phrunt

that's incredible, even in our milder soils here the cupro nickel coins are terrible condition even when from the 80's and 90's, yet yours is in great condition, might have the right combination of soils to not react to it or something.

Hopefully the Apex is a taste of things to come with the pending storm forecast.

I'm unsure how the US is set up for fibre, often countries that are not well into their fibre rollout will have fibre to an exchange then copper to the houses, that copper could emit EMI but I wouldn't think it would interfere with a detector much as they'll be either up on the power lines or buried well underground,   The fibre cables themselves will emit no Emi and can't get interference from EMI either.

We have fibre to our houses here, and fibre runs into our router which then we do our Cat6 and Wi-Fi connections.  We have the choice of 2000 Mbps, 4000 Mbps and 8000 Mbps, for my needs 2000 Mbps was more than I needed so I could go on a cheaper plan. 

These transmitters you speak of would be at the exchange building, and unlikely to be a problem unless you're detecting right there.  The cable itself running all around the neighbourhood will not be causing EMI issues.

Underground power is more likely the culprit for EMI coming from an underground cable.

19 minutes ago, RONS DETECTORS MINELAB said:

Thank for sharing Simon, looks like a Winner for sure especially If it can beat the Coiltek 10x5” Joey.

Was this a semi-spiral or bundle wound version?

Now the Algoforce is out it seems like the market is going to be strong for this size coil for sure. I’d buy one right now.

 

I'm not sure about the windings at this stage, I'll have to find out.  It can only either be semi-spiral or bundle as you know, it has good sensitivity though.   I'll have to compare it to the Sadie, that would be a good indication too, if it's more sensitive than that it just can't be bundle.

No, fibre optic cables are just light.

I just received my new weapon, a 10x6" coil for the Algoforce, and of course the GPX.  

I haven't weighed it yet, I'd have to take it off to do that and just put it on not long ago so I'll get to that at some point, all I know is its light, and on the light detector like the Algoforce feels like it weighs nothing, at least compared to detectors I'm more used to swinging.

X-coils have certainly improved their coil cables a lot on these newer GPX coils over the old ones, the cable feels very nice.  They make their own custom cables for their coils rather than using existing cables from the market as they like to do different shielding methods in the cable.  

As you can see, it calibrates fine.  I haven't renamed the slot it's in yet, I just used the end slot as I use that slot for coils I don't regularly use for testing.  I will end up using the 12x8" slot for it.

I tested on a deep coin I've got in my yard, no problems getting the ID on it, sensitivity was on 24 out of 30, pretty stable on that setting, so the smaller coils helping nicely with EMI.  

I wound the sensitivity back to 20 and still getting the ID fine, that's pretty good for a 10x6" coil on such a deep coin, well ahead of a VLF with a 10x5" coil or 6" round coil for sure on the results there.  The coin is somewhere between 25 and 30 cm deep and has been there for many years now.

I tested on shot pellets, a lead 7 1/2 is as small as it will hit, and hits a #6 lead with a nice scream and over an inch depth.  Perhaps slightly behind the 10" full spiral X-coil on tiny targets, but not by all that much.   I'll have to compare it to my Coiltek 10x5" Joey being the closest coil I've got to this 10x6" in size.

All in all, looking good, I hope they end up re-releasing Legacy GPX coils now the Algoforce is out.  Please note they don't sell this coil, or any other legacy GPX coil, but it's promising to see them developing new test coils and I hope they make it to market at some point.

10 minutes ago, Jin said:

Yeah, i just can't see how that little coil would work on the 2200. Surely it would be massively noisy in mineralised ground. I used to own a detech" mono and that was noisy on my 4500.

You could sell it to someone with an Algoforce, they'd love that little beast.

2 minutes ago, Sérgio Campos said:

Thanks for posting Simon! Amazing video. Learned a lot.
I couldn’t find it on the Minelab website. Where did you get it? 
Cheers

Shows up for their Youtube channel subscribers.

Minelab are starting to release their new video series, educating people on how to use and benefit from their products, Episode 1, Basic operation of a metal detector.

Join Scott from Crawfords Metal Detectors as he embarks on an enlightening journey into the world of metal detecting in this exclusive interview. Scott sits down with Mark Lawrie and Phil Beck from Minelab, alongside seasoned detectorist Paul Cee, for an in-depth discussion on the mechanics and science behind metal detectors. This video is the first installment in a five-part series designed to unravel the mysteries of how metal detectors work, from the basic principles to the advanced technologies that power today's searches. Mark, Phil, and Paul bring their wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, providing insights into the innovation and engineering that make metal detecting possible. In this first episode, fundamental concepts behind metal detecting are covered, including the types of technology used in detectors, how signals are generated and interpreted, and what makes Minelab detectors stand out in the field. Stay tuned for the rest of the series, where topics such as finding the best settings for your detector, understanding ground conditions, and much more will be explored.

Yep, they spelt instalment wrong on their blurb😛

Sp01 will work on it but you'll need a 2.5mm to 6.5mm audio cable to connect it.   Nenad has a good Quest Wirefree product to use the SP01 on it and be all wireless, talk to him at @PhaseTech or his website here

He'll have all you need to get going.

I haven't used my Sp01 on it, I should give it a try.  I haven't used it in a year or so now, I've been meaning to dig it out and try it before the battery dies.

Just now, mn90403 said:

So, there is this problem of charging my computer.  The van needs to be plugged in to a camping spot for the 220 and my converter to work.  I can charge my USB devices without a spot.  My laptop needs a usb charger.  

The laptop probably can't be charged with 5 volts unless it's one designed to do so, many laptops are 19v, so even then to charge them on a 12-volt system you need an inverter like this.

But it has a NZ/AUS plug on it, so once you get back to the USA it won't overly be much good for you without using an adapter.

It just plugs into a lighter socket and then gives you the 240v power to charge your laptap.

I don't think KFC do, Burger King and McDonald's do.  

You can buy a pre-paid Sim card for $15 NZD, what's that about 9 USD that will give you unlimited texts, 200 mins of phone calls and 1.25gb of data, and if you run out you can top it up for $5 NZD.   Might make life a bit easier.

See here

Just pull into one of them dirty great big Red shed Warehouse buildings to get it.  1.25GB should do the trick though.

16 minutes ago, 1515Art said:

Simon, I sent Mitchel a screen shot sms of this message he can get and reply to my phone.

Thanks, he ended up emailing me from the McDonald's at the airport, so all is good now 😉

I think my phone won't send to a USA number for some reason.  

That little 6" was only discontinued a year or so ago, I was annoyed as I never bought one while it was available, JW has one, it's a cool little coil.    I guess sales volumes were too low to keep it going.

15 hours ago, 中国 张 said:

My NF 14*9 coil has been purchased, (although it is second-hand)

Hopefully it's a good one, I'm always wary about second hand coils.

Well, Mitchel landed safely in NZ

He sent me a SMS message when he arrived, unfortunately my phone provider won't let me reply, it just bounces back as he's on a USA number roaming in NZ.

So Mitchel, if you see this, you'll have to try contact me another way, email, forum messages, anything but SMS.  I tried to call and that doesn't work either.  Might be a good idea to get a pre-paid NZ sim card, they're only $5 and will give you credit for SMS's and calls.

UPDATE: All good, he emailed me from Mcdonald's at the airport.

Sadie yes, 12x8" EVO, not sure, never used one.  I only used the 12x6" when I needed the skinnier size, as the 10" round full spiral is more sensitive.  I don't think they'll re-release this coil if they do GPX coils again, the 10" is better and already calibrates fine.    I have a new model 10x6" in NZ customs at the moment, hopefully they release it today and I'll have it in a day or two.  Maybe Mitchel will want to try it out while he's here in NZ.   It would be so cool if we can help him find some NZ gold to take home.

I think for the Algo someone needs a small coil like the Sadie or Coiltek 10x5", or any of the smaller coils, and the 14x9" EVO or 14x9" Elite and they're set, some may want a bit more depth and go a 12" spiral like the EVO or Elite.  I have the 12" X-coil and think it's pretty good on it and a lot are reporting the 12" NF EVO working well.  I wouldn't bother with bigger than 12" round.

I think they were worried with people throwing some older big coils on it like a 22" that are heavy the cam locks may cause the dreaded GPX 6000 shaft twist on it, it's such a light weight machine.   With the detector performing well on small gold and it being the most common gold out there it makes more sense to target that with it, as that's where its strength lies, being better than the older GPX series on smaller gold, but it won't keep up with the more expensive detectors on many deeper targets.

As there are hundreds of coils for the GPX series there is no way they could test them all, and if coils are made to standard specifications, then they will work on it, that's why they said in theory.  Not every coil does work, I have coils that it can't calibrate, such as my 15" Concentric coil prototype, on the GPX it runs in DD as a Concentric and in Mono as a Mono, but it's not a mono coil so the detector isn't designed to use it, it does work, but it won't calibrate due to the way the coil is configured.  It's also unusual that in Mono mode on the GPX 5000 discrimination still works, I never knew that was possible.  I think the chances of people having coils that won't work are pretty slim though, as long as they're mono.

I also have a 12x6" Semi spiral, this coil is too out of spec to calibrate, works great on the GPX but the Algo won't calibrate with it in its current form,  Algoforce have looked at the coil and established why it won't calibrate and what would need changed with the design for it to do so.  I shouldn't say it doesn't work, it works, it just doesn't calibrate.

X-coils can modify the coil to work and be in specifications, but seeing they don't make or sell the coil anymore and haven't for a few years it's not likely to happen unless they want to release it again.  So as people start to try the hundreds of coils that have been made over the years, they may find some that don't work, regardless of size, it's not the size that causes the incompatibility so perhaps they could have worded that statement slightly differently as it does sound like bigger coils may not work as they're bigger, and that's not the case.

You can generally use coils that won't calibrate, you're just not getting the best out of them, especially in fine gold mode.

Definition of Dowsing Rods and Long Range Detectors.

2 hours ago, Guys gold said:

Interest would go off the charts if they would offer it in the USA .Big possibility here,and thousands of GPX coil hanging in the closet.Get it to the USA and watch it fly.

The problem is stock, even now there has not once been a time I've seen their website say they have any stock.  Sales are just happening to those on a waiting list.  Until they can catch up and have excess stock I can't see them rushing to even worry about other markets.

I don't know how many they can pump out, but clearly, it's not enough to meet demand. 

The good part about it is, it's proven itself to be a success, a good priced reasonably well performing PI machine was obviously something the market needed.  This will give them inspiration to keep going and release future models and that's good news for everyone, the more competitors in the marketplace the better, we've seen it with VLF's, now the PI's are getting a turn with three players now doing well in the market.

Steve put the call out to manufacturers years ago advocating for it, no established players took it up, and now a new comer to the market is reaping the rewards, they even indicated they were wanting to meet his PI challenge.   The USA is a massive market, and a lot of opportunity for them once they can get it across to the US.

I wish every detector had an EMI preview screen like that, the Algoforce has a pretty cool EMI shift screen, but the Rutus tops it by giving frequency information like that.  Pretty cool idea you had.

Most businesses pull apart and analyse competitor products, it's what they do with what they learn that counts, some things are protected, some things are not, those that are not are copied, it's how it's always been and why many of our detectors look and function alike 🙂

Happens with coils too, shortly after one brand releases something new, others are sure to follow, no patents so it's a free for all.  

The concept comes out by the original inventors then there is a scramble to make another version of the same product, in most cases doing it legally by avoiding protected methods, although patents don't apply in every country, some don't follow the same rules.

In China is wasn't possible for many decades to patent pharmaceuticals, they were forced to change that to be able to sell their products internationally.  The idea of no patents on them was so that they were widely available for everyone at cheaper pricing.   Fortunately, the WTO allows the World's poorest countries to copy pharmaceuticals and ignore patents on them.

I don't know enough about it, but China does follow patent laws, which allows them to do a lot of international trade, they often file the most patents in a year out of all countries as they're a big manufacturing country and do have a lot of their own innovation, they just seem to lack the policing required to prevent a lot of these black-market goods.  I guess when you've got a country of 1.4+ billion people, everything is harder.  China does often seem the target, but the fact is countries like India are worse and a far bigger problem ranking right near the bottom.

This wasn't "China" that cloned the Legend, it was an individual business based in China.

Here are the Best and Worst Countries for Intellectual Property Protection (chiefexecutive.net)

What may come as a surprise is China ranks higher than Turkey on the international IP protection rankings.

China

Turkey

The best thing we can do as customers, is support the genuine companies, and not buy the fakes.  I'd rather give my money to Nokta for a real Legend than buy a fake one even if it was working the exact same for a discounted price.   They deserve the money for putting in the effort to make it in the first place.

Just click the red arrows on my screen shots.

Wow, awesome products there, boats, snow mobiles! 

i like the little Podium text chatbot on there.

I've been using Gigapixel AI for years, mostly to enlarge images, it does a great job up to about 4x. 

That's a clean tidy nice fast site, probably the only thing I'd do differently is a "contact us about this product" on each product, seeing there is no way to buy it a contact about it would be a nice little shortcut on each product.

The fun I could have on some of those Jansen products! Wow.  Very cool.

47 minutes ago, noob said:

Has anyone tried using the AQ for gold prospecting? Just curious..

They're cheap now so I thought I might give it a go.

I think @Steve Herschbach did, from memory it wouldn't handle the ground conditions of gold fields very well.