Chase Goldman

Rick - I hear what you are saying re: the ergonomics and the twist physics theory for straight shafts behind the criticism. I think the conclusion, however, is not as cut and dried as making a blanket statement that it has lousy ergonomics because I too have no trouble swinging it all day yet one of my hunting buddies just can't stand it. I think it is more of a 50 - 50 proposition. I just happen to be able to adjust the arm cup to control pod to the optimal distance such that my wrist naturally and unconsciously compensates for the twist and does not result in fatigue on both the stock shaft and my favorite aftermarket CF shaft (shout out to Steve G). Coil control and making a smooth level swing through the arc is something to which I pay a lot of attention. I am short and perhaps my stature has something to do with it, though I know some short folks who have issues with it too. So who knows why it works for some and not for others. All I know is that if it was a 100% flawed design, it seems there would be a lot more wailing about it and the manufacturers would quit coming out with new detectors that use basically that shaft design time and again. Though I will note that that ML made a significant turn towards a Deus like stem and shaft design for Vanquish, and I have seen pics of a few home brew Equinox S Shaft systems out in the wild, too.

Ironically, it connected to your cell phone.

I wonder if that form factor somehow facilitates IP68 environmental qualification as all three of those detectors are waterproof to at least 3 meters. In fact, I was surprised to see ML move away from that form factor for Vanquish. Which is NOT waterproof, btw. I would really like to see Nokta repackage the features of the Anfibio into the Simplex form factor and include the ergonomic streamlined UI (even if the price leaned more heavily towards Anfibio than Simplex). But I would settle for the “simple” addition of an additional higher operating frequency selection (e.g., 24 kHz) to a Simplex ++ deluxe model. Regardless, the streamlined simplicity, economy, and mid-to-high level performance capability of Simplex+ is more intriguing to me than Vanquish, and I might just spring for the Simplex to see what it can do out of the box. There is something strangely liberating about knowing that you can’t tweak settings and just gotta make do with what you have in your hands and trust that the designers have it optimally tweaked for 95% of situations, right out of the box. Reminds me of my Tek Delta days, a detector I still keep around for sentimental reasons and because it has an awesome concentric 8” coin grabber coil. And I like my Equinox form factor so what’s not to like about Simplex.

It should provided it is constantly submerged or being doused by wave action (though the silicon can act as a thermal insulator of sorts and if the heat is being generated in the housing electronics, the water can’t remove that heat as effectively with the silicon barrier, but yeah, probably a non issue in the water). Also, many water hunters I know often hunt at the tide line or in the wet sand during their detecting session and in direct sunlight, without water cooling off the now exposed but silicon sealed housing, things can heat up really fast.

And if your Nox has a manufacturig defect that violates watertight integrity of the housing, that cover and insert is likely not going be 100% effective. The Nox is designed to be watertight down to 10 feet. If your Nox leaks under those conditions it is defective and should be replaced under the terms of its 3-year warranty. As far as I can tell, ML is honoring the warranty for that situation each and every time on the rare event it does happen. Also, be careful about applying a cover like the one described as the Nox needs to be able to dissipate heat from the housing under high outside ambient temperature conditions and bright sunlight. Some users have reported screen blacking and erratic behavior under extreme heat conditions even with those commonly used slip-on black vinyl sleeves with clear faceplate protectors. Buyer beware. HTH.

Good luck, Mark. Let us know how it turns out.

I still like to complain, in general, but certainly not about this F2 implementation. Still working it out, but I am liking F2 5 as a sweet spot over my tried and true FE 0. Will give it a workout in some mineralized, iron infested relic sites in about three weeks and will learn a lot more about it. Can't wait.

I agree and know of whom you speak, Chuck. #Limited AM Coil Selection is Frustrating

Hooray! Nokta is plugged into the detector user base pulse better than just about anyone else out there. Now how about that concentric Jack wants for number 3, whaddya say Nokta? Rooting for you.

I understand what you are saying and you are dead on that it is all about profit margins. But with more capability crammed into less expensive machines, how long do you think folks are going to continue to pay $300 to $400 more than Simplex for the next higher tier model in return for a host of features and complexity they do not need or desire for want of one or two key features (and minimal additional operational complexity) that appeal to them. I think there is a way to get it done with some sort of pay as you go firmware update path. It is obviously technically feasible as ML has just demonstrated with Equinox by rolling out a firmware update that provides additional iron bias filtering features/capability (for free vs. saving it for the Equinox II and ML built up some good karma from their Equinox user base for this move) and XP has been doing this for years with the Deus platform (you pay for additional capability by purchasing the "more capable" coils, but the programs that contain the features that take advantage of those new coil capabilities are dealt out for free and you get some limited feature upgrades even with the legacy coil hardware). With affordable simultaneous multifrequency technology variants (primarily ML for now), smart coils, wireless comms, electronic updates, waterproof boxes, light weight, compact, travel friendly stems, and ergonomically logical user interfaces already on the street in low to mid range detectors, there is not much technology left on the shelf that can really make a big splash as far as VLF induction balance detectors are concerned (perhaps augmented reality heads up displays that can give you target ID information and prompt you on coil coverage technique or site swing coverage?). Certainly not at the price points of even just a few years ago. So I am thinking that the detector manufacturers may need to re-think and innovate away from the traditional detector business model paradigm that mandates buying a new machine if want new or upgraded features. The profit margins can be made up through pay as you go firmware-based capability upgrades and the tried and true method of charging handsomely for detector accessories like coils and wireless headphones peripherals like headphones and pinpointers. Of course, there are never any free lunches and this approach can be a double edged sword as hardware production cost efficiencies are driven by volume and if less hardware is being produced that drives overhead costs at the manufacturing facilities, etc. Garrett and FT need to get with the program or risk getting further lapped by Nokta, ML, and XP. Just a few "out there" thoughts. Now I am being paged by my peeps as I am overdue back at Area 51. They only let me out for short furloughs now. Cheers from Chase

Yes, they are. Thanks for confirming what I posted above (requoted below), it is nice to know I am not getting bogus info out there. Maybe I need to write less per post so the important info gets seen. . In any event, hope ML comes through for you on this (I see another user was able to return to ML under warranty with the same issue so the odds appear to be in your favor). . Good luck! As Steve said, it is a generous warranty package from ML compared to other detectors so take advantage of the protections to your investment. Well, since all Equinoxes are still under warranty (3 years), why not get them replaced by ML? I have heard of this happening to other users and ML has honored the warranty for this issue.

Jeez I can't seem to win on these new offerings from Nokta and ML. When discussing Vanquish I get accused of unfairly comparing Vanquish to mid and flagship detectors. Here I get flogged for saying Simplex is has design compromises and I am unfairly maligning it vs. Garrett and First Texas flagship offerings. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield. Anyway, let me reset the discussion in an attempt to better explain what I am getting at. In a nutshell, Simplex and Vanquish have radically reset the bar when it comes to value defined as the ratio of features/performance to price. They are going after the entry level market with very, very capable detectors and different design approaches Nokta Simplicity, ML features vs.cost) and save for a few features that I don't see significantly driving actual cost (multiple selectable frequencies in the case of Simplex to name but one) they are tantalizingly close to delivering detectors to the experienced detectorist that perhaps doesn't have the resources to spend the extra $300 to $400 to move up to Multi Kruzer or Equinox. Detectors that perhaps offer more features than they need and/or want for that extra cash save for a few key additional features. Again, I am focused on multiple selectable frequencies which does not seem to be that significant of a cost driver (perhaps $100 if you compare the price if Kruzer vs. Multi Kruzer) because I value that feature and it is a staple of recently released detector models from the companies that have basically lapped the Garrett's and First Texas' flagships of the industry including Nokta, XP, and Minelab (Impact, Multi Kruzer, Anfibio, ORX, Equinox, even the Quest Pro is in on the selectable multiple frequency bandwagon). It has now become as ubiquitous and expected as water resistant/water proof capability and we should not expect flagships to not have these capabilities as a minimum so I dismiss Garrett and First Texas as flagship standard bearers. Manufacturers shoukd strive to shoot way past AT Max and F75 for even mid-level offerings in terms of features. Equinox and Kruzer basically taught us that lesson last year. I love the stripped down simplicity of the Simplex with minimal sacrifice on capability. I also like being able to hit a site with two different frequencies without having to go back to the truck or to interrogate targets on the fly with two different frequencies. It is just part of my routine now. And it doesn't just have to be that feature, let's talk tone options, multiple recovery speeds, etc. What I am talking about is offering tiered, perhaps a la cart features and associated pricing that bridges the feature gap (notice I did not say capability gap) between Simplex+ and Multi Kruzer, for example. With programmability and a common physical Simplex form factor and user interface, I am guessing that someone like Nokta could offer a customizable line of detectors to bridge the feature gap, and make the Simplex the base model for a whole host of COST EFECTIVE detectors that meet the needs of any detectorist at any skill level and/or style of hunting. What I am saying is that Nokta and perhaps ML are at the doorstep of offering that kind of detector with their respective releases of Simplex and Vanquish. Regarding the accessory coil, Steve you are right, I would also be surprised, too, if Simplex did not accommodate a concentric because Nokta does provide a great concentric accessory coil lineup for its detectors, but I thought is was also more surprising that unlike Nokta's previous offerings (Anfibio and Kruzer) and even the similarly priced Minelab Vanquish, there is NO mention of accessory coils coming (correct me if I am wrong on this, but I couldn't find any information on this other than the stock coil offering). I hope that isn't the case and Nokta listens again. But I can only comment on what has been announced re: accessory coils and so far there has been no word. ML on the other hand has some compelling accessory coils already announced for Vanquish. I do expect Nokta to follow suit. And, just to be clear, lest there are any further "misunderstandings", I am not saying Nokta and ML missed the mark on these new offerings. They have hit their target demo dead center. All I am saying is that save for a few feature tweaks (I am sure others have similar but different features on their "wish lists") the Simplex and Vanquish are tantalizingly close to being something an experienced detectorist could excited about even if that requires an incremental price increase over these "entry level" offerings. This is the point, Steve, where you tell me to get more sleep and eat more fruits and vegetables or something like that. Cheers from Chase. (I feel like Jerry McGuire after his sports agent "manifesto" ready to face the jeers and derision of my peers).

I still don’t understand why you are not seeking to have them replaced under warranty.

Nokta is definitely listening to the users. However, the thing to remember is it is called Simplex+ for a reason. Even though it looks nothing like entry level detectors look liked even a just a few years ago, it is still targeted to new users or budget minded detectorists. As a result, there are compromises and limitations inherent in the design. Perhaps Dilek can chime in on Nokta's plans to provide accessory coils or, more specifically, whether the Simplex is even compatible with concentric coils (not a given). In my opinion these groundbreaking (from a features/performance per price ratio perspective) "entry" level detectors from Nokta and Minelab are just one or two "minor tweaks" away from being something an experienced detectorist could consider as their primary detector and not just something to be used as a backup or as a loaner for a newbie or occasional detectorist. Just a few tweaks is important when you are talking about a $300 ($400 for the Multi) difference between a Kruzer and a Simplex. I don't think concentric coil compatibility and perhaps adding a second operating frequency to Simplex are significant from cost perspective (certainly not a $300 to $400 add) but these could make a huge difference to an experienced detectorist and could bump the Simplex up to the next level performance wise without breaking the bank.

Well, since all Equinoxes are still under warranty (3 years), why not get them replaced by ML? I have heard of this happening to other users and ML has honored the warranty for this issue. Just a word of caution, I have had a couple of reports of people not being able to pair these newer version Miccus phones (same model number as the original SR-71's, but some cosmetic and electronic "upgrades" have been incorporated). Miccus support has been responsive, but they acknowledge some sort of compatibility problem now with the Equinox (they have had a number of reports) but say it is up to ML to address. I think they will accept a return in any event, if you run into that problem. Note, one individual I was in contact with couldn't pair the new SR-71's either before or after the most recent Equinox update (i.e., the new Equinox firmware did not fix his existing SR-71 pairing problem). I know this makes no sense if everything is truly BT APTX LL compatible, but there you have it for what it's worth. BTW, I have had the older Miccus SR-71 phones since BEFORE the Equinox came out (I use them with my GPX too and figured they would make a great backup to the ML phones). I've basically been using them instead of the ML phones for both detectors for over a year and a half and the are still going strong. I wish I could confirm the new compatibility issue first hand because I actually like the audio better on the Miccus phones than the ML's (they have better high end response for some reason) and would like to eventually be able to replicate that with a replacement pair should they ever give up the ghost.

Way to instill brand loyalty by listening to your customer base, Nokta. Moving to non-proprietary industry standard low latency wireless (but including the legacy Nokta wireless radio too) would be a great next step on a future Nokta detector line.

Point taken. But as far as Simplex is concerned, GB is automatic on the Simplex and other than sensitivity there isn't that much to tweak performance wise, as that is the whole point of Simplex. Keep it simple out of the box. Turn on and go for the inexperienced detectorist yet give them great performance for 90% of all detecting situations. So they in all liklihood could not eek much more performance out of the Simplex even if they tried to. The user modes and settings really just change the way the targets sound to the user or add/remove iron disc. "That's a digga, bah!"

Unless the Vanquish coils turn out to be compatble with Equinox (which would be great, but unlikely), don't hold your breath on an Equinox compatible alternatuve to the 6" round. After nearly two years, ML has not even hinted at launching additional coils for Equinox and there doesn't appear to be any active effort to do so from third parties either. On the other hand, I have all 3 coils and except for unique situations, I find the 11" stock just makes sense for 95% of my detecting situations from beach, to park, to relic hunting.

Excellent info, Dan. Thanks. F2 4-6 depending on site conditions and objectives does seem to be shaping up as the sweet spot and appears to be consistent with and somewhat supports the ML choice to set the F2 default to 6 for all modes. I think I am leaning towards 5 too for most conditions but need to get more swing time in. Bottom line I too think update 2 is a keeper overall and no longer feel the need to keep 1.5 on my backup Equinox. They are both updated to 2.0 now.

Finally, here is a table of all the new default settings for all parameters for all modes (F2 is the only real change). The updated manual and other great Equinox info can be accessed from Steve's useful "Minelab Equinox Essential Information" thread linked here.

Here is an explanation of global vs. local settings.

Ed, See above explanation only one of the iron bias settings is selected and active at a time. (i.e, only FE or F2, but not both). You select the active one in settings using tge accept/reject button. Note that the settings/default settings for iron bias are different for and need to be set separately for each mode (just like ground balance, noise cancel, tone settings, and recovery speed). The excerpt from the manual pasted below should help explain this further.

You have a choice of using the old FE iron bias settings which should behave about the same as before the update or the new F2 settings which behaves differently on bottlecaps, gives stronger iron tones in all metal at her settings than FE, and seems to have more or less of an effect for a given setting than its FE cousin (i.e. more falsing at low settings than FE and less falsing but more non-ferrous masking of iffy signals at high F2 settings). In other words FE 0 does not equal F2 0 (more like F2 0 is less than FE 0) and F2 9 is much greater than FE 9. F2 4 is roughly equivalent to FE 0. Experimentation seems to be the only way to guide how you should set the filter. Only one of those iron bias settings is active at a time, whichever one you select and adjust last will be the active setting. Note also that you need to set your iron bias settings separately for each mode. HTH.

Glad you were able to get out to the claim. Keep swinging Gfox. Now that you have a preferred detector (e.g., the 800), try focusing on getting to know that one inside and out so that you can start building your muscle memory on the audio and visual indicators for various targets, including gold. Avoid switching off now until you really get to know one of those detectors to avoid resetting your learning curve on your favorite detector and then when you feel confident, break out that GPX and start learning that. It will be a completely different animal but worth it. Good luck.

Looks sturdy, however, on such a short digger, I prefer a nice thick gripped straight handle. I have a mini Sampson and the T handle is more of a hindrance than a help. For park digging this Wilcox trowel or the slightly shorter version fits the bill for me https://wilcoxallpro.com/products/22-long-handled-trowel