing The rucksack is a freebie I got at the Minelab convention a couple years ago (thanks Minelab). It is an Urban Peak Hybrid Hydropack with 2 liter water capacity and for a item I got quite by chance it turns out to be about perfect for me and my use. My rucksack/bungee harness I use the GPS system built into the GPZ 7000 pretty religiously these days but still am also using my Garmin GPS which is clipped to my left shoulder strap for easy access. You can see in the right hand belt pocket the GPZ 7000 ferrite ring ready to use if I ever need it. Here are the contents of the rucksack: Items in the rucksack The waterproof container in upper left has basic first aid supplies, bandaids, pain killers, moleskin, lighter, emergency blanket/tarp, etc. Next is a plastic baggie with emergency toilet paper. Then a cheap plastic disposable poncho in case I get caught by a sudden downpour. A plastic spoon and a Swiss Army knife. Next row some waterproof first aid tape good for lots of things. Some parachute cord. A Delorme InReach emergency satellite communications device. A digital scale with cover and 10X loupe/magnifier with cover. A Garrett AT Propointer and finally, my camera. Often a spare GPZ battery or food or other items join this stuff but these are the items always with me. I have long been a fan of the White's belt pouch (P/N 601-0066 $14.95). It has three main compartments and two little side compartments with velcro closures. The largest main compartment gets all the trash I find. A smaller compartment has my gold bottle and maybe my camera or a water bottle. The third compartment is a holster for my digging scoop. One of the two side compartments has more emergency toilet paper (can't have too much) and maybe spare AA batteries if I am using a VLF. The belt is nothing special just a nylon utility belt. It has a nylon pick holder mounted to hold my pick when I am not actually using it. Trash and goodie pouch with side compartments Finally, the pick. In Alaska I hunted tailing piles a lot and so favored picks with big hoe digging implements. Now with the GPZ I want the metal at a minimum and I find I do not need a digging hoe so much in the desert and such down south. So this is a Hodan 24" digging pick which does all I need. It has a super magnet stuck on the head, with a small hose clamp placed ahead of it that keeps the magnet from sliding off when I dig aggressively. Digging pick Oh yeah, the gloves. I always wear gloves to protect my hands when digging and just in general. I have had people comment that some of my photos must be staged because my hands are always clean! Anyway, that's about it. I am going to put my camera in a pouch on my left shoulder right under the speaker module so it is always handy. I saw a bunch of antelope recently and the camera was in the rucksack. No good as sometimes you only get seconds for a good photo. Other than that I am pretty happy with my setup. Like I said, it is not what everyone needs and lacks some things some people might need, but it at least offers an idea and suggestion for things to consider. Urban Peak Hybrid Hydropack

I bought several cheap watches at Walmart (big display, waterproof) and all my detectors now wear one.