Northeast

SDC V's a GPX of any model I would choose the GPX every time purely due to its versatility. Tiny coils, massive coils, DD coils, etc, etc. With the SDC you are quite limited even with the new coils that have come out. And then there are the different timings on the GPX too. A 4500 matched with a higher frequency VLF like the GB2 or a Gold Monster or an Equinox 800 and you wouldn't be leaving much gold behind. Someone else will be able to give you the answer to this question but I am thinking the SDC will find gold smaller than what the VLF detectors around the 20KhZ range will find?? That is the only reason I am suggesting a higher KhZ VLF unit. (Although, since you already have the GB2 it is probably good enough). Cheers, NE.

I assume you are on the ground and hunting somewhere in the GT Mitchell? How was the trip out?

Hi 31-coinshooting, Welcome to the forum! I had to laugh at your thread headline - ( Trying To Avoid A Garrett Vs Other Brands Fight ) - and yet you still came to a metal detecting website for advice ? All joking aside, the Nox 600 should do everything you want in the coin/relic side of things and I'm reasonably sure it was around that US $500 mark (sorry, I now see it is US$649). The bonus of going for the 800 is a couple of different audio abilities it has and the wireless headphones it comes with which are quite good. And prospecting mode which you might use in the future? You may even pick up a used 800 at the price point you are looking at but be very wary of counterfeit units. Best of luck with your decision ? NE.

JR and Reg are probably the best people to answer this. I have never used a GPX so hard to provide a comparison but I can only assume that a more complex, more expensive and much raved about GPX 5000 would have the edge with regard to raw performance. The QED is not ridiculously expensive, it's light, good range of coils are able to be used, etc, etc. Uncomplicated. I think the QED is actually quite easy to use if you stick at the Default settings. There are a couple of things I have struggled with but I also think I am trying to squeeze too much of it. I think I've got ground balance under control now. A really nice, steady threshold and being able to increase Gain are perhaps the final jigsaw pieces I'm trying to find. Yet, I did find my first piece of gold with it today (teeeeeeeeeny tiny!). Excellent performance? - well it is better than any other PI that I currently have ? The piece I found today was extremely small but shallow - using the 11" Detech Ultra Sensing today. I have found deeper targets with the 11" and I have found deepish targets with the 20" NF coil. Later this month I am spending 5 days in the GT and plan on spending some time with Mitchell and hoping to catch up with Reg and a few from PA forum. In that 5 days I will hopefully find the missing threshold/gain jigsaw piece and really get to know just what it can do re: performance.

Uncomplicated = SDC 2300 Not ridiculously expensive = QED. Excellent performance = GPX 5000 Hope that clears things up for you ?

Great gold and story ?

So, offline we have established that it is the same spot. People who have used a GB Pro - would these type of bits of gold get picked up by it? Rough, quartz speccies mainly.

If that is the spot I think it is then I have found gold there with the GPZ, the SDC and the Gold Monster. With practice it sounds like the GB2 will be able to find gold too. Steve H had said that he was able to find gold in hot ground in Aus with the GB2 - it is all down to practice. However, I have never used one ? Will PM you.

Judging by the first pics I think I know where you are. If it is where I think then there is definitely lots of gold in quartz. Gold Bug might be a bit low in KhZ to find it though? The rubbish is just crap isn't it?

Yep, 12V cigarette lighter plug although most new rental cars will also have at least one X 1 amp USB slot as well.

I agree with JW - dig them all. I did find small lead shot was a consistent, rounded noise whereas tiny gold gave a similar noise but with a crackle to it. Almost always knew when it was a less than 0.25 gram piece as it all sounded similar. But I also got gold that sounded exactly like lead shot. And 2 of my bigger pieces I was 100% that I was digging an old square nail. If you are trying to discriminate with a GPZ my feeling is you will be leaving gold behind. JMHO ?

Now you'll have started something. JW and Phrunt will be along any minute...?

After reading that article Reg you can consider your image spoiled, you big softie ? Unless you say “They ended up tasting quite nice” ?

Wow, that’s weird. Free ‘tector ? However, maybe the numbers and stuff aren’t going to correspond with what others get on their real units? Start digging up your backyard too. Good practice on tones, ferrous/non ferrous and pinpointing. Bound to be a few coins in there. I am time poor but have an Equinox and a QED that I could show you at some stage. It will be a long and arduous trip that will require great planning and expense (I’m about 15 minutes away ? ).

I've never used a Gold Bug so can't help with your questions but what does this mean? Is it really a fake? Or is that a typo? The things that you found sound pretty much right for our area ? Lots of crap targets between the yellow unfortunately.

Good lord!!! Even that link didn't work! Try this? https://www.tickcounter.com/countdown/1172345/serious-prospecting-trip It worked ?

<iframe width="300" height="154" src="https://w2.countingdownto.com/2464212" frameborder="0"></iframe> Let's see if this works. (It didn't ?) It is a countdown clock for when Mitchy drops in to Melbourne town (if anyone knows how to embed it I would be appreciative). https://countingdownto.com/?c=2464216

Yep, it would be ‘interesting’ but I’m not sure that it would be any great advantage (or disadvantage) than your 4500 in actually finding gold. Can run all the same mono coils but the 4500 gives you a bit more flexibility with the DD’s. The advantage is the lighter weight, lower price point, updatable software, good battery set up, etc, etc.

That name was mentioned on the Australian PA forum. Perhaps there are 2 detectors? The counter mine and a different public offering. We’ll know sometime in the next 6 months ?

Hi Phrunt, Rather than re-write a lot of stuff I'll just provide the link to here https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?id=29720 It is a bit lengthy but hopefully tell you things you want to know. Having never had a non auto-tracking PI and none of the machines I've had have the same controls/menus/options as the QED it has been a bit of a learning curve but probably no more so than if I had picked up a GPX for the first time. Never having had a GPX has probably been a bonus in that I am not trying to run the QED like a GPX but it does make it difficult to provide a comparison for people like yourself. A GPX is probably what it is most comparable to? But which model I have no idea. Anyway, have a read of the link if you like and any other questions just ask ? Oh, I do wonder if the 'insanely mild' ground conditions of NZ coupled with your smaller sized gold would be a really interesting combination with the "Mode" setting of the QED. A low Mode coupled with a smaller 9" spiral wound coil would probably be a great little combo.

PA forum suggests it might be called Minelab Vanquish and some sort of new PI tech. I dare say no one knows until it’s announced. Steve H may get his lightweight, under 2k PI after all! ?

My how things have changed for me over the past 8 or so months ? It's funny how one can go back and read things in a different light. I dare say I didn't take much notice of this sentence back when you wrote it JR - it resonates a lot more with me now ?

Niiiiiiiiiiiice!!

Or you could look through these pages https://www.detectorprospector.com/metal-detector-database/ and simply look at the weights under the main heading and then look at the lightest ones. Sorry that I'm not recommending anything for you, just giving you more work ?

I'm certainly not the guy to be answering your question with my limited range of detector usage. But I will ask a question ? Does your Nox have the 11" or 6" coil on it? I haven't used a 6" on mine but I imagine it makes it as light as fly poop. Going from a Detech 11" coil on a PI down to an 8" Sadie made the detector I use particularly lighter. Possibly help him to seperate the signals too? Just a thought ?