Chase Goldman

I use Tect o Trak and it is pretty good. You can document finds including snapshots, track your progress through the site, set up site boundaries so it stops recording once you go outside the boundaries (good if you forget to turn tracking off when you leave the site). Works best with a companion app called GPS Locker which gives you more accurate tracks. Haven't really noticed that it burns up the battery that much. When I get a chance will post a sample plot I took of a recent hunt. I honestly wish ML would come out with a companion app like they have for the GO FIND series. Perhaps a future feature. The other app I use is ONX hunts. You a can also track your progress with it including marking finds on a map. A paid feature of the app that you can get property lines and tax record information for private and public properties in all 50 states plus a lot of hunter oriented maps. It is expensive for the 50 state subscription, but the app is well laid out and I use it for secondary tracking and for identifying contact information for prospective permissions. 'HTH.

Thanks, Scott for doing this. Handy little card.

Are you talking screw caps or crown caps?

...because there is typically no mixed ferrous/non ferrous component in Al screw caps unlike with crown caps which is the basis for why the method in the link works (though simply listening for the ferrous crown cap buzz by punching the AM button is a more straight forward and convenient method IMO).

Ed, You won't want to use the supplied wireless headphones phones in the water if there is a chance of them getting knocked off your head or splashed by a wave. If they get splashed or dunked, they are probably toast as they have practically no water resistance. If you are not submerging the pod, 3rd party waterproof wireless BT (APTX or APTX low latency) ear buds will do (~$20-40US) or you can wait for the Equinox compatible waterproof wired headsets but cost and availabity are unknown (anticipate $125 - 175 and several weeks b4 release). Another option is putting the supplied (Equinox 800 only) non-bluetooth WM08 module in a waterprood cell phone pouch with a sealed audio jack and using water resistant or waterproof wired buds or headphones. Note that the Equinox 600 is not supplied with wireless phones or the WM08 wireless low latency receiver but has the same wireless audio transmit capabilities as the Equinox 800. HTH. By the way, since I don't dive, I see no reason to keep my Excal II around any longer but I also never really got enough hours to get proficient on it either. The Equinox was pulling deep (10" to 15"+) mid conductive (e g., nickels) and high conductive targets from wet sand at the tide line for me (too cold yet to take a dip). That's when I knew the Excal was toast.

Also, if manual noise cancel didnt work (remember, also each mode requires a separate noise cancel too) don't forget to try to lower sensitivity first (I wouldn't go much below 15) before bailing on MultiIQ and going to single. Example noise reduction sequence: Obviously, avoid power lines, dog fences, electric fences, transformer boxes, cell towers, radio towers, airports, WiFi repeaters, busy roads, if you can, but site selection limits what you have control over. Even high altitude aircraft flybys can transiently cause issues. Remove/shield personal sources of EMI (e g., cell phone, GPS Device, Walkie Talkie) and other powered on detectors. Select Mode then Auto Noise Cancel then Manual Noise Cancel, if auto ineffective, then Auto/Man GB if ground noise present, then Lower Sens (wouldn't go much lower than 13 - 15), then Either try switching modes (don't forget to Auto/Man noise cancel and GB again, as necessary, when you do switch) or If you still want to stay in the present mode, progressively notch out lower VDIs or Go Single Freq (higher freqs are less sensitive to EMI but also less sensitive to higher conductors). You can improvise and mix up the order of the last few steps at or after sensitivity reduction depending on your situation and personal target preferences. It's all about tradeoffs and maintaining as much capability (e.g., depth vs. target selection) as you possibly can. Note: once you go single Freq I don't think it matters which Park or Field mode you are in at that point other than the tone, recovery, and iron bias default settings associated with those modes. Beach doesn't have single Freq capability and Gold has VCO audio so they are different animals altogether.

That's exactly when you find them. Congrats! And thanks for the confirmed VDI!

And copper cleans up with a little salt and white vinegar. Use a toothpick to remove any loose dirt/crud first. Basically, you want to leave any "collectable" coins as is. You also might try posting in the coin shooting and jewelry forum for general coin cleaning advice from those who don't have a reason to visit this forum because they don't have or plan to get an Equinox (I know, gasp! Lol)

Great report. Especially liked the discussion of target marking and comparison between the detectors. Wonder how those marks might have sounded in various Equinox modes. Just really illustrates the point that you need to hit a site with different detectors or at least different modes. Diversity of tools is key. Also, liked how you didn't give up and followed one last hunch and it paid off.

The quick start guide also says in the inset note to GB if you are experiencing excessive ground noise. I totally agree that despite the fact that each mode grabs a widely different number on the same patch of ground, possibly indicative of different GB algorithms, I also noticed that the ground grab appears to not be a critical component of detector performance, per se, (compared to other detectors I've used) as it really just incrementally improves signal to noise ratio (something Steve H has been emphasuzing a lot lately btw for this and other adjustments). I also agree that another way to look at it is that Equinox is indeed more forgiving of a less than exact GB.

Gerry, When Steve almost moved the thread (based on my semi sarcastic initial response) and then gave me the "rest of the story" reply, the lightbulb clicked. Thanks for the great story and the fun way you chose to present it. Also, a learning moment for me to remember not to take everything at face value and to think harder about why you were posting it. Something to consider when encountering folks posts that might otherwise cause you to scratch your head. Chase

No, no, Daniel. I am glad you posted what you did and completely get what you were saying, why you were saying it and appreciate you doing so. I was talking about MY post continuing the discussion on DIV which might be considered off topic for this forum but wanted to provide the additional context that you were getting at that the lack of finds was not a funtion of the Equinox but more about operator inexperience with a new site with A LOT of ground to be covered. I also wanted to get the point across about how the 6" coil would have been useful in spots. Sorry, looks like I was the one who muddied things up. Lol.

I don't want to turn this thread into too much of a DIV discussion in an Equinox forum, but I get why you are saying what you are saying. I will say this, you are right that this hunt was not focused on a dug in winter camp, but a few summer time camps where the units only stayed a few weeks. One site also had a small camp that had been accessed over the years but the DIV allowed access to other areas not previously accessed by a lot of folks. Local relic hunters definitely had the advantage and some inside knowledge about the sites once they became known which was the day before the hunt. I know you know all this Daniel, but for the benefit of others, just wanted to paint a picture. This is one of those deals where most folks are completely unfamiliar with what was there and have to spend the entire DIV figuring out what's what. You only have three days to do that and if you don't happen on any of the hot spots then you are toast. It takes A LOT OF LUCK, patience, perhaps some research and talking to other folks there about what is going on, and some hard physical work that involves more than wandering around a corn field with your fingers crossed and you were, perhaps, rewarded. It was like solving a puzzle in one of those puzzle rooms full of clues but you have only a limited amount of time to solve it. This is not a comment on Daniel's buddy because I don't know the particulars of his situation, but I know of entire car pools that went away nearly empty handed who are comprised of experienced diggers and worked hard. But I think a majority of what I would call "casual" relic hunters who typically have an easier time at most DIVs were indeed disappointed. The site location is withheld until the last minute to prevent night hawking before the start but it also prevents you from doing any pre-hunt research on the location unless you are already familiar with the site once its announced because you have local knowledge. While some displays did have few finds, others had plenty so I am not sure a whole lot can be concluded from the trailers except that getting a farm permission anywhere in that area guarantees you will find CW relics (!). I also know that large parts of the site were not touched because they would involve long, long hikes to the outskirt boundaries which included the Rappahannock River that surrounded 40 to 50 percent of the property. Yeah, that Rappahannock River. If DIV does return there in the future, I know exactly where I am going (beside taking a hike to the river). It is a 1.5 mile, hilly hike and it involves moving rocks, roots, and logs in thornbush and poison ivy thickets and fallen tree hollows full of barrel bands and ration can pieces. What's my point? If it does happen again, that site, full of buttons and corps badges based on the finds so far and sets up perfectly for an Equinox with a 6" coil...hope that coil becomes available before the next DIV. lol. I am pretty confident the relic hunter who knows the site "hot spots" who is swinging the Equinox will do better with it than with just about any other VLF - with Deus, Impact/Multi Kruzer [multiple frequency choices and speed] very close behind and the F75/T2/MXT/AT Gold etc not too far back from that. I give the edge to the Equinox because I think it gives a reliable tone/VDI the deepest in that hot soil so it gives you a fighting chance to make a good dig decision. The others will likely "see" the deep (>5+ inches) targets but you are probably guessing as to whether it is ferrous/non ferrous for the most part.

I use the WM08 with a pair of water resistant over the ear headphones in the event of inclement weather because the BT headphones supplied with the Equinox do not like moisture. However, I would have preferred to use my APTX earbuds that are water resistant except the weather was cold, so I went with the WM08 solution and full sized cans. Kind of for the opposite reason than why you opted for the WM08. LOL. I like the additional headphone options the WM08 opens up, but, coming from Deus also, prefer the complete wireless audio solution when possible. The WM08 "pendant" looks like a viable and great "ready now" solution, however, realizing that the cell towers may be causing significant interference in your actual detecting environs (not clear if you tested it outside or just inside your house) and not just the orientation and relative shielding of the receiver, the BT APT X earbuds might also be worth a shot down the road if you can't shake the dropouts - BT is apparently not subject to the interference issue you are having, BT earbuds solve the sun hat issue (reason you were turning to the WM08?) and, in the end, result in less claptrap to have to deal with out in the field. Drawbacks are additional cost and possible lag (though BT APTX should be ok and I did some additional research since my previous post and found the two affordable earbud solutions that claim BT APTX LL compatibility. Again just a suggestion if, in the end, WM08 is still acting up and for anyone else out there looking for BT APTX LL earbuds: https://www.amazon.com/X-Buds-Metal-Bluetooth-Headphones-Sweatproof/dp/B01MRSUQAK/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1522112847&sr=1-2-spons&keywords=aptx+low+latency+bluetooth+earbuds&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-EC-Technology-Headphones-Cancelling/dp/B072KVY42X/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1522112847&sr=1-4&keywords=aptx+low+latency+bluetooth+earbuds

Good solution. I always had it in my detecting vest upper pocket so I guess that is why it was not dropping out on me.

They do have a mic.

My Answer: Dig the rest of it out of the ground...

BTW if my relic hunting ineptness makes you doubt the Equinox capabilities in hot Culpeper ground, beside abenson's finds, doubt no more. I met a fella with an Equinox 800 who basically cleaned up at that bed o nails house site with two large cents, a 2c piece, and a CS buckle wreath. After chatting with him, found he was running Field 2 and frequently GBing, also. At least I independently had my machine running just like Mr. Success...and no...we didn't find the dang CS buckle tongue ... but oh how we tried. Lol.

I haven't experienced this problem with the WM08 and have a few hours of run time on it. But if you need earbuds or backphones to accommodate your headgear, consider purchasing some BT APTX Ear buds(~$20 -30) or try regular BT buds if you have them to see if the lag is tolerable. I have not found affordable APTX LL Ear buds. I know you shouldn't have to spend extra $ since the WM08 should work but if external interference where you detect is the issue, you may not have a choice and since BT is working for you...

Just got back Not a lot of relics for me. Some round and minie balls but other then Twelfth GA flat buttons (some deep, old, and partial, others amongst thick iron) and some modern bullets and casings, I hit no period brass but plenty period lead and iron. I have confidence the Equinox would have pulled me a button if I had gotten my coil over one or two. So as a relic hunter...disappointment. I have a chance to redeem myself in a couple weeks. As a detector geek, it was a really good time. Some of the below is "repackaged" from abenson's thread, so if you are having Deja Vu... I wanted to start my own thread with all the info consolidated but also directly address some of abenson's issues based on what I observed, hence the repeat info. EMI, Ground Noise and Coil Noises: 1) Manual Noise Cancel helped on some occasions when Auto didn't pick the optimal channel IMO (a feature the 600 lacks). This was ESPECIALLY important here where you could have up to 25 - 50 GPX's within a few hundred feet. Only once or twice, though, was interference really bad such that I had to pause detecting. Never had to reduce sensitivity below 17 and tried to keep it around 20 and no higher than 22 (again, try to stay near the presets folks, they do appear to be optimal for most situations). 2) Did not use GB tracking (except in Gold Mode which has tracking on by default) but Auto GB'd frequently and found GB (in Field 2 mode) varied anywhere from 4 to 6 in some spots and between 44-56 in other spots. This variability could result in some adverse performance if you just went with the defalt GB setting or did not rebalance frequently. I also noticed a strange phenomenon when GB was set high (i.e., in the 40+ range) that the coil would false on impact with corn stalks or even if you just shook the coil in the air. This did not happen when GB was set close to zero. When I first experienced it I thought I had a loose coil connection or imminent coil failure until I cycled through the modes and noticed that it did not happen on all modes. I finally figured it out when I had re GB'd to a lower number and it went away. Will try tracking at the next mineralized site but did not want to "chance it" here. I have more confidence in it since using gold mode - one of the things I learned from gold mode. Also note that I did not really have a chance to actually gage mineralization because I never pulled out a detector with an Fe302 mineralization meter on it to correlate the GB readings to mineralization. 3) Very important to run the Equinox fast near its defaults on recovery speed. In this soil, 7 worked well on "ground noise" and sometimes 8. This is where the 600 maximum recovery speed limit might make a difference. I did not have a 600 to compare but I know I would not run Field 2 below its default of 7 which is higher than the max setting equivalent setting on the 600. I ran my Equinox 800 in mostly Field 2 and it was great. I used it all three days and only used the GPX for a few short hours in the morning of the third day. I forced myself to stick with it and while I did not score any Eagle buttons, did get some minie and round balls. One round ball was deep 9+ inches and ID'd clearly though the numbers wavered between 14 to 16 and you had to have the coil centered and wiggled to lock in the ID. I found one minie not deep but in highly mineralized and trashy ground under a tree root and the ID was very choppy as a result but dug and was rewarded. Iron tones (ground noise) abounded in the mineralized soil I set up two Field 2 programs. One I kept in the user profile which was basically the default Field 2 50 tones with Recovery at 7 (Very Important to note that this is slightly higher than default on the 600 which is limited to the 800 equivalent of a 6 setting max) and Iron Bias at 0. I used this program when in thick iron and wanted to be sure I did not inadvertently mask non-ferrous or to interrogate targets that gave off choppy high tones in my "main" Field 2 program (described below) to see if the high tone was falsing or wraparound (if the high tone increased in the presence of a ferrous tone then I could pretty much confirm it was an iron target and not a masked non-ferrous, this technique is not foolproof, however). The other I ran most of the time which was exactly the same but without much fear of masking in the open fields, I ran Iron Bias up to 6 to limit falsing on nail heads. I sill need to experiment with Iron Bias but I felt this set up well for how I was hunting. I also dialed in a little threshold. This enabled me to not be completely in the dark on iron if I chose to run discrimination. I made liberal use of the AM button either to flat out search in AM or to interrogate choppy high tones as describe above. Threshold kept me apprised of the iron situation full time regardless of the disc mode I used. In a thick bed of nails house site on the property, I experimented with Gold Mode and THAT was very interesting and promising. More on that later... Not a great DIV for me with respect to finds (and believe me there were plenty of great finds to be had, they were just concentrated in a few specific couple acre camp areas on 1500 acres of farmland), something I did not figure out soon enough, lol. However, it was a great opportunity to learn the detector as I put nearly 30 more hours on it and learned a hell of a lot. To be continued...

Just got back also and will write a more detailed review later. My experience was a little different but you definitely did well getting those buttons especially using Beach Mode in highly mineralized ground where the detector is automatically going to throttle back power - which cold explain the limited VDI depth in your case. I did not try beach mode, but there might be "last ditch" advantages to using that mode in highly mineralized situations because the throttle back may be the only thing you can do to "see through the fog". I did not really have a chance to actually gage mineralization because I never pulled out a detector with an Fe302 mineralization meter on it. Other then Twelfth GA flat buttons (some deep, old, and partial, others amongst thick iron) and some modern bullets and casings, I hit no period brass but plenty period lead and iron. I have confidence the Equinox would have pulled me a button if I had gotten my coil over one or two. Regarding chattiness three things: 1) Manual Noise Cancel helped on some occasions when Auto didn't pick the optimal channel IMO (a feature the 600 lacks). This was ESPECIALLY important here where you could have up to 25 - 50 GPX's within a few hundred feet. Only once or twice, though, was interference really bad such that I had to pause detecting. Never had to reduce sensitivity below 17 and tried to keep it around 20 and no higher than 22 (again, try to stay near the presets folks, they do appear to be optimal for most situations). 2) Did not use GB tracking (except in Gold Mode which has tracking on by default) but Auto GB'd frequently and found GB (in Field 2 mode) varied anywhere from 4 to 6 in some spots and between 44-56 in other spots. This variability could result in some adverse performance if you just went with the defalt GB setting or did not rebalance frequently. I also noticed a strange phenomenon when GB was set high (i.e., in the 40+ range) that the coil would false on impact with corn stalks or even if you just shook the coil in the air. This did not happen when GB was set close to zero. When I first experienced it I thought I had a loose coil connection or imminent coil failure until I cycled through the modes and noticed that it did not happen on all modes. I finally figured it out when I had re GB'd to a lower number and it went away. Will try tracking at the next mineralized site but did not want to "chance it" here. I have more confidence in it since using gold mode - one of the things I learned from gold mode. 3) Very important to run the Equinox fast near its defaults on recovery speed. In this soil, 7 worked well on "ground noise" and sometimes 8. This is where the 600 maximum recovery speed limit might make a difference. I did not have a 600 to compare but I know I would not run Field 2 below its default of 7 which is higher than the max setting equivalent setting on the 600. See my thread below for more detailed info of how I was using the Equinox 800 in Culpeper:

Norm, I like how you did that and made this thread remotely applicable to this forum by using the "E" word.

Welcome Don. Great forum because the people are great and just want to talk about detecting and detectors and not push buttons. Anyway have only detected as far north as southern Pennsylvania (I hail from Northern VA) {not counting a club hunt on the beach near Asbury Park) but am looking to get up north to do some detecting and see a different side to history at some point, perhaps this summer.

Interesting discussion. Perhaps this should be posted in the Get Permission First Fan Club forum...just sayin'.

Amen to that! Anyway, though I fully enjoyed the description of how a master coin shooter painstakingly goes about his business, this entire discussion made me realize why the Equinox sets up well for me. I don't just do one type of hunting as I hit the beaches for coins and jewelry and scenery , the parks for same, the farm fields and the old home sites for period coins and artifacts, freshwater streams for whatever and encounter salt to mild to hot soil conditions, hot sun, pouring rain, blowing snow, ocean waves and can bring the same detector every time...now. Oh, and based on my experience with a bed o nails former home site feel I can get away without the 6" coil unless I am in very tight quarters. In other words, I do not really see a need for the 6" coil solely for separation. Point is, one detector, one coil and 90%+ of my detecting needs are met.