Chase Goldman

You should do a reset anyway (regardless of the version you reload) just to make sure nothing is corrupted.

Do a factory reset. If that doesn't resolve the issue. Reinstall the update and then do a factory reset.

Agree. Clumsy wording on my part. My point was merely that Tarsacci apparently has technology that differentiates itself from other high end VLF IB detector’s both multifrequency (e.g., Equinox) and multiple single frequency (e.g., Deus, Anfibio, and Equinox). The thing that is probably holding back wider adoption is not performance or complexity at this point, but cost. So focusing on innovations that help in getting the cost down might be the best next objective rather than solely focusing on further refining the technology that presently sets it apart from its competition. Otherwise, maintaining its present price point it will likely continue to be unfairly perceived as a niche detector. Equinox started the performance value affordability trend and now it is gaining momentum with Vanquish, Simplex, and Apex. Don’t want Tarsacci to fall by the wayside because it can’t compete. That would be a loss for the hobby.

To Steve’s point, someone needs to provide it at half the price. That would then warrant some exclamation points!!! Hope they can get to the point where they can eventually get it in a price competitive posture, since they now have the technology down pat. If they can focus now on affordability and add some more sophisticated tone options and it might get even more attention.

Here’s a noble challenge for you. Perhaps these guys can use an intrepid idea guy such as yourself...

Also, Equinox is not necessarily the “Gold Standard” as far as thick iron performance is concerned. My personal preference is Deus/ORX in those situations.

Be I would think that folks on the forum that are actually from the continent of Asia might even be better sources of that information. I am surprised that none have chimed in.

I like a passive aggressive retort as much as the next guy. And I was just simply stating my opinion. Your question is not tiresome - the debate on what frequencies comprise Multi IQ will rage on as long as ML never gives us a straight answer. As a result, after nearly 3 years of that question repeatedly being raised, all I am saying is that it can't be answered by those not in the know on what Multi IQ really is. i am personally tired of debating and speculating on it, but that doesn't mean others can't enjoy the back and forth and of course you do not need my permission to do so, so by all means have at it. I apologize that you were offended by my take on the issue.

This diagram has been the focus of much debate regarding the true nature of Multi IQ and its relationship with the single frequency modes. I prefer to look at the two separately. Since ML isn't giving specifics and third party measurements show differing combinations of discrete frequencies being transmitted (none line up with the 5 "base" frequencies BTW - but they line up perfectly when in single frequency mode - INDEPENDENT of Noise Cancel setting BTW), I don't think we can ever make definitive statements one way or the other. I refer back to a post by Steve that sums this up pretty succinctly here the last time I was involved in a rehash of this tiresome debate. So while I agree that Multi IQ encompasses a broad spectrum of transmitted frequencies perhaps less than 5 khz and greater than 40 khz, I am taking ML at their word and my feeling is this is just a discrete, independent implementation of new single frequency in Equinox (4 khz) that has no impact on the existing Multi IQ spectrum and the presence of (or lack of) a 4 khz component in Multi IQ, though possible, really has nothing to do with what ML is trying to accomplish here. One odd side note - the Minelab Safety Instruction brochure that comes in the Vanquish box shows that the detector radio frequency specification for both the Vanquish (all models) and the Equinox (both models) to be 5 to 143 khz. I wonder if the 4 khz addition invalidates the original FCC Part 15C (and the international standards) certification...I'll let ML's engineers and lawyers untangle that one. LOL. I guess when it comes right down to it, neither the original question nor the answer matter, frankly. It is what it is. I can't change what Multi IQ is - and whether I knew 4 khz was part of it or not would not change how I use Multi IQ and the only thing that matters is that 4 khz is a new single frequency setting that I have access too.

It really wasn't all that complicated - ML added a new single frequency setting - 4 khz and some unspecified "stability improvements". Certainly a lot less complicated than figuring out what F2 iron bias was all about. No one said it wasn't an Equinox update. The discussion centered around videos posted in this thread and first hand experiences that showed the new 4 khz setting behaved pretty differently (more stable and clear sounding) than 5 khz and folks were speculating why that would be the case. Testing a future platform signal processing algorithm, perhaps? That's what we do on this forum. If you read the posts in context, that can be helpful information but depends on how you use the machine, especially in regards to single frequency operation. The update may be less appealing from a general user sense than previous updates because it is focused on single frequency operation, and apparently may only apply to 4 khz. If SF 4 khz is something you would seldom use for example, as a wet salt sand beach hunter who stays mostly in the MF only Beach modes, then yes your benefit may be small or nill. A deep silver hunter may find he has a completely new capability. Over the last two updates (2.0 and 3.0) ML appears to be in a mode where new features are being added (yay!) and old features are either left alone or actually enhanced. Nothing existing seems to be worse off (that could be more hotly debated for update 1.75). Bottom line: ML has removed much of the risk of updating by accumulating new features, leaving old ones intact, and as always, giving you the ultimate control in being able to roll back if you desire. Only the individual Equinox user can make those decisions for themselves. PS: Mtichel - I see now that you have to jump through extra hoops to load the update because you are using a Chromebook as your daily driver, so I can better understand why you would want to know if it is worth the trip. Ted below pointed you towards ColonelDan's impression. As a fellow beach hunter, he might be your most relevant source on whether the update is worthwhile for you, he anecdotally noticed what he felt was improved stability across the board (including MF beach modes) as he was able to run sens a little higher than normal. Might be worth the trip even if it is just a placebo. Looks like they didn't break anything. Good luck.

I wasn't taking it personal. Don't know if "everyone" else was, though. Yep. That's exactly what I was thinking too as I stated in my previous post. Glad I am not the only one. 4 khz just seems to be behaving differently than the other single frequencies based especially on Iffy Signals' video. I am going to try to give it a go in my test garden tonight.

Really? What is the basis for that statement? I could see that for big silver but it seems counter-intuitive for smaller silver, especially edge on. Would like to know more about your experiences on this. Thanks. I think I mentioned this previously, this could be implemented without adding yet another frequency selection by enabling a capability to do frequency shifting around each individual center frequency. Perhaps a future upgrade.

I don't think the questions you and the rest of us were asking means that Minelab can't win when it comes to updates. Weren't we all just scratching our heads on why THIS PARTICULAR UPDATE bubbled to the top of Minelab's Equinox change list and the even more obscure reference to the reason for adding it in the change log? That just seems like healthy discourse and precisely what this forum is all about. Believe me, this is not about Minelab not being able to win or catch a break. Minelab is winning big time. Maybe there is just some jealousy on this board because the Asain Horde Hunters appear to have Minelab's ear at the moment. But seriously, if anything, the questions are simply a product of ML's stilted way of communicating detector technology to their customers, often times generating more questions than answers in the process. Plus it is always a joy to poke fun at ML's marketing material. Anyway, I don't think ML cares whether people are asking why, they would only care (perhaps) if people start complaining about the update, and so far, I am not seeing that. It has merely taken a few videos to emerge to see that 4 khz indeed seems to be a different beast than 5 khz with respect to both stability and signal clarity. Who would have thought that? That does add another tool in the toolkit that hadn't seemed to be obviously missing before. A pleasant surprise, frankly. Now that we can see it in action. I have a conspiracy theory, frankly. I suspect that ML is rolling out the 4 khz change as a stealth way to get some real world field testing on new signal processing or noise canceling algorithms, perhaps for incorporation into a future machine. The only thing that is strange about it is that they are not implementing it as a Multi IQ Mode change. Perhaps so they can limit the other Multi IQ processing variables such as iron bias. There definitely appears to be a difference in how the signal is processed when 4 khz is selected. The other good news is that the folks with 600's can now say they have 4 single frequency options! Good thing ML did not introduce 25 khz as the new frequency, otherwise the 600 folks would be out of luck, I suppose. With regards to Equinox updates in general, I think people have little to complain about. The F2 iron bias change last year was brilliant in both execution and results. The way ML distributes the update software package is great too, including the option to roll back to any previous change and you also can't complain about the approximate annual frequency of the updates. Bravo. No, i wouldn't conflate "everyone" asking why with "everyone" complaining about the update, and that is a good thing IMO.

Those are some "elementary" finds.

No, but I've had a few that made things worse! Fortunately, ML takes the risk out of the equation by allowing you to easily roll back to a previous stable version.

I just know the guys he came with put a pull tab or two underneath his coil cover. That's what I would have done... Then there would be the planted silver ploy - hey slacker, how come you haven't found any silver yet...we each got 3 a piece so far... Then he would be subject to the dreaded "carpet of rotted zincolns". All good fun when initiating a new member into our detecting club... We had to put a stop to it when 80-year-old Mrs. Simpson beat our club president to a pulp with a pinpointer once she got wind of the shenanigans.

Weird. Wonder just what are these deep, large targets in Asia that are invisible at 5 khz but not at 4 khz. Glad we are still getting updates 2.5 years into the original release, scratching my head this is really at the top of the list - it was not even on my personal Equinox enhancement radar screen. Having a frequency shift option (+/- 1 khz across the board) would have made more sense if EMI was the real driver to 4 khz. And then again the all encompassing "stability enhancements" - that is clear as mud but hopefully useful. Really would like to have seen a host of other enhancements such as improved pinpointing "stability" [maybe part of the stability enhancements perhaps - we'll see], perhaps a VCO like pitch tone on the non-gold modes, back-and-forth mode navigation (instead of the one-way merry-go-round), future proofing the bluetooth interface since 3rd-party APTX-LL hardware seems to be doing the opposite of "catching on" in the marketplace, and a true "raw" unprocessed all-metal mode would be cool. The other stuff (more sophisticated target ID and discrimination and other FBS goodies) I can wait for the Equinox/CTX "1040" iteration. Oh, and I hope they fixed that dreaded nickel on top of a dime issue. That should have been at the top of their list... BTW - how about some smaller form factor elliptical coils, Minelab, if you really want to help out your Equinox users...tired of being jealous of the kid running around here with the Vanquis 540 and that cool 8 inch elliptical. Finally, cool down vest dude in the promo pic, quit admiring yourself in the truck windshield and start swinging that Equinox, ya prima donna slacker! Since you don't have a digger, looks like you are going to have to get those french manicured nails dirty.

Actually, I would take a light weight, powerful PI with iron rejection/iron id...that is not targeted solely to beach jewelry detection. (Hint...hint TO FT/ML/Garrett/Nokta) IOW - I'm not asking it to do it all.

Duncan appears to have left the building. This was his last post and last visit to the forum. Explains a lot, I think. Hope he comes back because I think we can help but he seems to have a problem in receiving, hearing, and acting on advice. Duncan, please prove me wrong so we can help...

TreasureHunter5 - I also noticed what Joe D. noticed about the cool hobbies in your profile after I posted. A lot of the enjoyment of metal detecting such as getting outdoors and enjoying fresh air and cool new places is common to some of your other pursuits. Bottom line, hobbies should not feel like work and should not be boring. The are an adult way of escaping the rigors of day-to-day living and you should look forward to spending whatever precious spare time you have doing them. If it's not enjoyable or tedious, then you have your answer. And you are absolutely right that you should also take a break to keep things fresh. Work and family naturally keep my hobby fresh because it limits my play time enough that I really look forward to the opportunity to get out and detect and plan periodic week long get togethers with detecting buddies to do nothing but detect, eat, and sleep. Good luck and hope you stick with it.

If your singular focus is just on the finds and not on the total picture - the hobby will seem tedious and pointless. If you cannot appreciate the intangibles such as getting outdoors and away from the chaos, the thrill of the hunt, the occasional spectacular finds, the friendship that comes from meeting others engaged in similar pursuits, researching and gaining access to productive/historic sites, debates on equipment, busting your buddy's chops on getting skunked, celebrating with your buddy when they find that gold coin that you too can hold in your hand, learning about things you never knew existed, seeing some cool wildlife, grabbing as much silver as you can at a seeded contest hunt, finding a long lost carved Civil War bullet fishing weight, and reuniting priceless items back with their owners then yeah, it will seem like a tedious way to collect trash at a place where you couldn't care less using an expensive piece of gear that is over-designed for the task at hand. It's all a matter of perspective. Most people who simply see visions of easy treasure popping out of the ground before experiencing the realities of the hobby lose interest fairly quickly. Looks like you are potentially in that camp. Detecting is what you choose to make of it and it is not everyone's passion. You have to discover that for yourself and decide your path. Everything you have said is absolutely true but matters little to the detectorist who gets enjoyment from everything else the hobby has offer. A coin or relic or nugget found is 100 times sweeter than buying that same item off ebay.

I knew you would be thrilled to finally know...

Actually, Tom, what Glenn posted is new news because when it was first reported last month, Fenn refused to say where the treasure was found. He confirmed yesterday, for the first time, that the treasure was found in Wyoming. This new fact, perhaps interesting to some and not to others, means Glenn's post shouldn't simply be dismissed as old news.

Um, yeah, I think they have some new toys on the way. I guess you missed the news while putting together your camper...