phrunt

I understand your point, I just see their point of trying to keep it as close to entry level as possible so people don't say well, I don't need waterproof I'll just buy a Vanquish not an Equinox. The more expensive the detector we buy the more money they make as manufacturing costs of a lower priced unit don't vary all that much from the highest priced units. So few people venture outside of default settings and only use sensitivity control so a ground balancing Vanquish would be suitable for many people over the need for an Equinox, I can happily use mine and often do and never feel like I'm missing much not using my Nox, in fact in some places I find it beneficial over the Nox with its Elliptical coils. Maybe they've just tried to get too many models so flood the market and hinder the competition that they're having trouble finding ways to release new models without them overlapping other models too much and that's why 2024 is the year of trying to sell existing gear with no new releases. I think they've taken it too far already with models, and now they're in a position where releasing future models is going to enter paint job territory by the looks of it like happened to First Texas when their engineering talent appeared to reach the peak of their ability. In Minelab's case it may not be their engineering talent but physics limitations that end their run of new detectors but it has to come to an end at some point and then what? That only leaves paint jobs and new designs of shafts and control pods to make them look different when under the hood they're all pretty similar. The days of getting excited about new model detectors are over for me it seems.

How much of the USA has difficult soil that these Ace type users are going to encounter with the type of detecting they would be doing? I see the world differently as I don't need ground balance anywhere here 🙂 I don't know how it works there but if someone was to buy a Vanquish for example here, and take it out to the beach and it didn't work properly they could just take it back and get a refund within the first week saying it's not suitable for their needs so if they were getting a big influx of returned detectors that might force their hand to add ground balance, I'm sure they can add it to the Vanquish with a firmware update and repurposing an existing button by holding it down rather than a short press.

I think soil conditions and needing a ground balance on a multi-IQ unit are so limited in the number of people it matters for that they just consider it a non-issue for an entry level type machine. To those detector users in those conditions they need a different detector and the local dealers would tell them that, just like the people on the North Island of NZ with the black sand beaches, they are aware they're in difficult ground and if not the shops they're buying from instruct them so, they are told they need to spent the big bucks to handle their conditions and nothing less than a GPX 5000 or Tarsacci (which hasn't worked out well for anyone that I've seen) will work so because of their tough conditions they just have to buy something higher priced to handle it. The Ace series are likely one of the most sold detectors on the planet, they can't ground balance and wouldn't work well in these tough conditions either but it didn't stop them selling like crazy and doing very well for people around the world. The right price, the right marketing and for most people the right performance for the price to make them a good choice. The Vanquish jumped onboard with this providing a multi-IQ machine much like the Ace but with better performance at the beach and better Target ID's. To someone that owns an Ace 400 buying the Vanquish would be a great stop upwards to something better in the same places they've been hunting and they could expand their hunting to wet sand at the beach and get great performance too.

You guys pay WAY too much for the Coiltek over there, The M8 Manticore coil is $379 AUD in Australia, the Coiltek 10x5" NOX coil is $285 AUD, often $260 AuD on sale. It's the price of the 15x12" Coil that I think is really crazy though, $499 AUD. The CTX 17x13" Coil at the same shop is $449 AUD, Manticore 15x12" $499 so they want more for a smaller coil. To buy both coils is going to cost me the price I can pick up a Legend with 2 coils included, seems a bit crazy.

Nice spotting, I didn't even notice that and you're correct, it's a Gold Bug Pro 🙂 The Coil cable placement is correct, the knob position is correct just below the coil cable entry. That's pretty funny. I guess the marketing people aren't even sure which detectors are Minelab and just used a stock photo. Makes even more sense some of the marketing peoples claims about their own products now. The Gold Bug Pro is a pretty good beach detector I've found, handles the dry and wet sand quite well.

Well, the 2023 Full year investor report fell flat for those hoping for news of a new GPZ in the 2024 period. I'm confident it's not happening as I have been for some time now; they appear to have no new detectors coming out in 2024 after the rush of new products to try build the growth in the Treasure side of detectors with less focus on gold. They now consider the current sales situation in Africa the new normal and are moving away from relying on the African market for metal detector sales, a far cry from a couple of years ago when every gold detectors box had African prospectors on it, along with their website and designing models with ease of use to target the African prospectors who don't care about learning a complex detector, they just want to find the easy gold as quickly as they can while it's still there with detectors designed for their needs such as the Gold Monster and GPX 6000. 2024 will be all about building sales of the existing new VLF detectors and getting into new markets like India, along with direct selling to the customers to increase revenue. I'm not overly fussed about no new GPZ coming in the near future, I highly doubt I'd be interested in it, time will tell of course but extremely unlikely I will buy one, especially not for ergonomics reasons, as Minelab's slogan says performance is everything and that's all I care about, and that's going to be the hardest thing for them to improve significantly over my GPZ + X-coils and my 6000, especially as I'm in milder soils and can run my GPZ in normal unleashing its full potential. You can read the report here Codan Limited - ASX Announcement - FY23 Full Year Investor Presentation And you can read the 23 FY results here, although nothing exciting in it, a lot of glamourising. Codan Limited - ASX Announcement - 2023 Full Year Results In summary, detector sales slowing, now relying on communications a lot more and they have significantly over taken metal detectors as their biggest source of income. They're doing quite well selling countermine detectors into countries such as Ukraine but even that's not enough to prop up the lagging detector sales. Note the bottom line, decrease in African Gold Detector (higher margin) revenues. I think we all know they significantly over charge for gold detectors.

I'm torn, the 15" is a good size and the size I used the most on my Equinox for coin hunting in my open fields so it's a winner for me, the 8" I'm not so sure about as I can't see the Manticore being better than the Equinox for prospecting, it has the 6" which should be slightly more sensitive than the M8 so I'd prefer to stick to my Nox when it comes to prospecting UNLESS of course the Manticore surprises me so at this stage I'm more interested in the 15", although I'll buy both as I can't handle not knowing.

Save yourself the money and buy an Equinox 800 instead, you're not missing all that much, in fact in some ways you're gaining such as Target ID stability and having the smallest of coils available for prospecting.

Holy crap, $379 AUD for the small one and $499 AUD for the large one, they're taking us for a ride. Introducing the Minelab Manticore M15 - 15" Metal Detector Coil PRE-ORDER NOW! $200 deposit - RRP Confirmed at $499 | Maximize Your Detecting Efficiency! | Unleash the power of the Minelab Manticore 15" Coil (M15), the ultimate tool for serious detectorists seeking to cover vast grounds with remarkable speed and precision. Specially designed for large detecting sites, this larger coil is a game-changer, revolutionizing your metal detecting experience in the United Kingdom's expansive fields and beloved by beach detectorists searching for treasures along the coast. Key Features: 1. Wide Coverage, Faster Results: The Manticore 15 Inch Coil (M15) is built to deliver unmatched coverage, allowing you to sweep across large areas efficiently. With each sweep, you'll explore more ground, increasing your chances of unearthing valuable finds in record time. 2. Perfect for Open Fields: For detectorists exploring expansive fields, the M15 coil proves to be an invaluable asset. Its impressive size optimizes target detection, ensuring you don't miss any hidden relics, coins, or artifacts scattered across the vast landscapes. 3. Beach Detectorists' Delight: Beach hunting enthusiasts will adore the M15 coil for its ability to rapidly search large stretches of sandy shores. Uncover lost jewelry, coins, and treasures with ease as you comb through the sands in pursuit of valuable discoveries. 4. Enhanced Sensitivity: Despite its larger size, the M15 coil maintains excellent sensitivity, detecting even the faintest signals. This feature ensures you can pinpoint targets accurately, reducing unnecessary digging and optimizing your efficiency. 5. Durability and Reliability: Built to withstand the rigors of outdoor detecting, the Manticore 15 Inch Coil (M15) is engineered with Minelab's renowned quality. Durable and reliable, it is your dependable companion on countless detecting adventures. 6. Effortless Installation: The M15 coil seamlessly integrates with your Minelab metal detector, offering quick and straightforward installation. Get ready to embark on your detecting journeys with minimal delay. 7. Water Resistance: The Manticore M15 - 15" Coil is designed with a submergible water resistant rating of up to 5 metres. This means you can take the powerful M15 anywhere with your Manticore Metal Detector. (Please be advised this means the coil will function correctly up to 5 meters of water, it cannot be guaranteed if the coil is taken deeper) Experience the thrill of covering more ground faster with the Minelab Manticore 15 Inch Coil (M15). Embrace the popularity of this remarkable coil among detectorists in the United Kingdom's expansive fields and beach enthusiasts searching vast coastlines. Elevate your metal detecting game and uncover hidden treasures like never before. Embrace the power of the M15 coil and open doors to countless possibilities! -------------------------------------------------------- Introducing the Minelab Manticore M8 - 8" Metal Detector Coil PRE-ORDER NOW! $100 deposit - RRP Confirmed at $379 | Unleash Your Metal Detecting Potential! | Unearth hidden treasures with the highly anticipated Minelab Manticore 8" Metal Detector Coil, the perfect addition to elevate your metal detecting adventures. This new smaller-sized coil has been expertly crafted to take your detecting capabilities to new heights, delivering outstanding performance in trashy sites and excelling at gold prospecting. Key Features: 1. Smaller Size, Greater Performance: The 8" size of the Manticore coil offers unmatched maneuverability, making it ideal for navigating through cluttered and challenging terrains. It allows you to access tight spaces and pinpoint targets with precision, revealing valuable finds that larger coils might miss. 2. Unrivaled Sensitivity: Equipped with cutting-edge technology, this coil boasts exceptional sensitivity, ensuring you won't miss even the tiniest targets. Experience the thrill of discovering elusive relics, coins, and precious metals buried deep beneath the surface. 3. Enhanced Gold Prospecting: If you're a gold enthusiast, the Manticore 8" coil is a game-changer. Its specialised design maximises your chances of finding gold nuggets and flakes, giving you the edge in your prospecting endeavors. 4. Durability and Reliability: Crafted with Minelab's renowned quality standards, this coil is built to withstand the rugged conditions of metal detecting. Rest assured that it will endure the test of time, supporting your passion for years to come. 5. Effortless Installation: The Manticore 8" Metal Detector Coil is simple to install, ensuring you can start descovering in no time. Compatible with your Minelab metal detector, it seamlessly integrates into your setup for a seamless detecting experience. 6. Water Resistance: The Manticore M8 - 8" Coil is designed with a submergible water resistant rating of up to 5 metres. This means you can take the powerful M8 anywhere with your Manticore Metal Detector. (Please be advised this means the coil will function correctly up to 5 meters of water, it cannot be guaranteed if the coil is taken deeper) Join the ranks of successful treasure hunters and gold prospectors who rely on the Minelab Manticore M8 - 8" Metal Detector Coil. Embrace the anticipation and equip yourself with this powerful tool to unravel the secrets hidden beneath the earth's surface. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to take your metal detecting prowess to the next level!

I'll believe it when I see it. Exciting news though, finally. The guy needs a new keyboard, his full stop button appears to be stuck down randomly.

Yes, it does like to be ground balanced even in mild soils for best results, although this doesn't resolve the stability problem say for example if you're in high sensitivity and you put the pointer to the ground, turn it on to balance it and snoop around for the coin, remove the pinpointer from the hole, sit it down still turned on and dig a little more and place it back into the hole it can then be unstable, so you have to re-ground balance. In anything other than highest sensitivity it seems fine, so you can just run it lower sensitivity and it be stable. They claim they've resolved this on the new 45 version. It can just be frustrating to use when other options just work without the annoyance of the instability. You may find yours is just fine for your needs, only one way to find out 🙂

Instability at high sensitivity, now that I would completely understand and not consider an issue however it needs to run at high sensitivity to even come close to keeping up to the competitors pin pointers that do run stable at high sensitivity, if you run it at a stable setting, it's left far behind on depth and sensitivity. It has a notoriously high failure rate too. In saying all of that some people report theirs runs fine in high sensitivity and they like it, so perhaps its inconsistency in builds, I've had two and both worked or should I say not worked the same. Turn yours on and move it around upside down and around and around, does it go off or run stable? If it runs stable, you're in luck I would think. If the Pro-Find 45 is a 35 with the stability and quality problems solved and increased sensitivity like they say it should be a pretty good pinpointer.

Minelab rarely ever apologise for their mistakes, I'm still waiting for the apology that they released the Pro-Find 35. 🙂

Great Post CliveHamy, I agree 100%. What can they do for a Vanquish successor? Options are becoming very limited, if they adjust much like add on single frequencies or adjustable recovery speed it's getting too close to an Equinox 600, the X-Terra they were able to give a lot of features as they stuck with Single Frequencies, once you're on the Multi-IQ platform it doesn't take much to get it too close to the next model up. They've got a fine line between having too many models and models cutting into other models. At the moment I think they've tried to saturate the market with models to ensure they've got something to give the competition a difficult time as Minelab have an answer for just about everything. The Manticore isn't a giant leap over an Equinox, the 2D target trace being one of its biggest standouts over the Nox but the CTX did it better a decade ago. So now, they're bringing out models with tweaked features or minor changes like more audio options etc, better or different build designs being the biggest changes. They've hit a wall, and now releasing more models in the future is looking to be very difficult. You can only improve on the same things so many times when you're at the limits already. So if they do a new Vanquish, it will just have a similar body to the X-terra and a few minor modifications to features that they allow it to run, perhaps a ground balance option but really... It's competitor at the time was the Ace series, and they didn't have ground balance either. Their advertising of it was targeting the Ace series. The X-Terra was there to destroy the Simplex. The Nox 900 was because Nokta kept laughing at Minelab's flaws especially around build quality so they fixed that up, and added more Target ID's to counter the Legend having more. The GPX 6000 now does what they prevented the GPZ by doing on small gold largely by limiting its coils. GPZ owners should be upset that they paid that much for a detector that they put a performance cap on by restrictions. The GPZ is so much better than they allowed it to be so they have some left in the tank for other models in the future. I'm going to struggle to buy another Minelab detector or any detector really as I really don't think it will be all that different from any that I've already got, I don't need any more disappointments. Only a new CTX would perk my interest as I think that modern technology could improve it further. The 6000 was at the start a massive disappointment however as they've fixed its problems it's now OK, it is the detector I hoped it would be although if I didn't own it I'd not be missing much as with my "Unlocked" GPZ the benefits of the 6000 are nowhere near as exciting as they are to someone with a "locked" GPZ. I hope they make the Vanquish better and keep the price point low, these entry level machines can do a great job for a majority of people, and won't leave all that much in the ground that people with these fancy superior machines will be able to find. I use my Vanquish a lot, and don't feel at all throttled by doing so.

It certainly seems popular in Russia from what I've seen. Sounds like I was lucky to be able to get one. My friend that bought me mine also now has one.

That sure is a puzzle, the likelihood of two faulty 10x5" with the same fault when nobody I've ever heard of has ever had that fault is extremely slim, I would think. And if it works perfectly with the Minelab coils then that increases the puzzle as it means the detector is OK, the detector is recognising the coil or it would shut down with a coil error. Unfortunately, I think the only way you'll know is if someone near you has another Nox and you can compare their detector to yours and how it works with the Coiltek coil, see if the results vary to try narrow it down.

Well, that explains their inability to ship internationally. It seems at the moment at least they're unavailable to anyone with a friend living in a country where they're for sale. Hopefully the Polish dealer gets some at some point as they would be able to ship internationally.

Point proven, you mean this tape, which is $8.60 NZD per roll, $5.11 USD and that Ebay listing from Serious Detecting is $18 per roll on Ebay and their website... I bet it's even cheaper in the US. STYLUS 370 BLACK CLOTH TAPE 24MM X 25M – Panastore New Zealand It's nothing to do with detecting, no tape manufacturer makes tape for detecting. Some detector coil manufacturers and dealers are claiming tapes made for other purposes are for detecting and charging a premium for them. I'd be quite annoyed if a local dealer tried this stunt and would be calling them out.

Thanks, I'll snag some, only $5 at Super Cheap Auto! The Calibre Tape-It is a silicone self-fusing tape available in a range of colours. It has an incredible 950 PSI tensile strength, which insulates 8000 Volts per layer. The tape is able to withstand 500 degrees Farenheit of heat, while remaining flexible to -60C. The tape is able to create a permanent and air and water-tight seal within seconds without leaving a gummy or sticky residue, unlike other electrical or duct tapes, therefore there is no messy clean up! The versatile Tape-It has an extremely long shelf life which allows you to keep it on hand for whenever you need it. Whether you need to seal leaky pipes, create extra grip on your tools or sporting equipment, or waterproof electrical connections, the tape does it all. It even works

Like this stuff? Jobmate Silicone Door Seal Tape - Door Seals & Draught Arresters | Mitre 10™ I've been eying it off lately as it's cheap and seems a good idea for door and window sealing.

It to me sounds like you're in quite mineralised ground, the bigger the coil the more ground it sees hence the need for lower sensitivity so you're more than likely able to run the 6" a bit hotter, how does the 11" perform in the same scenario? Can you run it higher sensitivity than you can the 10x5"? If the 11" behaves at the sensitivity level the 10x5" doesn't I'd be concerned something is wrong with the 10x5". It's a good idea to manually ground balance also. Also, ensure the coil cover for the 10x5" is clean underneath, a build-up of dirt and black sand can cause havoc. I haven't heard of any faulty 10x5" Coiltek's but anything is possible. In theory a factory reset when changing coils may help on some older detectors however the Equinox is a "smart" detector and have a chip in the coil to identify the coil so it shouldn't overly matter but can't hurt. 1 and 2 are the common small gold numbers so I can see your frustration. Make sure your coil is done up tight on the connections, very likely not the problem but if not done up causes' issues. If you swing the coil in the air, does it do the same 1 and 2 ID's randomly, if you tap it with a stick o something while in the air does it do it? Or does it only do it when on the ground?

My Equinox 11" stock coil cover is pretty scratch free as I use it for coin hunting on grass and I've got a Nugget Finder solid skid plate I use on the 11" when looking for gold as it's better for scrubbing, the coils I use looking for gold wear covers out pretty fast as I'm scrubbing the ground trying to find the smallest bits of gold, gold that if you don't scrub you will likely miss. I've found creek detecting in water doesn't cause all that much damage to coil covers, it's dry rocky soil ground that does all the damage in my experience, but if you're not as close to the ground as possible you're likely missing the smallest of gold, and even bigger deeper bits if they're just on the edge of detection, the same goes for coins and jewellery, that quarter of an inch maybe the difference between seeing the target and not and some detectors like I believe the Equinox perform worse with an air gap between the ground and the coil, the CTX is different as it is not bothered by the air gap, other detectors lose depth because of it, some versions of the Teknetics T2 had a boost mode that was good to use in long grass because it added the boost needed to alleviate the air gap. Anyone with an Equinox should test how much the air gap affects depth, it does.... test with a coin you can detect at a certain depth buried, then bury it at a lesser depth and include the air gap, in my soil at least which is very mild you'll suffer more of a depth loss with the air gap than you will if it's in the ground, the CTX on the other hand doesn't, and works well in longer grass.

Detector tape - It's a way for shops to rip you off, for example..... Finders Keepers Australia, a very popular dealer.... Nugget Finder 😄 PVC coil tape, which is in fact as per their picture 3M electrical 1610 vinyl general purpose electrical tape. Nugget Finder PVC Electrical Tape - Finders Keepers (finderskeepersgold.com) $20 Australian dollars per roll at Finders Keepers...... Then, if you buy it elsewhere, a normal shop not targeting detector users; 3M Temflex 1610 Electrical Tape 19mm x 20m - Black (signet.net.au) $1.67 per roll. Just buy a good quality brand PVC electrical tape, 3M is of course a good brand and sticks well. Plasti-dip seems a great idea for water use coils, I tried it on land coils skid plates for an extra protection and the results were not so great but on a water coil would be suitable.

Yep, DredgeNZ is my usual Fisher store and Detectors Downunder is the other option. It's very unusual for Fisher to be cheaper in NZ, well anything really, as currently our dollar is worth 92 cents to the Australian dollar, quite low compared to recent years but I guess they're seeing Fisher as bad sellers and just trying to clear stock.

Has anyone had any experience with the Gold Bug 2 14" elliptical coil? I know most only use the tiny concentric so I was wondering if anyone's even used the bigger coil? What would you consider the benefit to this coil on the Gold Bug 2? Does it provide depth other coils don't? Would it be beneficial to own? I ask as it's now become quite cheap, dealers in the pacific region are virtually clearing it out at heavy discounts so I figured it might be worth snapping up before it's impossible to buy in this part of the world, while I can still get it locally with the associated discounts it's worthwhile but buying it EVER from the USA is just a no-go.... Far far far far far far far too expensive to go that route so If I miss out locally now, I miss out forever as if the dealers are clearing it out it means they don't intend to restock it. If I did buy it my GB2 coil collection would be complete, although I've never even used my 10" elliptical for the Bug, I like that little concentric too much.