Dubious

If you are running one machine behind the other, then concluding that anything the second machine finds the first one was unable to see, that is a bit unfair to the first machine. Owing to various factors impossible to control for absolutely, you can hunt the same piece of ground twice with the same machine, and the second time around find lots of targets missed the first time. It would be better to carry both machines, trying the second one on all targets found by the first. That is, use the Nox as the primary machine, since you are confident in its settings; when it finds a target, before digging try that target also with the Deus, adjusting as needed; then dig and draw your conclusions. You'll soon have the Deus adjusted to your satisfaction. You can perhaps do this more easily in a test garden, if you have access to one.

I was analogizing VLF detectors to RF transmitters, where I learned as a kid to never key the transmitter unless the antenna or a dummy load was connected, or you would probably blow out the final stage of the transmitter. I just googled the issue and it still seems to be accepted as prudent practice today even with modern designs (with RF transmitters). https://www.eham.net/ehamforum/smf/index.php?topic=79031.0 It would depend on the design, but unless I knew for certain that it was safe to run a detector without a load, I just would not do it.

Most certainly. In fact, that impact with the ground may not even have caused the largest shock wave. Often, meteorites explode in the atmosphere before impact. The 2013 Chelyabinsk meteorite was originally about 20 meters diameter; but it exploded miles up, leaving only relatively small pieces to impact the ground. Even with the atmosphere absorbing most of the energy (500 kilo tons TNT), the shock wave broke thousands of windows in nearby towns and threw people off their feet. On youtube, there are a bunch of interesting videos from dashcams and security cams. http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/Natural_Disasters/impacts.htm

That's exactly why I just acquired an SDC 2300. (BTW, highly recommend Gerry of Idaho as a great guy to contact for a deal on an almost-new gold machine--he has them all: SDC, GPX, GPZ, Nox, etc. http://gerrysdetectors.com/) I'm branching out from chasing silver coins to include some nugget hunting. If between my Equinox and SDC (VLF for where the ground is mild enough, PI for where it is mineralized), I can find a few small bits of gold, I'll be happy for now, and later can think about a GPX or GPZ. I figured that if I started out with a GPX, I'd probably get discouraged and quit before I found anything :)

White's deserves credit for the new Goldmaster 24k, which by all accounts performs nicely against similar VLF gold machines from others. It just needs to evolve key models in other areas of its product line to keep up with a certain foreign competitor ? I would suggest: 1) Move beyond the TDI to a deeper punching PI machine that can compete with the GPX. 2) From the V3i, develop a mid-priced, sleek modern multifrequency detector, like Minelab did with the ET/CTX-to-Equinox move.

How does the 600 compare on small gold in the Park 2 and Field 2 modes? Some have reported that the Equinox is quite sensitive to small gold in those modes (do wide open as otherwise Field 2 discriminates out some gold).

I actually prefer AA or some other replaceable battery. It's easy to carry spares in case they run down in the field. And you can also use rechargeable types, so no real downside. With built-in lithium ion batteries, you risk trouble with airlines, and you can't carry spares (yes, I know, there are power packs you can carry, to recharge in the field, but a hassle). Note that Minelab's state-of-the-art SDC2300 uses ordinary C cells. I suppose everything is moving to sealed li-ion batteries because of size/weight factors, but there are definitely cons...

I suspect it's a lot harder to find "patches" that productive today; but, Australia is a big place, so who knows?

With the Goldmaster 24k, I believe the box under the arm cuff just houses the AA batteries. That's a reasonable way to do it, IMHO, for a machine that is not waterproof. The alternative would be to have the S-shaft hollow and thick enough at that point to incorporate a battery holder inside, with separate legs underneath for stability (like the Minelab Etrac and others). For a much more unsightly hanging box, look at the Minelab GPX 5000. It seems to sell all right in spite of it ?

Not advisable to run a detector without a coil attached. Depending on the design, it could cause damage to the transmitter circuitry.

The random element does intrigue me. I wonder if the nugget was found in an obscure location, or, in a place that's been pounded by PI machines endlessly, with everyone somehow missing it until now?

If you bought it as new, and it is used, you deserve a new unit. I've never used it, but I've heard good things about the Gold Racer, and it seems to represent very good value in a gold detector (VLF).

Is that also true of the Equinox (stereo to mono adapter)? Wanting to be able to use the 1/4" headphones I use with the Etrac in a pinch (if my wireless earbuds die), I picked up an adapter someplace, but it doesn't seem to work.

I'm glad Fisher has found a way to be successful with at least a good part of the operation still in the U.S. I also have nothing against Mexico, and am sure it is possible to find plenty of competent people there (but probably, just as here, not necessarily at the lowest possible price). But, I have to say I do think ordinary Americans (i.e., those who have to work for a living) have been sold out by a generation of successive administrations, all in the name of "globalization."

Don't give Facebook any information you would not want govt or hackers to have.

I hadn't even heard of the show until this thread, which shows how out of it I am, as it was apparently a very popular TV show that had its last season in 2017: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Rush_(TV_series) Even aside from the scripted parts, the entire production reads like a soap opera: https://screenrant.com/gold-rush-dark-secrets-trivia-facts-discovery/

Well, Facebook's loss. I trust White's is putting the money saved there into better use somewhere else.

Looks to be a good directory to know about, if you ever need help finding something. I see that Makro is one of the two sponsors. Out of curiosity, I looked at some of the listings. The few I checked charged a small starting fee ($25 or so) plus a negotiated finder's fee paid only if the item was found. It would be interesting to know the overall success rate. Might make an interesting sideline to the hobby for someone who has the time. Even if most jobs don't pay much, you probably meet a few interesting people.

Old designs can still be viable. That Gold Bug II certainly does hold its price--also on the used markets, I've noticed. Quite an accomplishment, given all the new gold detectors now on the market, many at lower prices.

No adverse effects on my VLF machines from turning on inside house. Some work better than others inside (generally, turning sensitivity way down) but none very well compared to outside away from electrical interference. Still, if you need to check something on the machine, you can do it.

Yeah, no social media for me--so far, anyway. I've been resisting Facebook's blandishments, and I'll leave the tweeting to the Chief.

The coil has to be connected to the control box by a shaft, anyway, so I don't see significant benefit in eliminating the cable's negligible weight, only the negatives others have noted.

That's half of what was already a low price, so definitely a great price. Never had one, myself, but gets good reviews. With high-frequency coils, it runs about the same frequency as the Gold Bug Pro, so probably similar performance on gold. Seems to be coils available from several manufacturers, including multi-frequency coils from Nel that would turn it into a sort of Multi Kruzer.

I think there are available hardware engineers; but, the company has to be able and willing to put the resources into hiring them and supporting them on projects. If a detector manufacturer reaches the point where it only wants to direct resources to marketing and sales, it's probably in a death spiral. I like Minelab's dry understatement: "An understanding of electromagnetics would be a significant advantage." BTW, I see Whites is also looking to hire a design engineer. https://www.whiteselectronics.com/jobs/

Detector manufacturers could glean a lot of useful market intelligence by paying attention to threads like this one. Per Steve's remark above, I really don't understand why Whites hasn't already added wireless to the MX Sport. The addition should be trivial in terms of engineering, but would make it appear more competitive spec-wise against the other modern detectors in its price range.