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Without actual in use reports on how one made with the stainless connector vs the composite one acts when dipping across the water line in salt water, we may not know how well the shield and insulator are carried through the connection with the stainless connector. The dilemma of trade offs, testing, information flow, clarity of information and interpretation of what the information really means. Frustration. I'm still leaning to paying for the expensive connector for two reasons (unless the first one isn't true): 1) The sound off from the knee to waist deep wash across the connetor shouldn't be as bad. 2) Since it is reported that they have to use the expensive connector on the Gold version, quantity pricing may help get the connector price down. Which ever way it goes, I still anticipate having one in what ever form it is available in, when one is available.

Willy posted the following to this thread on July 9th: "The high voltage and short pulse delay of the Impulse are requiring a strict shielding of all the parts subjected to the pulses (coil, cable and connector). That effect is due to the small gap of continuity of the cable shield between the the male and female connectors and the changes of capacitance coming from the conductive water level variations. It was for that reason that the coil connector was initially made of metal in order to keep the continuity of the cable shielding up to the inside of the enclosure. (Same supplier, other item) Field tests in the sea water had shown a bad electrolysis effect on its body giving it a nasty look. A plastic connector had to be used for the AQ. The GOLD version will even require more attention to this capacitance effect as it will have a much shorter pulse delay, it will get an (expensive) stainless steel connector to keep a perfect shielding." My reading of Willy's post, tied into other parts of the discussion, is that the metal connector kept the continuity of the shield such that there wasn't the same level of capacitive effect that is realized with the composite connector. The electrolysis was deemed ugly so they went to the plastic knowing that there was a trade-off. If the original metal connector was one of the nickle or cadmium plated variety, it would not be as resistant to corrosion by electrolysis as a high quality stainless steel. I looked at the Souriau catalog and they had several options for material for the connectors; with a wide range of prices depending on material. If I am interpreting the information incorrectly, someone please correct me!

Pretty sure I could work around that too. I do like to spend time in the mom and kiddie wash area as it has been productive. That is where composite connector would sound on going from immersion to open air. With multiple detectors available, I could use one for one session and another for the next one away from the thigh to waist deep wash ... then again, it is nice to grab one detector and just cover it; and $300 could be just one ring away from being covered. Without an AQ in hand, I'm still leaning towards being willing to spend the extra for the stainless steel connector, that would limit the capacitive effect, and not place that one limit as a decider on which detector I grab for a hunt.

My gosh did that make me laugh just way too hard! Another good hunt! Enjoy the time with the grandsons!

Thank you for the report. Are you in the Florida panhandle? I am wondering if this is the second detector Deborah was talking about acting like hers? Oh ... and your posts are great. I am glad I'm not posting in a different language, that would be very ugly!

OBN, Nice hunts and thanks for setting info to add to my notes. I hear what you are saying ...yes ... but. The salinity chart shows the Florida Gulf not as high as NC and SC coast. I don't know the sand / ground conditions in Pensacola, but on a couple of trips I hunted Panama City Beach and parts east to Mexico Beach Florida with the HHPulse with the 11 inch coil. I know it isn't the same animal as the AQ, and a couple of trips is not like living there, but it did not sound close to max on the wash, let alone just by moving the coil in deeper water (not wash). If coil was presented thoughtfully in the water, up to shoulder deep, it would make some slowly growing and falling sound on the wave movement but was easy to distinguish targets. What Deborah describes is entirely different than what others are reporting. I sincerely hope FT team finds a little manufacturing process to "fix". They are showing what looks like incredible customer support.

Nice! And thanks for the settings and audio information. Ocean or bay side?

Curious as to if this is a reference to ATS setting where slower sweep is needed for deep or is back 1/3rd related to audio as in it would be nice to have non-linear faint audio boost like the Fisher CZ's have, or something else? Thanks in advance!

Yes! And I am hoping to hear more experiences in moving water (not connector water wash related) with delay set around 10 to 11.5. As Skullgolddiver noted, many PI's that are used in the water have significantly higher pulse delays. And of course hoping for the stainless steel connector on the production model; even if it needs to be coated with conductive grease to maintain the warranty.

Mike, The forum thread that discusses the AQ prototype change from metal to plastic connector follows. On the first page, Willy posts details of the decision to replace the metal connector with plastic and the consequences when the water movement crosses the connector. Thread link follows: Impulse AQ Coil Connector - False Signals

Welcome back from anonymity! Could have been the knot. I've had a couple of knotted chains that dropped back on the sand, the detector still saw them. After getting home and un-knotting I couldn't get even a little hiss or threshold rise out of even when re-knotting ... and I know that feeling of ... maybe there was more there. Very nice piece of gold in any case! Wife and I were in your neck of the woods this past third week of June. Robbed the bay side water of a nice little bit of gold ... a thin 14K size 7 ring. Wife has now claimed it. Again, thank you for the reports on the AQ!

Makes more of a case for the more expensive connector that was talked about some in an earlier thread. Or possibly a hard wired coil option. Big thumbs up!! Amen! Thanks much for the reports!!

Could you ask if anonymous could tell if the chain was balled up? That has the look of the thin weave or possibly a hollow weave chain that are not easy to hit, or even to hit at all. Excellent recovery. And I love the knife too!

Trade offs! Sand Shark is pretty much unaffected by salt water movement. HHPulse could be set by lowering the FREQ setting to be fairly quiet, but at that setting, it wasn't seeing unhooked hoop earrings well at all and depth was not great. Run it hot, adjust how the coil is presented as the water moves and listen between the false caused by the water moving and it produced. Over wet salt sand it was much more verbal and better ID'ing iron than the Sand Shark. Hoping to hear more on the AQ in the moving salt water environment vs settings. Looking forward to getting one. Picture is of 14K earrings recovered with the HHPulse a few years back on a soft sand drop-off at the beach edge with lots of moving salt water (wave wash).

If I remember correctly, I think I've found three bands over the years. One goose and two ducks. They were checked on line and were not decades old. I entered where I found them. I think it asked whether the bird was found live or deceased and I entered deceased. I has been a few years since I've found one.

Thanks for posting for "anonymous"!! I copied the notes about bottle caps to my AQ note file so when I eventually get one, I have a head start.

Same here! I was pleasantly surprised to see this thread, Jim Pugh's thread and Clive's first gold thread and wondering why I had not seen them before.

Good to hear you chime in. From a previous post, I know you have been busy. Hope you get a chance to do more with the AQ soon!

Boy do I feel that! Come on fall and winter NNW winds!

Was a good time. Wife actually looks for polished shell pieces when we visit OBX. She finds very little glass there and few full shells, but with all the sand movement the broken shells get polished. She has a couple of jars filled with them and has ideas for making the pieces into arts and crafts projects. This trip she picked up enough pieces to half fill a gallon zip lock bag. On Tuesday Aug 4th I was watching the water levels and predictions (as I suspect you were too) and early on it looked like just before noon there might be a chance of water levels getting about 2 feet below normal lows ... then it all fell apart. Isaias went about 15 to 20 miles too far west and the water never got sucked out, only pushed in on my local water. Oh well. Maybe the next one will be better. I hear you about the bacteria levels! Good luck if you get out! Here are a couple of the shell pieces:

Got to the Outer Banks for a few days. One of the quieter water trips I've experienced there. Beautiful blue green water color. Saw lots of pelicans and dolphins. Nearly 8 seconds between waves for all four days we were there, although each wave would need to be ducked under or bounced up on to keep head above it. Unfortunately, surveying spots along about 6 miles of beach found deep soft sand in all areas checked. Slope was steep and all I was getting from the water were bottle caps and pieces of iron. Wet sand was giving nearly all iron too; so I spent most time on the dry sand. The beach was well streaked with black sand. Not much in the way of stuff found but did get one big ring. As soon as I saw it I knew it was junk. The plating was obviously coming off the ring and there just was not good color in the "stones". Oh well. Had a good time, ate lots of sea food.

Excellent! It is in pretty good shape for a buried one. My dad brought home one of those helmets, a pistol and a bayonet from WWII. Also a pair of wood clogs that were given to him by a thankful family as the troops swept through the area.

Love that 21K ring! You had a great couple of nights!

Thank you Rick!

Any news on more detectors or on the one that got sent back to factory?