ColonelDan

I previously posted a similar thread on this forum but thought I'd expand on and share my reasoning for using 3 tones. I've now used this exclusively/extensively and like it more every day. Over the years, I've tried numerous ways through a combination of VDI and tones to better identify targets that were under my coil. It didn't take long for me to discover that trying to cut the tone and VDI distinction too fine in an attempt to accurately identify targets was unproductive. Through some trial and error, the obvious finally became clear. VDI is not an exact science by any stretch. Target ID can be affected by numerous variables such as depth, soil composition, the metallurgical make up and orientation of the targets in the soil. Expecting a consistently exact value for each possible target was unrealistic. I finally concluded that what I wanted was only an indication of what might be under my coil rather than expecting or trying for a precise ID. Can VDI and Tones do that for me? Yes After realizing what I wanted or needed from of a tone/VDI combination, I settled on a 3 tone option. Below are a few bullet points that summarize my case or reasoning for adopting that 3 tone solution. ~ My attempt at using 50 tones proved impossible for me...information overload! I then tried 5 tones and although much more understandable than 50, I felt that 5 tones was really unnecessary and might even be overkill. Why? ~ ALL targets fall within 3 categories/zones of conductivity of Low, Medium or High so it made more sense for me to focus on those 3 zones and then align the tones accordingly. The tones provided information on what zone I was dealing with while the VDI gave me some rough indication as to where that target fell within the range of that zone. ~ I also wanted a system that wasn't apt to cause me to ignore good targets because they were similar in make up to worthless targets. Example; gold and aluminum are both mid level conductors and generate similar VDI within that range, I therefore didn't want to exclude anything within the Mid or High level conductivity scale. Yes, I'll dig aluminum so as not to pass up potential gold and dig other high conductive targets so as not to pass up silver. ~ I tested quite a number common targets of varying size and metallurgical composition and came up with some common VDI ranges that I see on our beaches for each of the conductivity zones. I then modified the 5 tone option to 3 tones which suited me just fine for the beach hunting I do. My results: Conductivity VDI Range Tone Low -9 to 0 1 Medium 1 to 19 12 High 20+ 25 ~ In my work with a local museum however, the 2 tone option could also be used. When digging museum quality artifacts, iron is a valued metal so I dig everything. I also dig it all when I detect along Florida's Treasure Coast as remnants of the ships fall within the iron or low conductive range and are often times found along our beaches. Just the view from my foxhole...your view may vary.

A “how to” step by step guide would be useful I’m sure to those new the EQX and there’s nobody that could do it better than you. Personally, I like the three tone option. Adjust the zones, assign the tones to your liking and go for it. No muss; no distracting fuss! ? Soldier on Steve...

In an effort to simplify my detecting life with the EQX 800, I limited the number of tones to three corresponding to the common low, mid and high conductive ranges. I thought I'd share this with the forum...for what it's worth anyway. Please keep in mind as you read on, it may be worth even less to you than you paid for it! ? Since 99% of my hunts are on east coast Florida beaches, I hunt in all metal and dig just about anything that doesn't sound specifically like iron. Yes, I dig a lot of aluminum! But having a rough and simple indication of what my coil may be over, be it a low, mid or high conductive target, I thought would be helpful and shield me from the “tone overload” I get using 50 tones. Even using the factory presets of 5 tones , I sometimes find it tricky to distinguish between tones over the ambient sounds along the beach. Again, I asked myself if I really needed that fine level of distinction anyway based on where and the way I hunt and dig. Agreed, that's strictly a personal preference. I tested quite a number common targets of varying size and metallurgical composition and came up with some common VDI ranges that I see on our beaches for each of the conductivity zones. I then modified the 5 tone option to 3 tones. My results: Conductivity VDI Range Tone Low -9 to 0 1 Mid 1-19 12 High 20+ 25 I can now easily hear a distinct difference in those three tones and my life is simpler. Granted, the specific conductivity ranges based on the VDI display will vary depending on the soil, target depth and metallurgical composition. All of which is a known and acceptable factor to me for the purpose of this “approximation exercise.” Just the view from my sandy foxhole...

The only ones I've tried that you list were the ML yellow and they're not in the same league as the Pelso headphones. I can't say anything about the others but I can tell you that the volume of the Pelso, when my EQX was set at the max of 25, was such that I had to turn it down. Having said that, what is loud for me might not be loud at all for someone whose hearing is not what mine is....that's to be expected sine we're all different. I know that other detecting buddies of mine who have tried the Pelsos also said they had to turn down the volume. I've read some very good reports on those others you've listed but have no basis of comparison to the Pelso set.

Thanks for the kind thoughts but I really don't want or need compensation. I like being independent and therefore free of any obligation whatsoever to a business...real or perceived. I do these tests and reviews as a very enjoyable retirement activity. ?

LS.PELSO Waterproof Headphones for the Minelab Equinox Colonel Dan 5 September 2018 I had an opportunity to test these new waterproof headphones for the Equinox and wanted to share my thoughts with those on this forum. Rest assured, I have no financial interest in these headphones and am under no obligation in any way to Kellyco, the retailer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Upfront Disclaimer: I'm neither an engineer nor an employee of Kellyco, I'm just a guy who uses his detecting equipment like many of you. The internal technical details of how the equipment is manufactured and functions I leave to the experts. This independent review is strictly from the average Equinox user stand point and focuses on what detectorists like me look for in a good set of headphones. First Impression: Solid. My initial impression of the LS.PELSO headphones was how solidly constructed they were; no flimsy materials anywhere. The cable was especially impressive; first class quality all the way and long enough to ensure ease of use without placing any strain on the cable. Fit and Comfort: Very good. Sufficiently tight without unduly squeezing your head as some headphones I've tried. They're easily adjusted for proper fit and stay in place very well even under sweaty conditions. The ear pads are soft, comfortable and well fitting. Ambient noise reduction: Excellent. The LS.PELSO headphone base unit was originally designed for hearing protection/noise reduction and modified to include underwater speakers. Consequently, they reduce outside noise extremely well. The true test; I could easily hear faint signals of small deep targets with negligible distracting sounds from the environment. Tone Quality: Exceptional. The speakers provide outstanding tonal quality under all test conditions. Clear, crisp and distinct. These headphones don't use piezo technology but high quality underwater speakers...a big difference in my view! Faint Signals: Excellent. The combination of effective noise reduction and high quality tones produced by real speakers work hand in hand in producing those faint whispers where many good targets try to hide. With these headphones, I could pick up those small targets at depth well enough to certainly prompt me to dig them. Durability: Looking good. I obviously can't report on long term durability since I only had these a few days for testing and review purposes. Having said that, based solely on the observed quality of the materials and construction, I'm going to bet these will be more durable than many I've used. Waterproof: Absolutely. I think the best testimonial I could provide comes from a hunting buddy who had his set completely submerged for 30 minutes and they worked perfectly throughout. Speakers vs Piezo: I can't testify as to any detailed engineering specifications but I can and will say this; these are the first headphones I've ever had on my head where I had to turn the volume down on my detector. Although these headphones aren't equipped with an independent volume control, I never missed that feature. The volume control of my Equinox was more than sufficient for adjusting it to a comfortable level. When I first turned on my detector with these headphones attached, I was indoors and the Equinox volume was set at 25--they nearly blew my ears off. Outdoors, I was certainly able to adjust the volume sufficiently to insure those whispers were heard. On other headphones I've used with an independent volume control, I had to keep them at max level. As noted, these headphones utilize true underwater speakers and are thus far beyond any I've used which employ piezo technology. Conclusion: I'm sorry I had to give them back after testing but I will have a set of these. They're truly superior water proof headphones in my estimation and will become my “go to” set for the Equinox in and out of the water! Now you may ask, “Why would I need a set of waterproof headphones? I don't hunt in the water.” Have you ever been caught in a downpour? Ours is an outdoor sport and when it rains, I certainly don't want to risk my non-waterproof wireless Equinox headphones. These LS.PELSOs are just the ticket for both excellent performance and peace of mind but again, that's just the view from my foxhole... https://www.kellycodetectors.com/catalog/ls-pelso-underwater-headphones

I have that exact cover. Good quality product for sure but beware of heat build up. I took my EQX with cover on to Key Largo awhile back and it was HOT! After running the EQX on the beach for about an hour or so, I saw that it was malfunctioning--both the screen and button controls. I removed the cover and let the EQX cool down and all returned to normal. Sadly, I won't be using the cover here in my home state of Florida anytime soon. Perhaps I can use it during the cooler months down here....TBD

I've seen people actually "seed" the beach with pennies here in central Florida just to "play" with detectorists! Having said that, I too have wondered why so many pennies are found on the beach since beach goers can't really use them for much of anything!

The whole town can be yours for less than $1 million! ? http://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/2018/06/28/entire-california-ghost-town-for-sale-for-under-1-million.html

Agree with all above. I owned a TRX that I liked except for the sensitivity adjustment procedure. The ProFind 35 is much simpler and better all around. It's my go to pinpointer. The TRX now sits in the extra equipment storage drawer.

Steve has given you some very sound advise. I would also add that after noise canceling as he suggests, auto ground balance then adjust sensitivity. Just the view from my foxhole...

Steve, Before buying another scoop, you might consider attaching 1/4" stainless steel mesh on an area of one of your current scoops to see how you like it. I did that on my Stealth 920 and it will definitely catch the small stuff.

For fast and easy, the EQX manual suggests; turn it on, choose a mode, noise cancel and go detecting. In my particular case however, I've found adding the auto ground balance step enhances the performance of my EQX in this particular area. I get deeper, clearer target hits in my test garden anyway when I add that one additional step: Turn it on, choose a mode, noise cancel, auto GB and then go detecting works best for me. Admittedly, your area and ground conditions may be or will be different than mine here in central Florida but give it a try and see if you get similar enhanced results. I'd be interested in reading your opinion after including that additional step to "fast and easy". Just the view from my foxhole...

Re: Equinox shaft wobble. I didn’t experience any wobble in the factory shaft but then it was only on the EQX for about two hours. I really like carbon fiber shafts so I installed the Plugger 2 piece carbon fiber travel shaft the day my EQX 800 arrived. Solid as a rock. Not even the smallest hint of wobble. I tend to modify all my detecting equipment and seriously “personalize” it anyway so changing out the shaft on day 1 will not surprise anyone who knows me. ?

I contacted Wayne at MDS in the latter part of March and placed my order. Sent him a copy of my DD214, received the Minelab military discount and was #14 on his list. Received a personal phone call from him on Wednesday, 2 May, letting me know that it was in and would be FedEx'd that same day. He also told me that the ProFind 35 that I'd asked about was also in. I told him to throw one of those in the box also. Expecting the normal 5-7 day ground shipping, I was really surprised when I was notified that my package was a 2 day shipment...all at no charge! He also included one of his t-shirts...Army green. Perfect! Wayne and Doug were real pleasures to deal with and a true gentlemen in every regard. Can't recommend them and MDS highly enough. Thanks again Wayne. Now off to the beach!!!

Thanks Steve.

I've gotten some conflicting reports/answers on this question. Is the Exchange 2 program for the CTX compatible with Windows 10 and the Apple Mac OS. How about system requirements for the Equinox web based upgrade system? Thanks...

Agree. I never disc out anything at the beach where I do 99% of my detecting. I set the tones to tell me what may lie under the coil. Too many times, good targets are found next to junk wherein had the "junk" been disc'd out, the good target, partially or totally masked by the junk, would have been passed up. More digging? Yes, but sand is easily dug. Just the view from my foxhole...

One of the design features I really like about the factory shaft is its 3 piece construction...easily broken down and packed for travel. However, if that proves to be the source of wobble, the travel advantage isn't really an acceptable feature. The Anderson shaft looks to be 2 piece...not as easily packed but not as susceptible to wobble I would guess. I'll just wait and see how mine works with the factory shaft before pulling the trigger on the Anderson shaft even though I would prefer carbon fiber.

Truly outstanding Scott. Great job soldier!

I hunt both on land and at salt water beaches. I own the Deus, have tested the Kruzer on land and at a salt water beach and extensively researched the Equinox 800. My personal conclusions in order of preference: 1. Equinox 800: Best on both land and beach. Waterproof and extremely sensitive to small targets, proven Minelab technology 2. XP Deus: Lighter but more complex than the Equinox and the control box isn't waterproof, 5 year warranty 3. Macro Kruzer: A distant third place; performed much better on a salt water beach than on land...which was surprising I will soon be selling my Deus and Excalibur II, keeping my CTX 3030 and Equinox 800 for all my hunting. Just the view from my personal foxhole...

Outstanding report! Thank you

Colonel Dan's Detector Rack Anyone who is into metal detecting knows what its like to pack your vehicle for a day in the field or at the beach. This is what my SUV looked like...and that was on a very organized day! Two detectors, a shovel, a sand scoop, equipment bag and cooler Not much room left for Miss Mary's suitcase or art equipment when she goes along. Not much usable space for anything else really except for a small area behind the passenger seat. I'm sure everyone has their own version of this load plan but you know the deal. There had to be a better way. I experimented with different ideas that worked to some level of success but none that fit the primary Cavalry Principle of KISS. I wanted a system that was portable, i.e. easily and quickly installed in and removed from my SUV. It had to be solid and stable with some heft so my detectors could ride safe and sound without tipping over or sliding around back there. Secure vertical stacking seemed to be the solution for me. The question was how to do it. I thought about several things I could build or re-purpose and finally settled on an unused truck gun rack. It was solidly built for my intended purpose, had rubber protection on the hooks to prevent damaging the detectors and had pre-drilled holes I could use for mounting it on a vertical frame. I decided to use 2x4s: easy to build with enough weight and heft to provide stability for my detectors. I built a frame that was 20” in height, 24” in width with feet 8” long which prevents tipping over or sliding around when fully loaded with equipment. Padding on the back helps protect the sidewalls of my SUV and a layer on the feet adds an additional level of prevention against slipping. My detectors finally have a safe place to ride—they're happy campers! And my load plan now looks like this. Much more available space for Miss Mary to use any way she likes! Life is good!

Steve’s on target. We get more than our fair share of “depositors” but we also have more hunters than the average beach. Places like Daytona and Cocoa beaches get hit hard. Good luck

I like the design and the process by which ML developed and engineered that design. They incorporated real detectorists in the field like Steve and Brandon for example throughout the process. The Army adopted that same approach when developing the M1 Abrams tank... which became and remains the best tank in the world. Secondly, I want a lighter more “packable” and more portable detector without sacrificing performance. Knowing what I know of the EQX, I see it fitting the bill for me. Finally, I just like Minelabs. They have proven themselves with me so I’ll stick with products developed by engineers that have fielded excellent detectors in the past. just the view from my foxhole...