Chase Goldman

What does this mean?

That would be my recommendation, also.

Man, I hope you saved it! Great tear down and refurb. Nothing to lose by doing it since the warranty was out the window. Let us know how it turns out. I would put some sort of tether on them if you go back in the water or use a cheap set of earbuds with the WM08 module in a plastic bag or dive pouch and secured on your person somewhere if you you don’t go with full blown waterproof wired phones.

I love this quote... I knew you were not being negative and agree with you. And being a 1 million questions guy myself, I've known for awhile now that ML is just not going to be forthcoming with how Multi IQ does what it does, so, like you, I am just happy to just know that it does it and am resigned to not knowing how it does it.

I wasn't really talking intensity of the surf per se or referring to your control head leak issue, but the intensity of the loading surf and shallow water hunting puts on coil ears in general. Starting to see more frequent reports of coil ear snapping by avid shallow water hunters and I think that is no accident but reflects the cumulative fatigue effects of submerged coil drag combined with a likely insufficiently robust coil ear design by ML that didn't fully account for the fact that people might actually want to frequently use their "waterproof" detector in the water (go figure). I figure the control head issue you experienced was related to the same poor manufacturing quality control shortcoming gotcha that has bitten other early units that have reportedly failed after the first few immersions or exposures to streaming water intrusion. ML's public silence on the issue speaks volumes. I'm guessing they hope it just eventually fades away as they quietly replace the control heads of the affected units under warranty, but no one really knows how many folks have actually submerged or exposed their control heads to water intrusion or the extent of the quality control issue that led to the failures in the first place. In either case, it is disappointing. But as Steve says, he hasn't encountered a water detector design that didn't eventually suffer some degree of leakage or degradadation as especially salt water hunting just results in accelerated wear and tear on a detector vs. solely using it for dry terrestrial hunting.

Hope Minelab promptly addresses your issue, then. I get you are pissed and the hassle of having to get a warranty replacement component sucks right out of the box. Don't take it out on me. My point was that what you experienced is not an "omen" but unfortunately an Equinox fact of life from what I gather based on postings and first hand experience and feedback. Equinox's mechanical design and overall reliability is average at best compared to similarly priced detectors. It is apparent ML is cutting some corners on the mechanical design of Equinox to drive down cost for the sake of competition and there are apparently some quality control issues that are letting defective material escape the factory. It doesn't take long to realize the board is full of folks selling and folks (including myself) buying third party stems, shafts, coil ear tab supports, and armrest products, even before stuff breaks, to overcome these Equinox design shortcomings. And units like Midalake's above are falling apart after a couple years of intense surf usage. Make them honor their warranty to you and in the mean time consider a more robust third party alternative armrest and shaft for the long haul. It is one of Equinoxes not so secret shortcomings and it is not pretty nor satisfying, I know. Oh, and by the way, whether you need it or not, I am free to express my opinion here also, without getting your permission, so feel free to take it or leave but most of all, have a great day...

Omen for what? Things can break on Equinox just like any detector, it is not immune to that (like someone else said, it’s not perfect). ML will likely send you a replacement under warranty if you phone it in. When something breaks on Equinox and it isn’t your fault, use that relatively generous 3-year warranty, as needed. Equinox appears to be about average as far as reliability is concerned.

Call ML for the absolute answer to that question (but I think you already know the answer). The warranty is against design and production defects if used in accordance with the specs. The BT headphones are not designed to be exposed to or submerged in water according to page 61 of the user manual: ”Do not expose the headphones to liquid, moisture or humidity, as the headphones are not waterproof.” You can attempt to plead your case with the repair center, but the words are pretty clear. You took a risk, gambled and lost. There are a number of water resistant BT APTX LL earbuds out there that cost much less than the ML phones (~$30). Clone (non ML branded) or similar equivalent BT headphones cost between $40 and $60. Quest makes a rain resistant over the ear low latency BT set at about $90. Frankly, if you are regularly entering the water to detect, you should probably get the appropriately certified waterproof phones because even the water resistant phones mentioned above likely can’t survive an accidental dunking. Attempt to repair them yourself or just take your medicine and buy a new or used replacement pair, if the repair center does not take mercy on your situation. Internal salt water damage to electronics is pretty obvious to a repair technician, so being coy about the actual failure situation will likely not get you anywhere. HTH

Not saying you shouldn’t tweak the user adjustable settings (e.g., ground balance, discrimination, tone ID breakpoints, recovery speed, and iron bias) for specific conditions, you should absolutely do that and can with Equinox. The Multi IQ tweak is selecting the right mode for the job at hand and that is why ML provided basically 7 different multi IQ search profiles (Park 1/2, Field 1/2, Beach 1/2, and Gold*). *Even though ML provided Gold 1/2, it appears the Multi IQ profile is the same for both Gold modes with the only apparent difference being the default recovery speed setting between the two.

Yes, the point is it doesn't matter, that's why I wrote the following in my post above. But that doesn't stop people from repeatedly asking the question. The reason being, misleading and contradictory detector manufacturer marketing claims that imply more combined frequencies (in simultaneous multifrequency) is somehow better. BTW it isn't better and even Minelab comes clean about this but buries it in their "What is Multi IQ" articles that are mostly just read by hard core detector tech geeks or when Steve quotes these gems in his posts. Heck, you can barely get the typical Equinox user to read the comprehensive user guide, which is pretty good. Yet, we repeatedly explain how the different modes should be used and answer the "what are the best "programs"" questions. The nature of these questions often betrays the fact that the poster has not cracked open the manual. Fortunately. I enjoy answering those questions, perhaps going into more depth than the user guide and try provide "real world" perspective on the info that matters to the detectorist.

The Multi IQ frequency profiles are not and likely will not ever be user adjustable, that is the purpose of having multiple modes (Park, Frequency, Beach, etc.) available. Furthermore, transmit frequency profile, is only part of the Multi IQ secret sauce, the other being how the Equinox software processes the received target signal to provide target identification.

Magnet fishing would be more compelling in countries that use ferromagnetic metallic coinage, I suppose and that probably improves its popularity in European countries. That type of coinage does not exist in the US.

While the debate rages on regarding the actual answer to this question, there are a couple of things that can be said about the topic: Minelab has never actually precisely described what comprises the MultiIQ frequency spectrum for any of the modes and even though some folks have attempted to measure the the frequency output, there is still debate about how those measurements have been taken, etc. It is pretty clear that the 5 individual frequency settings for the Park and Field modes really do not have anything to do with the actual frequencies that are combined to create the various mode Multifrequency profiles and it is also pretty clear that "all five" individual frequencies are not combined in the spectrum in any mode. It is more like 2, 3, or 4 depending which mode you are using. Minelab created a lot of confusion by tying the 5 discrete frequencies into their overly simplified Multi IQ cloud diagrams. It is a myth that just because the 600 has fewer discrete individual frequencies 5, 10, and 15 khz) vs. the 800 (5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 khz) that the Multi IQ frequency spectrums for the equivalent modes are NOT the same between the 600 and 800. Measurements show that they are likely identical. Gold mode Multi IQ does appear to be heavily weighted to 40 khz with perhaps some 5 khz thrown in. Suffice to say, whatever the actual combinations of frequencies it optimized for gold prospecting. While true for single frequency ops, not true for Multi IQ for gold mode, see above. Gold mode does use multiple frequencies but it is likely not combining 20 and 40 khz, it is probably 40 khz combined with 5 khz based on measurements. Now that I have totally confused you and if you folks want to drive yourselves crazy on this topic, check out these posts: Bottom Line: Despite all this debate, it really isn't important to know what and how many frequencies are combined in any of the Multi IQ versions of each mode. Just press the "I believe" button and be confident in the fact that Minelab has provided different Multi IQ profiles for each mode that are "optimized" to be suitable for the intended target objective of each mode as described in the Equinox user guide (e.g., Park 1 optimized for high conductive coins, Park 2 for mid conductive jewelry targets, etc.) and know that as an added bonus, Minelab has seen fit to provide certain single frequency options for each mode. Also know this, even though the modes appear to be optimized for specific types of targets in Multi IQ, the fact is that most of them, with the possible exception of gold mode are suitable for general purpose detecting. In other words, you are not going to be "blind" to gold or jewelry just because you use Park 1 or blind to silver coins because you are using Field 2 and even Gold Mode has uses in other types of detecting (such as for meteorites or relic hunting) besides gold prospecting. HTH

Thanks. Yeah, regarding the case, since each visit there has resulted in walking away with something interesting, I decided to see what it looked like gathered all in one place so I threw it in the largest riker I had and was surprised that it filled it. Probably the most productive site per sq. yard that I have access to.

Magnet fishing showing up here is ironic to me by the very fact it will attach to the same metal that metal detectorists try so hard to discriminate out, iron. Since gold, silver, copper, and nickel will not attach to it, it has never really intrigued me (except when I was a kid and bought one out of a magazine ad). That's not to say that there are not interesting iron and steel things to be recovered, but especially attempting to recover those things from the water, you know they are going to be pretty corroded.

Things are starting to peter out for the season. Need a good spring plowing But still managed a few keepers including a 1901 V nickle, minie balls, and a couple flat buttons (red background below) . Orx still getting it done... This site has been an amazing find in itself. My finds over the past several visits. Most recovered using Deus/Orx, but that large Eagle Plate, some of the silvers, coppers, buttons, brass and bullets were also recovered with my trusty Equinox (I'd say a little less than 20% of the total finds shown). Deus/Orx seems to tolerate the iron, mineralization, and aluminum junk better (foil is much more spread out from brass on Orx, TID wise) so that has been my go to lately as the site has gotten more stingy. Anyway, enjoy the pics.

Nice digs. Keep clearing out that trash, and more should emerge.

So it is funny you posted this , Steve, as the last time I was out with the Simplex I was thinking it would be great to have the Equinox in the Simplex package. So when Nokta finally delivers on a simultaneous multifrequency detector, my wish might be granted. I must say that despite the similarities to Equinox, I really prefer the ergonomics of the Simplex configuration both in terms of the handle design and navigation of the modes and settings (for example you can go back and forth between modes on the Simplex, whereas on the Equinox, you can only cycle through modes in one direction). If Equinox adopted a fwd/reverse approach to switching modes and switch the user profile and frequency buttons, I would be ecstatic. Otherwise, the Equinox is ok. However, I really like the Simplex handle design. It is not constrained by having the battery compartment in the handle, therefore, it has a more natural pistol-like grip (though the battery capacity is fairly small compared to Equinox at 2300 mAh vs. 5000 mAh for the Equinox.

Besides the treasure trove of information and expertise here, that is why I said earlier in the thread that this is the greatest forum in the world.

Well said. I really want FT to get back in the game. But a niche detector may not be the answer even though I DO want to see Impulse come to market, if only to see if the Impulse designers can follow up with a viable "terrestrial" focused detector for nuggets or relics.

Nox, I sympathize with your disappointment and impatience, but the real world from an experienced engineering and business perspective is a little more complicated than that. See my interjections above. Yes a lot of it is speculation, but informed speculation based on what has been posted here by folks like Rick Kempf who are closer to the project and my own personal knowledge regarding the realities of delivering tech gear to a demanding customer.

Not saying we shouldn't lobby for it at all and not express our enthusiasm for Impulse, all I am saying is its a business (just like you said earlier, Steve) so folks should keep a realistic view of their perceived influence on FT. I think a huge value of this forum, and perhaps of greater importance, is having that direct access to the design team and potentially being able to influence some of the design decisions.

This may seem like a significant interest to a garage outfit like Tarsacci (no offense intended, but a few hunded niche detectors units sold), but to FT, the interest of 20 or so hard core detectorists is hardly a blip on the radar screen. As mentioned before, this is a nice evolutionary step in refining the targeted implemetation of EXISTING technology (there is no actual basic technology breakthrough here). And for a niche application (salt water jewelry hunting) in a specialized hobby, with little to no industrial or military crossover capability. So the lack of versatility, despite awesome specialized capability, coupled with possible mass manufacting difficulties and international regulatory compliance requirements issues make this a VERY risky proposition for FT. It will get released when ready and cajoling from the sidelines of a forum are not going to move the needle at all, sad to say, despite the fact that this is the best MD forum in the world.

Actually, the more pertinent question is how both Union and Confederate civil war military artifacts are showing up in a nondescript corn field up on a hill in the middle of a small, rural Pennsylvania town 30 miles from the nearest known major Civil War engagement and north of the Mason-Dixon line. The non-military artifacts we have recovered like the hundreds of coins ranging from the mid-1700's all the way up to modern clad and just about everything in between including Spanish and Mexican silver, early 19th century US silver, and early mid-19th century US and Mexican gold coins, 19th and 20th century buried coin caches in glass jars, gold and silver rings, spoons, apothecary weights, colonial era tombac flat buttons, crotal bells, zippo lighters, modern bullets, and aluminum cans all reflect the normal comings and goings of a vibrant small, rural colonial Pennsylvania town and the various long gone home and business structures that likely stood near a probable center of commerce and a number of homes with great views of the surrounding countryside. This is where the archaeological detective work aspect of metal detecting (which I enjoy) comes into play as we have speculated on how those CW items got there. It is probably not a battle engagement site but a likely picket/observation post that both armies probably utilized due to the tactical advantage of the terrain. It was gentle sloping high ground with road access (the road likely existing since colonial times) ready access to water and enabled the occupants to observe the nearby major railroad stop without being observed themselves. It is possible that before and after Gettysburg, the local area was regularly guarded by Union troops, likely cavalry based on the military artifacts found (carbine bullets, military Eagle "R" and "C" buttons typically worn by cavalry) and it is also possible that Confederate cavalry raids by units from JEB Stuart's Confederate Cavalry Division "visited" the town, and the area is near a known retreat path for Confederate infantry divisions following the battle of Gettysburg (which might explain the "I" button). Very few fired CW bullets and glass have been recovered CW artifacts are concentrated in relatively small area of the property. Nearby "surveys" of neighboring farms have yielded no civil war stuff. This indicates that it was likely neither an engagement site nor a long term encampment (encampment sites would have a lot more period trash and even fired bullets as units typically set up firing ranges at long term encampment sites for target practice). The variety of possible finds is why I refer to this site as a metal detectorist's amusement park as you can find just about anything of interest to most detectorists here including some rare CW military cartridge box and belt plates and buttons for both Confederate and Union troops. I love getting invited to this site and have to have something really pressing in "real life" to turn down the rare invitation to visit. So, in summary, we know how the Merc got there (just like any other lost coin like the SLQ I recovered at the previous visit), it is a mystery how the civil war stuff got there, but we have a pretty good idea why and how. The site resides on a plowed field, so we are just going to enjoy it as long as the farmer keeps moving long buried targets up nearer the surface with the plow and disc. HTH