Skate

Steve says" I actually held onto my detector collection until the last possible moment so as to not tip the hand too early, but the fact is I cleared them out as soon as I could once the time came because in my opinion the existing market prices for used detectors has nowhere to go but down. I held onto a few as an insurance policy for oddball applications but the fact is that in 2018 I doubt I will use anything but my GPZ 7000 and Equinox 800. " This says it all.

I could not believe how many people took umbrage and were offended because ML said the EQ was going to obsolete all other VLF detectors. What did they expect ML to say? We're producing a detector that might be pretty good when compared to the AT Max? People are very brand loyal in this industry and i understand that but the only things I'm loyal to is my finds rate and how much enjoyment I get out of detecting. I figure both of these are going to go up here very soon. Along with releasing the EQ I need God to release the rains in SoCal. The ground is that of cement in some parts.

I think your idea that 2018 is going to be the year of the Equinox is spot on. It's going to change the detecting landscape for sure in many different ways and really dictate what the other companies are going to do going forward. I suspect that the reason we haven't seen the Deus V4.1 finalized is because the folks at XP are waiting to see the release of the Equinox and then see if what they're planning for as an update will work against what the Equinox does. As for obsoleting other VLF machines I think we're already seeing that just in the number of machines being sold to purchase the Equinox. ML is going to win with Equinox on many different levels. Think of just how many youtube videos showing it in action are going to flood the internet in 3-4 weeks. Is ML a privately held company? Time to invest in Codan I think.

I have full faith the Nox is going to be a great detector and for the avid, DEDICATED detectorist it's going to be great, in the wet sand, the water, the dry sand and the dirt. The problem is going to come with all the other folks who will buy it expecting it to do the work. The Nox won't do research, won't swing itself etc. People who have done well on the beach will tell you they have many days of lead weights and bobbie pins and $.13 in a nickel and 8 zincs. I can only imagine how many people are going to buy the EQ, hit the beach and get nothing but aluminum balls and declare the Equinox a loser. I have a friend who I detect with often who claims his detector sucks for finding rings whereas mine must be a great ring finding machine because I find rings. The difference is not the detector but us. He won't dig pulltab/nickel signals because 99% of the time they're trash. I dig mostly everything and he's right, 99% of the time it's trash. It's that 1% that makes all the difference.

I have mine on order with David at RT6. I've bought from him before and he's been a good dealer to work with. Another I have bought several detectors through is Richard at Backwoods Detectors. The great thing about the MD hobby is that there are really a bunch of great people to buy from. I'd call as many as I had time to and ask for their best $. Good luck and HH. Skate

I forgot probably the most important reason. Steve likes it and if he's getting one I'm going to get one too.

First off the #1 reason I want an Equinox is because I love to detect. If a $900 machine can help me enjoy this hobby/lifestyle even more than it's pennies on the dollar as far as I'm concerned. It won't replace any of my detectors as I don't intend to sell any of my 3 to get the Equinox as mine is already paid for. If it is half as good as promised I think we'll have a winner.

That's cool to know. Attitude in life is everything. Thanks for sharing.

Hey Steve, I was just curious what happens to the Equinox you got to test? Is Minelab going to update it for you and let you keep it? I would think they would update it for you as you've gone along as this release date nears. I think the job of metal detector tester has got to be the equivalent of video game tester in terms of bucket list jobs (if I was a teenager).

Thanks Mitchel! Your tips are not complicated at all but very thorough. I've got plenty of time to research these two sites as school got canceled due to the Thomas fire and to show that God has a sense of humor I have come down with a bad cold so I can't even go out and metal detect. Nothing worse than time off and you can't detect.

Best forum for metal detecting on the web. Lot's of teachers here, no internet cowboys that I can see.

Great advice. My main goal is to become a better detectorist and increase my skills. My previous experience with gold prospecting involved watching Todd Hoffman make one stupid decision after another, never considering that I too could be just like him LOL. Seriously though I understand its a commitment that takes on a whole other level of research and study. Finding gold in a park is more about how many pull tabs you're willing to dig as opposed to anything else. Rather than join any group I'll just stick to reading here, I imagine there's more experts and teachers here than anywhere else. Best, Skate

I've been coin and jewelry hunting for years but had never considered hunting for nuggets until the past two weeks that I found Steve's forum. This place is like a breath of fresh air compared to the other "popular" detecting forums out there. I've chatted with Steve a bit about starting prospecting and he's been great. My question is after you decide on a detector where do you go from there? Do you join GPAA? I just learned about this organization last night and I have one claim near me that gets 3 stars. How do you go about finding the places to hunt? I'm coming from the perspective that I hunt on land 90% on permssions and 10% on parks as well as driving to one of my beaches in Ventura and going from there. Is it more of who you know (in terms of getting good hunting grounds) or what you know (where to go) or a combo of each? What would be the first steps to take besides the right detector?(I'm currently in negotiations with my better half on why I need another detector) Thanks Skate

I haven't had a knee replacement but I have had a complete hip replacement 2 years ago that involved putting a titanium rod down my femur (about 4-5 inches above my knee) and the only thing that goes off is my pinpointer when I put it back into my pocket after I forget to turn it off. My advice is if it hurts enough that it hinders your ability to get out and do what you want to do then get it done. The other fun thing about a hip/knee replacement is that you'll always get crotched grabbed by TSA. I'm flying tomorrow night to New York and my wife and I always laugh because we know what's coming. The least they could do is buy me a drink.

Thanks Steve, I traded in my CTX due to it's fragile nature (for me) and got the Deus. The GPS phone app was one of the selling points so I hope they reintroduce it soon. I'd pay for a good app at this point as it could save me a ton of time in locating the streets and home locations. Hopefully someone with the skills will create one as I'm sure they'd make a little coin from the MD community.

September 19th

Never thought about cell service being an issue. I have roughly 100 acres to hunt on two sites that used to be farm housing communities from the early 1900's until roughly 1980's. Now they're huge corporate nurseries so I've been trying to use Google Earth, Historic Aerials to try and zero in on targets.

Anyone use this? I've read mixed reports on it in terms of android/apple and that it is out and being used and that it's currently not available for use. This would be a huge assist/help to me in hunting the areas I currently have permission for. I never quite figured out the GPS on my CTX and am hopeful my iphone can be integrated into my detecting.

I would be disappointed for sure if this were true. 6 months of hype is a bit much for an $800 detector.

I would say that if a person truly wants to learn to use their new Equinox when it's released this will be the forum to do it on. I recognize many of the user names here from the other forums and they're many of the more learned folks in my opinion. I get the impression that many people on other sites are hoping that the Equinox will be a failure just so they can lord it over others. My EQ is paid for and i'm #9 on my dealers list when they come out. I won't be selling my Deus, or my excal II as having a good backup detector is as important to me as anything else. I'd rather take what Steve says than the guy who's using detecting to become the next youtube sensation.

To be a success at the beach in my area the Equinox has to be able to work mostly in the wet sand and wading. I regularly hunt my beaches here and have yet to see another detector out in the surf detecting as the shore break is just too strong to deal with. I'll detect no higher than mid thigh at most because the waves just pull my excal back and forth and they are no friendlier to my scoop so if the Equinox will handle the wet sand at low tide that will suffice. I vacationed in the keys last summer and that ocean is way different than mine so once again the type of success you will have with the EQ in salt water (when released) will depend on your location.

I built a CTX travel case about 6 months ago out of a Plano Bow case. I checked it on a flight to Minnesota and it worked flawless for my CTX. I had everything in it, pointer, digger, 2 coils, chargers and knee pads. I ended up selling the CTX because I kept getting lemons from Minelab and I couldn't see having that much money tied up into a fragile machine. Now i have this great Plano case......

That is a great day for any of us west coasters at least those I know of and hunt with. I too rarely get silver beyond 6" or so. I found a 1917d last year about 4" down. My heart went a flutter for a moment. I have an equinox on order and paid for. I just hope we get to use it sooner rather than later.