Chase Goldman

What depth do they typically turn up and what TID do they ring up as? What other types of targets are you finding that have similar target IDs. Mode really isn’t going to be the issue for targets that large, so Park 1 or Field 1 should suffice.? If you want to focus solely on recovering them, setting up a selective discrimination pattern will be the key.

Actually, it was only one target, but a nice one. Congrats NC.

Dew Agree - applying it directly to the coil just gives ML an excuse to not honor warranty replacement of the coil should you encounter an issue. Have at it after the warranty period, if desired. To Dave - I still wonder if your surf detecting issues partially stem from an intermittent coil issue, perhaps exacerbated when the coil is under the dynamic stresses associated with water loading. Again, just a thought because your experiences are pretty bad compared to other folks.

Same here, no issues as long as you keep the contacts clean of magnetic debris. I recall there was an issue early on with the molded magnetic connector housing separating, but I think that was a manufacturing issue lured to a specific production run of cables. Still, the magnetic connector is designed to easily lift off from the detector charge port in one specific direction. Otherwise, if you are constantly fighting against the magnet to pull it off the detector’s charge port, I can see where you might be putting enough strain on the connector to have it eventually break. See this for more info BTW - it should be covered under warranty.

Yep, as the others have pointed out, its 40 non-ferrous and 10 ferrous TIDs. But I really wanted to just say welcome to the forum. ?

I own a PI (GPX) also, in addition to the Equinox and a Deus. But that is for max depth on land in mineralized soil. I also have a semiretired ATX PI that could be used on the beach to great effect, but it is just too easy to just pull the Equinox and start swinging away without worrying about tearing up my shoulder. Dave, the OP, has years of beach hunting experience and has “tried them all”, including PI’s, I’m sure. I think he was primarily interested in the Equinox as a versatile travel beach machine for his forays to Mexico and knew some compromises would have to be made in order to be able to travel relatively light but was simply disappointed in the wet salt performance he was personally experiencing.

It doesn't have the same problems as single frequency VLF detectors in wet salt. FBS/BBS/Multi IQ and other multi frequency detectors have the ability to balance out salt and therefore establish good stability in wet salt sand. Black sand with salt presents an additional complication and ML has presented a somewhat unique approach with Multi IQ and beach 2 mode to attemot to tackle that issue, but it is not fool proof and folks have had mixed results with it, as evidenced by Dave's and 'HardNox's negative experiences regarding target ID instability or depth. Under these challenging conditions, even small tweaks on key settings and even coil control issues can make a huge difference and can be the key to success or the cause of frustration. Just to be clear, the TDI does not have iron discrimination or iron rejection per se. The ML GPX PI's do have this feature. The TDI does have a ground balance-based breakpoint adjustment which enables discrimination between high and low/mid conductive targets. There still is no one size fits all detector for the myriad of conditions that can be encountered at the beach or in the field, so I agree with you that use of diverse dtector technologies like single and multi vlf and PI give you more options when encountering different situations. Ultimately, one of the strengths of Equinox is that a measure of versatility is built right into the Equinox as it implements a variety of different Multi IQ profiles optimized for different site conditions and target objectives. This is different than even its multifrequency cousins where user settings, discrimination profiles, and how the target information is presented to the user can be tweaked but the underlying multfrequency profile is essentially unchanged. In other words, with Equinox the different modes are not differentiated soley by different user setting presets, but the underlying frequency profile and signal processing is different between modes. This subtle but powerful difference in what comprises the various Equinox search profiles is often overlooked or misunderstood when folks compare Equinox to other detectors, including other multifrequency detectors.

My advice based on experience is that you can pretty much just go with the default on “normal” dry and damp white sand as the mineralization level is usually nil (I’ll usually pump an Auto GB anyway out of habit as that is part of my startup routine). For variable salt and/or black sand conditions in wet sand or the surf zone, I use Beach 2 and tracking just as recommended in the user guide. But as Andy and others have said, if you don’t take the 5 seconds to GB as part of your regular routine, then let your own ears be the judge. No matter what the situation, if you are getting ground feedback noise (no disc), the detector is telling you to do something about it, so listen to it.

Frankly, unlike the Garrett AT series (or CTX for that matter), in my circle of detectorists, I am actually seeing very few folks give up their Deus' for the Equinox. They are getting Equinoxes, no doubt, but they are hanging on to their Deus's. I think they compliment each other. I swing both the XP and the Equinox and have equal and excellent success with both. Just depends on the situation. Can't wait to see how Vanquish will fit into the picture (if at all).

Park 2 is going to favor nickels over high conductors based on the frequency profile FWIW. That doesn't mean it won't hit on high conductors, but might explain your target ratio.

Skate- dunno if you remember me but I was helping out Andy as an assistant instructor during that XP bootcamp, glad you found it worth it.

I provided a similar contribution. Just got my published copy and will dig into it this weekend.

Busho - agree no worries. I think the key is that you need to sweep vice pump to get GB to change when in tracking gb which is different than when doing an auto/manual gb. Ideally, combined with a change in mineralization to trigger the tracking response. Good luck.

First off, great digs Kickindirt! Owning both a Deus and now an ORX, I would have liked to have seen perhaps a pitch tone option and perhaps a 4 or 5 tone option. I am used to pitch on the Deus and the 3 tones really doesn't give me that dig me feel either but it can be utilized successfully. It performs the same as the Deus at the equivalent settings and there are just a few situations where the Deus would outshine ORX. In addition to the limited tone settings on the ORX, the inability to tweak some key settings "under the hood" such as silencer, iron volume, and audio response (like you mentioned) and lack of tracking GB are hindrances but can be worked around for most situations. If I had to go somewhere and would be able to just grab one detector, the ORX would most likely get the job done for me though I would prefer the Deus or an Equinox if it was a beach locale. The ORX is compatible with all the "newer" XP DEUS coils including the White HF coils (13, 28 and 58 khz (9" round coil ) khz or 13, 28, and 72 khz (5x9.5" elliptical coil) and all the new X35 coils (9" round, 11" round, 11x13" elliptical) which can be operated at 4 khz, 8 khz, 12 khz, 18 khz and 25 khz. Only the HF coils have the battery in the lower shaft. I think the 5x9.5" coil does what you describe as your preferred smaller coil option, it has the maneuverability and precision of a 5" coil with swing coverage of a 9.5" coil. It is like a laser beam out there. I like the HF coils for relic hunting because the 28 khz frequency hits hard on mid-conductive relics like brass, and lead. At 13 -14 khz you can do some decent all purpose coin shooting and beach hunting (though DEUS/ORX is marginally stable on wet salt sand). If you want to go deep the X35 series coils can get you that deep silver at 4 khz and 8 khz and puts you at a good place for relic and gold jewelry hunting at the 25 khz high end.

Iron bias simply increases the ferrous weighting that Equinox gives a mixed ferrous/non-ferrous target response. This is fine if you simply want to reduce the likelihood of getting fooled by a ferrous target such as a rusted nail that tends to give both a ferrous and non-ferrous response as you swing the coil across the target. I won't get into the nitty gritty of why that happens, but we all pretty much have experienced it. There are two other target possibilities, however, that will give you a similar mixed response. One is a an actual target of mixed ferrous/non-ferrous composition such as some crown caps and the other is two separate targets in close proximity, one being ferrou and the other non-ferrous. Increasing iron bias simply tells Equinox to more heavily weight the ferrous component of the mixed response giving you a more pure ferrous response and de-emphasizing the non-ferrous response. Great if you want to avoid digging nails or rusty crown caps but not so great if you are looking for partially masked non-ferrous, mid to high conductors amongst a bed of ferrous targets. In that case, those partially masked non-ferrous targets will become totally masked as far as the detectorist is concerned because iron bias will emphasize the ferrous target. I have never seriously prospected for natural gold with a metal detector nor do I have any detecting buddies who prospect, so all I know is what I have read and that has been posted by Steve and other pospecters such you that have posted on various forums. From what I know, typically a gold prospector is neither concerned about ferrous masking nor ferrous falsing, because, as you described it ferrous target density is typically, relatively low and the variability in gold target ID based on nugget mass means that desirable gold targets can fall well into the ferrous range of target IDs. Since neither masking (favoring a lower iron bias setting) nor falsing are a concern (favoring a higher iron bias setting) , the iron bias setting is largely immaterial for the prospector. Since gold does not "false" and may indeed ID around the breakpoint of the ferrous-non-ferrous range and since masking is not of great concern, then keeping IB at the default higher setting on the 800 (IB 6 out of a maximum of 9) is probably a reasonably sound choice because at least you will avoid the falsing that might occur when you sweep over the occasional ferrous target (e.g., nail) that might be giving you a mixed ferrous/non-ferrous signal and IB may help "emphasize" a repeatable signal for those nuggets that ID in the ferrous range that may be in the near proximity to a non-gold, non-ferrous target (this latter point is dubious at best but theoretically true). Seems to be pretty consistent with your actual experience experimenting with IB, Simon. That's my take, anyway based on my understanding of how iron bias works and my limited knowledge of typical prospecting conditions. Perhaps someone else with prospecting experience can chime in.

Way to take advantage of the tear out.

Great article on why coins sink on seemingly hard packed ground or on any type of ground for that matter. Multiple forces are constantly acting to push targets up and down in the ground. https://www.minelab.com/go-minelabbing/treasure-talk/why-do-coins-sink

I was actually directing it primarily at the OP as a follow up to my first response. But I understand your sentiments re beach hunting.

There is a good explanation here by Steve regarding Equinox ground balancing and why a gold optimized mode like that which exists on the Equinox is all wrong for salt based on where salt shows up on the target phase diagram vs. gold and how Multi IQ can be set up to remedy the situation (i.e., the Beach mode Multi IQ setups). It is also linked in the EQUINOX Essentials thread at the top of the forum.

You mean besides in Gold Mode? Gold mode's VCO audio and true threshold vs. the other modes is self adjusting from what I can tell and can be run with no disc applied. It would be a great option if it could be run in the other modes, as I said above.

Dan, those are indeed ringtail Sharps carbine minie balls, but most likely they were from the carbines carried by the US Dragoon troops whose buttons you keep finding there as USA troops also used the ringtail design. Dragoons were mounted like Cavalry (but typically fought dismounted) and as such used carbine rifles like Sharps, Spencers, and Burnsides. CSA Cavalry troops also used Sharps carbines and manufactured some "knockoff" Sharps carbine designs. Ringtail cartridges are most often associated with CSA troops because their arsenals lacked the capability to produce the newer Sharps molds and linen cartridges (which were pasted onto the ball instead of needing the extra "tie ring" required by the old style paper tie cartridges) carried by USA troops during most of of the war, so when ringtails are recovered in areas known for cavalry engagements during the war, it is presumed they are most likely CSA projectiles (though you cannot tell unless a distinguishing arsenal mark is visible). The context and history of record of your outpost site would probably fill in the gaps of the story your finds are helping to write. Enjoy your fun site as long as it lets you, you are pulling some great relics.

Yes, Gold will not run stable on wet salt sand at a reasonable sensitivity setting. Gold mode's hot tuning, ideal for gold, is exactly the opposite of what you need to cancel salt even though the mineralization is typically low. Really need the beach modes which are tuned to reject salt using their own Multi IQ signal processing algorithms yet they can also deal with black sand (without multifrequency it is very hard to balance for salt, let alone salt and ground mineralization, simultaneously). Salt has a different ground phase response than that of mineralized soil which is what the ground balance algorithm is looking for and multifrequency allows Equinox (or any detector) to identify and compensate for this different ground phase delay response vs. dry sand and soil. It is for that reason, ML has even gone the extent of disabling single frequency mode with the beach search profiles (didn't want the complaints from users that single frequency beach modes don't work on wet sand, I guess, lol). Most of the Equinox modes will work find on dry salt sand, though. I too wish ML had provided the VCO audio as a tone option for the other (non-gold) modes.

So if Busho's out of whack number doesn't adjust after sweeping (on mineralized ground) in GB mode or otherwise, he might just have a tracking issue. Will try to get out there and run some tests tomorrow and on an archeological survey outing I have planned in a few days.

I was just attempting to provide some helpful info in my first post and was taken aback at your response which came across like I was somehow wasting your time to a degree. Sorry you took offense at me pointing that out. Not something I am used to receiving when I reach out to help someone out on this board. At least I got three thumbs up from some of the other readers. Lol. Anyway, glad my follow up post helped to answer your questions more thoroughly. My apologies and moving on... I have spent more than a year on this board trying to help folks demystify this Equinox beast. It is a really different animal than any previous ML machine and certainly from most other non-ML machines. The way GB and GB tracking works on this machine is also way different and the way ML describes the various GB modes in the manual and elsewhere leaves a lot of ambiguity and confusion as evidenced by the number of times GB tracking and AUTO GB questions come up. As I reread through some of your posts I think I might see were some of the confusion and frustration you are having is coming from, and it may not necessarily be from a defective tracking algorithm on your machine. I said it before, but I am not sure I was totally clear - Tracking GB DOES NOT sense GROUND PHASE changes. It senses MINERALIZATION changes. While it is true that MINERALIZATION is generally the greatest contributor to GROUND PHASE and is also perhaps the most important constituent, other soil properties can cause the ground phase reading to change. Even if ground phase does change, if it is not a result of mineralization, then 1) tracking will not necessarily pick it up and 2) it does really not matter UNLESS you are getting a lot of ground noise while in SEARCH mode (manifested by a lot of ferrous grunts and -9 to -7 TID readings while swinging with NO DISC AKA HORSESHOE "mode"). Also, I believe based on my experience that tracking will not do anything if you are stationary and pumping in ground balance mode, even if you have manually introduced an artificially high phase imbalance because tracking does not do anything unless you are SWEEPING the coil and it senses a MINERALIZATION change. That certainly won't happen if you are standing in the same place just pumping the coil. Since Equinox does not have a mineralization meter, you cannot infer the degree of mineralization change solely from a change in ground phase reading, you need to listen for ground noise as I described above, during normal search mode swinging and to be totally sure, need to use a separate mineralization meter, if you have access to a detector that has one (XP Deus, Fisher F75, and others). So all this talk of ground noise you are hearing while in GROUND BALANCE mode (indicating a ground phase mismatch with the balance point) is not necessarily all that relevant unless you are also getting a lot of ground noise (as I described above) during normal swinging in your search mode which is indicative of magnetite mineralization that tracking is somehow not responding to. Remember also, that tracking responds relatively slowly vs. the auto gb response but should make the ground noise go away after several swings. And like I said before, Multi IQ in the Equinox does a pretty good job of compensating for a less than ideal ground balance (up to a point), regardless. However, if SEARCH MODE GROUND NOISE is not going away while in tracking mode or is not responsive to a mineralization change, then yeah, you might have an issue with tracking should get it checked out by reaching out to ML support. Good luck and I hope you get tracking GB resolved to your satisfaction.

Yes, mine does well in both the gold and field modes (the primary modes I use relic huning) in heavily mineralized soil, perhaps some of the worst in the US and it has served me well. If you manually take GB way out of balance and switch into tracking mode, tracking is not going to just snap GB into place, especially if you are just standing still. First of all Tracking likes Ground Balance to be set near the actual ground phase reading to start and because it responds relatively slowly and it can only trigger on sensed changes in mineralization, it is not going to handle large step changes in mineralization or ground phase well. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing mineralization level and changes because the Equinox lacks a mineralization meter and you can't infer mineralization level based on the ground phase reading. Tracking perhaps can't handle the large swings in ground phase you are describing and is suited to more gradual changes. If you think tracking is under performing based on the level of ground noise you are experiencing (in other words, you are sure it is doing no better than a single point ground balance and ground phase variations are within reason), a hardware problem is not out of the question and perhaps a call to minelab support is in order. Anyway, it appears based on your tone, I have somehow struck a nerve with my previous response so I am going to disengage at this point. Hope you get a satisfactory resolution.