Dubious

Maybe I should forget about a dedicated gold detector and just rely on my Nox 600? It does not have the gold modes of the 800, but can apparently do a reasonable job on small gold in the Park 2 and Field 2 modes. I have the 6" coil. Haven't taken it to the gold fields, yet. Historically, multi-frequency machines have not been good for gold, but the Nox, with 40khz in its mix, may be changing that. Reasons I like the idea of a dedicated gold machine include the (slightly) higher frequency; that tracking, information presentation and other things are geared toward gold hunting, and that it would have closed coils. I am presently looking at the Minelab Goldmonster 1000, Whites Goldmaster 24K, and Makro Gold Kruzer. I might like the extra tracking options of the latter two (manual tracking and grab, not just auto). The Gold Kruzer is the highest frequency (61khz) and has the most modern feature set--waterproof, wireless and updates over the Internet. But Makro (Turkey) has far less experience in making gold detectors than Minelab and Whites, even though it seems to have developed a good reputation.

Let us know how it goes, Buzzard. I do find the "introductory" pricing of the GM24K with 2 coils quite enticing...

Yeah, that galvanic process (acting as battery) of 3-slice modern coins (US) used to be my pet peeve. But lately I have become aware that future generations won't even have clad and Zincolns to hunt. We're quickly heading toward a cashless society. Not a good thing for individual freedom IMHO, and definitely not a good thing for detectorists.

Powerful magnets.

Interesting dealer politics. Well, the SST at $290 is even more of a bargain now compared to the GMT. But with the new GM24K here, it's a slightly different game.

I'd also like to see that Goldmaster 24k vs Goldmonster 1000 match. These are the two machines I am presently seriously considering. Aside from the ability to detect very small gold, both apparently have good tracking capabilities for coping with mineralized ground (California, so lots of that here).

White's says Sierra Super Trak is not a White's detector? Now that's funny :)--given that you can buy it direct from White's web site (at the now bargain price of $289.95). https://www.whiteselectronics.com/product/sierra-gold-trac/ As stated by White's, "Similar to GMT but stripped down for ease of use and lower cost." White's apparently prefers folks to buy the full-fledged GMT (at a lot more). I was actually considering the SST, which seems impossible to beat for the price, but now am thinking I should probably go with more up-do-date features (and maybe better tracking) and get either the Goldmaster 24k or Goldmonster 1000.

It's probably silly, but aside from the pecuniary value (which is usually just several dollars or so), I feel more of a historical connection with the person who lost a silver dime than I do with someone who lost a clad dime a few years later. May be due to the fact that silver coins in the ground fifty years are often in pretty much the same shape as the day they were lost, while clad coins can degenerate significantly in just a few years (apparently because the slices of metal act as a weak battery).

I am becoming interested in trying my hand at detecting placer gold (until now, it's been just coins), and am intrigued by what I've been reading about the Goldmaster 24K. But, I already have the Nox 600 (and 6" coil), which apparently will do a reasonable job finding small gold nuggets, even without the 800's gold modes, so I don't know...

Due to the insane falsing, I finally sent my F-Pulse in for repair. Fairly easy process. Well, Fisher didn't repair, but sent me back a completely new unit (retail box). So far, it appears to work fine--extremely stable. It does not seem quite as deep as the first unit, but is deep enough for my style of digging. It may just supplant the TRX as my favorite pinpointer.

Observers of Tesoro feared it was headed in this direction as the company just wasn't doing enough to keep up with the competition. I'm doubtful the lifetime warranty was that big of a problem. I have two Tesoro's, and have never needed repair. Also, Tesoro did apparently switch at some point from a true lifetime warranty to one that expired when the machine was sold on the used market; so the number of machines covered 10-20 years later is probably small.

There seems to be a lively trade in meteorites, especially ones for which the provenance is known. For many of those being collected, prices seem to go up. Might actually be a profitable hobby.

A fascinating account. And great photos.

Good advice. Except for personal injuries caused by a defective product, where strict liability applies and it does not matter who purchased the defective product, the burden will be on the consumer to show the purchase. Also, probably not so much an issue with metal detectors, where I think (hope) the manufacturers are reasonably honest with their written warranties and policies, but states often have warranty laws that add to or override consumer-unfriendly written warranties: https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2013/05/the-word-on-warranty-protection/index.htm

This is sad news, and I feel for the laid-off employees. I think there is still a place for analog detectors. I have the Tejon and Cibola, and they are both good machines. They would be better if they had multi-tone modulation, and I suspect that if Tesoro had brought out a few new machines with that feature and a few other modern features, it might have made a difference. It would be nice if someone (American) would buy the brand and IT and rejuvenate the line. Whatever the value of the IT, the brand recognition has to be worth something. I would certainly pay attention.

TID's are roughly the same; but then I never considered the Nox to be very accurate on ID's. No compiling of statistics, but my prediction success rate as to which coin it will be seems the same with the small coil. The 6" coil performs in iron and in tight places, no doubt about that. My only gripe is that it isn't a bit bigger, say 6x8". Covering ground with the 6" looking for coins is a lot like using a golf club.

The only product of theirs I have is the Racer 2, but give credit where credit is due, I say. And Nokta/Makro deserves credit for actually listening to customers and responding before said customers die of old age.

Minelab is determined to demonstrate the difference between it and Nokta 🙂 "Hello all..... some of you guys have been asking for 9'' and 13'' coils for the Kruzer...it is done.... we have developed these and will start shipping them at the same time with the Anfibio series." Link deleted since Findmall Forum update broke all old links

If SMF detectors seem better at rejecting EMI, it's probably just because in many situations they don't need to run as hot to get the same results. But, I'm not even sure about that... Also, as GB_Amateur points out, a non-SMF detector with selectable frequencies may have the advantage, as you can select a frequency to minimize the particular EMI.

It wouldn't mean the same thing. As I understand it, VLF detectors use a current at a very low frequency sine wave to energize the transmitting coil, and multifrequency VLF detectors generate multiple frequencies simultaneously (or in rapid sequence). The receive coil is shielded from the transmit coil, and picks up the magnetic field generated by eddy currents the transmit coil's field has induced in metalic objects/targets. By measuring the phase differences between the transmitted and received fields, information is gained concerning the target. Measurements made at multiple frequencies (i.e. wavelengths) can provide more information about the target. This transmit/receive process takes place at the same time. PI detectors work differently, and "multifrequency" wouldn't have the same meaning. PI dectors energize the coil with a short pulse of direct (continuous) current then cut off the current and measure the time it takes for the generated electromagnetic field to collapse. The "collapse" time is influenced by weak fields generated by induced eddy currents in the metallic target, allowing its detection (but not providing much other information). The process is then repeated. I suppose you could vary the rate, or frequency, of these pulses-followed-by-measuring-the-collapse, but it wouldn't have the same meaning as with a VLF detector, and I'm doubtful it could provide more information about the target. But, I don't know much about PI detectors, so hopefully someone else can give a more definitive answer.

GPZ? Are you referring to Minelab's PI (pulse induction) detectors? If so, I don't think so. Different technologies. When all is said and done, the Equinox is just another VLF induction balancing detector, the latest wrinkle on Minelab's multifrequency approach. What I would expect the Nox to lead to, whatever they call it, is the next generation in the premium EX/ET/CTX line--a machine that utilizes 5 discrete frequencies like the Nox (or maybe more) but also gives you the dual FE/CO numbers and other bells and whistles of the CTX. Minelab is probably working on it now. Now, if Minelab were Nokta, we'd probably already be reading about this machine and seeing preliminary reports :)

Most of the reports post update seem to be positive. I haven't noticed much difference myself in coin hunting. I don't think I've been digging more rusty nails than before, but maybe I'm just getting better at avoiding them with the Nox?

I see they have a replacement LCD screen for the CTX for $175 plus labor. The factory screen on the Etrac is so low-contrast, I'll bet a lot of people (including me) would be willing to pay for a better one. Also seems to have a good assortment of useful odds and ends for Minelab detectors--coil nuts and bolds, straps and seals, endcaps, etc.

What's wrong with Firmware R1? That's what my F-Pulse has, but I doubt that explains the problems I've experienced. Fisher did respond, so I should soon know. Meanwhile, I'm back to using my Whites TRX, which I prefer over the Carrot (the TRX is less stable but has better depth and I like that it's not side sensitive).