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On page 25 of the manual you have this note:

"Beach Mode automatically senses black sand and reduces the transmit power to ensure that targets can still be detected without overloading occurring. When black sand is sensed, the Beach Overload Indicator will appear on the LCD. When this icon disappears, full transmit power automatically resumes."

I added the bold to the text above because that is my concern. I've had another hunter ask IF I was experiencing overloads on the 800 and to be honest, I hadn't until tonight. I was running into quite a few beer cans and noticed the overload symbol a few times. My concern and question is  (MINELAB, ARE YOU READING THIS?)  when will the icon disappear?  Only way we have found to actually get it to disappear from the screen is to go to user mode then back again OR turn off the machine and then back on. So, are we at a reduced power or not and for how long?

Another question MINELAB, how low does the power get reduced? 

Anyone out there have any input on overload in the beach modes?

Cliff

I won't even ask about any delay because you have to be just excited to have that system work for you!  Congrats for figuring that out, I'm sure it will "aid" others.....(pun intended)

Cliff

For diving, the yellows probably will not work due to noise from the bubbles. Hopefully by next week, I'll be able to report on IF the modified ones will work for snorkeling.

Clive, I couldn't agree more, good audio with this machine is a must.

Cliff

Since there seems to be a few questions about these waterproof Minelab phones and since I stepped up to get a pair so I can snorkel, I'd like to tell about my experiences with them and what I've had to do to make them workable in normal hunting conditions.

First off, I've used underwater detectors such as Aquasound, CZ-21, Sand Shark, ATX, Excal, CTX and now the Equinox. Out of that list, only the CTX and Equinox gave me problems underwater.....due to the inadequate headphones Minelab sells for underwater use. For the CTX I used yellows, 2 different GG Amphibians a set of OBN's audiosear headsets and a similar pair of HR Headphones. Hands down the audiosear phones work best on Minelabs but sadly will eventually die from water exposure over time..... The GG ampbians worked good but I had problems with the volume adjust knob corroding on one pair and a piezo assembly that leaked and corroded on the other.....both were reworked with Audiosear speakers.

The Minelab yellows don't use an adequately sized Piezo to give the needed volume and the plastic on the Koss earpieces is thin and allows to much ambient noise into the ear. On a windy day the surf and the wind will keep you from hearing your machine. 

I don't have the best hearing BUT I don't need hearing aids. The Aquasound, CZ-21, Sand Shark, ATX, Excal could blow your ears off with stock headphones (Garrett blues for the ATX). So, to help the inadequate yellow Minelabs, I took them apart and used flowable Silicon windshield sealant to coat the inside of the yellow earcups for ambient noise sound deadening, also I taped over the vent and drain holes (to be removed when snorkeling). In addition I then installed gel earpads on the phones. Doing all this has actually made the phones usable on a windy day and I'm sure will help underwater some too.

It is sad that Minelab has continued to use the same phones that were used on the Excal II. I am not an engineer but I'm willing to bet that the audio driver is more robust on the Excal II than on both the CTX and Equinox.....why not put out something that will work without using MAX volume on the machine?

Cliff

Good video Mark. Appreciate you putting the time to make that video, I'm sure others will get a big benefit from seeing it.

Cliff

Always a nice find, got one last week myself, Claddagh ring is the name for it. I find a few each year but only one that was gold.

Good find!

Cliff

 Today I got a 10 - 12 signal with iron and mid tones mixed, sure sounded like a bottle cap. Typically I'll dig a scoop to try and determine if it is a bottle  cap by how and if the signal changes. . After 1 scoop all I had in the hole was an iron tone. I decided to look in the scoop and there was the mid tone.....3 grams of PD 950 with tiny diamonds.....pretty blue main stone.

Pretty amazing how this machine can see a good target around the iron.

Be careful on those bottle cap signals!

Pretty much figured out the same thing with the ML80's compared to wired or using the WM-08 and wired earbuds. Had been using the WM-08 and earbuds for a few hunts and then went wireless with the ML80's and it took a target or two until I came to the conclusion there wasn't anything wrong with me....lol.  Can be frustrating digging and being off by a scoop. Haven't used the ML80's since!

Cliff

24 minutes ago, TedinVT said:

The BIG question is how do the WP phones sound compared to the BT phones that came with the EQX?

Is the sound (tones) more on the pure side or more on the "buzzer" side?

Well, that is a hard one to say, everyone's hearing and preferences are different. I like both but I water hunt so it's an easy decision for me when I go in the water which is most of the time. When I don't plan on getting wet, I prefer the Wm8 with wired ear buds, much quicker then th ML80's.

I also have phones that were used on my CTX that I will use instead of the yellow Koss phones. The Koss phones were bought for snorkelling. 

Tone wise for me, ML80'S are better than the waterproof ones...."In my opinion"

Cliff

No Chase, the headphones come with an extra long cable, 41" of straight cable (for running under the shaft) then the curled cable to the headphones.... all one piece. Minelab really thought out how these would be used. If you look at my photos from earlier you will see what I mean.

Sometimes the more I write, the more things are misunderstood.....sorry.

Cliff

Well, I just got back from a hunt with the new headphones, they are loud enough and I am happy with them. Those with subpar hearing may not like them but the yellows work good on this machine, much louder then they worked on the CTX! Compared to headphones with audiosears speakers inside plexi tubes, they aren't quite as loud yet still in a good range where I may be able to get off the maximum volume on the Equinox.  My hunting partner today commented (from 10 feet away) that he could hear my phones when I was over a target.

The extended cable (straight 41" to the coiled cable) worked good, allowing me to Velcro the straight cable to the back of the detector shaft and there was plenty of excess cable to not pull on the headphones while in use. Minelab even throws in two Velcro cable ties with the headphones.....I almost threw them out without seeing in the packing material.

Next test will be underwater.

Oh Dew, I found that crematory tag you tossed out further the other day, guess that extra foot in height isn't always a blessing.....lol

Cliff

Chase, loudness is good, definitely better than 45 decibels, I was reading high 60's with most hitting in the mid 70's. (uncalibrated cell phone app) I will know for sure after hitting the beach tomorrow. The fit of course is typical Koss, large headband but they do fit tight enough not to fall off. Gel earpads will help with ambient noise that I'm sure they will suffer from but I wanted them for snorkel detecting as my normal use headphones (used with a home made adapter) won't take going under water much.

I'll get back on here to report a field test after tomorrows hunt.

Cliff

By the way, the total cable length (relaxed coiled wire) is 58"

Purchased from:

Fort Bedford Metal Detectors
190 Oak Shade Road
Alum Bank, PA 15521
Phone - 814-215-1732
email - sales@fortbedfordmetaldetectors.com
Keith Leppert

Keith wanted me to be sure to mention they only got a few on this order, They are trickling in like the detectors. He would love to fill everyone's order but unfortunately only got a small amount.... other dealers "may" have some so if Keith doesn't have anymore it may pay to check around.

Good luck

Cliff

Picture should say it all.......

Minelab, Koss waterproof headphones...........

Acquired through an official (US) dealer with 2 day shipping

Nope, just a normal.....well somewhat normal...... person. Definitely not a dealer!

Must be just getting out on the street in the US anyway, no idea how they can make it here before you in Australia????

Finally, they have arrived, now I can put the snorkel back on.....

Extra long cable, 41" of straight cable from connector allowing you to Velcro under the arm and still have plenty of cable to the headphones. No cable having to dangle in front of your face! Loudness is good, preliminary garage tests show constant mid 70's decibels on a target with full volume on the machine settings. Fit is typical Koss yellows and can be improved with gel ear pads which will be on order shortly.

Cliff

Great hunt and pics but beware, with his young ears, it is just a matter of time before Logan leaves you in the dust finding targets. 

Cliff

Hmm, uses Visaton waterproof diaphragm loudspeakers...... not Piezos. Sound quality may be better than Koss yellow waterproof headphones.

Cliff

Great hunt Steve, love the finds especially that Indian, what a coin! Most of all though, giving back to the home owners, what a way to seal a friendship and a permission. Hopefully they carry through with their idea of framing it for the home!  

Cliff

Now I like hearing that price and the fact the 6" will be out soon. I'm not in the market for the 6" but maybe that means they will start (if not already) production on the larger coil.

Thanks for posting Cal

Cliff

Chase, Dew..... thanks for adding to the discussion! IF nothing else, it may help out those that are "unfamiliar" with the process of Ground Balancing a machine. Never had to do it when I first started out....never had a machine that could. Then when I did buy the CTX, Minelab said I didn't have to "since I was a beach hunter" so it never got turned on. Now, with the Equinox, I see it can  make a difference yet I didn't totally understand the manual even after reading it a few times...... may be my misunderstanding of the "Auto" Ground balancing.  Now however I do have a good understanding of it AND understand that the process I followed was nullified by turning on "Tracking". 

Great little machine and lots that can be done with it and yet so much to learn and really understand. Maybe it will even get smaller gold with the proper adjustments.....   :-)

Again, thanks for the input and discussion!

Cliff

1 hour ago, Chase Goldman said:

Yeah. That's what I was thinking.  What does adding 5 to the GB number do? Thanks

   The 5 over........ I read it on the internet so it has to be true and have a real reason behind it.....lol

Cliff

Chase, yes, that is what I did.......not to say it is what to do, just what I did. 

One would assume just putting it in tracking should be all you need to do once you ground balance. I'm still learning this machine too and to be honest , never did ground balance my CTX so it is all new to me.

Guess that over time, having it in tracking just would eliminate the additional 5 added after the Auto GB procedure.

Cliff

Sure isn't much to talk about and far from my biggest gold but yet it is noteworthy....... my smallest gold saltwater find to date, .32 grams hoop earring that was open. Took two scoops to get it out yet I can't say how deep it was, I could have just missed it with the first scoop but the size and the fact it was open tells me that this machine can hunt!

I've now found 4 golds in the past 6 hunts none over 2.5 grams for a total weight of 5.26 grams. Yeah, some real small stuff......

Guess I now have a real good test piece for new machines!

Settings: Beach 2, Noise canceled, GB on wet in Auto and then raised it 5, tracking on, FE Bias 3, Response Speed 5, sensitivity turned down until stable, 5 tones factory set, running all metal.

Lots of aluminum, pull tabs and a few bottle caps that fooled me....

Still lots to learn with the 800.

Cliff