cjc

Great run-down and well selected references, Steve. Thanks! clive

There's no denying the power of the NOX as an edge machine--gets you past a lot of the junk. At the same time the AQ has a lot of potential in the same conditions. It has the ability to get down a lot deeper on objects that are pounded down deep by the waves. Locally, the hackers leave everything in the holes--accuracy is key, not depth. cjc

Really liking the audio information of this detector. If anyone wants to look around there's a great video on the reactivity that shows what it will do. Seeing this showed me how differently the machine is responding well to elongated targets if you change your sweep direction, "feel" around and listen for the double tone or anything that is not centered. For a pulse I dig very little with this detector. While there are certainly hoop earrings, crosses and other targets that would probably sound similar, overall the potential is there to really develop some accuracy. I also like how it "discriminates" between non ferrous and anything that's blending into the ground--including caps (wide / narrow). My beach is very sanded in now but the potential for getting 20" gold with this machine is very exciting. The video shows that its a detector that learning and using your basics with will pay off. cjc

well, I've hit spots that the CTX just nulled on alltogether. I think that in these conditons wide open or at least something like "Tadpole" is best. Overall I feel that having adjustable Rec Spd and FQ weightings (Gold 2 if necessary) helps in black sand. Just never been able to get the right settings with the CTX. Ive seen recommend GB of "6" what do you do with that? cjc

Ya the sand texture tells all. Having a deep pulse can help but gold wont sit in mush for long. A huge breakthrough for me was when I learned to ignore a lot of the tantalizing contours that look like they should be low ground but aren't. Best advice I can give is to use any grade markers you can find to look for the lowest ground on the entire beach--to read the overall grade. If there's no heavy targets there--well you've learnt something lol...

That's a tough hunt--looks like some of my sites here--just no definition / marl access until well into the summer--with a lot of light stuff that's flipped in during winter storms.

That's the point--these kinds of simple skills are transferrable between VLF and PI machines--but without them.... I think it has a lot to do with signal balancing--when you know how a signal relates to the surrounding ground something too weak or too strong is easier to recognize. With a pulse though, signal balancing is not optional--unless you like digging spikes and pins. cjc

...well said. All detectors have plusses and minuses. Real learning begins when you deal with both. This is why, when a machine like the Equinox comes out--so many think that they can ignore basic skills and that the "tech" will take it's place. Fact is the more powerful the machine--the greater the need for basic skills. I agree with Alexandre though--machines that are based upon Eric's circuits give a lot of information that can be almost as accurate as a VLF in the right hands. My CS6PI tells ferrous from non-ferrous with ease. cjc

That's well said, Steve and herein lies the power of this machine--in conjunction with the reject. I also think that this detector has good, clean optimization--and with practice--this will work well with the amount of audio detail. Those narrow clean high tones are "the money." cjc

As much as I like the CTX in salt--it's not much for black sand. NOX seems to handle it better--more fidelity to manage it ie. Rec Spd. I was very disappointed to see the CTX getting about 10 inches in those conditions. Hoping the Coiltek 15 will get WOT / Sov - like performance although the NOX doesn't seem to handle the stock big coil all that well. With the CTX you have to open it up--or maybe Tadpole 4. Still trying to figure that one out. cjc cjc

that's a good idea. Im on my third brain--and to do the whole silicone thing voids the warr. cjc

In the right hands the CTX is worth every cent. Most hunters these days aren't serious enough to progress to the point where they can tell the difference. cjc

ya 2 tone is a good way to really get a feel for how this machine is performing--and the lower weighted B2 is just plain smoother. with the big coil though the tuning has to be really exact, interesting to see Leighton H talking about running the Coiltek coils way down at 16/17-- I thought that my 19 was low. big difference in how signals enter and sound though--less confounded by all the processing. cjc

Its true neither the CTX or the NOX process a big coil signal all that well. Ive found that breaking up the NOX audio by running 5 tone helps. With the CTX something like an Andy's beach prog in the p2 run N/S gets good depth. in any of the modes that have a lot of screen blocked out there is the potential of overrunning even shallow targets. Going in after with a pulse is shocking. . cjc

Thanks JCR hadn't seen your feedback until now. Glad the book has helped you--love this detector. Great machine for the serious hunter--or even a beginner to learn on. cjc

these are very loud and clean. only thing I would compare then to are Mr. Goldmasters sandorovits @ gmail.com

sorry not to reply for so long not really expecting replies. Hes at: sandorovits @ gmail.com very nice product perfect impedence match for the Anfibio or simplex. c

always leave a space on the basement floor... cjc

Certainly unique to the Aquastar. I had one for a while found it a bit heavy and one risked the board to make adjustments on the beach. You should PM Alexandre he's interested in how this ground worked. cjc

Im hearing that running the cable straight up along the wand makes a big difference. Seems to help in fresh haven't had the chance to test in salt. There are also a lot of tuning adjustments that help. Guys who have been my mentors for 35 years seem to be managing in salt--that's enough for me. Isn't what what they call "contempt prior to investigation?" cjc

or Flex Seal--easier to remove. I also just extend the wand to hunt that zone--like an Excal behind the arm. cjc

I still think of Eric's Aquastar coil with the stainless bead--shame something like that can't be incorporated here. cjc

That's a great rundown and laying out of the solutions, Steve. Mines trussed up with Flex Seal--still not quite sure if it's helping--I think so though--maybe about 30%. Jimmy's straight cable fix seems to help too. cjc

I agree with Dewcon--the new wave to be paddled for is responsiveness to customer concerns. Nokta Makro has done well with this model. I like the Limited a lot and if the bugs have been addressed, (fast water stability in particular), then Fisher will have properly completed the exercise of releasing this Limited version to a few of us--and gained the benefit of our feedback. Given this, under the right conditions--$28-3500--doesen' t matter that's good week. All the best sites I hunt are full of competitors--some who hunt 10 hours a day. As long as I don't have to wait for a calm day, this machine is exactly the edge I need. cjc

There's no way to compare even this radical VLF tech with a pulse. Just no contest, meter or not. Things not even properly waterproof. cjc