abenson

I don't have an 800 anymore, but from past experience I think the results would be similar to the Manticore without the update. I have to agree with you Simon, number 7 would be my conclusion as well. With the M8 coil mounted up the Manticore has no problem with those same targets running the update.

This is why I don't like the update in my soil. Just when I thought I had it tweaked to get some decent depth around here, I did another comparison between the old and new software. There's definitely something wrong. I don't think a person realizes, including myself just how bad it is in mineralized soil until you actually compare the two versions on targets side by side. The old version is what I'll stick with once I get a bunch more testing done or until Minelab fixes the issue.

Just to set the record straight. I like the Manticore, I just don't like the update. If Minelab can fix the issues I'm having in my soil I'll gladly go to a newer version. But for now I'll stay with the older version. Doesn't matter what mode I use with the update it simply doesn't perform the same as the old version. Here's a video of what I'm seeing in high mineral dirt on coin sized targets with the update. It's not too impressive, Manticore is pretty much calling everything iron.

This is why I have slowly sold off most of my metal detectors except a select few. It's going to take a lot to convince me I need another metal detector if something new comes out. A person needs to do more and more research to uncover sites that someone over looked. Or take a bulldozer to the ones that exist and shave a few inches off the top to get the deeper stuff masked by trash. The work involved often times isn't worth it. Can't say I haven't made some amazing finds over the last 5 years, some of the best in the 40+ years of metal detecting. But it requires traveling sometimes 1000's of miles or hiking into remote areas to make them. 90% of the time I would have been better off just staying home and cleaning the yard. But it's the adventure that keeps me going, at some point I'm going to have to say enough is enough and find a different hobby. But yea, not a business I would like to be in right now.

I haven't given up on the Manticore yet. I am getting to know it better every time I use it. I think the biggest issue is over driving the machine and that goes for the 900 too. AT HC is a real bad program to use in moderate to high mineralization or in nail beds, it's way too sparky. Keeping the sensitivity within the limits of both ground and EMI is another thing to consider. I will usually run my sensitivity up to where is just starts to chatter and then back it off 1 point. If you have EMI noise in the audio you're asking for trouble. At first I hated the update on the Manticore and went back to the old version. But I've been having some conversations with Minelab about the update and have been using it more and more employing some of the features in the update to allow the Manticore to run more stable. Minelab won't admit it but I really think they have done something to the sensitivity with the new update. I can run mine about 2 points higher than before in most places. Stabilizer at 1 can also be used to calm some EMI allowing higher sensitivity settings and it appears to stabilize the ID somewhat without affecting depth. That being said, the Deus 2 is much more enjoyable to use and I feel more confident in what I'm digging.

What I've found from probably about 100+ hours is AT HC is basically worthless for the type of hunting I do in the moderate to high mineral ground I have. The only place I would use AT HC is in a relatively free from iron field with low minerals. It worked great for me in North Carolina. But around here I have found AT LC to be my go to mode for most of my detecting. AT LC has way less falsing and a more stable ID in sites with lots of iron and on deeper targets in my moderate to high mineralization. I've got a few videos I'll post over the next week or so showing the Manticore in action using AT LC. The M8 coil is also proving to be a real asset to the Manticore in iron and in high mineraliztion. I've toyed with the idea of going back to the 800. But the more I use the Manticore and learn how to set it up correctly for different sites the more I like it and doubt I'll go back to the 800.

Around here I see most people using Whites and Minelab machines. Garrett never really went over big in my state. Most people at the club I belong to still use Whites machines but are slowing moving over to other brands, now that they are forced to.

Wow nice haul. That a good bit of jewelry.

Looks like they are really comparing the Nokta Simplex to the Nox by the description.

Yep have used audio response a number of times to calm EMI. Also a good idea to lower it in heavy iron too reduce falsing. Usually run mine at 3 or 4 but have been down to 2 at times.

Dang Steve you have about 10 years more than I do in this wonderful hobby. I've been on this forum for about 7 years and only really participated in any discussions for about 3 or 4. But I have enjoyed every minute of it. Everyone on here is helpful and encouraging when it comes to learning about metal detecting. Steve you have and still are a great asset to the metal detecting hobby. The list of metal detectors you've help develop in one way or another is telling or your knowledge when it comes to this hobby. I've enjoyed getting to know you, and you have giving me more tips and tricks pertaining to gold prospecting that you'll ever know. The few outings I've been on with you have been nothing short of amazing and educational. I've enjoyed all your stories and discussions as we've sat around freezing or sweating our butts off in the Nevada desert. Hopefully I'll be able to coax you into getting out a few more times before you totally hang it up.

I've been running 1.1 for a while now at a bunch of my sites. I really can't give you any specifics of why I like it over .71, but I sure have been finding a lot of stuff. Since there's nothing that stands out as an issue with version 1.1 I have just stayed with it. Right now programs based off General seem to be the best for the relic sites I'm hunting. Still like PWM audio the best. Stable ID at depth is the big plus on the D2 IMO. It's clearly got the Equinox and Manticore beat in that department.

I usually find nuggets in the .10 to 1 gram size. The pan is just to display the nuggets on. To recover a nugget I dig a hole with a pick until the target is in the pile. Then grab a plastic scoop to isolate the target by waving the scoop filled with dirt over the coil. Once it's in the scoop I transfer dirt from the scoop to my hand discarding dirt as I go until I can see the nugget. I have some prospecting videos on my channel if you want to see how the process works.

I already thinned my detectors to 4 units. 3 I use regularly and 1 loaner. At this point in time I need to think about what I would realistically use on a regular basis. I just think the X-Terra pro would be one I would use a few months and sell anyway. I think the Legend would be the best option if I were to actually buy another detector. But I'd rather use that money buying coils for the ones I already own.

Jeff that's all I needed to hear about the X-terra Pro. Since my ground conditions are similar to yours, I will not be getting one. I was toying with the idea, but now I'll pass.

Yep it can be frustrating and that's why I hunt a lot of places with a PI.

I just happened to luck out with being able to try one. Last I heard they were planning on having them in dealers hands in August or September.

Did a simple air test of 4 small gold nuggets taped to a cardboard box with the Manticore M8 coil. You can watch the video for yourself but, yes it appears the new software version is more sensitive to small gold than the old one. Is it as sensitive as the Equinox? I have no idea, sold mine a week ago and I'm not looking back.

With the new updated software for the Manticore came some changes to the audio themes available. Now in addition to prospecting audio theme we also have normal, depth and enhanced to choose from. Within normal, depth and enhanced themes we have the ability to change the threshold level, threshold pitch and audio profile. In prospecting we can change the threshold level, threshold pitch and ferrous tones On or OFF. But ferrous tones On or OFF may have a bug, or I'm just not smart enough to know how to turn it on. I've contacted Minelab about that one. Here's a video that shows the new themes available in the goldfield mode.

Borrowed a M8 coil from a tester for a week or so to do some testing. Good first impression and the it appears to work better than the 11" with the new update in my soil. Handles EMI better and is plenty deep. Here's a quick video. I'll do some more in the coming weeks.

Best of luck, hopefully you'll have a quick recovery.

I've been working directy with someone in Australia.

I did the update this evening and ran the new Manticore though my coin garden and got the same results as the old Manticore. So it's pretty clear to me that the new update doesn't work as good as the old version on the particular soil conditions I have in my area. There's got to be some kind of averall stabilization in the new software causing this issue. I've reported this to Minelab and I'll wait to see what they have to say. In the mean time I'm going back to the old version. I did a video of the process without even knowing what the results would be that I may post later to show that nothing has changed. At least I can run the older version of software. I doubt I would have used the stabilizer at the sites I hunt anyway, so no big deal. That being said the improvements to the gold program will be missed. I will be doing some testing with the new software on some nuggets in 7 bar dirt just to see what happens and if there is a difference between the 2 software versions.

If Fisher would simply add wireless headphones, waterproof design and rechargeable internal batteries to a new model. That would be enough for me to take a look.

Minelab sent me a replacement Manticore which I received yesterday. I really appreciate Minelab going the extra mile to make sure my machine wasn't the cause of the depth loss I was seeing. Initial testing in my coin garden with the old software confirms to me it is performing the same as my old Manticore. Tonight I will download the new version of the software and re-test it in my coin garden using the same settings as before. One thing I plan on doing is a factory reset before I download the new software just in case that was an issue the first go round. Hopefully I will get better results this time.