Zaj56

Chase ....occasionally the machine will just go crazy, acting like you are right under a high voltage power line. beeping and numbers jumping erratically. The problem is that it doesn't do it all the time which makes it really hard to diagnose.

My 900 is doing the exact same thing..the problem is that it doesn't do it all the time. I thought I had a bad coil and sent it to the Minelab repair shop but they tested it and said the coil was fine. Please let us know what they tell you! I keep hoping a firmware update might solve the issue but so far...no update!

This is unrelated to water detecting but one thing I have found with the 900 is that on land and on dp tones...if I get a loud signal but only reads 1 on the vdi..it is always without fail a hot rock. This saves some digging for sure.

I agree ....I think it's a pipe. Really cool find

I never use the headphones but I always like to charge any rechargeable batteries(cell phone,NIMH AAs, etc) as slowly as possible. The slow charging keep the batteries cooler thus extending battery life.

I hunted darn near everyday last year and would love to know how many actual hours I put in. Mark,,what exactly do you mean by a mineralization meter?

If a Minelab detetcor is sent in for warranty repair,can they determine how many hours the machine was used? I ask this because when I visit Miracle ear to have my hearing aids serviced they can tell exactly how many hours that I've worn them. It would be nice to have an hour meter.

Thats a refreshing and honest post from somebody that has experience with both!

I agree with bigtim on this one! My 900 has a lot more chatter than my 600! If a software update doesn't improve that ...my 900 is history!

I am with you on that...the 900 chatter is starting to annoy me. Hoping(like many others) that a software update will stabilize it,

I use Permethrin on clothes only and a light mist of Deet on any exposed skin.

wow....all cool stuff and in great shape! congrats!

Walt..I started using the 600 and was very happy with it but wanted 2 machines so I always have a spare. I am happy with the 900 but can't honestly say I see a big difference in depth. It took a little time to get used to the expanded vdi but I am ok with it now. I do like and use the dp tones and vibration but never really had to use the red back light and the flashlight. I also never use the headphones as I almost always hunt in remote locations away from any humans, If you need a second machine I would go with the 900 but if you are looking for an upgrade over a 800 I think it will be minimal. Others might disagree. I do wish that Minelab would have put an hour meter on their machines so we could see how many hour we are swinging!

Good advice Jim..I have another 6 inch coil from my spare 600 that I am going to try

Thanks for the advice! I'll try those things

My 900 started going crazy with numbers jumping all over the place and excessive chattering. It doesn't do it all the time and noise cancelling and ground balancing has no effect when it does this. It does it when not on a target and even pointing the coil up in the air or on the ground...doesn't matter.It's not EMI and the soil type doesn't matter. No power lines anywhere close. It also makes no difference what mode or sensitivity is set at or even what frequency. Sometimes if I factory reset the mode I'm in it will stop . I pulled the coil cover(6inch) and it was clean. The only thing I didn't try was using a different coil. Any thoughts and thanks in advance!

Good choice!

Agreed....reminds me of the constant iphone updates. Quite often when some bugs are fixed...new bugs are created.

New member here...I have just switched from the 600 to the 900 and am just starting to get used to the expanded vdi and the jumpy numbers. Ironically, the settings I have been using are identical to the settings Jeff mentioned with the exception of the sensitivity which the soil here in SW Pa. allows me to run a bit higher at 23. I really like the dp tones for relic hunting and use the vibration with it. The more I use the 900 the more I'm liking it!

Been lurking for a while so I figured it was time to join. I have been retired for about a year and have been spending a couple hours a day detecting. I am fortunate to live in an area with lots of turn of the century logging camps and abandon coal mines so I have been doing lots of relic hunting. I am swinging an Equinox 600 and 900 with a Garrett carrot and a Whites TRX pinpointers.