Tiftaaft

On 10/5/2017 at 5:15 PM, steveg said:

 The ring was MASKED by the nails -- I just didn't know it while running the coil over it because I couldn't hear the machine's threshold without the headphones (and thus couldn't hear the null I am sure I was getting, passing over those nails while trying to detect my ring)!!  

Moral of the story is, that was just another stark reminder for me of how much masking cripples our ability to find that for which we are searching, and suggestive of just HOW MUCH good stuff is still in the ground, even at "hunted out" places...

Steve

Wow.  That really drives the point home Steveg. 

So how do we combat that? 

• Work the locations from multiple angles so the coil can find the edge of a good target masking the nails instead of visa versa?
• Smaller coils to try and work between the nails/iron
• Dig the threshold nulls to clean out the area?
• Machines with faster recovery?

I am curious (as an Explorer and Etrac user - and hunt with an open screen in ferrous with my Explorer and a disc'd screen in conductive with the Etrac) if the Explorer would have had any different results.  And bringing it all back around to the topic subject, how the new E800 will handle this... I guess that is the question we are all waiting to be answered.

Thanks for the post Steve... definitely food for thought as I head out for a lunchtime hunt in a nail infested park :)

Tim.

Thanks for clarifying Steve.  That makes sense.  Tim. 

This may have been discussed on one of the other forum posts, so I apologize for missing it if so... but has there been any indication that the display screen is detachable from the rod similar to the Deus? Or is it hard mounted?  I suppose any "box" is detachable, as shown in some of the awesome detector mods that have been posted by Steve and others, but just curious.  Maybe that is one of the updates from the prototype that they are finalizing.?

6 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Equinox does not lend itself well to cute nicknames. Nox sounds like noxious! I am just going with E600 and E800.

I hunt mineralized ground and everything in the post above is music to my ears.

Exactly!!  Haha.  E800.. I like it!  

Fascinating! Thanks Steve!  Being from the same "region" as Brandon, his comments about the Equinox's (not sure I'm on board with the "Nox" nickname yet ;)) performance in mineralized ground perks my ears.  I had a feeling the Multi-IQ would have more opportunity to improve on the lower conductuve targets when matched against an FBS, and tough to improve on the FBS tech for silver... but as Brandon stated.. add mineralized ground into the equation..  this may be the answer to the question many if us have been asking for quite some time related to hunting in highly mineralized ground without losing significant depth and id accuracy..  Great information to consider.  Tim

14 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Next trip to Hawaii I will be packing my ATX and the Equinox 800. Now that sounds like a great matchup to me!

I agree!!

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Yeah, it would be nice to get PI or GPZ depth PLUS discrimination. Too many years, too many false starts - I will believe it when I see it. If such a beast ever does arrive you can bet it won’t be for $899!

You beat me to the same comment Steve.  I can go as deep as I can dig (fantastical claim/hyperbole intended ;)) with my PI, and in some instances with my FBS.. but not with the discrimination or accurate id of a shallow target... So, I also look past the "deeper" claims. 

I want a machine I can trust and have a good conversation with.  I am currently swinging an Explorer SE Pro instead of my Etrac and Ctx for that reason, and an ATX for PI depth in mineralization.  The Equinox has a potential to replace the Explorer in the starting rotation, but I won't know that until I get my hands on one. 

In the meantime... a lot of speculation and forum posts to tide me over :)

Thanks for posting Steve.  It is difficult to abstain from drinking the kool-aide that is coming out of the festival by those using the prototype and to sort through the hyperbole that accompanies any marketing blitz... but there is plenty there to justify giving the machine the true test... which is getting one in my own hands and dedicating several months and a few hundred hours of ground time to see what it can really do in my conditions.  As well as open dialogue with other users on the multiple forums as the machines hit ground all over the world. 

The key factor is the price point, that opens up the door for more detectorists to "give it a chance".  Even if only most of the claims are true... this is a game changing machine.  Looking forward to it being available and in my collection.

Tim.

What a great idea... 24 hour gold challenge! I have challenged myself on silver (I once had a "Movember" beard in April as I committed to not pull out the trimmers until I had silver.... my wife was very happy I finally found a sterling silver fork at a local park haha), but the idea of 24 hours hunt time to try and find a bit of gold is awesome.  I may need to borrow that idea :).  I am very interested in how your future hunts turn out Deft!  Tim

This pic definitely speaks to the direction minelab is going by looking at that lineup.  As you predicted Steve, they are continuing to market the CTX, which also speaks to where the Equinox fits in...  Tim

Thanks Steve.  Unfortunately, my work schedule wouldn't allow time for detecting this trip, but I am planning a little extra time during the next trip to the Houston area to try out the gulf south beaches. 

Awesome!!  It would take a significant imorovement to replace my carrot... ferrous tone id would do it.  I would guess we can expect a similar upgrade from Garrett in the future.  Carrot 2.0.  

48 minutes ago, steveg said:

Hi, all.

I haven't posted often, as I really don't do much gold hunting with a detector.  I have a friend who has a few gold claims in Colorado, and on occasion I will accompany him, swinging a machine on the bank while he dredges.  That was the reason I originally joined -- trying to learn to use a Gold Bug Pro in that environment, from Steve and others who are truly "top notch."

However, I'm primarily a coin hunter -- specifically, old, deep coins from largely hunted-out public spots.  For this task, I am very strongly convinced (through experience) that the very best machines available for that application are Minelab's FBS/FBS2 machines (Safari/Explorer/E-Trac/CTX).  Reason being -- they have UNPARALLELED ability to accurately ID targets (visually, on screen, and audibly, through their multi-tonal output) -- through the entire depth range of the units.  The FBS machines are not necessarily the DEEPEST machines, in terms of "raw depth."  BUT, they are unmatched with respect to their ability to ID targets all the way to the fringe depth capability of the machines, in a variety of soil types.  They accomplish this with a degree of accuracy that no other machine I've ever used/tested is capable of.  

SO, my long-winded question is this, for anyone "in the know."  The "multi-frequency mode" on this machine is NOT FBS, it is apparently called "Multi IQ," and is being called "state-of-the-art" technology.  My question is -- SPECIFICALLY as it relates to deep, old coin hunting in turf -- WILL THIS UNIT'S MULTI-FREQUENCY MODE EQUAL OR EXCEED the performance we Explorer/E-Trac/CTX users get from the FBS platform, specifically as it relates to accurate ID through the entire depth range of the unit.

I absolutely LOVE the "rest of the package" here.  User-selectable single frequencies, lightweight, wireless, prospecting mode, waterproof, fast, etc. -- but for me, the KICKER, the one thing that will push me over the edge, and finally cause me to lay down my Explorer, will revolve around the performance of this unit in "multi-frequency mode," as this is the mode I'd use most often for my style of hunting.  

Can anyone give me the straight scoop, at this point, on this SPECIFIC aspect of the machine -- Multi IQ technology?

If not at this point, then anyone who eventually tests this unit and is permitted to comment at a later time, I'm all ears...

Steve

+1.  What I was trying to say in my coin forum post, but you said it much better SteveG.  And I also agree with Steve H. that the perception of improved depth performance will be will be a result of the recovery speed in trash.  

Tim

I am, as most all of us are, very intrigued with tbe possibilities of this new Minelab.  I decided to part with my CTX in exchange for a PI, but that had less to do with the capabilities of the CTX (say what you will.. but truly an amazing and groundbreaking machine) and more to do with my satisfaction with the Explorer SE Pro and Etrac already in my arsenal.  For that reason I will always have my SE Pro and Etrac on the rack regardless of what new hot machine comes out and I buy....

I am most interested how it may handle difficult ground and high mineralization.  It is the bane of detectorists existence in the pacific northwest, and I have no false notion that the Equinox will do any better than the top of the line and higher priced Minelabs in the multi-freq/VLF category... but if it can perform as well, or maybe a little better due to upgraded tech... as a minelab user, and at the price point and feather weight compared to any other machine in my arsenal, wide range of single freq or multi freq..AND waterproof....  It won't take long after release for me to acquire and start testing one personally.  

My wife asked me if it will make a sandwich for me too... I told her that it I will have to wait for the final and finished product release to answer that ;)

Tim

I received the deepseeker coil when I obtained my ATX.  I have only been using the stock coil to date, but had a few questions on the larger coil. 

Since my shaft on the stock coil is partially stuck in the extended position (as much as I have tried to loosen it), and I would like to take the ATX to Houston next week on a business trip (that I hope to find time to do a little Galveston beach hunting... suggestions welcomed)...  will the 20" be overkill for my intended hunting?  What experiences have you had using the deepseeker coil on the beach?  What should I know? 

Thanks John and Steve, sage advice.. of course you are right, the only way to know for sure is to know for sure.  ;)

And thanks for the warm welcome Steve.  Happy to be here as the proud owner of the ATX!

I am drinking from the firehose with the ATX.  As with any new machine, I am trying to understand the features, and hopefully figure out how to use all the technology and programming built into the machine.  Plus... it is my first foray into the world of PI.  So I have a lot to learn (and a lot of digging to do). 

Having said all that, I spent some quality time at my local swimming hole today, and found myself digging solid tones, rather than testing each signal for iron.  I found the expected assortment of lake items, 15 coins (including 3 nickels which makes me happier than the 4 quarters I found), 4 or 5 fishing lures, a small silver ring, and standard rusty nails and metal bits, pull tabs and bottle caps... and stainless steel fork haha.  But the best part was starting to catalogue the way each target sounded.  

Also, Steve... your comment about revealing masked targets played out in the lake today... twice I scooped out a low conductor to reveal a high tone.. one was a nickel masking a quarter, the other was a ketchup packet masking the small silver ring.  

I am looking forward to going out and playing the guessing game now that I have a few reference points to compare to.  

Thanks again for your comments.  Tim

I am very new to the ATX, just received mine this past Tuesday, but have been out for a few hours each day since, including a couple attepts at a local lake/swimming home.  My hunting at this point is mainly geared toward jewelry and coins (prospecting at some point.. but that is another forum).  My question is about the iron grunt feature...  will a non-iron target give an iron response depending on depth or mineralization surrounding the target?  Especially in the lake, where I have to trust the feel of my foot and scoop in murky water...  I have experienced several hard hitting targets (both low-high and high-low tones) giving the iron grunt.  Am I making a mistake by passing up those targets? 

Thanks, Tim