unknwn

Please accept my apology for the long-winded and fairly extensive post. Since delivery of my new Manticore was delayed a day-or-two (Wednesday now-both Cabelas -&- FdX *yay!* ) I've been trying to determine which pin pointer I ought to have when my learning phase is about to commence. I followed much info about the Garret carrot group, and quickly ruled out any need for wireless, so investigated the std. ProPointer AT, which intrigued me initially, but, upon longer determination I found that it might NOT be my best choice. When I learned more about the pulse-induction versions of PP, and the likelyhood that heavy(?) mineralized areas could possibly be better served by those type, I steered toward that direction. Since my (at least -early) detecting will happen -mostly- on dry land, and probably no deeper than a couple feet under water, I've found myself considering the Nokta pointer pretty seriosly. Would any of the more experienced out the make a further reccommendation for a pin pointer that I'd like to purchase (and hopefully have in my hands by week's end) right away? Manticore is rescheduled for tommorrow, and I'd like to be practicing & learning this coming weekend. I'd already worked out that the majority of area around the multi-century farm house might qualify as 'hot' (?) soil. The hand dug foundations areas, cellars, ect. were shoveled out of clay-bound sand and gravel that was consequently mixed with a topsoil high in loam and light clay and spread all around the house and adjoining outbuildings. The lower yards that were a flood plain to the creek which spilled over it's banks 2-3 time a year until the County Engineer dredged the creek bed to about an eight to twelve foot depth from existing grade. When the creek is running normal it is -at most- 2 feet deep in it's deepest points. That existing grade above the creek bed, is about 20ft. below the street level/homestead site. My parents (and grandparents before them) tended a vegetable garden behind the 2-story+ farmhouse that probably measured 75'x100' (100+ years anyway), which all occurred at that previously mentioned street level. My Mom planted maple trees surrounding the house in the mid/late '40s that had ALL grown to extraordinary heights, and mostly all those, and all Dad's fruit trees have expired, and been removed. Just about 1/8to1/4- mile down the street is a brick story&1/2 one-room schoolhouse that Dad attended in the '20s.(That schoolhouse has been aquired by the Co. Park system, and been deemed off-limits to dectionists since being purchased from a family that lived in it for the majority of the 20th century). There was some extensive excavation within about 75ft of the creek bed through my lower yards/pasture area by to bury a 48" sewer line in the 15-20' depth, majority of the overburden was pushed back overtop the excavation, and the contractor -stole- the excess sand/gravel mix, so the grade is now a turned/plowed up peat topsoil that is -again- 2-3'deep, just like the rest of the flood plain exhibits. This -whole- area is NOW a close-clipped grass lawn, and prior to it's transformation(s) was a horse pasture (about 6 acres)for somewhere about 50 years. I took down all the fence wire, and pulled the fence posts (nearly all of those were rough-hewn locust posts. Since I've been here for nearly all of 60 years, and my siblings and parents prior to me, I'm very nearly convinced that there are all-sorts of artifacts blanketing the 8+ acres I salvaged from my association with those same siblings. I remember a med. size watch box filled with all manner of coins my parents found over the years (stolen by an interloper before I could protect -that- hoard) one that I remembered was a gold coin about the size of a pencil eraser (all-gone, sad). When I allowed the detectionist I met a couple years ago walk around the front yard with his 8000 he came back with a coin that he showed me was a 186? half-penny that had been peirced to wear on a necklace -or- lanyard. I let him have it. That is what convince me to get my own machine, and opt for the more-capable(?) Manticore.

My -ONLY- experience to date was a circumstance about 35+ years ago when I came across a White something-or-other (it had blue finish on the box, toggle switches & twist knobs, Heh.) and I spent part of an afternoon hoping to find a well on the site of a bank barn that burned down 75 years ago or so. There was a bunch of irrigation pipe and normal truck farm equipment in it, so I figured to have a fair chance at locating -something- . Didn't find what I was looking for, but the mid-70's(?) White DID allow me to find a piece of animal lead chain about a dozen feet long. My Dad took a try with divining, using a couple 3' section of welding filler rod steel, bent at a 90 degree to provide 'handles', and he marched back & forth for about 45 minutes. When the wires crossed each other twice ( going from an X, to a Y perpendicular) at the same place over the lawn area, I dug, and ended up locating a well pipe & valve about 14" down. The casing was ruined due to the fire & such, so I didn't get access to that water, but it was a fairly crazy learning experience. Don't ever let someone tell you 'Aw, -that- doesn't work', because I watched pretty closely how an old Mennonite did it, and it proved out.

I wish I had an inkling as where to start. From my introduction post of April 15, I am an utter novice with a nearly 200 years of homestead directly outside my front door. The whole of the area is -wide open- for fairly unencumbered searching. My landscape area around the dwelling and adjacent storage/garage areas is in transition, so digging/hoe-ing and pawing around is only governed by my personal abilities to work methodically, and restore the grade and landscaping to an acceptable circumstance post-detecting. I am not corralled by spouse or home-owner association, just by the infirmities that forced a retirement on me and dispensed with -nearly- all of my previous involvements and enjoyments (no more motor-or- winter sports anymore). The new Manticore is scheduled to arrive in a day or so. The learning curve involved will ALL be happening within the 1/4 mile area surrounding the farmhouse, barns, pastures, and homestead directly outside the dwelling. Should I be overly concerned with the possibility of a software update at this early juncture? I will report on software iteration as soon as I'm able to turn it on and discern where I'm at once the i.d. & configuration is determined.

Well, I believe that I've got a great learning area that -hasn't- been picked over, so I'm looking forward to tracing relics and misplaced treasures right outside my front door !

That's great! Minelab doesn't have it listed on the accessories page of the website, and I find it a bit concerning that the website isn't being updated with information important to customers.

Reading the Manticore manuals I find reference to the coil skidplate, -but- on the specs page, a skid plate is NOT listed among the -included- accessories. -copied from the specs' page of the instruction .pdf : Included Accessories USB Charging Cable, 5× Screen Protectors, 3.5mm (⅛") Auxiliary Cable, Headphone Case Is there a protector included with the coil or not?

Sure wish the smaller coil would be readily available. Working around building foundations and plantings could be a bit challenging. Cleaning up yard debris will be high on my 'gotta do's' for sure. Some of the larger buildings with stacked stone foundation have had some middlin' size tonic bottles pushed out by burrowing animals, and there were always coins and such found by my parents through the mid-20th century. My siblings were always convinced that my Dad buried loot around the property. Glad I won't be competing against their poking around anymore, but I'm certain there's more than a fair share of trash around, so it will be challenging. Glad I've got a machine that has programmable discriminating capabilities. Lot's to learn.

I'm only -JUST- getting started in the detectorist hobby, been interested for a LO0ong time, but just recently pulled the lever on a machine of my own. A fellow came by a few times to probe my grounds with a Minelab 800, and though it was sorta' impressive, I felt that something with more of the details worked out was where I needed to point my buying decision towards. I live on the remnants of a family farm with a house and cluster of buildings that are 197 years old this year. I have nearly 10 acres of property adjoining a creek bed that was native American living and hunting areas for ?? before the homesteading occurred. The choice I made a few days ago, prodded on by discounts and points/cash accumulation at Cabela's is the Minelab Manticore. Several reasons I opted for the expense of the Manticore revolved around the terrific upgrades over the 800/900 series detectors, and I'm hoping that a chance to learn it all from the word 'GO', and not having to -un learn- previous iterations of the software/hardware. Looking forward to the information I'll find here, and sharing my experiences as a neophyte with a 1st rate machine, Charles Linder -unknwn- Canton (Pro football Hall-of-fame city) , Ohio