UKD2User

I have found that a good way to reduce the audible effect of EMI is to reduce Audio Response, followed by reducing Sensitivity (or Salt Sens first if using Beach modes)

I have had no problems with updating from 0.6 to 0.71 thence to 1.01 and to 2.0

I know that the WSA's need to be updated to the same SW version as the puck/RC or pairing will not happen - did you remember to upgrade the WSA software version too?

26 minutes ago, CPT_GhostLight said:

Well, I went ahead and updated to V2.0. I will say that was the quickest and easiest update so far. I knocked out the Remote, WS6, WSA-II, and WSA-II-XL headphones in a matter of minutes and I got my saved programs loaded back up in no time. Now I'll have to make a couple of runs to test it out and see how it goes. 😏

Same here! 👍

Mainly to support the new Extrem 2 box device but also supposed to improve sensitivity in gold mode and a couple of other improvements.

On 9/4/2023 at 5:12 PM, KDX said:

.... I could hear people talking to me with them on which I liked.....

I think it is that same feature which annoys some people - as wind noise can be a problem.  There are simple modifications that can be made to address this problem (although it may then be less easy to have a conversation with someone!).

6 minutes ago, ColonelDan said:

I use the short cable XP offers...much easier to install and more convenient. 

Yes, XP now offer three cables (in black!): 65cm (2ft) - intended for their dive shaft; 115cm (45ins), and 250cm (98ins)

The middle-sized one is a much better option for normal use - much less 'spare' to deal with.

I've noticed that coins can give different VDIs in different circumstances. I always use autoscan on (so my D2 will do an automatic frequency scan every time I change search mode - or, if I ever chose to (I don't use this feature), adjust max freq for a chosen search mode).

To date, I've assumed that different VDI from the same coin type has been caused by:

1) The state of corrosion of the coin;

2) The specifics of the particular hole (compaction/moisture/nearby junk/mineralisation/salt);

3) The fact that up to 10% of some earlier design British £1 coins were fakes!

4) The fact that each search mode transmits a different spectrum of energy into the ground and so the energy spectrum of the return signal will be different to match.

Having read this thread I've come to realize that there's more to this.  Frequency shift/scan has an effect on discrimination/unmasking as well.  I put this down to the fact that every specific target location will have an absolutely unique frequency response pattern/signature (signal returns from ground/minerals/salts/ferrous and non-ferrous undesired items and desired targets all combined into an overall unique 'signature').  The transmitted (and therefore) returned signals are quantized (along the frequency axis) and so there's a sort comb-filtering effect going on. A 'frequency shift/retune simply moves the 'comb' sideways a little and in so doing, can mask parts of the overall response signature (sometimes enough to affect discrim/unmask/VDI functions).

I don't think that there's anything that can be done about this - very interesting - effect, but it's just one more reason why a permission can never be said to be completely 'done'.

I use stock scuff covers.  If they seem loose I use a couple of zip ties.  If things get really bad I use self-amalgamating tape. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-amalgamating_tape

32 minutes ago, phoebus said:

Merci beaucoup pour toutes ces informations 👍.Ce n'est pas sans danger car qui dit wifi ? Et le téléphone on ne le garde pas en main plusieurs heures .Après minelab ou nokta reste en filaire moins de risque?

My phone is in my pocket most days - I don't plan on having any more children though...😁

I think that the wired connection to the search coil makes little difference to any risk - the nokta/minelab machines are using the same wifi mechanism to communicate with (wireless) headphones, pinpointers etc.

Also - as those who experience interference will readily testify - we are subject to other people's wifi signals almost anywhere we go these days.

Nearly all modern detectors (Minelab/Nokta/XP) emit radio frequency electromagnetic waves in two wavebands (~2.4MHz frequencies - so called wifi - to communicate with headphones etc.; and VLF waveband frequencies of about 4kHz-120kHz to detect underground objects).

All machines require FCC certification (or an equivalent, for a given jurisdiction) that all electromagnetic emission levels are within limits which are deemed safe, and which are shown not to interfere with nearby electronic equipment (that may be safety critical).  They are also required not to unduly malfunction when subject to electromagnetic waves from other sources - so-called ElectroMagnetic Compatibility EMC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_compatibility

A metal detector like the Deus 2 or Manticore will not create more radiation at wifi frequencies than a cellphone (actually, probably less). All VLF detectors transmit similar amounts of electromagnetic energy at VLF frequencies - only you can decide if this is a problem for you.

I wonder if this is happening because there is some air trapped inside the coil cover?

Personally, having to exert a couple of hundred newtons of extra downward force to swing underwater is no big deal.

The upside of having a rig which floats was demonstrated for me some months ago when I watched a young lady windsurfer searching in vain for her expensive new GoPro - it had fallen off into the water - in a nice waterproof enclosure which sank without trace.

3 hours ago, midalake said:

I run an Audio Response of 6 at the beach. I found with all of the depth testing we did the odds of missing deep targets increases greatly if the Audio Response is lowered. In fact, this is one setting that allows the Deus 2 to be better than the Equinox on depth. 
If it was not for the black sand at my location, I am confident the Audio Response would be 7.  

I agree, I don't like lowering AR much below 5.

Maybe I'm just lucky, I find it's very unusual to have EMI so bad - over such a large area - and having fairly benign soil/sand generally - that I need to "detune" the machine.

Something that all manufacturers could usefully do is get someone on their engineering teams with a deep understanding of psycho-acoustics.  I think that, given the laws of physics and the current state of the art, the real progress yet to be made is in helping the user "hear" good targets better, at whatever depth, than the "trash".

e.g. this kind of thing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_masking

8 hours ago, Tom Slick said:

Just drill a small 1/8" hole in the top of the rod near the controller clip to let the air escape.. 

Or just tip the thing sideways for a moment or two (the shaft and handgrip are open at the bottom)?

1 hour ago, Cheddar said:

when you are digging with one hand and pinpointing with the other. and your shaft wants to detect your head, it gets pretty annoying. i am connected via headphone wire so i am not too concerned about losing control

I guess a small strip of lead wrapped round the shaft ought to fix that?

29 minutes ago, Cheddar said:

this thing is floating up over my head while im diving. assume its the air pocket within the handle.

anyone have this issue and dealt with it?

there are many ways to add weight to it i suppose to keep it from floating. im thinking of adding some weight to the hollow handle and sealing it off.

I think you've got to be careful what you wish for - I'd be much happier for mine to float to the surface if I lost control of it.

1.10 - they (seem to) have fixed the clock !!  😁

7 hours ago, Dan(NM) said:

I tried the bone conduction headphones today for 4 hours and wasn't really impressed with the tonal quality. Trying to get some feedback on what other types of waterproof headphones you guys are using. Any input would be appreciated, thanks.

I think that the bone conduction headphones are intended to be used for total immersion - I don't think you get the intended effect if your head/ears are out of the water.  The RC switches to square tones (I believe) automatically when the bone phones are plugged in - which perhaps explains the tonal difference.  Bone phones use high impedance piezo transducers to achieve the waterproof rating - they are not really going to yield a "hi-fi" quality sound.

I usually use the WSA2XL 's on the beach or in the rain.  If I were going completely underwater, I'd stick with the bonephones - although I think that Gray Ghost over-ear phones are also available (they're quite a bit more expensive and probably also use very similar piezo transducers, so sound quality may not be very different).

In my experience, silver - as well as gold - can ring up ID's like pulltabs.  You can (sometimes) hear the difference, but I dig them all.

2 hours ago, StuWW said:

This was the response to my email to Minelab in Ireland regarding the headphone situation.

"At this time there are no alternatives to wireless audio other than the supplied ML105 Headphones or the ML85 headphones that ship with the EQUINOX 700 & 900 detectors.

This current limitation is because the MANTICORE and EQUINOX 700 & 900 detectors utilise our new proprietary low latency wireless audio codec that is not used on any previous products and delivers faster, higher quality audio than is possible with standard Bluetooth.

I am unaware at this time of any future developments that extend the variety of compatible wireless audio devices with the detector, but I shall raise your desire for a Wireless Module option for the MANTICORE as a feature request to our Product Development team.

The ML85 On Ear Wireless Headphones are expected to become available soon via our Approved Dealer Network with Minelab Accessory Part Number: 3011-0465 - ML85 Headphones.

The ML85 Headphones have the same physical form-factor as the ML80 Headphones that the EQUINOX 800 shipped with.

There is currently high demand and initial stocks in UK may be limited, but most dealers would be in a position to order these for you. Our UK Distributor can be contacted directly at the below details:"

"....the MANTICORE and EQUINOX 700 & 900 detectors utilise our new proprietary low latency wireless audio codec that is not used on any previous products...."

I'd be surprised if Minelab have gone to the trouble of writing their own audio codec (there are so many excellent ones out there already, including the new BT LE ones).  I strongly suspect that ML have deliberately made no 3rd party BT gear interoperable, and that this is a deliberate financial/marketing decision.

7 hours ago, cuniagau said:

........But it appears to work ONLY with 3rd party headphones with a straight male plug as the issue seems to be with the 45 degree plug, if I am reading GB_Amateur's post correctly.....

 

That does sound like one of these mechanical 'plug not sitting properly in socket' kind of things. Hope you find a solution!

6 hours ago, brys said:

Gary?

Without wanting to attempt teach anyone's grandmother to suck eggs, I notice that the ground - in my part of the northern hemisphere anyway - is getting very dry.  I know this affects my ability to detect - and dig(!) - targets at depth at this time of year.

10 hours ago, Magic12 said:

I Hope it’s a 2 Box 

multi frecuency Coil

i own most of the 2 box detectors ever made 

and they my favorite detectors next to PI Units with coils 1 meter X 1 meter

I've never used such a machine.  What kinds of stuff have you found with yours - at what sort of depth?

Could part of the problem simply be a mechanical one? Aplogies if I'm stating the obvious but:

I know that the EQX800 (and I assume the MC) have a 1/8" stereo jack socket for external wired phones.  One possible gotcha is that the jack socket is surrounded by a threaded ring/bezel which can get in the way of 'fat' jack plugs, preventing them going all the way into the socket.  Even a mm or two is enough to stop the connection working as it should. On more than one occasion, I've had to get a sharp blade and carve plastic off the moulded plug to get it to seat fully in the socket.

56 minutes ago, Chase Goldman said:

Ha.  Those code names are better than the actual names.

I quite agree!