bigtim1973

I am thinking of getting an eq coil for mine but it kind of takes away the whole idea of a machine for under 300 bucks. 

I tried my eq900 coil on it and liked the results I saw in my test bed. 

To me whether a condensed scale means less trash or not, I try to dig numbers within a few digits of each other....whether the number locks or varies slightly.

I have found extreme bouncing numbers to always be non ferrous junk.....beer can parts etc. 

Your gonna dig b.s. targets no matter what numerical scale you prefer, something will always pop up a good coin signal and be an old rusted lawn mower gas tank cap  clock parts, steel bolt etc.

I have not ever found the perfect detector. The detector will always be as good as the targets you sweep across and then you must decide to or not to dig.

With larger coils the footprint is trying to punch through a larger area of ground conditions. This is why it seems to be more erratic and less stable. It really has nothing to do with the shielding or electronics of the coil. 

It is kind if like driving through fog with your high beams on. If they are on, all you see is a glaring white wall in front if you. If turn your high beams off you are able to see more detail through the fog even though it is dimmer. 

13 hours ago, Kctrading said:

Saw that video...posted to it... copy below.

I found many errors in your testing!

I call operator error?

X-Terra pro is a different beast and you have to do things differently when switching frequencies, etc.  I've been reading the 50+ page manual and have learned a lot...

1. Per the manual you need to do another ground balance any time you switch frequencies. Or it resets back to the default which is in the middle of the scale.

2. The ground you were testing in had lots of iron in it!  So why did you leave it in Recovery Speed 1? 

1 is low recovery
2. is medium recovery 
3 is high recovery 

With all that iron in the ground you needed to be on recovery speed 3. (Page 32 of the manual) All that iron at recovery speed 1 was also causing more iratic  ID #s too.

3. At the end of the video I saw you do a ground balance over iron which it registered just before that.
Per the manual always do a all metal mode check of the ground you're going to use for ground balance to make sure it's clean before doing this.

Any time you switch frequencies you're suppose to do a ground balance again as the unit will go back to the default setting (per the manual page 16 & 23).

Also, recovery speed 1 gives least sepration. 3 gives the most....never saw you put it on 3 🤔 as you could hear the null iron.

Other things to consider...

This is a prototype of the coming retail unit. Will retail units be the same?

Price will surely be more with all that carbon fiber.  

How much bigger is the Simplex coil or just rounder? Many say size matters!

I call for a re-match with all this in mind 🙂

 

On recovery speed, a lower recovery speed is better for depth on clean ground conditions. That is why he tried it several ways with the xterra. 

I will also say the 11 inch coil on the Simplex has an advantage being a larger diameter.

He was just showing the stock configuration between the units. If he would have put the 11 inch equinox coil on the xterra it would have performed better as I have tried it myself on mine but as far as holding the correct number, it would bounce around a bit but not as erratic.

I like the xterra better myself. A friend of mine let me use his Simplex. I personally like the tones on the minelab better. Not taking anything away from what the Simplex can do. It is all just a personal preference.

7 hours ago, DSMITH said:

@Kctrading here is the issue in my opinion Sid should have put the Xterra Pro on 15 KHz and never changed frequencies at all as the Simplex Ultra is a single frequency 15 KHz detector,if you are going to do test do apples for apples. Sid was trying to see if he could get the Xterra pro to hit as good as the Simplex Ultra and in my opinion the Xterra pro failed because no matter what Sid did he could not get the Xterra Pro to perform as good as the Simplex Ultra.

I personally have no interest in either of these detectors but lets face it if i was going to purchase one of the two based on that video, it would be the Simplex Ultra, but I still cannot stand those tones which sounds like the Aflac goose, Aflaaaaac,Aflaaaaac 

Lol....so I see I am not the only one who thinks it quacks!!

I have not had to worry with about headphones yet. Out in the woods i do not use them. But I understand the eq900 headphones will work.

3 minutes ago, Chase Goldman said:

Thanks.  Good info.  Keep sharing your experiences with the Xterra Pro and happy hunting.

Your welcome. Are you thinking of getting one?

Most if the time I use AT and yes if the target stays say from 60 s to 80s it is worth taking a look. I consider that a good tone. Mid to high on a coin at 6 inches. 

I have not had a penny dime or quarter bounce down to the 20s and 30s....not yet anyway. 

In my test garden on an 8 inch nickle it will up average it into the 60s.

I have taken it on a couple of different sites.

So with that said I think one should go by the tone more than the numbers on targets at 6 inches that has a small footprint like a coin. 

You can tell trashy items like a bolt or nail because it will go down to say the 20s and bounce up to the 60s depending on orientation of the coil over the target. I have found a few bolts and larger machine type screws. 

I am learning trash from say zinc pennies.

I do not hunt areas littered with aluminum trash most of the time like parks or soccer fields.

So I cannot comment on things like can slaw but even then most of the time that stuff is shallower and should have a more consistent reading not being deep. 

Oh and yes the eq900 numbers will bounce around some too...especially in trash. But on a good target say a quarter at 6 inches, the numbers may vary slightly.

Where as on the xterra pro it may bounce from 65 to 88 and anywhere in between but the tone will stay consistent. 

I have never had a legend so I cannot comment on it other than from owning previous other units made by nokta....it is well made. 

The new xterra I own and I also own the eq900. 

I personally would get the eq900 over the eq700 for the 20 and 40 single selectable frequencies. 

Those frequencies do real good for relic hunting and coin shooting in high iron areas where emi may be an issue. Single frequency is more forgiving in areas with high iron trash such as civil war camp sites or any areas where old farms and such once stood.

I cannot comment on beach use as I am land locked.

Plus on the equinox 900 you get the wireless headphones and the extra 6 inch coil too. Great for tight places and trashy areas. 

The xterra looks and feels like an equinox. If you go to the minelab area of this forum you can see where I made a thread on the new xterra. One of the forum users here in this site is doing very well on the beach with it. 

From my limited experience on the xterra, it will not hold correct target ID on anything deeper than 4 to 6 inches with the stock coil.  It does sound off on the target  but the numbers are bouncing around. So you will have to go by tones more than numerical ID. 

If you are determined to get the new xterra pro, you can purchase an equinox 11 inch coil for it. 

That will calm the bouncing numbers down a bit from my experience.

I think the new xterra is well made and has a great user profile. The screen is nice and large.

But with the equinox 900 you get the wireless headphones and the small coil too. 

It has a few more settings compared to the xterra that you can tweak for a particular situation and or custom tone breaks and such for your own preferred settings.

Good luck with which ever one you choose.

Dang that is so cool. I know how you solder but I am not any good at schematics and such. 

Out of curiosity, do you know someone nearby with an eq900 to see if theirs acts the same?

I took mine to my mom in laws here in town today and there is wifi all over the place along with a power line hub in the back yard where it branches off to other houses and mine ran very good and stable today.

Looks like you have paid for your new xterra already!!!

40 minutes ago, phrunt said:

Brands out of Europe often get forgotten such as Rutus, they've made detectors far beyond any US manufacturer and they rarely get talked about, that indeed shows how far the US manufacturers are behind the ball when brands in other parts of the world although far superior aren't even mentioned.    If Garrett came out with the Rutus Atrex people would be super impressed.

This towers over anything a US manufacturer has released in the VLF space lately.

It really does demonstrate how far behind US manufacturers are though when a detector this good is not even on many peoples radar in the US.

I have always wanted to try one of these. They seem to be very good from what i have watched on YouTube 

Garrett does have a job opening for an engineer position.

They need to drag someone from Europe or Turkey over and make things happen for them again. 

14 hours ago, Dug D said:

I or we didn't mean to strike a nerve bringing up target IDs, my concern is more with my Manticore and pro that seem to jump around the same in ground or even with air tests of coins.  Or square tabs on top of the ground.

The Nox 800 seemed better, maybe only because of the condensed target range, but still seemed better.

 

Probably has something to do with the condensed target range, which also would make the unit more stable when said target stays within that block of conductivity. 

I can see where that would benefit better.

I guess it seems maybe I am the only one who seems to think it is a fun unit??

What I mean by fun is this....It doesn't break the bank and it finds targets.

Good ergonomics and large nice display. 

I do not know if the software can be upgraded in the future. Maybe it can. 

But as a detectorist that started out with beep and dig machines from the 70s and 80s....it is a good unit. 

Yes it is a neutered eq600..... But with that said, it still gets good depth and finds things in the ground.

I already know with the 6 inch eq coil on the xterra pro is way better that the original xterra 50 with the 6 inch 18khz coil from my experience. 

Yes that mxt was my favorite whites machine. 

And being a machine no longer made......it can hang with some of the big dogs. 

I had some good times with the one I had. A very good relic and coin unit. 

Never tried it on the gold as I do not live anywhere near gold foelds.

Did not know where to put this so I placed it here in the eq forum. 

Who is enjoying their new xterra pro??

I have one and it is a well made unit but I am finding it to be more of a tone ID unit since the VDI numbers fly around a bit.

Now with that said....it still picks goodies out of the trash...and it does ID a coin in clean ground.....but do not expect any miracles on accurate ID at average  depths much less deeper targets. 

But if you put a stock 11 inch equinox coil on it it does calm the numbers down a bit with more accurate ID in my soil. 

My ground conditions are mild. I am afraid that you fellows who live in high ground mineralization will be disappointed if the area you live in have those conditions. 

Anyways.....what are some of your thoughts on it?

I have noticed that the majority or new comparison between units all seemed to be more geared toward Nokta, Minelab and XP. 

Every now and then mentions the Apex but overall for general detecting....I am not seeing much interest in anything from First Texas and Garrett here in the comparison threads and elsewhere. 

Not even older flagship models compared to newer units or anyone mentioning buying an older flagship USA model. 

I do believe the Gold machines fall into a different class like the Fisher gold bug and Maybe the Garrett gold units. 

But for general relic, coin and jewelry hunting on either inland or on beaches......there just does not seem to be any interest recently from the American companies. 

Well I made it all the way through and for the heck of it......maybe just maybe there was some kind of weird emi interference going in with it being in a park. Some days are good and some are not. 

I went ahead and pulled the trigger today with getting a eq900 by trading off my deus 2. 

Now waiting for the big truck to show up.

Now I know we have shared some messages back and forth with what your thoughts are between the 2 units. 

And as you have said....you personally would not have done the swap...from your own detecting experiences between the 2 units. 

They speak a different language but as you said...there is enough between the 2 to make them similar in performance. 

Maybe your experience was like you have said already....a one time experience that may resolve itself.

Maybe the park you were in recently sprayed some kind of fertilizer and the fresh coating of minerals and such have not been absorbed enough into the ground. 

I have saw others complain about a similar issue on other forums. 

But this has not deterred me from making the change.

I do not think this reply of mine is gonna make you feel any better about the results you had while using your new 900 today but someone else may chime in and give you some food for thought.

I know you are the type of fellow that takes the time to try to figure out why a machine ticks the way it does.

So I am gonna kick back and see where this thread goes..

They are good units.....they are fast and simple. 

I was disappointed that they did not continue with that Platform but instead started with the prizm line and plastic stuff. 

I think that's when things started going downhill for them.

4 hours ago, Chase Goldman said:

Wow, that was quite the 180 over the course of a week.  And just based on a paper and YouTube.  Impressive. 

I have ‘em both.  Haven’t used my 800 much since getting the D2.  Liked what I saw in terms of the improvements incorporated into the 900 and the fact I could use my 800 coil collection so I got a 900.  But reality intervened as there was a loss of ID stability in the 900 compared to the 800 (and certainly compared the Deus 2) as well as more EMI susceptibilty compared to the D2 (a problem the 800 suffered from as well which tended to keep it collecting dust).  D2 still handles ferrous better than the 800 and 900 and I have had no issues with D2 target separation when invoking higher reactivity, as needed.

If you want TID stability with a 100+ TID scale, stick with the D2.  If I was seriously considering trading in the D2 (which I am not) it would be for a Manticore not an Equinox.

Well.....maybe so...lol!!

However....I am one of those guys that likes to try things out on units. I know what the deus does and so since I took and done some more digging around on the net and watching videos of the controls and such....yes

...I would consider trading off my deus 2 to try an eq 900. 

I cannot say that the emi interference is a good thing at all but here where I hunt the emi is not an issue. 

So yes The deus 2 does have great ergonomics....I did like the eq600 I owned and loved the large display. 

The new ones have a 0 to 99 numbering system....which I really like. 

The deus is supreme in iron. 

But all of the goodies are not always in iron. 

The deus ID numbers lock on pretty good at depth too. 

Heck i would love to have one of everything but finances keep that from happening

Now that I have studied the new equinox units a bit more....it does have the expanded id numbering system. 

With that being said.....I did like the original equinox units. 

I have watched a few separation videos between the deus 2 vs eq900. 

I think in similar situations and similar settings the 2 units could go head to head with similar performance. 

I am thinking I may try out an eq900 and trade in my deus 2.....I am very tempted 

I watched it last night. The xterra with the smaller coil still hit on the coins. 

I will probably get the new xterra myself. I think i would be a fun machine.