Mark Gillespie

I used a calibrated, Fluke TRUE RMS volt meter for my measurements.

I'm beginning to believe there are several different production models when it comes to the TDI.  One might be obvious, the TDI Pro and the TDI SL.  But from other users I think there are manufacturing variations in the SL model.  About half the users I've conversed with state there is a huge depth advantage when turning the ground balance off, but that is not the case with mine.  Speculating, the difference could be attributed  to substituting TX components to coil specifications. 

I did some internal voltage/current experiments a few weeks ago and noticed one main thing.  I could increase the standard input voltage entering the system but never saw a significant increase to the coil TX circuit (less than .010 volt) regardless of input voltage.  I believe, in my unit, the voltage regulator might be preventing the use of increased voltage to the TX coil connection.  This would explain the constant air test distances across the different settings.

These test were with a nickel approaching the coil, not simulating an actual sweep, right to left.

I was listening for a slight increase in threshold.

Still, I thought it did better than this.

An 18 volt battery pack my help.

I have a couple videos on SL air test and hope to do some other comparative videos soon.

Can I assume your TDI is the TDI Pro with mods?

My machine was bought 4 years ago and it is the TDI SL.  Not sure if there are mods for mine that would give a performance boost as mention on yours. 

Thinking a true mono coil would give me extra depth in my area I purchased one form another member of a different forum.  When it arrived I felt something was wrong, I contacted Carl and after his instruction on testing for mono coils it was obvious the coil was in reality a dual field and not a mono. 

A couple years back I remember reading about a mono coil similar to the one you described on your post.  But never did know where they came from.  All that being said the AQ seems to be on track to be a beach game changer. 

Rick, I want to thank you for your post on the AQ.  Last night I had time to actually ponder and absorb what you had to say about the AQ and the relationship between depth and discrimination.  Then I compared your statements to my TDI and its depth/discrimination relationship and suddenly a light bulb came on.  I've been picking and prodding other people that I know are involved with the AQ wanting just a little information and I only get silence.  Well not exactly silence but they all would tell me that this machine would be a huge leap in PI technology performance.  Yea, being a former tester I understand they can't say much, if any.  I always made it a practice to be silent, even my hunting buddies didn't know what I was up to. 

Well enough of all the chit chat, to the point I go.  If the AQ can deliver the same depth/discrimination as the claims, then it will be a huge leap.  Still thinking out loud, if it can obtain a depth of 17" on a ring in the wet salt sand and also have the capability of discriminating out a nail or giving a different audio for the nail that would turn the tide (beach PI competition)  My TDI, with GB off might only detect a ring in the wet sand at maybe 12" but would also give the same audio on a nail at that depth.  On the other hand with GB on, my TDI would struggle to detect the same gold ring at 8" and that is a big maybe. 

I've never been in the water with my TDI, coil wet yes but never deeper than 2-3".  I enclose mine in a 3 gallon zip lock bag and only hunt the areas where the water has been.  GB off and I dig it all.  On occasion I'll dig some iron but not as often as most think.  The reasoning behind my statement "Maybe faster recovery between adjacent targets." because in reality, since the sampling is quicker compared to, lets say 10-15, it will naturally have the capability to respond to more targets in a given sweep.  It will be very interesting to see how this develops.  But I can't image it will take over the market if the price is hovering around 2 grand.  Now on the other hand, if there is a land version released with a good discriminator (I mean, discriminate nails and still hit on the high conductors) that would surly be a game changer, if not to pricey.

Rick, do you also agree the White's TDI has the capability to also see a gold ring covered by nails? 

Being an avid TDI user I know it can also sound off on a gold ring below a pile of iron nails.  In fact, the nicest gold ring I've found was using the TDI in a nail infested area.

If I'm reading the AQ features correctly it will offer a faster target analysis (pulse delay) over the TDI.  Which will mean depth capabilities are greater over the TDI.  Maybe faster recovery between adjacent targets.  I think its already been stated it will be deeper than any VLF machine in the wet salt area. 

What other features that will excel all others?

Why would a person want to buy the AQ?

In hopes of finding gold on a beach where others have hunted and have missed because of excessive depth?
 

Thanks Rick,

There was a lot of free Minelab advertising came too.  The people involved automatically wanted to know what kind of machine I was using and the cost.  One gentleman asked several times to buy my machine.  He stated it was a lucky machine, imagine that.  Well, if Minelab sells a couple extra machines because of this recovery, that is good too.

Yes, I remember the last message he sent me explained he had a difficult time typing.  Reading everything he posted about the PI machines, he is most likely the most knowledgeable (poster) that I know of.  I'm sure there are some that might know more but getting them to post is another matter all together.

Does anyone know where Reg Sniff might be hanging out since Findmall removed the White's forum?

On 4/24/2019 at 5:39 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

There is on-going field testing of the Fisher Impulse AQ in progress trying to improve the discrimination.

This being said I thought the first version of the AQ was for beach only use, sounds like they might be trying to squeeze a little inland potential with improved discrimination.  But since there will be no ground balance feature I guess they are trying to improve the discrimination for the beach environment.  It will be very interesting to see how it all pans out.

Well said Daniel.

I'm in the same position.  Many hours from the coast and I try to vacate the beach one week out of the year and I try to make the best of my hunting time while there.

Wow, I love digging nickels, most 10k ladies rings I've found fall at or below a nickel.  Any war nickels in the bunch?

Steve, you are so eloquent with your words.  I'm always inclined to read every word you post, ever learning and never becoming an expert at anything.

The only detectors I presently have are the Equinox, Fisher F75, White's TDI and Fisher F22.  Maybe the F22 will be less sensitive to the fence.  She only cares for my hobby when I bring something home that she wants.

Well, made some progress.  Started around the fence rows and right from the start I knew I had difficulties ahead of me.  Get within 10" of the fence and the Equinox would give a solid ID of 13.  Also knowing that the very last class ring I found gave a solid 13, oops.  May end up having to buy the 6" coil just to make this find.  Oh well, maybe the lost ring is a higher karat count than the last one, that would raise the ID a little.  All random thoughts.

Worked this time.  I'll be disappointed, they lost the most important post from Reg Sniff and the PI.  I still love and depend on my SL.

Awesome find.

A lot of wisdom in leaving, I do the same thing.

Don't won't people to see me dig anything.

Good  job, Mike.

Not sure why I waited so long to say yes. 

I met with the lady yesterday and she explained just how important this ring was to the family.  That the lady, had always talked about her lost ring, even up to her death, several years ago.   

Been asked numerous times over the past several years to hunt for a class ring lost in a local cemetery.  Then finally last week I agreed to give it a try, with no promises given.  The class ring was lost by a gentleman's mother in 1960 while she was trimming the grass around the cemetery.   One good thing about this graveyard, it is privately owned so no trouble should occur because of my digging.

By the looks of the lot, it may take a good bit of time to cover the area. 

Wow, my dad used a razor just like the one you found.?