F350Platinum

Today I got the RCDIGS V1 mount. I'm glad I did because I'm going to be giving it intermittent heavy use all this week. I'm headed to a beach campground. It's a pretty popular place but I've found the D2 can hit a lot of stuff others miss, however I'm going to have to dig for it. Just about every dig is 5 scoops or more down. 😵 I'm hoping that going a week later than last year will mean more warm days and fresh finds. My wife wants a diamond this year. 😬

This is the difference - V0 was solid, V1 is not. V0 had no way to use wired headphones, V1 has ample space to plug them in. You could probably even plug a transceiver in there.

Next is the angle, I hope you can see it in the photo:

It's much more comfortable to push the buttons. Could even be leaned back more. 🤔 Here is the new angle:

And this is the old one.

It's much easier to hold the button down for ground balancing. My hands are large but not huge. Below I have my 65mm (32.5 radius) circle of vinyl covering the WS6. You'll have to make your own. There are pilot holes for the screws, I recommend stainless.

I'll be updating this thread more in the next few days from the beach, may just do a separate post.

Ryan of RCDIGS.com has a real winner here! 👍

Excellent hunt, Ghound. 👍 Looks like a campground to me, for hunting and other activities. I've dug those aluminum tent pins before. Is that a big brass bell shard?

I think it was NCToad that suggested otherwise regarding using the 11x13 with Tekkna, and posted a video with a theory about it. He's had some pretty stellar results using the big coil as well. It's on this page:

I've used Tekkna with all 3 coils, but trash situations vary, so it's great to think outside the box. One of the places I used it I did better with the 9", but that big coil seems to do very well. 🤔

When relic hunting I keep one or the other coil (9" or 13") in a light fly fishing backpack vest with pockets for other stuff like spare bolts 😅

Congrats on the Walker, that is one of the most beautiful US coins.

Best of luck to you if you return to that place. 🍀

It will be if the pins are strong enough, I snapped the center pin off just plugging it in and not turning the nut. 🤞 XP service in the US is fast, but I have 2 of everything just in case 😁

3 hours ago, Dcraun said:

Can I play again? Here is my oldest US coin. It's a 1798 Draped bust large cent. I also included a picture of my shovel marking where it was found. Notice the cut limestone blocks all that's left of an old structure.

Nice, DC. I dug one too this year!

Guess that's my oldest US coin too. 🤔

Hey @maxxkatt, Audio response gives the impression of depth, and can amplify deeper targets the higher you turn it up. A deep target will be just as loud as a shallow one.

You should follow your posts when you ask a question. 🙂

3 hours ago, Rattlehead said:

I'm sure most of you have seen this by now, but thought I'd bring it to the attention of those who haven't. There's a new cable available with a simple push-on plug for the remote. It works well.

Thanks DeWayne! 2 on the way, hope they get here before Myrtle Beach next week. Thanks man! 👍🥳

It's about time... 🤔

1 hour ago, Steelheader said:

Steve,  will he be making them to fit your shafts?

Let's find out: 

@steveg, will he be making them to fit your shafts?

33 minutes ago, Joe D. said:

Great job Bob, and kudos to the guys making the accessories!🍀👍👍

Thanks Joe D,

For sure this forum can make or break something from an individual or a corporation, or a single object. 

These 3 gentlemen are fine examples of aftermarket gear creators who are not just in it for a quick buck, we've all run across those. 

I used to solve big computer problems all the time, now that I'm retired it is a great pleasure to have a chance to "fiddle" with stuff. I don't ask for any compensation. I never thought for a moment that retirement would be boring. 🤣

32 minutes ago, NCtoad said:

Thanks Bob.  Do you happen to know the weight of the standard shaft?   I found the weight of the lite shaft at 320 grams, but can’t find the weight listed for the standard shaft.  Just wondering if it’s worth switching to the lite version.  

Switch? Nah, but if you need another shaft for something you have another choice, by far the least expensive. 🙂

I couldn't find the D2 shaft weight anywhere either, but there is a lot of discussion about it here, maybe @Jeff McClendon did some weight comparisons.

One thing I noticed was that the camlocks aren't quite as "lock-y" on the coil lower as the more expensive one, but that could be just the one I got.

While I'm at this it bears mentioning the stand that you brought to everyone's attention, yet another person that makes quality stuff at a reasonable price. Can't thank you enough for that. Eric is a great guy and I chatted back and forth with him quite a bit.

This is not the "lite" version stand that he makes, I wanted the large one that can hold the 13" from rolling and took tin snips and a file to the legs on the Lite shaft cuff feet to make it fit, they are wider but have the same curve dimension. 😅 I also added a Neoprene cuff insert I got somewhere and cut it to fit.

The long one sometimes snags on my gear, but not having to chase my detector down the beach on a windy day is worth it. 🤣

Wow NC, 

I hunt a new campground near the Outer Banks that was an old hunting lodge among other things, and have pulled hundreds of coins out of there as well as some silver jewelry. Even dug a large cent there, it's that old. 

With all the activity a camping area would have, there have to be a lot of great finds. Of course in my case there is also a lot of live ammo, some near the fire pits so they let me hunt the tent spots. 😬

Congrats on the gold! Looks like you're doing great with Tekkna. 👍

2 minutes ago, NCtoad said:

Very nice!  And well done on the vinyl cover!  Off topic a little but what’s the difference between the regular shaft and the lite one?   Not just the weight but are there any other differences like more flimsy?

Thanks NC,

The difference is the upper part is all some sort of tough composite plastic, it feels as solid and possibly more rigid than the standard XP shaft. It still has the aluminum mid rod and can be retracted the same way. The hand grip is also plastic, not rubber like stock, but is just as comfortable. 

You're not off topic at all really, I meant to feature the whole rig. 

I bought it not only because it is $25 cheaper than the stock shaft, but also because I was curious and wanted to have a different take should someone else review it. 

I like it. 👍

Just now, ColonelDan said:

Ryan and Steve make a good team…great products. 👍🏻😊

Couldn't agree more. Both are very serious about their creations and committed to the best quality of fit, form and function possible. 🙂

I have been very grateful to be allowed to contribute a few things, but they are the masters of the craft. 

14 minutes ago, palzynski said:

Two days ago we went out for a militaria outing with my cousin on a 1stWW German camp.

Incredible finds, palzynski. While I don't envy your area being the place of war, the recovery of artifacts of many eras is quite impressive. From the Romans to the French Revolution to WW1 is something I cannot imagine 🤯 A thousand or more years of history. Congratulations to you and your cousin.

I'm glad Tekkna is working well for you, going back there more would probably be a good thing 🤔 

I am enjoying using the WS6 more now, I'll be posting some interesting stuff soon. 🙂

Wow JCR,

That is quite the opportunity, and a real learning experience regarding depth. Sure fits in with all theory and speculation!

Hope you can get more out of it. 🍀

9 hours ago, Tyler said:

Are the carbon fiber shafts all the great for the equinox? What’s the greatest advantage?

Yes, Steve's Detector Rods stevesdetectorrods.com are excellent. Detect-Ed shafts are ok, you can get them various places, and Anderson shafts.

Advantages to Steve's are the cam lock system, stiffness, and weight. 

7 hours ago, Lost Scout said:

Had to go to Boise today so picked up a pair of JLab studio pros on sale. I'll compare with the minelab sound quality.

Looked them up, and they are not APTX-LL. If you connect them via Bluetooth and don't see  B+ in the top right, the latency will make targets appear in the wrong place, unless you are attaching a transceiver to the 800.

If you have to have over ear headphones there are others listed on this site that will work.

4 hours ago, Lost Scout said:

And I need new head phones. Mine has stoped pairing with the detector so I had to use the wired up method. 

If you want a great cheap pair of headphones, check these out:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08QRQMLVY

Right now they are $34. They are great when it gets warmer, very loud for on - ear headphones. Been using them for a long time with my Equinox.

Nice hunt Mark, 

It's interesting to read accounts from others who try other programs and have success in a heavily hunted area. Congrats on the silver and older coins.

Nice hunt LS,

A new permission is always a blast. 👍 When you start finding buttons and horse tack decorations, a lot of which look like furniture tacks, you're in the area where they mounted/dismounted. Nearby there should be a spot where they brought food and drink for outdoor picnics. There should be hotspots at each end and along the track, but not too close as it would have been dangerous. 

That looks like a working farm, I hope there is no electric fence.

🍀

12 hours ago, DWerk said:

I am still having very low vol when in pinpoint when on speaker. Seems to be ok on ws6 attached to my headphones. Time still a problem.. Working on it, trying to reset time, remember to recheck when I do any changes,

I have the low pinpoint volume problem on all 4 of my devices, two remotes and two WS6 pucks.

Both of my RCs have the time issue but it is infrequent. Happens more when I'm doing a lot of program switching.

Here's the vicious loop: 

https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/metal-detecting-and-permits/

And we have the DWR, police with SUVs, handcuffs and guns, we see them all the time, I know people who ended up cleaning the roads for violations (community service):

https://dwr.virginia.gov/conservation-police/

They even do undercover arrests. Not just for hunting and fishing. You have to look for "DGIF" to find old accounts, they changed their name, a moving target.

I believe that the webpage exists because people ask, it says so. 👍 But it's also there because people detect without asking. Ratios aren't available.

Here's an interesting publication from the Archaeologists worth a look: 

https://www.archeologyva.org/PDF/HICKS-TIMECRIME.pdf

I love how they call it "time crime". Cue the show tunes.

Isn't it putting the cart before the horse to assert that it's because people ask, when the laws and regulations came because people did it in the first place?

I believe that history should come to light, envy is the worst sin.

Apology to the OP.  🙂

Hey Tom,

I agree that this is a discussion, not some ornery or polar stance I've taken. 

Heck I went to a VA State Park, and was told by the ranger who I had to ask for a permit (VA State law) to metal detect the beach, the Ranger told me I had to ask DCR, a state agency that gave the rangers the authority to grant such permits. 🙄 I wrote them and got a boiler plate reply including the law except - conveniently - the part about granting permits. I'm definitely not a fan of even bothering now with that sort of ignorance. 🤪

It would have been nice if they did grant it, that beach is so loaded with discarded fishing gear they won't let anyone go swimming. 😵

Yes, my situations regarding farmers are all about private property, but I do consider those who detected their farms without permission are lucky to not have records or had surgery. This place hasn't changed much in 300 years. And one bad apple will spoil the whole bunch. There are stories... 🤐

I'm just a little confused about your stance that the majority of people who cause new laws and other hindrances are those that ask permission, is that right? 🤔. Have not Tomb Raiders and other nefarious critters always existed? More recently, there appear to be more people that "just do it", and leave holes and damage. Those are the new hordes. There are "self-appointed authorities" everywhere now too.

I'm a little leery of encouraging people to do stuff until they get thrown out, that's bad press too, isn't it?

The OP asked for rules/laws, I gave them what they asked for. 🙂 

One more parable if you will:

When I was in Turkey with the Army, we were on break after it was over at a Turkish resort on the Black Sea, a couple of guys in my unit spotted a watch in the water, and they borrowed a fishing pole to get it out. They returned the pole and were walking away with the watch, before they got back they were arrested by the police, not for retrieving the watch, but for not giving it to the man they borrowed the pole from. Cost the unit a pile of hush money to get them out.

You have to be aware of customs and laws no matter where you go.

14 minutes ago, Rattlehead said:

Nice finds Bob! I’ve been playing around with the Tekkna program for about a week with varying success. It was able to sniff out some small pieces of brass at one of my heavily hunted iron blanketed sites. Still need to spend more time with it.

Thanks! I'm still really a fan of using Relic, and with Tekkna find my success varied as well. For sure I dig lots of NF trash with it, not so much with Relic.

Relic has improved a lot with V2, I wasn't on V1.1 for long enough to know whether it was improved then.

I can do just as well with my version of Relic, but it does tend to be trifling in heavy trash, so I'm glad to have a more subtle alternative. 🙂

22 hours ago, Tom_in_CA said:

I can give case-examples of this psychology at various levels of govt.  Where, when we trace back to origins, it is EXACTLY this.   So I have no doubt that the same psychology happens on larger country wide scales.  

Tom, I wondered how long it would take you to jump on a topic like this. 🤔

While I am a supporter of dissent, and sort of agree with you regarding asking "authorities" about metal detecting, I have a few scenarios for you. I've read your opinion on one of the forums I listed above:

First one was when I stopped into the Tybee Island Police department to ask about metal detecting on the beaches. I had "heard" it was ok, but was so new to detecting I wanted to make sure of all the locations it was acceptable. They were very kind and told me it was any beach as the beaches are island property.

Well as expected some self-appointed "beach monitor" called the police on me, and I watched the police woman radio in to the HQ from afar, and the angry face on the woman who wanted to ruin my vacation when the cop shrugged at the woman and left. 🤣 She never approached me. 

One thing for sure where I live, if you just decide to hit a place where you think "no one will care" or get told by a third party "oh, I don't think they will mind", just about anything can happen to you, from getting arrested for trespassing, to a butt full of buckshot, or worse. Ever run into an angry Hunt Club? I've found that while farmers may leave you alone if you detect without permission, your name will get around and someone could well object in any manner above. Is it worth the risk to "skunk" someone with valid permission?

There are towns in Virginia whose police will arrest you and confiscate your gear if they merely see you walking around with a detector, even if you're not currently using it. Williamsburg, with all its history, is a prime example.

Here's my last scenario:

A portion of one of my permissions is part of a National Wildlife Refuge. While it is a farm for the most part, and the owner said "just go there, I own it", I have seen state Wildlife Officers driving by, who have the same authority as police and possibly more. I don't think I'd like to stand a federal trial for detecting there despite any lofty ideals, or with permission of a person who didn't understand the possible consequences.

Consider also that if vast hordes of detectorists adopt your stance, it would also be cause for detecting to be banned. Quite frankly that has incurred more damage than asking ever will.

I think every detectorist should at least know some of the ground rules to avoid the other side of the coin, and always be mindful and respectful of property that they don't own.