Norvic

Agree bugger all hackers would be inclined to go through Minelab to get to prospectors computers, better to go through a bank to get to those user PCs. Crims are lazy people why would they want to know where gold is, lots of digging and hard yakka involved. Through a bank just lovely dollars. I also understand you are not concerned about your data, wheras I am about some of mine, I do detect high value ground as I have posted in Maybe An Amazing Find, and will illustrate what I`m on about here with a few photos of what the GPZ scored when I revisited that site, not yet but, got a lot of work to do there, because the GPZ has truly shown it is 40% plus better, but maybe not better than the 7005. Problem simply solved for me, I don`t use the GPS on the GPZ. But I`d love too because I know how powerful that feature is. So I use GPSs that I don`t have to go online to access my data, but I do use GE which is a powerful resource, but I don`t plot my tracks on it as Xchange does. So I ask Minelab to do with their GPS as other manufacturers have, a standard such as the GPX file format. That data is the prospectors property. Simple I don`t ask Minelab to set up bank like security. I do not believe I am the Lone Ranger here, to the contrary I`m just an old meat ant, there are 100s of such OZies that do not want to share with others, I think the OZ gold scene is much different than the US scene, I presume that from this 4M and posts here. eg It seems a lot of nugget producing country in the US because of your road network is much more accessible than we have over here. We wreck 4WDs accessing ours as I have posted. Thank you Steve for moving this to a new thread, for giving me the opportunity to explain and for understanding what I`m on about. I understand what your on about and fully support your promotion of the GPZs GPS to those who don`t have my concerns. Give it a shot Klunker, I believe the GPS only added cents to the price of the GPZ, R & D added the other $10000

Yes got all that, however in some cases we are talking about a fair amount of data worth a lot to us. As we know with banks, credit cards etc with their security they are still hacked. Using any site has risks in this respect, and it doesn`t matter what assurances are given, it is just not worth the risks, thus for me I require no internet connections when working with my data. I would use the GPS on the GPZ all the time if I didn`t have to go online, as you have stated that screen there right in front of you showing your track is brilliant. Once that data is stored on your PC and you go online whether to Minelabs site or any other it is at risk. In particular Minelabs because that is where we have to go to access the GPZs data, it would be like a magnet to those who have the ability to hack and seek this kind of data by getting to our PCs, different scale to the banks but still a concern. Google Earth receives that data from the GPZ going through Xchange, that is a weak link, I feel also could have security problems. I turn my smart phone off long before it is in mobile reception for this reason, ensuring I have all such data moved onto PC if I require a mobile conx. I joke about being paranoid about this but in reality it is security of data I seek. My take of course, and I certainly do not wish to put prospectors off using the GPS on the GPZ, because it is a powerful tool that complements the detector, such a powerful tool I rate it right up there with the detector in importance, I am with you completely in your quest to share your findings on the importance of GPS data to prospectors. I`d love to know why Minelab went this way with the GPS rather than adopt the standard most GPS manufacturers use. I suspect it is to do with security of their machine, an attempt to stop them being copied, but than why did they use open source software? Before anyone suggests I should contact Minelab, I did twice back in February & March, no reply. Hopefully they are working on this and will address or perhaps I`m the only one who feels this way but I doubt it. I apologise for my rant if it offends, Steve, that is not my intent. I trust it is appropriate and I have not crossed a line I shouldn`t have. Gold is my passion as it is yours and a lot on this 4M.

That`s a bit paranoid of you Steve. Minelabs not the problem, they get hacked into we know that, but all that aside why not do as Garmin, Magellan, Lowrance etc etc and have the GPZ GPS export and import GPX file format which is a standard? Then the prospector can do as he wishes with his data, it is his data not Minelabs.

Certainly useful, and hopefully it will become a feature on all gold detectors, I think the biggest determent to its use is that to access data you have to go through Xchange2 and Google Earth through Minelabs site. Whilst I doubt it`s being used to access our "secrets", I`m not sure so I leave it off, plus for other reasons posted in this thread. Might be paranoid of me but I have on this forum and others inquired of use from serious prospectors and received no replies. Touchy subject it appears. Is their any prospectors who feel as I do on this? Interesting on this exact subject, just had a post posted today I posted on the 8/6/15 on MLO 4M. Nearly a month Lost in Space Looking forward to your How To blog. The more use this feature the more market influence to get it up to speed and on all gold detectors. Give it a shot CTX & GPZ users, tis a powerful useful function.

GPS`s are definitely no gimmick when it comes to gold prospecting, tracks and waypoints saved over the years turn into a powerful tool, as new tech detectors are developed. Imagine the GPZ screen showing an actual map of area you are prospecting, topo, geo or combination of both. Gold detectors and GPS devices belong together, a great move by Minelab I certainly hope they develop it further.

Steve I`d use the GPZ GPS too because as you point out its there and visible, but without the capability to access my 20 years of tracks & waypoints, it serves little use. Once and if Minelab addresses this and allows importing of such data, then it will be the way for me. My old data is what puts me onto those "mystery piece" patches.

Simple but very effective, all camping gear, recovery gear, detectors stored in the roll out drawers, with further pockets down each side of drawers holding battery etc. Note the solar panels Sikaflexed to canopy roof. The 12v fridge has a dedicated insulated freezer section rh end. Mattress is thrown on flat surface above drawers with only the fridge being needed to move out for sleep time. In front of the flat bed surface is a 55 litre permanently fitted water tank with 20l containers taken for longer stays. Usually cook over open fire, with a little Coleman spirit single burner for a quick hot meal. Vehicle has a electric winch mounted on bull bar. Have also a canvas fully enclosed annex that attaches and is carried on rear roof bar, for the extended travelling. Because most places I score gold have no road access, camp must be 4WD mobile and self contained.

I concur completely with your operation method with the GPZ, especially using the GPS and tracking. Although I leave the GPS off on the GPZ and use a smart phone and Oziexplorer. Although Bogenes settings are coming up with the goods on researching also. On those isolated nugget finds, they are a mystery, but sometimes with the use of GPS tracking and coming back with newer technology, the mystery is solved. I have returned to some such locations this year so far and have been fortunate to solve two of them with broken down reefs up hill that were beyond the capabilities of earlier detectors. The GPZ is amazing in its depth capability on sub gram pieces in locations where through high grass or surface rocks, you have no choice but have the coil a couple of inches off the ground, which is the "norm" for my area. But with, I assume, placer(alluvial) gold as it seems yours is mainly, tis a different challenge than our reefs, elluvial and alluvial. In my area the PI to GPZ tech gain is proving to be as productive as the VLF to PI gain.

Seems the US market is just having a small yawn, rightly so too, Greece has a population similar to OZ, and Ozs financial situation doesn`t affect the world. Crazy funny money, illustrates however that only in gold can we trust.

I believe slower swings, no doubt, but higher thresholds, would have said for sure before I tried Bogenes. That I guess is the genius of the GPZ, is simple enough to operate for the starter and adjustable for the pros. My son does very well following me however, he`s much more capable and attuned, which pisses me off somewhat. Klunker same here, I wear glasses to hold my ears apart.

Interesting knee jerk reaction in OZ to Greeks dilemma as per below link, of more interest will be the US markets reaction once your market opens. Gold price is looking to rise if our market is any indication. https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/35b-wiped-aussie-market-010009272.html

I`m not defending Steve, he`s big and ugly enough to do that himself, but I`ll defend the GPZ and Minelab, The GPZ is worth every cent of what it costs and if you check my posts I`ve given Minelab a fair bit of "curry", to expect perfection from evolving tech or anything made by humans is a "long bow" but also importantly your right of opinion. I expect gold and Minelab have always come the party there with the much less than "40%" a detector supplies to that quest. The GPZ does give 40% or more depth as they claim and that`s what they are about. Put down the axe Steve your not really ugly, but don`t stop expressing your opinion, tis more valuable than gold.

My take....... to a certain degree hand eye speed reactivity is important, but as we age, go deaf, blind and lose mobility we evolve with some fox like cunning to help offset these senses. I am finding a sort of faith tied with patience and confidence (read stubbornness) in developed skills can have in this "game" is producing in areas that have been "flogged" as well as new areas, with a lot of assistance from the Zed of cause, You`ve just got to love your Zed and your environment, the Goddess of Gold will come across then. Old saying passed down over the ages "You can spend all year making a days wages or a day making a years wage" and to borrow from the fishos " A bad day prospecting beats a good day at the coal face all the time" Gold Hounds Vids keep that blood pumping.

Presently on a mission (trust Gold Hound allows me to use this description of trip , which I feel is a accurate word to describe such), but once back to "civilization" will put together a few photos of my mobile camp, a fairly evolved but basic one man camp.

I can say without any doubt every detector I`ve had have been winners and got the goods the GPZ is another, there really is no mystery, nor any magic formula just persistence, but the GPZ stands out in one way it is easy machine to use straight out of its box, in my relatively low mineralised country. I look at reviews on the net, at discussions on forums, and only feel anyone who claims the GPZ is a difficult beast is pushing their own barrow. This is my view and one I`ve held since I unboxed my GPZ, it has come up with the goods constantly in thrashed country and new. Read and follow the manual listen to the "static" out there but don`t necessarily follow. My point is simply, use it. KISS.

7005 indeed, Paul your evil but I like ya!!!

Crazy when you think about it, as Klunker has pointed out the plastic of chainsaws, why I`ve a lektric drill I purchased back as a apprentice, plastic housing, fallen off roofs etc etc, 45 plus years old. Had the brushes changed a few times, lots of scratches & gouges on plastic housing but still a goer. Guess the 7000 doesn`t need to last that long...... but still !!!!!!

Yeah, Dale, the Z is a gold magnet no doubt. Try upping the sensitivity full bore and cutting down the threshold to a "comfy" level "Bongenes". Tis magic but not the complete all purpose setting. Off to Lizard Ck next week, see if oh what a feeling can make it, that`s got my heart pumping.

Congrats Paul, that's more than 40% proof. Blimey I need a coffee.

Comes up page not found for me. Donno mn9043 might be right

Dave, Your not wrong our ground is much quieter than WA, although we do have some that compares but not with your salt ground. But regardless the ground would be just as big a problem to the PI to GPZ user as it is to the new user who hasn`t used a PI is my belief, but the consensus seems that it is the user who goes from the PIs to the GPZ who is having the most problems. That I find hard to comprehend because the GPZ is as you pointed out is easy to set and understand how to set. Remarkable that it was introduced and cannot handle WA mineralisation, because the OZ market I feel would be largest in WA, with a lot of GPZs purchased over this way heading to WA in winter. But it certainly is a gold magnet in our ground, straight out of the box.

Interesting subject, but I have found signal responses in the PI`s and the GPZ much similar, deeper nuggets are often a null directly over target same as ferrous targets, with a signal on each side and those warbley signals just love them. Also contrary to what seems the consensus the GPZ is a easy machine to use straight out of its box I believe, would recommend it to a beginner over the GPXs. Why the GPZ has been portrayed as a difficult machine to use for those who used a PI before is beyond me, and with the finds that are being made by previous GPXs users who have switched over to the GPZ that belief is certainly not universal. GB is simply different but just follow the manual. Too many times I`ve thought this is gold and its ferrous and vice versa. Maybe I`m not hearing properly but feel neither the PI`s or GPZ are capable of discrimination to a degree that you could trust. But I stress my belief is simply if you get a signal dig it up and am keen to save some digging if the GPZ is capable of discriminating.

Think there might be something in it, downunder in tropical NQ, we`ve had two dry wets in a row from El Nino conditions and looks like its getting stronger. More water for you folks to flood the gold out, less for us so the grass doesn`t grow so tall and hide the good stuff. Win! win allround, but I`d rather a good wet and fill the underground, bore is dropping output, have to bath in beer.

Not noticed any interference with the smartphone and GPZ as yet, have my smartphone in top left hand pocket only couple of inches from WM12, got to keep any metal away from right hand side when retrieving those smallies that's for sure. GPS data is as important to my prospecting as the detector, especially as memory deteriorates with age. Now with most GPSs being capable of transferring to and from the PC with USB it is far more convenient and accurate to when one had to do it manually.

It is a learning process with the mobile phones and apps, if this is your first go at GPS I`d go for the cheaper ones either Garmin or Magellan(only ones I`m familiar with), with the Magellans I feel easier to use but doesn`t lock on sats as quick as the Garmins. With the pace manufacturers bring out new features in GPS`s you`ll find the less cost of the cheaper ones less of a sting, then once you feel comfy with the one you`ve got you`ll better able to decide on smart phone or GPS with lots of features. I don`t believe anyone can track you with a GPS they are only receivers. Like wirelessguy, I`m a bit of a gadget guy too and have been using GPSs for 20 years or so, thus feel if your not a gadget guy go for the cheaper one. You can`t go wrong with either of those manufacturers, their cheaper ones are still very capable and a great way to get your feet wet.