Yellowstone

Got a desert trip planned in a couple of weeks and was wondering if anyone (Steve especially) has had a chance to test out the AQ for nuggets?  I got mine at the end of September and it has already paid for itself in beach finds, including my first platinum ring ever, a 25.2 gram monster.

I know it's not designed for prospecting, but was thinking about taking along it to play around.  I did air test a 2.0 gram gold/quartz nugget with Pulse Delay of 7, max sensitivity and minimum ATS and it was a solid hit at 5" and broke the threshold at 7".  For each 1/2 increase of Pulse Delay, I lost about an inch or so.

If anyone has field experience, I would like to know your results.  I will relay actual findings (if any) after I get back.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

John

Steve, thanks for the tips.  Alexandre said even mute mode may be effective in some of these black sand layers.  With the Equinox, all I get is the overload symbol.

Alexandre, that is impressive.  Thanks for sharing!

This is the type of beach hunting where I see that the AQ will shine.  Here’s hoping I get to test it this summer.

Kudos to Rick for being Fisher's torchbearer on the AQ.  I can't imagine the grief and torment he has been through these past few years of product development.  I beach hunt five days a week and can not tell you how many times I have dreamed of this machine when I run across the black sands - a little more depth, better discrimination and a bit more gold.  Rick has kept my passion alive waiting for the Impulse.  Thanks, Rick.

Steve, I am so glad you are getting one of the first units available for sale.  I look forward to your commentary on the unit and hope it brings joy to your summer hunting experience.

Hopefully one will be available soon for this old sand fisherman!

As I do 90 percent of my hunting at the beach, I'm all in.  After following this topic for almost 2 years, I've seen enough to know it will be better than what I'm using now.  Bring on the gold!

Just got a couple pics of a Franklin half dollar recovered yesterday by my buddy after 60 years of sunbathing on the beach.   He also found 2 silver Rosies. Hunting in pinpoint mode.

Johnny, were side by side in a patch of black sand and he was pulling silver coins and buffalo nickels.  I was wanting to move on when he showed me what he was doing.  At first, all I got was an earful of noise and thought I would try it again by myself.  Took some getting used to, but now I have another tool to try when the hunting is tough.

Went back out yesterday for more comparisons.  Again in heavy black sands (sometimes overload indicator came on), Beach 1 and 2 not very effective.  Pinpoint did find a clad dime.  Dropped down to wet slope and waterline.  Used Beach 1, GB=0, F2=0, 5 tones, but increased recovery from 4 to 6.  Found a silver cross, copper ring and a few bits of lobster traps (still dig all targets til I get used to new settings).  Even in ankle deep water, Beach 1 very stable with sensitivity at 21-23.

Thanks to all who helped me walk through my questions.  Now I need to try Jeff's suggestions and see what treasures lie beneath the desert sands.

Sinclair, after doing the comparisons, I was hunting in Beach 1.  Gold and Silver found in Beach mode.  Re: the ratcheting - hunting in PP, the 800 is sporadic at best, it fades in and out.  I just lift the coil in the air when it gets wonky and it seems to settle down.

Well, did some more experimenting.  Beach 1 in concentrated black sand is a no.  Pinpoint does seem to pack more punch there.  Beach 1, GB 0, F2 0, Recovery 4 may have a whisper of an advantage on wet, salt beach (not in the water).  But beach 1 is far easier on the ears.   Chase, thanks for your comments, they paid off in spades today.  Gold ring 14k, 10.5 grams, silver earring, silver ring with stones (needs cleaned), silver links.

Jeff,

Thanks for the info.  Although the noise can be irritating after awhile, it seemed to help identify additional targets in a salt beach "patch" I was working.  Wasn't too sure about gain/loss of depth.  Going back this afternoon and give it another shot.  Had not thought to use it while gold prospecting.

Will give Beach 1 (same settings) a go today and let you know.  Thanks for the tip.

San Diego area beach, high tide line, just after tide going out.

Hunted with pinpoint mode, then checked with Beach 2.  Depth 8-10" (2 scoops).  GB setting 0.

Recently I was beach hunting with a friend (EQX 600) who detected almost exclusively in pinpoint mode and did very well.  After watching him pull several silver coins out of the black sand and cobble, I asked him to let me try to hit his next target.  Sure enough, my 800, beach 2, recovery 4, F2=0, full horseshoe, did not hit a silver dime.

A few days later, I spent 3 hours trying his method.  Using the same settings, beach 2 hit about 90% of the targets.  The targets it missed were silver dime, wheat penny and copper bracelet.

Does anyone know what frequency is used in pinpoint or what is different than regular modes?   I tried targets in all metal with no success.

Thanks

Rick,

I'm in Carlsbad and can offer free room and board for your beach testing - of course I will dig those 18" holes for you!

Have some black sand layers to check out here>

The reason for the shipping delay was to 1) add manual balance 2) Add another level of sensitivity 3) Add another level or two of EMI adjustment.  My question is - how will it do on wet salt beach?

Tried the new program out on a midnight foray at the beach at low tide.  Settings - Nox 800, Beach 2,  FE2 - 4, Recovery - 4, Sensitivity - 18.  Still dug a lot of small wire, lobster trap pieces and coins.  Wasn't sure if I liked new settings or not until walking out and hit scratchy -4 signal, 8 inches down signal turned to 6 and found this.  

Will give it another shot.

Vanquish now on pre-order @ kellyco.  Specs listed for each model

https://www.kellycodetectors.com/catalog/pre-order-minelab-vanquish-series-metal-detectors?utm_source=Kellyco+Metal+Detectors+Newsletter&utm_campaign=cc41c5716a-Minelab_Vanquish_Preorder_Announcement&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e6ea2c8771-cc41c5716a-91045201

Phrunt,

Only had the 15" since Christmas, so about 20 hours on the beach.  Like you, I was at first disappointed with sensitivity to coil knock, target ID/scratchy signals.  I lowered recovery to 4 in the wet and am now a happy camper.  In the dry, I run recovery 5 and am amazed how quiet it is and also the machine's ability to sniff out small targets.  Also have spent some time using Field 2, recovery 5 in the dry with pretty good results.  Usual settings are Beach 1, sensitivity 22-23, Beach 2, 22-23.

For me, targets ID's do vary from the stock coil, especially our despicable zincoln pennies which can register from 12 to 24.  I have dug some US clad quarters that registered -6 on ID at first pass.  After the first scoop of sand is removed, the signal is more in line with what I am used to seeing.  That could be because the target is deeper.  With that, I am pretty much digging every repeatable solid signal, even if it falls in the iron range.

I definitely need more time with this coil.  Sweep speed is slower, but covers as much ground as normal speed with the stock coil.  Beaches here are pretty sanded in so targets are few.  Got some storms coming in and hopefully they will strip off some of the overburden.

Will keep you posted.

Santa put one under the tree, but Mrs. Claus says she will break my fingers if I try to use it before Xmas!  Good luck BH and post some pictures.

Thanks DC.  It's always beneficial to get additional information from other detectorists.  Depending on how I feel, I run N to S and E to W at various times.  Never thought about alternating between Beach 1 and Beach 2 when changing direction.  Also your comments on IB and threshold have sent me back to drawing board.  To be honest, I never considered (or even looked at) the IB and threshold settings.

I'm just now beginning to realize how many different tools are available on the 800.  Back to the classroom for my next quiz.

Thanks again.

Went back out sand fishing today.  Ran Beach 2, Sens 22, Recovery 4 and hooked a BIG ONE!  23.6 Grams, 14K, ID a solid 24.

Thought it was a quarter.  Liking this new setting.  Thanks to everyone.

Got out today for a couple hours running Beach 1, Sens 18-20, recovery 4, All Metal.  At first, the 800 was much chirpier, but calmed down a bit when I reduced swing rate. I think I learned a lesson in coil control.  Managed to find my first cell phone (toasted) at 13 inches, a small piece of a silver bracelet, a 1 oz fishing weight and $1.85.  Deepest coin was a nickel at about 9 inches.

I will definitely try these settings again.

Thanks for all your helpful comments. 

Gentlemen, thanks for your responses.  Looking back, the 800 has been so good at finding targets, I thing subconsciously, I began to cherry pick.   I typically work the water line to the towel line with occasional wading when the waves allow.  CG, you are correct in that the beaches are sanded in,  but we had a storm with good wave action this week that may have opened up some new opportunities. I will try your suggestions this weekend and let you know how I did.

Keep swingin' ?