MarXthespot

How did you go about learning the hands on part? I think that market might have been small in the past and from a single country perspective, but in a global market, I think today it is a bigger and growing market. The options of how to do it probably abound even more with time too. I wish I knew more about the "how to's" of this subject.

So much there, I want to read it again a few times.

and that is really what detecting is really all about, isn't it? The fun. I think most everybody will agree about that. I apoligize, auminesweeper, if anything I said came off as mean spirited or defensive. I really think we are all looking to have fun and enjoy this, and the last thing I want to do is take the fun out of this for anybody.

Of course not! We all speak from our own perspectives. Besides, it is unavoidable that people will disagree or see things from different perspectives. Disagreement is fine, and even a good thing, as long as it doesn't descend into mean spirited conflict. I don't think it has. In fact, I think we actually agree in principle. I just wanted to make sure less informed people don't get lost in a forest of info that can get confusing.

Just so I'm clear, I didn't take what you said as an attack on Minelab or me or anybody. I took what you said as something similar to how I took Mike Hillis' comments... as, to borrow his words,... The way I understand that is, you are both just pointing out ways Equinox could be better. I agree. I think Equinox could be better. I just think those potential improvements are very small potatoes compared to what one would be giving up by purchasing another detector, in that price range. And that is what I want to make sure newbies reading this forum understand clearly. I don't doubt your sincerity or his. I hope you don't doubt mine. I really think the whole long exchange that this forum represents helps people learn from many perspectives, and get to what works and is true for them. I really do value everybody's opinion, even when I disagree. We all have experiences others haven't had. and I agree with you, in principle, but for me that shortcoming is easily overcome, so it carries little influence for me. I said there was no vitriol/venom in my words, and I meant it. I do value your input, and we agree the balancing could be better.

The march of technological advancement is relentless and accelerating. If you are a tech business, ignoring this fact means death, sooner or later. And the sooner happens more and more all the time.

Unless my marketing team has Rasputinlike mind control abilities over an entralled army of fanboys, and I'm certain of it, in a word, NO.

Quibble about the minutia, and make small arguments against Equinox all you like. If you are coming from a place like Mike... fair enough, experienced detectorists can deal with that for what it is. However, there are also the less experienced/informed out there who are trying to make wise buying decisions about how to spend their hard earned dollars. They can get distracted and confused more easily by the minutia. So, it is important for someone to point out the broader perspective, like I did there, and many others do on this forum every day. Nit picking is fine, as no product is ever 100% perfect, BUT (and it is a BIG BUT) muddying the waters for the inexperienced is not always helpful here. This is a learning environment for all of us at various levels, and for new people in a big way. There are MANY very good reasons why the Equinox is routinely compared to detector 2-3 times more expensive. The other manufacturers KNOW they are in trouble now in the $600 - $1500 price range if they don't up their game. Throwing pebbles from the sidelines only buttresses these larger realities (Is that what you intended all along??). It is important for the prospective buyer reading here, for whom that amount of money is significant, that knowledgeable people point out how minor the arguments against Equinox are, and how strong the arguments for Equinox are. Yes, you might find some detector that is better at this or that response in this or that particular situation (the very reason I wouldn't use the word "obsoletes" if I was Minelab's marketing director), BUT across the board?? No way. Equinox outdistances the competition by a good margin, if you don't already have a whole arsenal of detectors. In many instances, even people who do have a whole arsenal of detectors and tons of experience agree. I own one, and I know it isn't 100% perfect, but for someone new, I don't see any competitors that even come close in Equinox's price range. THAT is the bottom line newbies need to know and hear clearly before the noise and masking try to cover it up. So, thanks, sincerely, Mike Hillis and auminesweeper for offering small ways Minelab might be able to up their game. I want my next detector to be 100% perfect too. I'm just glad I got my Equinox 800 before your arguments had any influence to dissuade me from a great purchase. If it sounds like there is any vitriol to my words, don't take it that way. I really do think the quibbling is important for all the competitors in this field to hear, so they all know what we want/like. That way they know how to make products that will make us all even happier customers. I agree the counter balancing could be better, but not to the point it would indicate anything like a different purchase decision. It is easily improved. I'm not a Minelab fanboy either. My wallet is ready to spend on whomever's product performs the best for me. I advocate the same for everyone else, whether they agree with my assessments or not.

Just shorten the length and move the sweep in closer to the body. Some people cause issues for themselves just by swinging too wide, even with a 3 lbs. detector. If that doesn't do it for someone, different folks on this forum have shown useful ways to put recharge batteries below the elbow rest. There are more simple and creative modifications coming too, like stands and such that can easily counter balance to anyone's custom fit. If none of that suits someone, there is always the route of using the weight assists typically employed for much heavier machines, those really work on any machine. No need for anybody to break a wrist with any machine really.

Thank you for keeping the signal/noise ratio high in this forum Steve.

Consider yourself lucky?? Ours goes by gross vehicle weight or something similar. My vehicles have been in the $100 - $200 range in recent years. No, I'm not driving a semi.

Agreed!

Just to be clear, I was laughing about your use of words here, and not laughing at you. I'm pretty sure you got that, but... this would be a pretty ironic post to be the jerk laughing AT somebody.

I'm pretty sure the bottom shaft of the Equinox is not metal. It seems plastic, or it might be composite, but they are almost certainly keeping nonwire metal away from the magnetic field the coil generates.

I will too. This taught me a lesson. I could have been easily caught out on that one too.

I guess Equinox would make more sense there since a GPZ doesn't take a usb charge. But that is still good info.

That isn't bad news phrunt. This is valuable info. BAD news is being 100 kms from the nearest watering hole in the middle of the Pilbara, with a flat GPZ, without a decent charge to be found anywhere.

My hardware store has holsters for carpenters to carry their hammers in, and found that worked for me.

Best of luck at the doc. Hope you feel better soon.

Can you post a picture DSMITH?

Like Steve said near the top of the show about George Kinsey and others, there a just certain people that you have to pay attention to. Some people have a wealth of experience you have to respect. You are certainly one of those people Steve. I'll certainly tune in when you're on again.

I got right between your goalposts with a screaming 36 in my backyard that turned out to be a 6" hunk of angle iron buried between a foot and 16" deep. I guess the builders figured it would be cheaper to bury their waste instead of put it in a dumpster. Beneath my yard from 6" down is like a building materials landfill.

Yes. Start slow. Build up. For both strength and endurance. Eat your fruits and veggies like your momma told you too!

Thanks for the inspiration Skate. I need to see if my dad might be interested in going for a hunt. I think it would be great if he is interested. I'm going from zero to two detectors this week. Thanks Steve H!

There are so many resources available, it is hard to keep up. I know remote detection/sensing is taboo these days, mostly for good reason, BUT don't be too surprised not that many years down the road if/when that is no longer the case. There are advanced technologies that will eventually make our heads spin.