Gerry in Idaho

Since I play with about 10+ different detectors that use USB and I sell hundreds each year, it really has not been as bad as an issue as with our 1st cell phones. I attribute this to the actual amount of times we use/chare our cell phones vs the use/charge of a detector. I've sold over 400 Equinox in the last 4 yrs and only had 3 or 4 calls of folks having issues with the USB. So I think the USB is here to stay as it really is not as bad as we may think. I'm 100% on board with your thinking of the Bluetooth. Well maybe the Axiom-II coming out next year will address it.

Here are 2 links to more info on the fireball and the 2nd is a video Mark explaining the find (very interesting). https://scitechdaily.com/fireball-lights-up-the-sky-over-salt-lake-city-16-times-brighter-than-the-full-moon/amp/?fbclid=IwAR3Gk4yTzwWc4GxcQJvv7kxjy39L7f4nrspLaMvjn9ZlW1iWyivCANXCh7o https://content.jwplatform.com/previews/14cwH9MZ?fbclid=IwAR2-G8ePbq0Hb6QG771kLSYC2Dq33SPko0LElJisDq8iZf2Dlp9Z5Ep0_0Y

I've found 80% of my gold rings with the stock size coil. Realize when detecting in water, it's harder to swing a larger coil. The other 20% of my 200+ gold/platinum rings were recovered with larger coils. When in the sand and needing the extra depth, I feel the larger coil is best. As you can see, I don't spend as much time on the beach, but more of - in the water.

I'll give you the pleasure of posting his video as he talks about the discovery and how it went down. Quite impress to say the least and only 5 hr drive from me. We follow each other on FB. Thanks for sharing.

I mentioned it in my new post. But what I do and the way I hunt is not the norm for most others. I like having it and so many peeps "just dig it all". Kind of like my ring hunting. I use ID #'s when possible and so many "just dig it". What I have found when hunting same site on the same day with those who "just dig it", my returns are better. I also realize I could have missed some, but it's hard to ignore great results. I'll just say, I still think PI's have a ways to go on the Iron ID. But this one does give me the option and my other 2 high end options did not.

Swegin asked and I applaud him for doing so. What things I don't like. Yes there are a few things I don't care for but also realize of the probably 30+ detectors I have recovered gold with, I have yet to find one I totally like for every reason. I'm not a fan of those USB plugs and trying to get the cable in the little slot. The age my eyeballs are, I have to go and find my glasses to get it right. I'm not a fan of cable cords and feel if XP can get rid of them, then why can't Minelab and Garrett? It could be because of it being a PI, I'm not sure. I don't like having to use Garrett's Z Lynk wireless in todays modern electronic age. Why can't I use any wireless? I hate the hollow sound of the coils and the hard plastic rubbing the ground. It makes 2 to 3 x the amount of noise. I prefer a softer plastic like the other models and brands use. Sure we wear them out sooner, but at least I can hear the whisper signals better. I honestly feel 75% of the folks who gold hunt are walking over weak signals and not even realizing it. Still wishing for a better Iron Identification system on a PI, but it's what it is. Small iron like boot nails will not DISC out (on purpose so not to miss small gold). Large iron will identify better than small, but even large iron at depth is an issue. I also found out the hard way and was not too excited...if the ID goes silent across a target, it does not mean it's iron. So a piece of gold will just not make a response at all. Iron will produce the grunt sound. I realize most folks do not use Iron ID and I'm one of those strange ducks that does. But I only use it in certain areas and play the odds. Me, I personally don't like the dull gray coils as it does not help when taking pictures. Now I know Garrett Engineers could care less, but the marketing guys sure would like something different. I wish the Axiom would allow me to carry my cell phone and do video without EMI issues. All bigger detectors are like this, even many of the VLF's out there. I wish the Axiom was set a different frequency level of my Garrett Carrott pin pointer. I found out real fast like, they can not be very close when both turned on. Engineers will never totally please me with a detector as the way my mind thinks. Let me test it and I'll tell you ways to make it better. The problem with my thinking is not always what's best for the masses. I'm one of a few and detectors are usually sold for the majority. Prime example. The GM-1000 is a great selling VLF Gold Detector and I sell it more than most others, as it's dummy proof. I myself prefer the EQ-800 as it allows me more control and provides me with more information and better identification. But as I said, the masses prefer the GM-1000. No big deal. I do feel the Axiom runs smoother than many PI's out there and also has greater sensitivity to smaller gold and specimens. I also prefer the options of more tuning than a some of the others. Have I had some of the EMI issues Steve mentions. On a rare occasion and I have noticed the same on some of the recent high end machines the last few years and even to the point of some VLF's on certain soils. Ambiant air temperature is a big facture to a smoother running detector. Back when I was crazy about gold and Rye Patch was semi virgin (half ounce days were common & occasional 1 ounce days), I was going 12 months of the year. July/Aug it would get so hot, I started detecting more at night. I also found the detectors to run more smooth and retain a quieter Threshold. I then also noticed that mornings were better than mid days and adjusted my detecting hours. Atoms (energy and electricity) in the air actually mask a little bit of performance of the detector. When using the Axiom I noticed the hottest part of the day at a couple sites produced more Noise Canceling than other sites and or temperatures. Again, the same thing I noticed on other big machines. What I like and dislike might be, could be and should be different than what others say. We hunt different areas, states and kinds of gold. Our knowledge and skill levels are also never going to be the same. I don't know if there are any other Field Testers of the Axion in the US, other than Steve H and my staff/I. I do wish they would have more testers as well in other states, as that is a bigger picture to go from. Yes, the Axiom has things I don't like, but to tell you the honest to gods truth. It's a much better detector that what I initially was expecting to be testing. Have to give them credit as Garrett really did make a great move and option. But waits is even more impressive (actually I expected that) was all of this at the price point vs the competition.

That is a very good question and deserves an answer. I'll make a separate post and thanks for asking.

Yes I was able to go BEAST MODE again with the Garrett Axiom. Interesting that the specimen does not hit as well on many of the other high end detectors. I find more varieties of gold with the Axiom... but as I said before. If you are happy with your machine so be it. On a side note. So funny how a few folks become jerks on social media. Not sure why, but they (including a few lazy ass dealers) feel it's better to slam me and even say that my finds are fake. So, if my 4.18 ozt chunk was fake, then I guess these other nice finds I am making are just as fake. What most folks don't know is the amount of time and effort I put into trying to find bigger gold. No it's nothing like what the Aussies find, but its nice in my mind and especially when compared to what most of us in the US do recover. I've gone days without gold, heck even multiple trips. You know how many times I video a potential dig to only find a lid to a tobacco tin or sardine can 2 feet deep. I get into a zombie mode of just keep doing it and recording and sooner or later I'll find something worth my efforts. Here's a pic of the score on the gold scale and yes I have it set to OZT not OZ. Dealers complaining because I'm getting to test some of the higher end gold detectors. Maybe it's because of my previous 50 yrs of detecting Success. Maybe it's because of me sharing stories, photos, videos of my customers and my staffs success for the last 25 yrs. What sets me apart from most dealers is the many relationships I've built in the 25 yrs training customers on their gold detectors. I've built those relationships over time and trust. I've handed over $10K chunks of gold and was sick to my stomach, but knew it was the right thing to do. Those gestures and the deals I make with claim owners have gotten me onto private grounds or claims most will never swing a coil. Keeping my relationships strong with such owners is not cheap and easy, but I figure it out. The many years in a variety of gold fields of a bunch of states (not just my back yard) has many miles of travels and early on in the gold chase I did not know what I do today. The detectors of the 90's do not have the capabilities of today's machines, so old worked ground from then can still produce some decent gold. So no, most folks/dealers will never be asked to test a new detector as your track record of Success, the amount of positive posts on social media and overall experience has not been built yet. Realize, I've been swinging a detector for 50 years and it's just an extension of my arm. Will it ever happen for you? I hope so because eventually I'll tire out and decide to quit promoting and just detect. I'll become like a few of my customers and just keep digging gold and occasionally grin as I stick more into the bank. Sorry to rant a little but I get tired of having to justify when I post new nice finds. So the Axiom is for real and it's capabilities vs price point are ranking very high on my list. PS, Maybe I should try and promote Mean Bean Coffee Energy Drink as well. It's GOLDEN.

Really good video showing some impressive results for those small NV nuggets. To see the new Deus-II find gold is also a win and you need to make sure they get a copy of that video. Well done again Andrew.

Maybe (just a thought), your cell phone shielding is not up to snuff? Either way, I hope you find a solution.

Please forgive me and don't think I am going at anyone, but there is some great info posted above. I'm not here to argue with anyone and will allow folks to make their own opinions. But I'll give some facts of how the 10" Ellip GOLDHAWK coil will put more gold in your poke. I really don't care if you agree with me or not. FACT- The 10" Ellip is more narrow and at the sites we tested it, it did in fact find nuggets that had been missed with the factory stock 11" coil. If you can't get an 11" round coil all the way to the ground or between 2 bigger rocks, or under brush as well as the 11" round, then you are tough out of luck. FACT- In all my years of testing detectors and coils, I've been able to get a smoother operating detector with smaller coils. FACT- Smaller coils see less mineralized ground than a bigger coil. FACT- Bigger coils cover more square inches of the same mineralized soil, if at the exact same site. FACT- The more mineralized soil a detector encounters, the harder it is to respond to same size small target. FACT- Not all sites have the same soil matrix. FACT- On bigger gold a larger coil gets greater depth. FACT- From times past on a variety of gold detectors, the smaller coil has produced better depth on the tiniest of gold. FACT- From what was mentioned above at the top. If a detector has "better ground handling and smoother threshold", then you'll be able to hear the fringe and deepest/weakest targets. Again, Each site is different and those sites usually have an average size of gold nuggets. Each nugget and it's density + the depth of it, has a sweet or optimum size coil can hear it. Either way, if someone is not happy with their coil purchase, at least you tried. I do applaud folks taking the time to purchase one and do their own testing. I also appreciate it for the folks who are willing to share their experiences. Just realize there are many factors of testing to see a true winner and one site is not even in my opinion. Heck, that's exactly why I have been testing the Axiom in 3 different states.

1000 gold nuggets recovered in a year is a very very impressive number. I tip my hat (hell all of them - hats) off to you for being so dedicated. Sure the weights may not be astronomical but, as you mentioned....the fun factor. Fun factor is one of the main reason most of us folks in the United States keep on swinging. Well done my friend, you certainly impressed me last year and even more so this season. Heck you have about 5 to 6 more weeks of decent weather. Go get another 20+.

Evidently Minelab USA in Chicago has no knowledge of it? As a 25 yr dealer and yet not a word from USA or our managers or our Marketing folks. Wow has things sure changed....😒 Minelab Australia really did a good one.

Strick, I need to sell you my DEEP GOLD RING Settings. I'm sure not going to give it away. I was just visiting Lake T in CA 2 days ago and was able to add 2 more Au rings to my collection. They were deep too.🤫

Very nice nugget Condor. That area has been providing a few chunky ones for 15+ yrs. Almost a wandering patch. Glad you were able to do a quick comparison that day with those conditions and particular target. It's so hard for 1 person to do such comparing. Then when we have different coils on the detectors, it becomes more or less of.. this is what we found out with what we had. Well done.

Very nice chunky gold. Be sure to share your success with Trevor at CoilTek. Well earned.

Wow, I sure hope you're not holding all that pressure of others moving their 6000 for Axiom. If that was the case, then glad you got it off your chest. I didn't read anything you posted or didn't hear any rumors saying the Axiom is a GPX-6000 killer. If fact, quite the opposite. Even my own posts , I never said the Axiom is replacing the GPX-6000. We both have said it's another Option...and a very good one at that. Well you surely cleared up any issues folks may have been thinking. I agree with Steve and will go 1 step further. My GPX-6000 runs fine and I really like it for certain tasks. I still own it. Options is exactly what we all like and the new Axiom with some of its features and pricing is going to work for alot of folks. Me included.

Nice gold Steve, love the buckle suspender thing doodad.

I asked yesterday. Was informed they should be coming soon. I even played the Labor Day weekend and it didn't help. Sorry, don't hang the messenger. PS, I'm trying to spend some vacation with my wife, so me being able to answer all questions, please expect delays.

Here's a rock one of my customer found. Just imagine how many more are still out there. If this one was, then maybe it had a bigger brother.

Well at least your lady has a great selection of jewelry to wear. You have done quite well on that aspect. On a side note, if your machine still has issues, I'd like for you to use mine and see if there is any difference. If not, then we know for sure it is a location issue. If so, then we'll make sure you are taken care of. Were most of those finds from the CTX-3030 and Equinox you purchased from me?

One of my lady diggers was with us in Oregon on the Field Training and getting kind of frustrated at the others finding gold. She found out it's all about the numbers. Golden smiles all around. Peg, You remember your 1st one some 15+ yrs ago up there with me?

I did, they want me to purchase a bunch of gold detector.

Just a quick clip of a really nice 1.16 ozt crystalline gold specimen recovered with the Axiom. No, it's not super deep, but this area had been pounded with GPX-4500/5000 Gold Monster 1000 and Equinox 800. I'm not saying the GPX-6000 or GPZ-7000 missed it, as I know they would have found. Only problem with the 7000 is the extra weight and the hike into the canyon and all the side hilling would have made it difficult. That's exactly why we didn't spend much time in their with the 7000's.

He was a very good hunter and made some fantastic patch finds in Nevada. He came up to Moore Creek, AK with me on one of my Gold Hunting Adventures. Then I recall he moved to Eastern Oregon and he stopped in at my shop for a few hours to catch up BS stories. Sorry to hear of his passing as that is way to young. Last I heard he had just moved back to Winnemucca this last Spring. Very shocking and sorry for another young loss.