SittingElf

Great post, Stephen! 
Still waiting for my 800, but in the meantime, I am really learning and enjoying the 600.
Slowly starting to "grok" the tones, and I have forced myself to use 50, even though 5 might seem easier. Really want to be able to discern what the detector is seeing.

Maybe someday I'll have the opportunity to be in Gold Country somewhere. There ain't none in Florida, and Oklahoma is next for two years. Sigh....

A month later and a LOT of digging with the Hawg in various ground conditions, and the shovel is still like new! This thing is holding up to abuse really, REALLY well. Don't see any significant dulling edges, even after punching through gravelly soil regularly.

If I lost it somehow, I would unhesitatingly purchase another!

Frank

Wow!  Nice condition!!

Yup! I'm in the same league on Clive's latest.  I figure I'll grok his instructions and advice about the fifth or sixth read through!

13 hours ago, johnedoe said:

It is the action that usually causes an item to be lost...

For example on the beach or at swimming holes at a lake or river the cool water causes the fingers to shrink a bit as well as the mild lubricating qualities of the water causes rings to be lost.

 

 

Lubrication on a beach often also comes from using suntan lotion/oil, not just cool water. The combo of water and oil can cause rings to literally fall off. (Don't ask me how I know this for sure! LOL!)

On 10/25/2017 at 8:21 PM, GB_Amateur said:

Not arguing the advantage of changing the default gain with +/- buttons on the Pro-Find 35, but with both the Garrett Carrot and the White's TRX, you can temporarily de-sensitize by bringing the tip close (until you get a decent signal, but not right up as far as you can) to the buried target and then pressing and releasing the power button.  You can do this a handful of times (typically three or more, depending upon how close to the target you step).  To return to your default gain just take the pinpointer out of the hole and do a similar press and release of the power button.  All of this can be done without turning off the pinpointer.

I didn't know this either. NICE!  (Though the Carrot is now my backup to the ML 35). I have to remember this simple trick!!

Well, that was quick and easy!! One phone call and that's all it took.

Brand New Pro-Find 35 in the house!  One week turnaround from shipping the problem pinpointer, to receipt of a brand new one, not a repaired one...in the box as sold in stores!

Minelab Service is AWESOME!!!  Eat your heart out Garrett!!

4 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

Leave it on auto?? (Don’t think that is possible because you have to keep the accept/reject switch depressed while in GB settings and can’t actually detect that way).

Do you actually mean you use continuous tracking (different than Auto GB)?

Or do you just always do a periodic auto GB vice periodic manual GB?

No, I pump manually to whatever that takes me too, and then leave it on auto from there.

I always ground balance regardless, and then leave it on auto.  I make if part of my turn-on routine which builds muscle memory to complete each task EVERY time.  Just me...

Great Info. Thanks!

23 minutes ago, cdv said:

Nope, just a normal.....well somewhat normal...... person. Definitely not a dealer!

Must be just getting out on the street in the US anyway, no idea how they can make it here before you in Australia????

 

 

May have a lot to do with the fact that Koss is an American company located in Wisconsin.  Maybe released in the USA while the rest are being shipped overseas.

Who is the dealer?  We would ALL like to know, and on this forum it is OK to state!

Are those the official Minelab headphones?  Don't see their logo on them. Just wondering.

Also the cord is longer that what appears on Minelab's official accessory photo... And earpads don't look quite the same.

Not something new, but I will probably buy another White's Ground Hawg shovel. That way I can keep one in Florida, and the other in Oklahoma while we are stationed there. I'll be going back and forth occasionally, and my Equinox 600 and 800 will be in separate States, so one shovel with each.  The Ground Hawg is really awesome!  Cuts like a hot knife through butter, and beautiful and easy clean plugs, and other than the color (fixable),  it is near perfect!

Lunk or someone I'm sure will be doing a comparison between the Gold Master 1000 and the Equinox 800 for hunting Meteorites.

Looking forward to that comparison to determine whether I want to add the GM1000 primarily for Meteorite hunting while keeping the 600 and 800 for more general purposes.

My ProFind 35 went to MineLab service on Monday due to some aberrant activity, but they are FAST. I'll have the repaired unit back (Might be a new one) on Monday (FAST!). Minelab service in the U.S. is simply awesome! Tracy in their Service call center is great and always friendly and helpful. I used to think Garrett was top-line, but Minelab has stepped up and clearly is the frontrunner now!

2 minutes ago, Buzzard said:

I am waiting for an 800 too, looking at the 6" coil already and don't have machine in hand......would like to hear from anyone that has a 6" coil on theirs , and how it does.

No one does...yet!

Sold a camera I don't use anymore for $1800 on Facebook today...in only two hours!! Those funds will be held in abeyance for purchasing the two accessory coils for the Equinox, and whatever other peripherals they might come up with that might interest me. I'm still #3 with my dealer for the 800, but #1 for all accessories. Might end up with a coil before the 800!! Sigh...  I am also seriously thinking about purchasing the Gold Master 1000 for Meteorite hunting, and gold (if I'm ever in gold country). Have to make that decision before Minelab does away with it's military 15% discount on detectors. The only thing holding me back is that there are some folks testing the 800 in Meteorite areas, and I'm waiting to see if they can be as effective as the GM1000. If it is, then no GM1000 necessary.

Leaving the 600 here in Florida at our permanent home, where it will be primarily a beach machine whenever I can spend some time here, away from where my wife is stationed in the Air Force. The 800 will reside with me in Oklahoma for the 2-3 years of my wife's Command there.  The ArchMage SoundClean9 headphones are working crazily good with the 600, and once I have the 800 headphones, I might buy another set if the MineLab's are less comfortable!  GREAT product for the price! ($45 on Amazon, and true LL).

20 days to go until heading for the DustBowl, tornados, earthquakes, hail, blistering heat, and other fun! ?. But I'm looking forward to hooking up with SteveG there and hunting together. I'm sure he can teach me a LOT about Oklahoma conditions and detecting!?

4 minutes ago, Luis said:

How are the sounds?

Excellent...as is music when I use them for that purpose as well!

Funny story... When I was testing them after the first pairing with my 600, I was in my yard and on the very first sweep to listen to 50-tones, it found a quarter on a spot at 4" that I had been over with my GTI2500 and my son's new Ace 300 multiple times. The sound was unmistakable for the TID level. Very precise and with undiscernable lag...even with the wiggle method.

If you haven't seen my post on the ArchMage SoundClean9's, and you want an inexpensive, but very nice set of ACTUAL APTX LL headphones...they are the answer at $45.00 Shipped from Amazon.

They are comfortable and easily paired with the true "+" sign.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0774YGR61/ref=twister_B07CH9B339

1 hour ago, Chase Goldman said:

They are APTXLL

And damn expensive!  I'm an Appleholic, but these are beyond the pale for price!

DAMN IT!  Y'all stop talking about Minelab detectors!! I've already spent plenty of $$ for an EQ 600 and an 800...got rid of my Garrett GTI 2500 with all its coils, and now you rats have got me thinking about the GM 1000! Grrrrr!
Would only cost me $679.15 on Minelab's Military Discount for 2018. Sigh.... What to do? What to do??!! ??

Sigh....everyone is getting their 800's except me! Waiting, waiting, waiting! Oh well...the 600 is kicking butt in the meantime!

Cheers, and happy for you...kind of...! LOL

On 4/19/2018 at 2:11 AM, Lunk said:

This publication will make you an amateur expert in no time:

Rocks from Space: Meteorites and Meteorite Hunters

I bought the book. Got a great deal on a used copy in great shape on Amazon. (<$10 Shipped).

The book is wayyyy comprehensive, and it will take me many months to even begin to comprehend the info in the book. That being said, it's a great reference, and it's opened up a new avenue of treasure hunting for me. (Though I don't see that there have been many finds in Oklahoma, where we will be for two years while my wife is commanding the Medical Group on Tinker AFB).

Thanks for the info on the book. Definitely one of my better reference book purchases!

Cheers,
Frank