fi4451

Price hikes are frustrating to the consumer...but let's face it...a couple years of 7 to 10 percent inflation- this is bound to happen.  There could be a little greed mixed into the equation, but I believe it's more a product of inflation.  Whether it is cars or food, basically everything is getting more expensive.  Obviously I'd love to see the gpx 6000 selling at 4,000 dollars but how could I really expect that in this economy?  There is a new bar that has been set....it's higher for almost everything.  This was bound to happen...I don't like...but I get it.

Well, I'll join the club of GPX 6000 owner with issues.  I bought mine new when they first came out. I knew from the start my coil wasn't the best, but I  kept it for 6 months (wayyy touch sensitive).  Minelab replaced my first coil with a new one and what a difference!  Much better.  Recently, my detector speaker would not work, but detector still works when paired to the headsets (so it still was usable).  I turn on the detector, and no sound...only works with headsets.  I sent it back to be fixed, Minelab wasn't sure of the problem, they told me at least 3 weeks to get parts to fix the issue.  I am still waiting.  I wouldn't have sent it back if I would have known it was going to take so long (the headsets would have been fine for a while).  The frustrating thing for me, detecting is just a "hobby".  I don't even use the machine daily, weekly, etc....I am worried about how much money I will be dumping into this detector when 3 years is up (the warranty).  I've already spent a small fortune sending the unit back to Pennsylvania for warranty work.

I use the Garmin Inreach Mini and pair it to my cell phone (Earthmate app)...I pay 34 dollars a month for the service which includes 50 satellite texts and bread crumb tracking every 10 minutes.  Eventhough I am not a big fan of subscriptions, I do like the fact I can turn it off for months at a time and reactivate it when I am more likely to use it frequently.  (I don't need it in the winter).  I like the fact that the mini is small, and I always have my cell phone with me so I don't need to have an additional spendy Garmin unit as my phone works great with the mini (provides detailed map, positioning, satellite texting through the mini, etc).  It's cheap insurance, I use it when I fly and when I prospect in the middle of nowhere.

There are so many companies making quality ear buds right now...I wouldn't buy a metal detector manufacture's ear buds if it was an option and not included with the detector.  With the 7000, I use wired earbuds that came with my old cell phone purchases over the years.  I rarely wear the ear muff type with the 7000 because a day's worth of ear muffs clamping on my head will sometimes give me a headache by the end of the day.  Though, if it's super windy- I'll use the big ear muff headsets.

Another reason to have 2 sets of keys handy, I had a key FOB fail once went I went to leave the desert(middle of no where).  My car would start and run for 2 or 3 seconds and then turn off (car thinks it is a fake key and stops).  At that point,  I wasn't sure what was going on and was nervous that I may be stuck..  Luckily, with my second set of keys, I had no problem  and my vehicle started and ran fine.  It was an "eye opener"- gotta love technology!

Thanks for reporting that info davsgold, I was curious what would happen with that scenario- I also have a number of new find points and am concerned about my ability to get them to  x change 2 when the upgrade is available.

Top of my list,

1) smaller coil option

2) SD slot for additional memory 

3) Mac compatible software, also not dependent of using internet.

GPX 5000 about 5 years ago....got hooked on searching for gold- and have upgraded since then!

Gold is around 1250- and I still don't make money (I don't sell the gold I find either).  Regardless of the price, I enjoy the hunt.  It is so challenging for me- but I like that.  It reminds me a lot of Steelhead fishing, sometimes you are catching fish, many times you aren't but it is still great!  I guess if I found a one pound chunk of gold, it would be nice to think it was worth more....but it would still make a nice trophy! just my thoughts...

Good luck DXB, hope to see your nugget pictures here soon!

Eric

DXB...I had a similiar dilema a few years ago...I was new to detecting but decided to buy the GPX 5000 (the best at the time).  I don't regret doing that-but maybe I was lucky because I had never detected- but I love it.  I took the classes which came with the detector which helped immensely.  Without classes, I would have really struggled.

If you think you will like detecting, than I would buy the best (the 7000) but get some help on how to use it , or you may end up frustrated feeling like you wasted your money- although I think it is easier to operate than the 5000.  Maybe I think that way because I have more experience now.  

I also bought the SDC a year after the 5000.  I really like that machine also- it is lighter, and easier to use- both physically and it's simplicity.  

I think one way to look at this decision- if you have the money and believe that you will like the hobby than get the best.  That's the path I took.  I didn't want to be walking past gold with a "dated" detector.  I feel that I probably found more gold for that reason.  If you have trouble knowing how to operate the detector- you will walk past gold regardless.  Worst case scenario, if you don't like the hobby- than you sell the machine.  Of course you won't get what you paid for it, but at least you gave it 100 percent.  Just my thoughts.

Eric

Nice gold, you did well!

Thanks for those pictures of the conditions, much more snow than I thought there would be.  I hunted most winter months last year down there- and it was really dry.  What a difference a year makes.

Is it pretty muddy in N Nevada right now? Anyone?

SDC2300 and the GPZ 7000.

I hunted N Nevada for a few days earlier in the week...It was rainy at times, but not all areas were soaked.  It always amazes me, it can super muddy in one area and in a mile or so it is dusty.

I managed to find a few little ones, to include an arrowhead.

Good luck out there