Mark Gillespie

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.

oops, sorry Steve. Please delete post, Thanks

http://www.cabelas.com/product/MINELAB-EQUINOX-MTL-DETE/2671943.uts?slotId=0

https://www.minelab.com/usa/go-minelabbing/treasure-talk?fts=Authors&fAuthors=235644

That's kind of how I feel, being 60.

Why do you want the Equinox? Maybe I should say why I want the Equinox? For me it is the accumulation of years of detecting and knowing, that in most cases new technology brings new benefits to the hobby. For the past 20 years I’ve seen a huge leap in technology. Both the computer industry (actually had a computer business for 10 years) and of course metal detectors have excelled at a phenomenal rate. Faster CPU’s allow more data to be processed and analyzed, for both. Like most treasure hunters I’m looking for the so called edge that allows me to excel in the hobby. The presumed hunted out sites come alive with additional treasures. This adds more excitement and rewards as time is spent learning a new machine. Then, all of a sudden you believe in the detector you’re using and the finds seem to come with little if any effort on your part. Amazing, yes, humans have the ability to excel if they believe in something and detecting is no exception. Now I’d like to bring in a particular machine. The V3i when running three frequencies opened up many a site where I live. My buddy, who first purchased the V3i whipped me at every site when it came to finding silver, so his nickname became Fred Silverman, hence the phrase. We spent many hours comparing targets and the majority of the time my machine didn’t give as good an audio or ID than his. I had the best detector that could be bought “not mentioning the brand”, but that didn’t make a difference. Then I bought a V3i and sure enough it made a difference for me as well. Loved the machine, but for me it was too heavy to hunt long at a time and having neck problems prevented me from keeping the machine very long so I had to sell. Bought a Deus, super light weight, but even it couldn’t compete with my friends V3i, multi-frequency. We did side by side comparisons, over several months, but even the Deus in my area couldn’t compete, so I sold. Coming full circle, the Equinox has what I’m looking for: Multi-Frequency like the V3i Light weight like the Deus Extremely fast like the Deus Adjustability like the V3i and Deus Multi-tone like the Deus and V3i Better price point, cheaper than both Then I must add all the other features wireless and waterproof. Just how I feel

I believe it is........... this time...........

I'm struggling not to jump on this band wagon, but I'm afraid I'm loosing.

I do the same thing when it comes to nickels. Over the years, the majority of all gold rings I've found ID at nickel or just below.

Awesome find, you're ahead now.

After you've had the top of the line detector from what ever the manufacturer, it's almost impossible to settle for a lower end machine from the same company. Case in point, over the past several years I've owned, actually remember, seven Fisher F75's, some original and some the LTD mode. I've had the opportunity to try lower cost machines like the Gold Bug Pro, F19, F5, but can say for surety I've yet to find a machine that comes close to enjoying anything like the F75. I recently purchased a new F19 with the intentions of only using for relic hunting, but even though it is a great machine, it still can't fill the void filled by the F75. Just amazing, you get what you pay for, in most cases when it comes to detecting. It's something how companies put out a flag ship machine then do spin offs of lesser performance an features.

I would like to add one good point. Believe it or not I can tell by sound, almost 100% of the time when it's a hair pin under the coil. But to begin with it all sounded the same. Now, if I could hear a difference between a beer pull tab and a ring, that would be fantastic.

ANY NEW WORD ON AVAILABILITY?

Awesome story, I hope I can detect another 20 years.

So true Steve, my SL has found more hair "bobby" pins than I knew existed. And yes you will need to dig it all, but ever so often something real nice comes up.

Keep us posted on how it performs.

I'll even add something more. Years ago I found a round ball of metal a little larger than a golf ball. The item was pure white and not knowing what it was at the time I pitched it in my relic pile on my back porch. A few years later I was rummaging through the bucket of metal and came across the ball. Then suddenly I realized it was a civil war grape shot. Remember seeing the same ball in a local museum. Now that created a very big issue with me because I can't remember where I dug it from. I've spent quite a bit of time pondering on where, but to this day I don't have a clue. I might add, I've always kept a journal of my finds, location and date, but for some reason I failed to record that find.

You know Steve I have wondered the same thing about the V3i and the Deus and the different programs. Even though each program can be modified, I always wondered if hidden in the back ground were some sort of settings/internal adjustments I didn't know about. Being a programmer from the late 90's I can see a line or two of code performing special functions for a special feature. That is the internal secrets we may never be aware of. But that's okay, if it works great.

I hunt old home and school sites. Schools long since shutdown and homes no longer occupied. I have several special sites I hunt with my TDI where coal was used for source of heat for decades. These sites are basically a wasteland (because of the coal waste )where grass and other vegetation is sparse. But the TDI has pulled a many good target from these sites. I will be very interesting to see how the E. does and reacts to these extreme ground areas.

My thoughts exactly. I was one of the original testers of the Eurotek Pro and can say I had a blast experimenting/testing to see what I could find wrong and what functions performed according to what the engineers wanted. It might be a low cost machine, but performs extremely well in heavy iron sites. To me, the fun of learning a new machine is what matters. Then comes the surprise find I didn't see coming. Life is short and you won't go around but once. Have fun....

Wow, that's awesome. Not many machines (V3i) have that capabilities. I usually have to do the narrowing down manually using the pinpoint function, but it takes time. Awesome feature.

Wow, that's an XF walker. Awesome.

Sounds like the machine will basically run very similar to my Deus when it comes to speed/depth etc. Good to know, thanks