Chase Goldman

Exactly, so test your run of the mill BT ear buds you already have lying around the house and if they don't do the trick, opt for Apt X LL. Just as Dr. T's experience doesn't guarantee another won't have latency issues, it is not a certainty that the latency of non-APT X LL earphones will not be tolerable. For example, I have not experienced noticeable audio lag while watching video with my high end BT sports headset, but it is not Apt X LL, so I am going to give them a shot on the Equinox. If latency is an issue, hello APT X LL. In the mean time I can use the supplied APT X ll headset. BTW - Thanks for pointing out the difference between APT X LL vs APT X and for the latency comparison chart.

Of these, the Gold Kruzer is most compelling to me. Nice high frequency selection. Would have been nice to be able to also select ~30 khz or 1/2 max frequency too, (a la Deus) to give it a larger optimal target range capability (and 15 khz, even better, to give it some high conductor chops). If the multi-frequency Kruzer had been released as the Impact a year ago (even at the Impact price point) you would have had a buyer. Now, unfortunately, competition from another manufacturer fielding innovative detecting technology may keep this from becoming the breakthrough detector series it could have been in 2017. I really like the intuitive display screen layout and control push buttons (but am still a big fan of that First Texas multifunction, clickable control knob that appears on the F70/F75 and T2/G2). Really nice line-up Nokta.

I, on the other hand, like to come up with solutions in search of a prblem. I am not well liked. I have one of the third party detector stands shown previously. Cost me a couple of bucks off ebay. Looks like the new Nokta Kruzer will have a superior detector stand (see the Makro stand posted previously), so might have to reconsider my preorder...

Absolutely, this can be done. There are several practical compact, efficient, and powerful solar panels that you can just hang off of a backpack while you are detecting, some even with integrated storage batteries. They typically have usb connectors so you could plug the Minelab Equinox charge cable directly into them or just charge one of the power banks we have been talking about. One drawback is that they need to be continuously facing bright sunlight to do their thing continuously, otherwise you will intermittently drain the Equinox battery. Power drops off precipitously in shade and cloud cover and as panel area decreases (which makes those power banks with small integrated solar panels impractical as they would take several days of sunlight to recharge). Also, compared to the rechargeable battery packs we've been discussing, they are quite a bit more expensive for the backpack sized, efficient panels needed to supply enough current to run the the Equinox.

Good clue as to how little battery capacity the Equinox needs to operate for a full day. Bet the AA pack can get it fully charged. Really want to know the outcome of the experiment.

I use Grease Monkey Gorilla Grip gloves for all weather conditions. Perhaps not the best when cold and wet but at $3 pair, they last a long time and are easily replaced and I can still operate my phone, detector controls, and handle tiny targets without removing them and even though they are form fitting, have never ripped them or cut myself on sharp targets in the hole. The inside (grip side) uses a nice grip nitrile-like material and the back is a breathable fabric. Small enough to just shove into your pants pocket and light/compact enough to always carry a spare pair with ease in your finds pouch.

Thanks Steve for running the test. Encouraging results. I wish ML would give us the mah rating of the Equinox battery so we could size the emergency power bank to give us at least one complete recharge.

I would just get one (or more) $10, 10000 mah portable power bank. It's cheaper (when you account for the alkaline battery cost), less weight per mah, can give you the necessary current, and you are giving the environment a break. (Each alkaline AA battery cell has about 2500 mah capacity). E.g. Aibocn Power Bank 10,000mAh External Battery Charger with Backup Flashlight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013HIR1Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_w2rAAbNKAEE5J Not trying to burst a bubble (and I too am interested from an academic standpoint in what Steve finds out as to how much of a recharge he can get from the AA power bank gizmo). All I am saying is that the state of Li Ion and Li Polymer technology has gotten to the point that using single use AA or even rechargeable AA batteries for applications where you are not constrained to using a legacy AA battery compartment is neither cost effective nor efficient from a weight, volume, energy, or power standpoint. Heck, I use a Li Ion battery pack the size of a paperback book to jumpstart my car! Time to overcome collective fears of being stuck in the middle of the desert with a dead Equinox battery and having nothing but a pocket full of AA spares you originally purchased for your AT Pro. Just get one of these inexpensive rechargeable power banks to keep your depleted Equinox going and you can use its flashlight to get you back to your vehicle after detecting for 16 hours straight. If you do have a boatload of spare AA's sitting around, though, because you got rid of your AT Max or whatever to get an Equinox. Steve's little battery pack is a GREAT way to put them back to work for you in a pinch.

And if whatever you are doing is working for you, DO NOT CHANGE just because of what [us] so called experts are saying. You may have discovered some quirk of the machine or something. Just because we don’t understand why it’s working for you, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. But, yeah, get more hours, get comfortable and then try some “informed” tweaks. Unfortunately, you may be spending too much time with your Equinox to get there. Lol.

Thx. Steve. Probably taking a big chance anyway going deep enough to submerge the control box and thinking your head won't get wet.

Is the connector on the non waterproof wired phones that come with the 600 also not waterproof? Would have been nice to be able to use the wireless phones that came with the 800 in a manner such that you could have them wired to a submerged the control box without ruining the wired cord connector at the control box end even if you never intended to have the phones themselves (or your head) get dunked since wireless doesn’t work with the control box submerged. If the 600 wired phones enable you to do this, that would be advantageous over the 800 setup.

Is the expectation that accurate GB tracking on wet salt sand is independent of whether you are in Beach mode 1 or 2 and Equinox can accurately GB track in wet salt sand in any mode (I am only talking wet salt sand GB tracking not target ID in wet salt sand which is obviously optimized when in beach mode based on the Multi IQ algorithm independent of ground tracking accuracy)? Or are they interrelated in that optimal Target ID in wet salt sand is dependent on the combination of superior wet salt sand GB tracking which only occurs in Beach mode combined with the Beach mode Multi IQ targeting algorithm?

Lol. C’mon, Mike. Give in to the dark side. Resistance is futile! Scratch that marketing generated itch. You know you really want to.

That is an excellent question. In another thread I was just explaining how on the Deus you have to manually switch between "normal" GB Tracking mode to wet salt beach GB mode and there is no tracking option when in Wet salt beach GB mode.

Beachunter - you seem a tad taken aback by all the questions, so let me frame this for you. I have owned a Deus for more than 3 years. It took me well over a year, bootcamp class, extra handbooks, numerous forum visits, and hundreds of hours to get a handle on the nuances of the machine. On the other hand, I was able to take it out of the box on stock settings and find $5 in clad on the first day I got the machine. People are asking you these questions because the Deus is notorious for not being the most stable machine in wet salt sand. Typically, if you are hunting between dry and wet sand (actively being covered by surf, not just damp) typically requires you to manually shift ground balance to wet beach mode to shift to the lower salt ground phase readings (Deus does not seamlessly track between normal ground phase settings you use on dry sand and wet salt beach ground phase settings). People are interested in how you have tweaked the machine to be successful in wet beach mode - it is kind of a big deal if you have successfully done it on a consistent basis. The fact that you are using stock dry beach mode and the fact that you don't know the operating frequency with a coil that can be set anywhere between 13 and 80 khz (a HUGE range that can totally alter the machine's performance and what targets the machine can actually "see") yet are being successful is very counterintuitive to those who really know the Deus. People aren't "concerned" as much as wondering how you are managing to pull that off, and as a result, you are going to have a lot of experienced Deus users asking you questions. I have found the new HF coils to be quiet and stable overall compared to their low frequency predecessors. I still have not cracked the true wet beach nut with the Deus and is one of the things that first attracted me to Minelab's first fast, yet relatively inexpensive, multi frequency machine. Had to get that last line in there because this is an Equinox forum after all. lol. HTH

Two words: Sunray Probe. In other words it CAN be done. But why? One situation is when you are relic hunting and clearing out a large trash or fire pit or hut, having a handheld probe that can quickly help you comb through the dirt tailings for goodies (vs. the numerous nails and ration can pieces that you will inevitably encounter) is a huge time saver especially if you are in a confined area that doesn't lend itself to swinging a full-sized detector along the walls of the pit. Especially one that has trouble separating ferrous and non-ferrous targets in a high trash density environment such as what I just described. It's a niche use to be sure, but I know a few thousand relic hunters who would probably buy a Pinpointer that could do that and it makes ALL the sense in the world to them. The magnet is an alternative but tedious to use also. My Deus does a pretty good job at it especially with the small form factor elliptical coil and wireless setup it can be broken down and used like a Pinpointer on steroids. Kind of expensive, though. Lol.

Yep. That would be relic hunting, as many desirable relic targets are mid conductors like brass. Add to that improved performance in mineralized soils and high recovery for dealing with iron infested sites and you have a potential winner. The Deus relic hunting community is already reaping the unanticipated benefits of the recently introduced HF coils which were also marketed as primarily prospecting coils. Multi IQ potentially ups the game further and is generating excitement.

That is the purpose of the link as I posted in my other response above 3rd post in the three). Steve has been consolidating the published/Minelab Confirmed Info here: http://www.detectorprospector.com/metal-detecting/minelab-multi-iq-technology-details-explained.htm

From the article linked above: Beach 1 also processes a lower weighted combination, BUT uses different algorithms to maximise ground balancing for salt. Hence being most suited for both dry and wet sand conditions. Beach 2 processes a very low weighted frequency combination, using the same algorithms as Beach 1 to maximise ground balancing for salt. This search profile is designed for use in the surf and underwater. Therefore, Beach 2 uses lower frequencies than Beach 1 which is consistent with Steve's list above.

Same here.

Just use your choice of the other modes for dry sand. Park 2, Field 2, or Gold 1/2 if you're looking primarily for gold jewelry or coins and Park 1 or Field 1 for silver or clad. You may have to experiment with the various non-beach modes to see which one provides the best results for your intended targets or the best all-around balanced silver + gold target performance. This answer is consistent with a similar question you had here regarding gold hunting in dry beach conditions.

Steveg, To answer your other question, integrated plug adapters adapting a large plug to a small receptical are typically wide diameter to accommodate the larger plug. The pigtail wire moves the larger plug adapter barrel receptical back away from where you are plugging it in so less chance of interference with that recessed receptical on the WM08/Equinox. HTH.

Add $150 (CTX phones price) to the 800 price and you pretty much have it bracketed. I am more frustrated about not having an availability date for the phones, than a price. But as long as they are available b4 May, that will be ok with me.

And to piggy back on Steve's response, a pigtail type adapter (similar to the official Minelab accessory adapter) rather than an integrated plug type of adapter would likely give you the best chance of not having an Interference issue.

Good point. Could have some bearing on those who have not yet made the decision to buy. But still probably a low # compared to those that have bought in already, regardless. Also, just knowing a six inch coil will be on the shelf is good enough for me. I will take the weeks needed to learn the machine then get around to purchasing the coil when available. Wish a medium sized elliptical was on the horizon. Coming from Deus, any "normal" accessory coil price seems like a bargain. Lol.