AussieMatt

Looks like the first of the GPZ Nugget Finder Z Coils are being delivered:

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=587396#p587396

Weight with lower shaft 1070grams vs Minelab stock coil with lower shaft 1408grams.

I'm sure many performance comparisons will follow......

Image: https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=587396#p587396

7 minutes ago, davsgold said:

the discrimination works like you say Goldseeker5000 but you need to use a double D coil

cheers dave

Or a Concentric Coil

2 minutes ago, Gold Catcher said:

I still think it will all come down to performance. Is the ZSearch really so much better than the 14 in stock? (aside the 300 g weight loss)

When the X Coils came into play people were asking the same. Will they be better than the stock coils? Anyone using one seems to say Yes.

I doubt NF would put something to market that wasn't competitive with or better than the competition but time will tell.

1 hour ago, afreakofnature said:

Saying it is reasonable based on other prices that also are not reasonable does not give it justification.  Overpriced all the way around period.  Unless you just have money to blow I guess.

Whether we like it or not that is the pricing range of the only 3 x manufacturers. It is reasonable in comparison when you consider the competitions coils are heavier (Minelab), don't come with a lower shaft or require mods to be done. I never justified their pricing, just said that NF appear reasonable in comparison.

Too overpriced then don't buy. I doubt it will stop many willing purchasers! I certainly don't have money to blow. 

On a lighter note I'd heard on the grapevine that the next NF Z coil will be 17" & there is speculation today from 2 others that it will indeed be that size - one saying it will be 17x13. One of the speculators has previously been a NF coil tester & said it will be released some time next year? 😉 

The X Coils were $1500AUD, regardless of size, & I believe there's now been a freight related price increase? 

$1295 with no mod needed + supplied with Minelab lower shaft seems reasonable in comparison.

"The 12" Round will be the first available size in the Z-Search range." https://www.nuggetfinder.com.au/z-search-coils

Be interesting to see what other sizes/shapes follow.

The 12" won't suit everyone, especially if their stock coil is still working well for them, but for those that need or feel a new coil may be needed (many now out of warranty) it will sell pretty well I reckon.

No adapter lead is a huge plus!

Different sizing options should still keep X Coils a market share if their prices come down? It's a pity they couldn't get the lead chip too for true competition.

1 hour ago, Skookum said:

To follow their own marketing terminology, what would the experienced user say are the best features for the SDC and the GPX 5000?

SDC2300 - MPF (multi period fast) pulse induction, ease of set up/use  

GPX4500/5000 - large coil selection (DD, Mono, Concentric); multiple timings; multiple settings for ground balance & audio; ability to operate + set up manually for more experienced users or in presets/auto tracking for those wanting an easier set up + operation; manually adjustable rx gain/stabiliser; tuning manually adjustable 

Reg both of those make complete custom upper + lower shafts & neither appear to sell their custom rod ends separately? They may if asked?

The Sandy Shaft lower rod end is custom made to suit GPX type coil ears (new type is tighter to prevent coil movement) & the Detect Ed lower rod end is custom made to suit Equinox coil ears (probably still fit GPX coils but sized to prevent wear/breakage on Equinox coil ears).

Coiltek lowers (Doc's I believe in USA or vise versa) have a different rod end also but they don't seem to be available separately either which is what the OP wants for his own custom shaft.

Surprised to hear of the Minelab ones breaking. They're pretty solid. The shaft usually splits or the locknut fails as the two weak points when using big coils?

Minelab ISO rod shaft end replacement.

Was Minelab part no. 8007-0010 but doesn't seem to be on their parts site now?

Fake, click bait

Quote

Why use such a dodgy design in the first place? I saw some time back where a clever bloke stripped down an SDC and made a sensible ergonomic machine with much less weight.

Some people love the fold up design.

Not me - I'd prefer it in a more conventional format & lighter price. Killer on the right ground though. 

Quote

The SDC2300 was another example of lazy design, and once more a colour change from military green to blue. Dodgy battery contacts, laughable headphone jack, ridiculous 'knuckle' coil arrangement and limited to small targets as it was originally designed to find tiny wiring in ceramic mines. Even if you could put a large coil on the thing its depth on large targets would be poor due to the fact that its internals were designed for small bits of metal.

Granted the external design is a copy of the F3 Compact & some aspects aren't ideal but there are several internal differences Reg.

The main one being the F3 Compact uses MPS not MPF

F3 Compact - Pulse Induction: Bi-polar Multi Period Sensing (MPS).

SDC2300 - Pulse Induction (PI) and Multi Period Fast (MPF)

MPF is certainly designed with small gold at shallow depths in mind but it's not limited to small targets?

The "rumour" that the SDC2300 is a complete copy of the F3 Compact barring the colour is just that, a rumour. A quick read of the full specs of both will show you that. In fact the F3 Compact has a few interesting functions that the SDC doesn't i.e. fixed ground balance (but no auto tracking), audio reset.

Good point Phrunt!

When I tried the Bluetooth systems my WM12 was turned off on the GPZ so I would assume any noise/interference would be worse when on. 

Have heard nothing but good reports on the Quest Wirefree system but yet to try it myself.

Hi Norm,

I haven't used the Trond system but assume it's Bluetooth?

I have tried 2 x different Bluetooth tx/rx systems (Avantree & TaoTronics) on the GPZ, a while ago now, to see if they could be used as backups to the WM12 in case of failure or failure of me to recharge it 😆

From memory both were usable if required from the headphone jack but they did have noticeably more background interference type noise & the WM12 was preferable for that reason. 

The Avantree Bluetooth system did work well on the SDC2300 for me though?

I'm no wireless tech but had assumed it was either something to do with the channel/s Bluetooth inherently selects on the 2.4ghz band or that the Bluetooth units not being made specifically for metal detectors aren't as well shielded as other purpose made devices. I could be wrong on both counts?

I didn't experiment with placement of the tx either. May need to move it around & see if it improves at all?

2 hours ago, mn90403 said:

Perhaps the others listed from the library in NSW did not demonstrate the gold they found to be 'payable.'

I don't think they were given the opportunity to. Each of those areas has been payable at some point in time.

There are similar stories of earlier but hushed up "discoveries" in Victoria too.

Jim has also hit the nail on the head. The indigenous people of Australia also knew of not only gold but coal & other minerals.

We shouldn't discount Hargraves role in Australia altogether. He may not have been the first to discover payable gold but he was the first to convince the Government of the time to acknowledge it & kick started the gold rush in Australia, a very important part of history.

What about McBrien, McGregor & Clarke?

All earlier & hushed up.

Quote

The first gold discoverers were shepherds, surveyors and clergymen. As early as 1823, surveyor James McBrien noticed gold particles by the Fish River east of Bathurst.

Shepherds searching for grazing lands travelled westwards over the Blue Mountains and moved onto land which revealed gold-bearing quartz reefs.

An ex-convict and shepherd named McGregor found many pieces of gold in the Wellington region and chipped parts off to take to Sydney where it was displayed in jewellery shop windows.

However it wasn’t until the 1840s that gold exploration was seriously discussed by geologists such as the Reverend William Branwhite Clarke. Anglican clergyman and geologist, Rev. Clarke was principal at the King’s School,  Parramatta and later the rector at St Thomas’, North Sydney. His passion was geology and in 1841, while exploring the Blue Mountains for fossils, he examined granite slabs near Hartley and discovered particles of gold. 

Clarke wrote that the country would be found 'abundantly rich in gold'. He continued to collect specimens and in April 1844 he informed Governor Gipps of his finds and later claimed that the governor directed him to 'Put it away, Mr. Clarke, or we shall all have our throats cut'.

The ruling elite feared that a predominantly convict population striking it rich would lead to greater crimes or result in a convict rebellion brought on by greed for gold.

A gold rush in the bush, away from the main population centre could upset the status quo of the ordered convict society.

Source: State Library of NSW

5 hours ago, phrunt said:

I can't see it being a good seller and a big disappointment to those that were waiting on it.

People will buy it for the same reasons they have previously purchased NF coils (& other aftermarket coils) that are similar sizes to Minelab stock coils - perceived or real superior performance, lighter weight, brand reputation/loyalty, Aussie made (if from Aust) etc.  etc.

Those that have taken the X Coil jump will no doubt be unimpressed! They already have a good selection to choose from. But I reckon for every one GPZ user that's taken the mod path to enable use of X Coils there's probably at least 5 that haven't or won't, maybe a lot more than that.

Lighter coils that are plug & play will sell (if the performance is there & price is acceptable) regardless of size/s & NF will bring out different sizes once this first one is out there, just like they've done with the Evo coils.

I think Minelab may have learned from the GPZ & SDC - this isn't a replacement for them no but they have a number of "slide in" non harness type battery packs (all pre dating the added on battery case your talking about) that could be adapted to improve the GPX design which it appears they have done. Good on them - about time.

No there is no available transmitter for the Equinox WM08. The transmitters are built into the Equinox.

Minelab use there own proprietary wifi systems & each one is different i.e. WM08, WM12, Pro Sonic. 

It would make far too much sense to make them compatible, which would then allow the transmitter from the Pro Sonic to be sold separately & used with the WM08 or 12 on other detectors too. 🙄

Very sad news indeed! I never met Fred but did have some interaction on this forum with him. I liked how he came across & enjoyed his posts. Seemed like a straight shooter to me & I'll miss seeing his thoughts on things.

Condolences to his family & many friends. 

Minelab have a dual sensor detector with GPR

It's becoming a big issue in Australia too. The favourite model being ripped off & getting sold down here is the "Fisher" Gold Bug Pro. They retail for over $AUD1000 from legitimate dealers & the rip offs are around $AUD500 on eBay. There is a lot of fake GPX5000's around down here too & no make/model is really safe at all. 

A lot of new buyers feel they have gotten a good deal even after finding out that their new machine is a fake which is the biggest worry. If it beeps on metal they seem to think it's ok.

My advice to new comers is there are no shortcuts or unbelievably cheap deals. If you want the real deal buy from a dealer or do your due diligence on used machines by checking with manufacturers & retailers invoices etc. If I can't verify the purchase details on a used machine I walk & advise others to do the same.

A good comparison of the standard SDC 8" coil & Coiltek 5"x10" here:

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=516234#p516234

Les, who made the vid, offers no opinion & leaves it to the viewers discretion to decide. IMO they are very close & the main factor is the ellipticals ability to "nose" into areas. 

Jin I think like all coils use in a shower of rain would be fine; but I would still get confirmation of this from the manufacturer as it could be a warranty issue if affected?

6 hours ago, Rob Allison said:

Hey Steve,

   For the price and performance only (not weight or ergonomics), I still think the Minelab GPX 4500 is the best bang for the buck here in the US.  The price is fair, the performance is great and you have all the options of aftermarket coils and accessories.  

That being said, the GPX 4500 will be discontinued again soon.  I'm not sure what is left, but I believe what is left is all we will ever see again. 

Rob Allison

I think that's true of the GPX4500 here in Australia too - best bang for buck.

Not only that there is a much better & farer reaching dealer network + support from manufacturer/dealers & detecting  peers is readily obtainable. 

The QED is closing the gap but having owned a PL2 there is still improvement to be had. Some of these are being addressed now by the sounds of it like auto tracking, better ground balancing etc. but these aren't currently available. Some of the 3D printed add ons like the stand need improvement too - I replaced mine with a metal one. The 3D printed plastic can warp in hot Aussie conditions & the battery cover isn't great either - one of mine didn't fit properly & kept falling off. The spare was ok but still not ideal. Edit: The ribbon cabling isn't ideal either. Minor things but still the refinement of these small things could be done easily too.

With my GPX I don't have to worry about these things & IMO performance/usability in all varying conditions is still better (if only by a minimal margin).