MineBlab

Maybe a deep water submersible to really get those dive targets.

Thanks for your reply. Makes me wonder how many more have (had) the problem.

WELL.......out of the blue, and for no good reason, I now can't change tone types. Can't do it in factory programs nor in custom programs. Everything else works fine. So I updated v.1 again.....same result. Any help????

After hearing some flimsy rumors about it I was disappointed to learn that they didn't adjust the ID's to isolate nickels from pulltabs. A minor thing I know but I just love nickels.

Gary is really good at explaining subtle concepts.

You almost had me.

The 800 is not perfect.

I heard a rumor about a new CTX. Supposedly for Detectival. Anyone else heard that?

21 hours ago, ☠ Cipher said:

The decision makers at Whites really finally need to jump into the 21st century and give us a machine that can be updated, waterproof as a matter of course, wireless headphones as a matter of course, create wireless coils with a wired option (like others do with headphones, because wired is still the only solution in and under water, but with wireless coils you can upgrade hardware via coil change with coils that are tuned to their specific applications), create an app so that people can choose to use either a remote or phone to control their coil. Create a V4 or V5 that addresses the V3i shortcomings. It's still my favorite machine, but it needs improving to stay competitive. Keep the spectrograph, Polar Plot, etc., but also add an imaging program like Target Trace. Integrating with cell phone applications would be awesome. Open a metal detecting app market for developers. This worked wonders for cell phones. Look at all that's available now as people were given a platform to display their coding talents. This could work for metal detectors with optional cell phone control. Create a pinpointer that communicates with the host machines and adapts their disc settings. Add a small LCD to pinpointer. Do these things, or others will, or already are working on it. 

Good Grief !!!  And all for only $4,999.99 ?    ?

Since the V3i is still the most advanced detector made but is a bit cumbersome , put all the V3i features into an MXS package. Perfect.  ?

I had a Vaq and a Tejon and really liked them even though I was not up to par on detector operation while I had them. Probably why I let them go (ignorance). Since then I have jumped on the digital readout, all powerful, can't detect without one bandwagon. BUT, I have also become far more knowledgeable about detector operation. Unfortunately not-so-old parks are about all I have to hunt in so the so-called powerhouse detectors aren't being used to full potential. But I enjoy them anyway. If anything they have taught me the seldom-mentioned weaknesses of the digital detector world.

I came across a you tuber called Wildcat Creek Survival. He only uses cheap detectors and hunts just for clad and jewelry. He used to be a treasure hunter and has 50 years experience but he sees that, compared to when he started, what silver is left out there just isn't worth the effort in his opinion. Anyway he primarily uses the Harbor Freight 9 function detector which, with coupon, can be bought for $40.00.  Now here's the part that will make you wonder about me. Out of curiosity I bought one and I am amazed at what it can do. Two tones that break on whatever the disc setting is, auto GB, ratcheting pinpoint, 6" depth, very quick recovery and more..

The thing about it is that it's fun,  just like Tesoros. In fact it now has me looking for another Tesoro (for a little more depth). And I found a fellow who can make most Tesoros into two tone machines. I really like the tone break at whatever the disc setting is because I discovered that (after a LOT of experimenting) I can ID about half the aluminum trash by quickly adjusting the disc and noting where and how the signal starts to "spit". I also like hearing targets that are disc'd out so that I can tell where the crowds gathered. You could set a digital machine up to be similar but I don't know of one the you can "thumb" the disc quickly and also have the tone break follow the disc setting.

SO......due to what is considered a kid's detector I am now a potential Tesoro customer. What a fascinating hobby.

BTW, I am not connected with Harbor Freight in any way, directly or indirectly.

I did the same thing with the same result.

On 2/21/2018 at 12:02 PM, Steve Herschbach said:

Interesting as I just made a similar but slightly different observation here. Like everything the ground calls the shots but I have observed the strength of Beach mode on silver myself.

Detectors don't know silver from dirt but they do know metal response which they translate to numbers on a screen. So.......any high conductor should be found deeper with Beach 2, right? I ask what may be a dumb question because sometimes what seems an obvious answer.......ain't.

Good info. I'm awful smart but cherry picking low conductors has never even occurred to me. LOL.

How easy it is to get in a rut.  

There is an area of a park that I hunt that I have gone over many times with my CTX, Deus, and EQ 800. I have studiously tried to learn  how to use the many features of each detector to know good targets from questionable ones. Recently friends have expressed an interest in trying metal detecting so I bought a Quest Q20 to loan them because it is simpler than my other machines while still having minimally useful features. Took it out to the area of the park mentioned above to check it out and....you guessed it....found my best find of the past year, a heavy gold plated silver ring. Which got me to thinking.......(always dangerous).

Its been discussed before of course but I wonder how many of us use all the info and adjustments of our machines to find the good stuff but only end up using all that info almost as a reason NOT to dig. Is that why a new detector always seems to "bring hunted out sites back to life"? Is that why, in the face of increasing technology, beep and dig machines are still out there doing well?

Knowing your machine(s) is necessary for sure and it's fun tweaking them to get their best. But just what is their best? We've all seen a good strong signal turn out to be something other than what was indicated. Still, there are a few people who can tell an awful lot about a target before digging it and digging every beep is hardly a viable option. Plus you can't sweep every square inch of a site.

BUT....... I'll bet most of us just outsmart ourselves more often than not. Or is that just me?

I wonder how many have a loose arm cuff screw and think it's the shaft.

38 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

Can’t do it on a single swing. Identifying a square tab takes multiple swings rotating around it to get an audio handle on the fact you are dealing with a square edged rectangular object versus a round object. Best done at higher recovery speeds in 50 tones. Even then some will trick you.

Correct as usual, here is the square tab at 4 directions around coil: (800)

Same test, CTX 3030: Enough difference to hear.

30 minutes ago, vive equinox said:

Square tab  the left ?

You have same luck as me.......50/50 chance and you lost. LOL.

OK, here is a sound analysis of an air test of a nickel and a square tab (the blue screen at the lower part of the image).  Both were swiped at the same speed and same distance from the coil. You tell me which is which. Not trying to argue here, just demonstrating.

Also watch (and listen) to this:  Same soil as mine. Just talking about sound here, not VDI jumping.

Well you're right about the Deus. Maybe I'll get it figured out soon. Good advice.

First let me say that I do not hunt salt water or in mineralized ground, I hunt in fairly non-mineralized trashy parks. Second I only have a total of 12.75 hours on my 800. I also have been detecting for 15 years and I know a little about adjusting a detector.

In my sites I find the 800 to almost be a dig everything machine, easily matched by most any other mid level machine. In a park infested with aluminum trash it is (so far) impossible to separate trash from targets that have similar low to mid range VDI numbers - the VDI resolution of the 800 is just not fine enough and the tone "voice" does not return enough nuance. I have tried about every variation of settings and detecting technique the machine and I are capable of. With my other two high level machines separation can be done frequently (not always) either by VDI or tone quality but of course I paid  for that ability with purchase price. I will say that when set up properly the 800 is a deep machine rivaling my CTX in my mild soil.

However, I have begun experimenting with Gold 1 and there just might be a solution there.

But as everyone knows, the 600/800 machines have other advantages. I'm just not located in a place where I can take advantage of them.

Be ready for 2" of powder dust on the way in. Can also get pretty windy.