Chase Goldman

1944

Welcome to the forum. Where are you planning to detect (park, field, woods) and for what type of targets (relics, coins, jewelry)? I ask because a big shovel isn't exactly the right tool for parks (typically a screwdriver or at most a small hand digger is appropriate to keep from damaging the turf). In thick wooded areas, a root cutter type shovel head is a better tool than a grave digger. Plowed field a small hand shovel may be all you need unless the targets are deep. Check out the digging tools at this site for a start. I would suggest a decent hand tool and a Piranha type shovel as a start. Kind of partial to D handles vs. T handles, but the Piranha was my first serious detecting shovel. The key to a shovel is mass to help move the dirt and a sharp blade. HTH

So are you getting an audio tone near targets or is the thing just Dead on Arrival? If it is can be powered up and seems to be working but just not vibrating, try a factory reset by holding the power button down for an extended period per the quick start instructions. If that doesn't work, call ML customer service. PS if Steve doesn't move this thread, you might want to try posting this in the general Minelab forum to get more views, as this forum is specifically for the Equinox metal detector. HTH

Great finds, congrats.

On the flip side, Jeff, despite the jumpy IDs, Orx does normalize target IDs from the white HF coils, while Deus does not and I find that helpful for high conductors. Just another Orx advantage. Anyway, still loving that Orx. Hit the same site again, and while not a banner day like last time, it was still a worthwhile hunt with some decent keepers.

Well the Block "I" cleaned up nicely. Went back to the same site yesterday, and while not as spectacular as last week, a decent day nevertheless. Still giving that Orx a workout.

Just glad it is in the works, still.

Thanks, David.

Not his first gold coin...so multiple lifetimes That is a $1000 coin in VF30 condition!

Read this thread, that warning has pretty much been debunked by forum users who have successfully paired the latest versions of these headphones with the Equinox. The prevailing theory is that people were not properly performing the paring procedure then reporting the issue to Miccus as a reason for a return. Miccus dutifully posted the warning. BTW - read the features again, they are not "noise cancelling" but "noise isolating" or "noise blocking". In other words passive over the ear noise blocking not active noise cancelling. If you are interested in active noise cancelling headphones that are compatible with the Equinox (I have a pair and they work), then check these out: https://www.amazon.com/Paww-WaveSound-Bluetooth-Headphones-Cancelling/dp/B01IEHIMLY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=paww+noise+cancelling+aptx+headphones&qid=1581736049&sr=8-4 If you are actually interested in these I have an extra backup pair New in Box. PM me, if interested.

More gold for Cal. Surprised you didn't find some Spanish Silver too. Nice digs.

Great decision. Be sure to check out the Equinox forum here for some great advice on how to learn and use that Equinox and ask questions as necessary. There are also some great books out there by Andy Sabisch and Clive Clynick on the Equinox, specifically. You will have plenty of time to learn it before October. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Welcome to the forum. The last thing you want to be doing is learning a new detector at an event. My advice would be to stick with the 3030. If I were you and still considering another detector, frankly, you’d be better served by an Equinox or even a Vanquish as they are more straight forward to use than either the ATX or CTX (meaning your learning curve could be achieved prior to the event) and just as deep overall to the CTX and have a higher recovery speed giving them better separation than the CTX in thick junk situations. The primary advantage of the 3030 is that you can program in sophisticated discrimination patterns and get super accurate target IDs at depth. But that comes at the price of a fairly steep learning curve and a greater probability of programming in settings that can actually hinder performance. If you are digging it all, you are not taking advantage of these advanced features and may actually have some counterproductive settings dialed in hindering performance. Regarding the ATX, it is basically a big heavy but deep dig it all Pulse Induction machine. It has no true iron discrimination or rejection. It has a semi reliable “iron check” feature. It’s main advantage for relic and coin hunting being good depth in mineralized soils. Not familiar with the Digstock event but I doubt you need something like an ATX there, especially at the ATX price point. CTX should serve you fine unless you get information that the site is highly mineralized. But like I said, if you are still climbing the learning curve on the CTX, I would really seriously consider a Vanquish or Equinox. I think you will find the combination of straight forward operation, fast response, versatility, and value in these newer Minelabs very enjoyable as a newer detecting hobbiest. HTH

Let me add that from a beach hunting perspective, there is not much, if anything, to be gained performance wise in going to the 800, so I agree with Bill that the Equinox 600 should be able to get it done depth wise if you decide to stick with the Equinox. No need to upgrade to the 800 unless you also want a more diverse and tweakable dirt machine (which doesn't appear to be an objective for you). Can't speak to the two other PI's in question as far as beach hunting is concerned. I have recovered nickels at 15+ inches in wet salt sand. My gold recoveries have been shallower, but from a target property similarity standpoint, if those nickels were gold rings, they would have been similarly detectable at depth.

Excellent finds.

Oh man, that is a heartbreaker. Mine looks like corroded hell on the back and no shank.

Wow, that cleaned up super nice! Congrats.

It is a 2-piece button with a tin or iron back which corrodes easily making it very fragile. Not uncommon for these to simply disintegrate upon recovery or during restoration. Sealing it up soonest as-is to preserve its integrity.

Understood. Just putting the alternative out there for other folks considering wireless setups. You have obviously made your decision so it wasn’t directed at you, specifically, but at the hobbiest detectorist where a $200 US cost delta is not ”negligible”. Speaker setups can easily be accommodated as well at basically the same cost (just plug in a speaker to the headset and use the headset as a receiver) and may be more cost effective for non-professional, non-prospecting uses such as historic relic hunting in the US. The cost of the pro sonic system is often simply hard to justify in the face of these other equally capable home-brew and purpose built setups like Quest. Thanks.

Maybe they are busy working on the anticipated accessory coils for the Simplex...or other projects. PI probably also low on the project priority list.

BTW as a followup just wanted to debunk the ORX blind to musket ball theory. Got a few as well as plenty of minies on some recent hunts and my posts elsewhere have the pics. BTW, relative to the OP, all my finds were recovered using the 9" round HF not an X35 coil, though I do own an X35 11" coil.

Not bad, probably 3 or 4 to 1. Was digging a lot of probable iron signals just to be sure including a long chain and some "cheeto" nails that falsed high. A few pieces of aluminum here and there.

Give it a shot. It might take some getting used to because it is basically all metal, but I feel it helps me "see" in the ground better than the coin modes.

You read my mind. I wouldn't mind a pitch audio option in the coin modes too. The only complaint I had in the field was that the TIDs were pretty jumpy, but if I was getting a decent non-ferrous "group" of numbers, I was digging it.

Long time Deus user, but I am pretty convinced XP did something to juice Gold Mode on Orx vs. Deus' Gold Field and it is my preferred mode for relic hunting, recently. I like the 9" HF coil and hunt at 14 or 30 khz, typically. Have not had problems hitting all kinds of silver, brass, and lead in moderately to high mineralized soil at various depths and junk target densities. The one touch instant GB grab and pop up TID and Iron Probability meters enhance the user interface over Deus too. ORX finds over the last couple months pictured below: