Dubious

Steve, I appreciate your explanation of the evolution of Minelab's multifrequency machines. I generally agree as to where the Equinox fits in. For me, my Equinox 600 won't replace my Etrac for hunting coins, since it doesn't give me accurate FE/CO and depth, but with its better separation it does complement the Etrac nicely, opening up opportunities for me in trashy sites--I've already seen this. And it's impossible to ignore the Equinox's modern features--light weight, faster electronics, much easier to see LCD panel, wireless audio, and better arranged settings--removes the temptation to go out and buy an Impact :) Conceptually, though, I am left with the suspicion that it's a sort of scaled-down version of the next generation of the Etrac/CTX. Not a bad thing, I suppose, particularly at this price point.

A nice haul! I'm not sure I would say I believe the hype, but the Equinox complements my Etrac nicely--not nearly as accurate with TID and depth numbers, but has modern features and is great at separating and unmasking in trashy environments, which I think is what you experienced. I do think it's going to be stiff competition for the other newer mid-level detectors.

I vote for the Whites TRX. Deeper than most, and sensitive only from the tip. I find the Garrett not quite deep enough. Also, it drives me crazy that the Carrot is sensitive practically everywhere; makes it hard for me to "pinpoint." In this respect, looks like the Fisher F-Pulse is probably more like the Carrot. Two different philosophies and also depends to some degree on what you are hunting. I'm hunting coins, so want it to point to a small object in the side or bottom of the hole, not just act as a general proximity detector. With the Whites TRX, it is important to google the information that others have posted on how to adjust and use it.

Hey, long-range detectors may be a scam, but I had an uncle who could find buried water pipes dowsing with bent coat hangers.

A very good analogy and explanation. Makes me wonder if I should trade my Equinox 600 in on the 800 at some point. The 600's speed scale is 1-3, and I believe 3 corresponds to 6 on the 800's 1-8 scale, so I'm missing the highest speed settings. That said, I haven't noticed that I'm missing anything. One of the things that immediately struck me about the Equinox is that, when I used it on a very trashy spot I've gone over multiple times with the Etrac, it was seeing a lot more stuff down there that the Etrac had been unable to separate.

In addition to everything else, the modes apparently involve different weighting in processing the different frequency signals.

That's the better way to do it, all right, but aside from Cabelas, which lists units as they come in (and brings its own sloppiness to bear, as I can attest), most ML dealers were apparently taking pre-orders for the Equinox. Minelab seems to have encouraged the process, which definitely added to the buzz, so should have started sending out units on a pro rata basis, for the sake of the customers if not the dealers. Otherwise, sure, KellyCo should be treating its waiting customers (who are its bankers at this point) with more respect, and should also be filling orders in order received, which for some reason (maybe just sloppiness) it apparently has not been doing.

In a very trashy site (lots of bent rusty nails), I did best on coins with Field 2--or, at least, that's when I found the two mercury dimes in an area I've hunted to death with the Etrac, but could have just been luck. I've been using mostly Park 2 since but no more silvers, so may go back to Field 2. Will have to do more experimenting. I keep having to remind myself the Nox modes are not the same as the Etrac's discrimination patterns/modes, and that I can't simply adjust one to be like the other. Too bad ML is so secretive.

Sounds like KellyCo is overwhelmed by the Nox situation. Does anyone know if, when it sends out Equinox shipments, Minelab ships pro rata to the dealers in proportion to their pre-orders? or does it just dole out the same number of units to each dealer? If the latter, the big dealers like KellyCo, that had piled up a lot of preorders, got shafted along with their customers.

I found the Nox a bit nose heavy at first, but compensated by shortening the shaft another notch. Don't notice it now.

I can understand ML doling out the first Equinox units a few at a time to prolong the hype (even though I don't like it), but it makes no sense not to have small coils ready as buyers get their machines. A lot of us would already have ordered; and who knows? once the excitement is over, many may lose interest in the Equinox, and in ordering small coils, and go back to the machines they were using before. I noticed that Nokta had small coils ready to go when the Impact was introduced, and that seems the proper way to do it.

I have used all three of those methods (not at the same time) with reasonable success. A few times, though, with the pinpointing function, it has seemed as though the target was a few inches to the left of where it should be. Probably just other things down there throwing it off as it was in a very trashy field. If I notice it again, may do some tests to see if there's a pattern...

I am also going from an Etrac to the 600. So far I like the Equinox, but I don't think it is going to replace the Etrac. I've been using it mainly in trashy settings where the Etrac even with a small coil had a hard time separating, and I think the Equinox does work better there. Found a silver mercury yesterday that I'm pretty sure the Etrac missed (can't be certain it's the Equinox difference, though, as the Etrac also finds things it has earlier missed--different angles, different moisture, who knows?). However, depth and ID numbers are not nearly as reliable as those of the Etrac, at least so far for me. I've mostly used it in Field2, but am playing around with speed and bias.

And I paid shipping at Cabales and didn't get mine and ended up cancelling the order (then waiting a couple weeks to get a refund). I think it was all pretty random.

I have the Garret Carrot and the Deteknix, but vastly prefer the Whites TRS--more depth and it is sensitive only from the tip, making it much easier, at least for me, to find coins in the hole. But, be sure you google the instructions people have posted concerning how to adjust its settings. The printed manual in the box does not tell you everything.

Whoever it was that warned about Cabela's sloppy practices had it right. About half of those who ordered on 2/30 and got the "shipped" message the next day actually received anything, and it seemed quite random. No one there really knows what is happening, and they tell you conflicting things.

I got the Avantree Audition Pro Bluetooth aptsx low latency headphones to pair with my EQ 600. Quite nice, so far. $69.

I ordered an Equinox 800 from Cabelas on 2/20. After receiving the "end of March" email, and clarifying with Cabela's customer service that was really the case, I cancelled the order. I have since ordered a 600 from a dealer that had a few in stock (it will be here tomorrow). Apparently, I should have been more patient with Cabelas. Oh, well; from user reports, the 600 should be just as effective as the 800 for the detecting I do (parks and trashy lots).

The Equinox is worth trying. It is new technology and initial reports sound very promising, especially for unmasking in trashy ground. As for adding a Safari, you can decide later after you've tried the Equinox. If it were me, the machine I added later would probably be the Etrac--can get them used at decent prices these days--or, if you have more to spend, the CTX3030. I like my Etrac and doubt that my new Equinox (when I get one) will change my opinion. Given Minelab's secrecy, we don't really know too much about how FBS and Multi-IQ actually work (in spite of ML's glib explanations), but it seems pretty clear (and Minelab says this, too) that the Equinox will not render obsolete its FBS machines.

You need both :) I have the Etrac, and I plan on getting the Equinox (and keeping the Etrac). From what I have read in early reports from users, the Equinox is probably not as good on ID and depth numbers as the Etrac, but may more than make up for it in trashy areas with its better separation. At least that's the hope. Also, the Equinox is waterproof. If the Equinox is disappointing, I'll sell it. In either case, I'm keeping the E-trac.

Let's not forget Macro and Nokta on that list--fine machines at reasonable prices that definitely made Minelab and other MD makers pay attention.

We will probably see a few being sold on Ebay at exorbitant prices over the next few weeks :)

Well, I have now also received the dreaded email: "Thank you for your order for EQUINOX 800 METAL DETECTOR. The vendor has advised us that the item is currently out of stock and has been backordered. They are expecting to ship approximately the end of March. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused & thank you for your patience." I find it additionally irritating that, while I placed the order on 2/20, Cabela's charged my credit card only late yesterday, at the same time they sent that other new message which indicated the order was still in process. Well, lot's of confusion all around, and Cabela's/Minelab (not sure how that works) will have had the free use of my money only a few days, unlike with folks who ordered from MD dealers many months back. Minelab is definitely the one to blame, if there is any blame to hand out. For marketing purposes, Minelab wanted lots of hoopla to attend the delivery of the first Equinox units, and creating an artificial scarcity certainly helps with that. Otherwise, the problem is just that Cabela's operates differently from the MD dealers. The dealers took pre-orders long before the product was going to be available while Cabela's (generally) does not and waits until the product arrives to sell it. On the plus side for me, it's probably more prudent, anyway, to give Minelab time to fix any bugs found in the first units. And, next time I place my order (not with Cabela's), I will probably get a 15% discount--not military, but dealers give those discounts anyway if you shop around. There is even the possibility of picking up a used unit at a greater discount.