Mark Gillespie

You know I was wondering when this day might come.  Years ago the place to hang out was Dankowski' forum, but it finally became quite overwhelming to Tom and he had to back off and enjoy doing his own thing for a while, I understand.  Then his site began to change and I all but abandoned my frequent visits and move here.  I hope this site doesn't end up like some of the others.

I truly understand.   Thanks

1 hour ago, jjm861 said:

Currently it is roughly 5:40am on January 31 in Australia.  Maybe today is the day for the official release announcement

Interesting time difference, never thought about it from where I live.

Yes I've had that type of reply on Craigslist.  It's amazing what they'll come up with next. 

Nice finds for sure

Even though I really enjoy digging silver, gold is what will pay for a detector the quickest.

To prevent walking away from gold I use the TDI while only listening for the high tone (low conductor).  This is exactly how I've found some of the most expensive gold jewelry.

 I am

The Super Pulse is a closed mono coil that works good for me.  I mostly hunt jewelry with mine and it feels lighter than the stock 12" Dual Field

That gives gold fever for sure.

By the ID numbers indicated I can see the majority of gold rings I've found will range from 9 to 13.  Of all the rings I've dug, only two have registered above a nickel, the rest have been below.

I purchase all my detecting gloves at Ollies. I recently bought a pair of fleece lined water proof gloves for $4.  Very well made and at a good price point compared to Walmart and Lowe's.  I wear these when it's both cold and wet.

Yea haw 

I'm also rooting for 1St Texas, they were in Florida doing the first field "beach" test the first of December.  There were several issues, not overly complicated but never the less adjustments that needed to be made before their next test.  Even though the first unit is not exactly for inland hunting, I'd love to get me hands on one to compare to my TDI.

The wireless option should greatly reduce tipping issues in my opinion.  Looking forward to that. 

On ‎1‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 12:31 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

Mineralized ground is not the same thing as coal waste so I will be surprised if Equinox does not struggle in that stuff just like all the others.

I agree, the coal waste in my area are from salt size up to BB size.  Each will easily attract to an average magnet.  Even my PI will struggle until I increase the delay slightly.  I'm still amazed at what I've found behind some of the best VLF machines in the world.  But what I'm looking for from the Equinox is a more stable target ID deeper than 6" in the red, iron bearing clay of Virginia. 

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Yeah, that is an excellent test. It shows one way the Equinox will excel over the BBS and FBS detectors. The real grudge match will of course be Equinox and Deus.

You are exact right.  The Deus is an extremely fast machine and will be the top contender for the lead spot.

I have personally used the Deus for 2 years and have observed many of it's strong and weak hunting points.

24 minutes ago, Skate said:

I would be ecstatic if every 18 months a newer, better, more capable machine was introduced by Minelab or any other company. If it could get me more treasure, more rings, more old silver coins, neater relics then I'm all over it even if I have to spend $800-$1000 every 18 months to do it. I am the farthest thing from being brand loyal. I just don't get the angst and worry associated with an item costing $800. Some people are unhinged that ML would intro the EQ while still calling the CTX their top model. Why should they care? If the Nox allows you to swing 8 hours a day it's better than the 4-5 hours the CTX gets most folks due to the weight. 

I'm excited the nox is coming and I hope that really soon something even better comes out because it will benefit me doing what I love to do, which is detecting. If I could only detect a few times a year I think I'd find another hobby or just own an ACE 250 and call it a day. 

Exactly and totally how I believe.

You only live once, when it's over it's gone for ever.  Enjoy every moment as if it was your last.  I truly love this hobby and even my wife knows my passion for the sport.

It appears he has passion for the sport like me.  I've hunted some harsh conditions over the past 20 years, but not like this.  Awesome

I have desired and conveyed a particular want in a motion all machine for years.  It is simply an audio option of at least two different tones.  One for iron, the other for non ferrous targets in a VLF machine.  Is that to much to have asked for?

I had one of the guys at 1st Texas reply with a similar statement, "it's easier said than done" 

1 hour ago, Steve Herschbach said:

My recommendation is for experienced detectorists in to toss preconceptions out the door with Equinox, including mode names and suggested uses. That's all fine for most people but what Equinox needs is a team of really curious people to simply accept it as a new item and figure it out from scratch. Preconceptions formed with other detectors will likely just get in the way, and for those most comfortable with old ways of doing things a potential turn off.

Gordon is a really sharp cookie and Minelab is lucky he has been involved in this.

I agree 100%, it's actually quite fun to learn on my own.  Sometimes you discover a first........

On level 1 sensitivity it about matches my Garrett Pro Pointer.  At level 3 it surpasses my Pro Pointer by at least an inch.  Impressive.

But will be great for bad ground.

Awesome rings.  I'm sure excitement filled your heart.

On ‎11‎/‎30‎/‎2017 at 8:37 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

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.

There is a lot of extremely important information in these two paragraphs.

Even though I don't live remotely close to the area mention above I can inform all that this kind or very similar ground can and does, all but shutdown all VLF machines.  I have many old school sites that will easily fall in the above category.  I can take any VLF machine to these sites and you would think the entire area was nothing but a carpet of nails.   The Fe04 meter on my F75 is also 6 of 7 bars.  The material also attracts to a magnet with ease.   These sites will be the first visited with the Equinox

F

On ‎12‎/‎29‎/‎2017 at 8:54 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

The X-Terra lineup is not noted for a fast recovery speed. I would not call it slow, but it sure is not fast either. Coming from a F75 you would not be impressed in that regard.

I've found it nearly impossible to ever like a machine after I have the ones that are better.  Does that make sense?

I would not be happy with a slower than F75 machine.

Amazing view points as to why different hunters want this machine.  But there seems to be a lot in common among each.

I agree, the processing of signals are starting to remind me of my PI.  Interesting concept.