Knomad

I do believe they need to revise pricing outside the U.S, it is not really competitive.

True Waterproofing ANY detector is really a complete new design, so unless they believe a big enough market exist that is not practical. Water resistance is not too involved, Underwater capability is.

The Axiom is already a upper grade pulse detector, and obviously Garrett listened to experienced nugget hunters when designing it, and now that it has been in the field in far more hands and conditions we see the few weaknesses it has, and Ways To Improve it. Below I list what comes to mind up to this point, Please add to this list for Garrets consideration. 1. It really needs Bluetooth, for the simple reason everyone has their own headset they like best. 2. The present wireless is too weak and seems directional, so drops out easily. 3. The Lower end of the Sensitivity setting scale should be expanded so finer changes can be made, the change from setting 2 to 3 to 4 is too course. 4. Threshold setting has the same problem as the sensitivity setting, it tends be be too course at the lower end of the scale. 5. Offer Conventional Elliptical DD Coils with more sensitive pointy ends to deal with noisy black sand and be able to get into tight places better, 5 x 10 would be a good start. Longer Term Design Improvements -- 1. Change to a high contrast Anti Glare Color Screen, and add Sun Shade to the top. (not unreasonable for a high end machine). 2. Change to a more flexible type of coil cable to work better with the nice collapsible shafts, perhaps just changing to silicone mix plastic cover would be enough. Suggested Future Avenue of Improving Technology -- As is, The Axiom has the ability to apparently use the Threshold to filter out background noise, Not just reduce its volume at least at silent minimal setting of --9, So Much So that Sensitivity can be set to Max to keep depth on ground that would otherwise require a very low sensitivity setting. I Highly Suggest that be explored and refined as a separate Noise Filter optional setting. LISTENING GARRETT..?

The Goldbug 2 was always the go to for small shallow gold on moderate ground, but the Monster is newer tech that is a better bet, and as easy to use as it gets. The XP is more of a general purpose detector. A Minelab Equinox 800 would be a better general purpose detector, and is as good as any VLF on gold.

When I first went to this location a few years ago it was Virtually Undetectable, a Nox 800 in any mode with any settings, a Whites GMT, a Fisher Goldbug Pro, and a Whites TDI SL, could not even detect a Brass Shotgun Shell even level with the surface. This time I think the Black Sand has sunk, But is near pure iron and in both concentrated areas as well as small spots everywhere, so any coil movement detects another glob it seems. If I did not know where the test target was, it is highly unlikely I would find it with sensitivity high enough to detect it, even moving slow, the threshold was way too noisy even at minimal setting, like it was Mixing Threshold with target sound. BUT with threshold Completely OFF somehow it filtered the background noise sound but still allowed the Target Sound, in ALL except fine mode that was unusable. What was heard was an occasional clipping of target sound, but basically silent other than that. NOTE- This ONLY worked well at FULL sensitivity of 8.! Anything below 6 and the target was lost, So Silent Searching AT MAXIMUM sensitivity..! When otherwise a sensitivity of 3 was REQUIRED to detect the target BUT was Unbearably Noisy.

This test was on the worst Black Sand Ground I have seen, although it is not as bad as it was a few years ago, I suspect the Black Sand has sunk deeper. Years ago NO detector could even see a Brass Shotgun Shell deeper than even with ground level.! I tested 3 detectors, My Equinox 800, My Whites Goldmaster GMT, and the new Garrett Axiom. The first two are very good VLF detectors, the Axiom is the latest technology Pulse Detector. Pulse Detectors are almost always better in really bad ground conditions. ALL 3 detectors would not ground balance fully on this ground, at least at anywhere near normal sensitivity, the GMT did at reduced sensitivity. Interesting Axiom testing -- I tested with 3 coils, The 11 x 13 DD, The 7 x 11 DD and The 7 x 11 Mono. NONE of the coils would fully ground balance at even a sensitivity setting of 3, and was noisy at 2. The exception was in Salt Mode, it at least came close to balancing, so was the quietest with a low threshold setting. Fine Mode, was basically non usable with ALL coils and a sensitivity above 2. Normal was usable but noisy at 3, But really hard on the ears. Large, about the same as Normal, just not as clear on the target. Salt, was by far the quietest but with depth loss of 1 to 2 inches. Target - a piece of lead, likely a banged up 22 bullet, just 6 inches deep, NO coil would detect this target in this ground at less than a sensitivity setting of 3, and was Very Noisy at 3. INTERESTINGLY -- ALL modes, except Fine, could be run at FULL Sensitivity, but with the Threshold OFF at -9..! AND detect the target.! The ONLY other way to run it was with sensitivity below 3 (and miss the target) or go insane from ground noise. ( NOTE - I usually run my detectors slightly hot, with minimal threshold, so am used to background noise, But that is NOT possible here.) The 11 x 13 DD had the clearest and strongest target response. The 7 x 11 DD was OK, But Surprisingly More Noisy. I had expected it to be less noisy looking at less ground, but maybe it is more sensitive, so reacts more to the ground that is not fully balanced out. The 7 x 11 Mono was as expected, slightly more sensitive than the same size DD, But substantially noisier. Strange, But with no threshold it has to break past a zero point to signal anything, But it will in this extreme ground. Normally there is a substantial sensitivity loss with no low threshold, but with ground this noisy it seems to filter the noise, with a smaller sensitivity loss. Unfortunately the Dual Balance did not seem to work, even holding the button until it goes into dual balance, I suspect because it was not hot Rocks, Just Black Sands, so couldn't tell the difference, and balance numbers were inconsistent and all over the place. BTW, neither VLF could see the target deeper than 2 inches.

I would think Our Fearless Leader would know something was up with Garrett. No comment Steve.?

Steve said it better than I.

The signal was Choppy and hard to pull up, but I got a Poligrip on it.

I was unaware Minelab has changed to a proprietary wireless system from the good combo system on the 800. Why change what worked well, their proprietary system worked ok, and the Built In Bluetooth worked with most other Bluetooth systems, BUT like I said Everyone has their own favorite headphone or other system, so TALK ABOUT NOT Customer centered..! Word of Advice to Garrett -- Take advantage of Minelabs Alienating its customer base with removing functionality WHILE Increasing Prices..! ADD Built in Bluetooth AND Decrease the price of your Axiom..! AND Come up with a true competitor to the VERY Successful Equinox.!

Jeff, Not to be negative, BUT, The truth is NOTHING improves if you do not critique it.! If you are in Colorado and not Australia or another country, two and a half weeks is not impressive, a week would have been. I had Coiltek replace a bad 5x10 Nox coil in a week, impressive. I applaud Garrett for a Good Start on a near top notch P.I machine, Now pay attention to it's shortcomings and keep improving it to make it top notch..! I am also not impressed with their wireless headphone system with the Axiom that seems to have a weak transmitter and maybe a too directional antenna, that often will lose signal just 4 or 5 feet away, sometimes much less. And the phones themself are not impressive and I find uncomfortable. FWI, The latest standard Bluetooths are very close to the Low Latency versions, WHY did Garrett not incorporate Bluetooth to give their customers that option that is on other detectors, A $4000 detector that does not have Bluetooth built in like my $900 Nox has, Really.?.! Everyone has their own favorite headphones, Trying to make an extra buck locking people into Proprietary Type headphones is just bad policy, even Minelab recognized that and along with Their Proprietary system put a fast generally good Bluetooth System in the Nox. Garrett for once impressed me with the Axiom, Now don't think you can set on that accomplishment, it is not Me that you must impress, it is ALL that are looking to buy, and those that use your equipment now. You have shown that you can do what is needed, and that you will at least at times Listen to your customers, Go Forward From There..!! GO GARRETT..!!

Thanks for info Steve. I was afraid of that, It just seems like the third party companies that already make coils for the 6000 could easily produce the same shape coils for the Axiom. I am not a fan of the Blunt Nose shape of the Garrett coils, I much prefer elliptical coils, and a pointy traditional 5 x 10 is more or less the standard for gold detector coil size. How about a Pointy 6 x 16..!

I have seen rumors of some third party coils for the Axiom, But are any really available now.? If so how do they compare to what the factory selection is.?

MY THOUGHTS -- Minelab has run out of new ideas for serious performance improvements, so all they can do is things they should have done years ago, like telescoping rods and ergonomic improvements they should have also done years ago. Now because sales have slipped on their once dominate profitable gold detectors they are upping prices to try and sustain profits for their stockholders. Big Mistake, all they will do is chase away customers, their products were always over priced, But they got away with it when people could find enough gold to pay for those machines, THAT is getting much harder to do, even in their once biggest selling country, Africa. Reality Check - Gold Machines need Price Reductions NOT Increases..! If Garrett was Smart, They would not only keep improving the Axiom, (improved performance and Bluetooth) they would Lower the price, to make Minelabs prices look even worse..! Keep in mind it is very likely Notka will enter the PI market in the next year or so. Fisher is looking Comatose to the whole market, but there is opportunity. Garrett -- Dig up that old Whites Combo VLF / Pulse detector patent I seem to recall..!

Slightly off target but big iron related -- Believe it or not the most consistently accurate detector I have found for large Iron I.D in mining ground is Whites TDI SL, Yes a P.I machine.! The ground balance sets the crossover point for ferrous / non ferrous, and when set up right it is near flawless.!

I would not touch it, Money Grams are a common SCAM.!

I guess I am an extremist, I see little use for very large Round coils and always prefer elliptical shaped coils. In fact I would like to see a Big Foot style coil for ALL VLF detectors and even Pi machines if possible. AND see actual head to head comparisons of coils like the 18 inch round and Big Foot shaped and elliptical coils.! The ultimate big coil is one with great coverage, but light, that screams elliptical or even narrower with whatever length needed for depth, this gives the added benefit of being able to use it in tight spots large round coils just cannot do.

Even in those days they had good ergonomics and balance. I miss Whites as they once were under Ken.

Coil has great end sensitivity, the only downside to that is there are times when both ends will sense a different target at the same time, this can be a little confusing, so make sure and swing in several directions and maybe lift the coil to determine what is going on. That same end sensitivity is great for pinpointing shallow targets if you tilt the coil 90 degs, if it does not sense the target you know it is a little deeper. The first one I had went bad after about 6 months, it just caused constant radical operation even in the air, I sent a video of the problem, and it was replaced promptly.

Did you ever check to see if a hose screws into it, or if threads are in bad shape is it at least the right size.? If size seems right but threads are bad put a hose to it with tape or anything to seal or reduce water leakage and see if it acts like a hose nozzle.

See if a standard water hose male end screws into it.? It may be an Ornate Hose Nozzle, it would likely produce a light spray perhaps for flowers.

Reminds Me of an old girlfriend....

Note the built in Bluetooth in the Nox 800 is fast, and works well, BUT will not pair with as many headsets as that transmitter I pointed out. The stock Nox headset is not Bluetooth, But they were smart enough to also put in a good Bluetooth transmitter, That is my one big gripe about the Axiom, No Bluetooth.

One more thing, If you just must have the fastest system than you are going to have to go with a straight transmitter type such as the Garrett Unit, The down side that I hate about such systems is then you are Locked into their compatible headsets, and I often change headsets depending on air temps, surrounding noise, and possible rattle snakes.

Yes, some of the cheap Chinese transmitters are slow, these are not. The type of detector makes little difference to a Bluetooth, but if anything a fast VLF is more likely to show latency than a pulse detector, mostly because of swing speed usually being slower with pulse, this particular transmitter is low latency, I have used it on both pulse and VLF. what I have seen is that headsets often are not, and if a headset is slow than NO transmitter will help with that. As for the Quest units, at that time they were fast, But junk quality. I cannot speak for their latest offerings, other than to say they are over priced.