mh9162013

If "all" I found was a large mass a silver, that would still be quite the find! I mean, how many people can say they found a silver nugget the size of a football made out of coins? 😛 Your relative's property sounds very promising, too. Do you think you will ever hunt it? At least you've laid the ground work of mentioning hunting it and your relative hasn't rejected the idea.

The problem is that this person is family. So even if whatever I propose is reasonable or strongly in their favor, if they get even an inkling that I'm taking advantage of them (even if they're 100% wrong), it could create eggshell-walking scenarios for a very long time. Then, there's chance that we have these discussions, and all I find is a few bucks in clad including a few wheat pennies. Then I walked on those toes for nothing. Am I over thinking this? Probably. But it's hard to get motivated to hunt any property knowing there's a distinct possibility that I may get to keep only a small percentage of what I find. Right now, the plan is to get more familiar with my AT Max and set up a camera system with it to document hunts. Then, I ask for permission with the expectation that I keep nothing except a token find (maybe a coin or two) and the pictures/video I take of the process. And if he ends up letting me keep more of what I find (50%, 100%, etc.) that's just gravy.

I live in a town where there are numerous private homes that are I know are littered with old coins. In my front yard alone, I found 2 silver dimes (a Merc from 1916, a Rosie from 1950s) and an IHC/IHP from 1889, if I recall correctly. These 3 finds were in a front yard with a sidewalk and road frontage that's not more than 80 feet long. There is grid after grid after grid of these type of houses with front yards and sidewalks or walkways that have been traversed for 70+ years. If I could hunt any piece of grass covered property within a 1/2 mile radius of my house, and you gave me 48 hours (excluding travel time) to hunt the properties (I'd be using a Vanquish 340 and AT Max), I am confident I could find about 40 silver coins. I think there'd be maybe a half-a-dozen or so barbers and/or walkers, too. Is it b/c I'm good? No, it's just that there are so many homes that are 80+ years old with sidewalks that were laid down many decades ago There are 3 properties in particular where I can almost see the silver in the ground. So why haven't I hunted them yet? One, I haven't had the time since COVID hit. Two, I already asked one for permission, but it's a rental and they said to ask the realtor. I'm debating on what approach to take next with that property. Three, another property is being renovated and has passed through multiple owners the past few years. There's rarely anyone on the property and if there is, I'm not sure if they own it or are a tenant...or are a contractor hired to fix up the house. If COVID doesn't get so bad and school remains in session, I should have time, maybe next week, to pack up my metal detector gear and just walk up and down my neighborhood going door to door, asking for permission to hunt. Oh, and I forgot. There's an old family property about 20 minutes away that my wife's grandfather used to own. He had a workshop there where he kept one or more glass jugs (of loose change that my wife said he collected since probably the 1920s or 30s). The workshop apparently burned down or blew up a few decades ago and the coins from those jugs were never recovered. Why haven't I hunted that property yet? B/c if I do and get skunked, I'll be disappointed. And if it holds all the valuable coins I think it does, it might create some family turmoil since the property is currently owned by my brother-in-law. I honestly don't know how to approach a family permission where there's a reasonable chance (albeit small), that I could find coins worth hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

If I think it's a coin, I dig it, even if I have a feeling it's a crusty and deteriorated Zincoln. I keep my Zincolns...have about 40 or so that are in too rough shape to cash in. I still can't bring myself to throw them out, though. Zincolns need luvin' too...

This might be the listing he's referring to: https://www.ebay.com/itm/384324313192?hash=item597b83a068%3Ag%3AptEAAOSwhj1hFAnV&LH_ItemCondition=4 And yes, even with 2 coils. It's so hard to sell used metal detectors, unless it's a Deus or Equinox, basically. If time is of the essence, that's one thing. But if you can wait a few months to buy your machine, I don't think you should buy that detector I linked to unless you could get everything for $250 or less. Keep in mind what a used F75 will go for, too. Of course, and F75 isn't an F70, but performance-wise, they are comparable.

Based on what used F70s and F75s can go for on eBay, I wouldn't touch a used F70 for more than $250. That's assuming the warranty is not transferrable.

I've heard that Tesoro's discrimination is very underrated. Maybe one day I'll be able to see it for myself.

When searching for my next detector, I was seriously considering a Tesoro. I figured using the "Tesoro roll" method of determining what's under my coil would be a lot of fun. And plus, I have learned to love the look of Tesoros with their knobs. Initially, I hated the look, but now I think they have a nostalgic feel almost like a post-modern form of steam punk. I still want a Tesoro and will keep my eyes open for one at a great price. So congrats on the find, dogodog! When I can't detect, I've made it a "side hobby" to look for detectors at low prices (whether to flip for a profit and/or play with, but have little guilt doing so). I've realized that finding a great deal on a machine is as fun as finding silver. Ha! No, not really, but when you can't hunt, it's a nice substitute.

I have two theories in response to this rhetorical question. One, their accountants crunched the numbers and concluded it wouldn't produce the necessary return on investment. For example, waterproofing is tough to do add to something after it's already been designed. Then add the increased warranty repair costs that's likely to follow and I can see why this hasn't been done. Two, is it possible FTP doesn't care about long-term profits and is only in the metal detecting industry to make a quick buck, then leave? In other words, they acquire one or more businesses with substantial customer goodwill. They cut production costs (ie quality) adjust their marketing schemes to make the quick sale and wait for short term profits. Then once the target consumers have already been sold to or lost due lower quality products, FTP just sells off the divisions that are no longer profitable in a fire sale. But they don't care, b/c they already made back their investment and then some.

I think the bigger issue is that many businesses aren't paying enough. The average cost of many thing have gone up over the past few decades: college, medical care, housing, cars, etc. (there are some exceptions, like many mainstream electronics for consumers). But minimum wage has not kept up. I know many people don't earn minimum wage, but it creates a floor that many other wages are based off of. In other words, the wages for many workers haven't kept up with the cost of living. And working as a tree service employee is not only hard work, but it's dangerous! Which makes your tree expert's cost of doing business higher since he probably has more expensive workers' comp insurance premiums and possibly is subject to more government regulation (this might require him to hire a CPA and attorney). But I agree that the attitude of workers is also not helping sometimes. Too many people think that just because they show up or have a degree, they're entitled to X, Y or Z. But they need to have the attitude of, "what can I do for my employer?" to really stand out. Or as Ray Stantz (from Ghost Busters) put it (I'm paraphrasing): "You don't know what it's like to work in private industry. They expect results!" I'm not saying that workers need to be subservient to their bosses or that all that should matter is their job. But most employers exist to make money, not give other people a job. And I think that fact is often lost on people. Heck, I didn't learn that lesson until I was in my mid 20s looking for a job after grad school. Gordon Gecko put it best: "it's all about bucks kid. The rest is conversation."

You forgot to include the AT Pro and AT Max.

Those are some sweet finds!

Why can't he sell anything else? Fisher Research Labs sells plenty of high quality detectors.

From what I've read here and in other message boards, the modes in the Vanquish detectors may have some ability to adjust or otherwise deal with changes in ground mineralization. But it's not adjustable and it's probably not ground balancing as we understand it. Rather, it's probably that MIQ tech has a built-in ability to deal with different ground conditions, but only up to a point. Whether this "point" is naturally a part of MIQ or manually put in there by Minelab engineers, I don't now. Here's a good thread that discusses this issue: https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/16241-official-minelab-vanquish-ground-balance-info/?tab=comments#comment-167663

That's very true. But the only real way to combat what you described is to educate them. But many people don't want to be educated (or don't even realize they need to be). And the companies like this, because it makes it easier to market to them. Whether you're Minelab or First Texas, you want your consumers to be on a need-to-know basis.

But there can be, and I think the price of the F75+/LTD and AT Max are perfect examples of that. Sure, they're much cheaper than they used to be, but in terms of what they can do compared to the competition, they're very overpriced (at least in regards to traits that most detectorists value).

This forum is definitely not a good representation of the typical metal detector customer. The level of knowledge, experience and expertise from most users here is incredible and certainly seasoned veterans outnumber the greenhorns. I think many Americans who want to dabble into metal detecting or are curious about it get a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, some Chinese model or something similar that costs less than $125. Or are you talking about metal detectorists in NZ? If so, I can't say why they would or wouldn't buy a $250 Simplex over a $100 Tracker IV. I'm sure supply issues and marketing play some role, though.

I think they exist because they sell well. A lot of people thinking about getting into the hobby are more likely to buy a $200 machine than a $300 one. Yes, a company can make more money from the $300 machine than the $200 machine. But they'd rather sell the $200 machine than no machine at all.

I think that's part of it. The other part is that it would destroy sales and/or revenue from lower end models. I love my AT Max, but is it worth the current retail price? HECK NO! In my opinion the AT Max with a coil cover and MS-3 headphones is "worth" around $400 (MSRP) or so in value compared to the Simplex and Vanquish 540. But what happens if Garrett sells the AT Max for $400? The AT Pro's MSRP goes to $350, Ace 400 goes to $300, Ace 300 to $250 and Ace 200 stays at $200.

After using the 540, I don't think the issue was bringing MIQ to new users without complexity. I think the challenge for Minelab engineers was finding the right balance between showing users what MIQ could do in the Vanquish series without cannibalizing Equinox sales. In my opinion, the right balance was found by not giving the Vanquish machines the ability to ground balance. While I wish the 540 could ground balance, I completely understand why Minelab chose not to include that feature. On a metal detector capability scale (for the typical detectorist) from 0 to 100, with the Equinox 800 being 100, it's my somewhat-educated opinion that: 0 = Using your hands, a fridge magnet and a shovel 35 = Go Find 22 60 = Vanquish 340 65 = Vanquish 440 70 = Vanquish 540 85 = Vanquish 540 with ground balancing (doesn't exist, I know, but if it did...) 92.5 = Equinox 600 The absolute numbers aren't the point. The point is that adding ground balancing to the 540 takes the 540 too close to the 600 for the average metal detectorist.

Oh, these rechargeable lithium AA cells definitely have something going on to protect and manage the cells. Something needs to reduce the 3.6 or 3.7 nominal volts (and closer to 4.5v or so when charged) to 1.5 volts. Also, you need something to cut off the cell to prevent over discharge. And the RnB packs likely have a BMS that does similar duties, including balancing the cells, like you mentioned.

Most likely: yes, yes and yes. I used the Tenavolts in my Fisher F-Pulse for some brief indoor testing and I measured no difference with them and Eneloop NiMH cells. This doesn't surpise me as my Garrett Carrot works identically whether using a 9v battery or my AAA to 9V adapter (which contains a voltage booster). As for my Garrett AT Max, I'm not going to use the Tenavolts in them. For one, I don't think my kitchen observations were a fluke. For another, even if it is a fluke, the AT Max is so sensitive to EMI and chatty, I don't want to use batteries in it that even provide the impression that they're altering my VDIs numbers and/or sounds. Also, the AT Max works just fine with Eneloop NiMH cells. I just thought the Tenavolts would provide a good weight savings. I may see if I can make a AAA NiMH pack to use in the AT Max though for times where I want it to be as light as possible (and am ok with a 2-3 hour run time).

What's "BMS?"

I did my testing in my kitchen. I know EMI is more of an issue inside than outside (usually), but I wanted more consistency to determine if the Tenavolts were producing noticeable interference to the AT Max and I felt doing a test inside would be more likely to provide that consistency. You're right, my results could be a coincidence. But others have observed EMI from the Tenavolt cells and how they've experienced interference with their radios (not sure what kind). So given how chatty the AT Max is, I'm not surprised that using the Tenavolts produced noticeable EMI. RTG pack? Do you mean an RnB pack? I've heard good things about it, but I won't buy that pack out of principle.

Tenavolts update: Using Duracell alkaline cells, I turned on my AT Max in my kitchen. It was in Zero mode and got no audible interference up to 3 (out of 8 ) sensitivity. But when going to sensitivity settings 4-8, all I got was this steady loud noise. This isn't surprising. These results were the same regardless of which of the 4 channels I was on. I repeated the same experiment in my kitchen, but using Tenavolt cells. The results were identical, except: With the Duracell alkalines, the Target ID Cursor (the little black dot that moves back and forth along the VDI spectrum depending on the type of signal detected) would randomly move back and forth, but mostly around VDI numbers of 20 and 60. With Tenavolts, the Target ID Cursor would mostly move back and forth along the VDI spectrum from from numbers 60 and 80. The Target ID Cursor observations were only present when on 7 or 8 sensitivity. This applies for both Duracell alkaline cells and the Tenvolts. So it appears the Tenavolts are having some effect on the AT Max. I don't know if it will have any practical implications, but something to consider for those using Lithium cells with built in electronics.