fredmason

Jonathan; Thank you for your input into a difficult issue. I admire your integrity and courage for speaking out. You don't have to have agreement to speak your mind. I like many wish for a smaller coil as I am not the he-man of yesteryear...However, I don't care to risk my 8000 dollar detector for a smaller, lighter coil... So, I thank you for keeping the conversation semi-balanced...(apparently you against them)...in a respectful and civil kind of way. fred

We will see...I guess Condor can go specking while he waits...haha fred

Excellent result! I love that salt and pepper country... fred

Dang! the only thing worse than having equipment go haywire at home is having equipment go south when you are 200 or 300 miles from anywhere...that would be Outback Western Australia... I do hope you solve the problem, pdq! fred

If the one spot is different from the surrounding matrix you will have an area that is not balanced ... the simple answer is YES... fred

Thanks for the update, Steve. Powering all the stuff a prospector needs in the field is daunting...good thing you have a clue. I would not! I am sure you will get over some big gold before you come home...at least I hope so. fred

nice coin-love the eagle and snake on Mexican coins! fred

from where did you get heavier charging cables? I charge off my battery or house current...are you charging off your computer? confused fred

You forgot your selfie

Excellent photo, love that ironstone quartz!! fred

Dang, that is a big trap for a dingo... Yes, the burrows are a problem, especially when some smart-ass person throws a beer can down the hole. I should modify my statement- in virgin ground a signal under the caprock is ALMOST always gold....

Youse guys should check that HOTROCK...it could be a meteorite. Of course you can't keep it...it would belong to the Crown. Strick, almost everything in or under the caprock is golden...almost... It is very exciting when you get a deep signal and it is under the caprock...the breathing gets short and the BP rises...then the work starts. good luck guys fred

Dang, I forgot about mono/cancel...you will not get much signal except on the big stuff like your BBQ.... As Jasong says check you switches for the proper settings... as a reminder a mono coil will work in any mode except cancel a dd coil can be dd, pseudo-mono and used in cancel careful reading the manual will help more than my faulty memory... fred

Cleggy I see your coil wire is very loose, before you take it detecting you should tie the cord so it does not wobble. That will save many false signals. yes, this has nothing to do with your current issue, just a tip for the future. did you try a different coil yet. there is some chance you have multiple problems, I bought a used 5000 that did...having another to compare would be helpful. good luck fred

Try a different coil...if the result is the same it is the control box... I always had a spare power cord...they are a weak link, especially the way some use them. If it is the coil you can repair it yourself if one of the wires is broke at the connector. fred

I have sifted several dumps, but, never Tonopah. That would be great fun. Building a sifter is not difficult...the main thing is not to use any mesh larger than 1/4 or 3/8 in...for dumps 3/8 will save any thing except very small beads. A short story that I have told before... When I lived in Chino Valley, Az I was sifting a dump near the Veterans Hospital... I hade my faithful Daughter with me. As I shoveled a load on the sifter the earth started moving and we both got a scare as a big gopher woke up and broke out... After we had a laugh I continued digging and throwing onto the sifter...suddenly, a round object rolled to the bottom of the sifter...there, staring right at us was an eyeball...that was spooky! Turned out to be glass but it sure looked real. fred

wabbits, hahaha, we were hunting wabbits fred

The satisfaction and pleasure derived from teaching children about gold ( or anything else) is beyond measure. WTG, Scott!!! fred

Welcome home, Mitchel. To bad you did not get a third lifetime find. However, you found some gold...I have meet a few people that found none in OZ... More importantly, you went there and done that! fred

Pray for a breeze and detect into the wind...that helps. As does cold weather!

even the grumpy Australians are fun...after a brew or two! fred

ART, I would not go to Africa for many reasons...have fun. If I could go to Oz again, I would...and again and again. I love snakes, spiders, scorpions and all the other critters in OZ. Except those bush roaches!!! fred

sorry I am obsessed with Oz...like a worm in my brain... and please disregard. fred

wonderful pics, great gold!!! fred

Look up the ReEgs for Australia and the correct Australian State...do not assume they are the same. If a Fossicking license is required, make certain you have one. The USA law said that if it is a commercial operation you must declare it. I am a hobbyist and had no issues. If you tell them you are going to sell you can expect a grilling... All Australia did was check my passport but I was on a 90 day visa... good luck