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  1. While this topic is hot and on our minds, I'm going to make a request. Could someone with detailed technical & engineering knowledge write up a report explaining Iron Bias at an intermediate-to-advanced user but still layman's level? The kind of description I'm requesting is one similar to what was done in Randy Horton's excellent monograph Understanding Your X-TERRA which contains an interview with Minelab scientist&engineer Dr. Laurence Stamatescu (starting on page 79) where he melds the right combination of technical info and easy to follow wording. Maybe there has already been such a writeup that I'm not aware of, but although I appreciate what has been posted here on the forum on this subject I'm still confused/confounded as to what is going on and how to best utilize it. I don't seem to be alone on that. One of my many gaps in understanding is whether or not all detectors have an effective (but fixed) iron bias setting, with only a few giving the user the option of dialing it in for best performance. Related: when iron bias on the MInelab Equinox is set to zero (in either F2 or FE), is there still some kind of iron bias occurring? Knowing how a detector works transfers over to optimizing it's use and I'd like to do more of that instead of just locking iron bias on one value for all applications and conditions (or blindly accepting factory defaults) -- what I (and apparently most users) do now based upon ignorance. (Well, I'm ignorant on this subject -- not trying to associate that with any of you. 😏)
  2. Ok folks, someone please tell me this is just a bizarre series of coincidences. On three separate occasions now I've come across a good signal out in the forest here in Virginia, usually in the pulltab range, and dig only to find a hibernating snake. How in the world is that possible? Is the metal detector actually detecting the snake or are they just over a target? I can't figure this out. Any old hands wanna chime in here?
  3. I have got up on my soapbox every year about this time to prognosticate about the coming year in metal detector technology. 2020 was an especially significant year as we lost another major player in the industry. A few years ago it was Tesoro going out of business. In 2020 we learned that White's is closing shop and being acquired by Garrett. It is unknown if Garrett will attempt to keep White's alive as a separate product line, or simply acquired the rights and technology to keep somebody else from doing so. At the moment it seems White's has gone away for good, but it is not impossible Garrett will revive the name in 2021. Whatever they decide will have a major influence on metal detecting in the future. But in the meantime we have fewer players now to speculate about. Garrett/White's - we just saw the release of the Ace Apex, a first foray into multifrequency by Garrett. The company already has a very well implemented wireless audio system, and the Apex is fully rechargeable. The White's acquisition means Garrett adds the V3i multi tech and TDI PI tech to their IP base, and this along with the half-sine patent means Garrett has a fresh shot of technology options to choose from. The White’s 24K is a superb product, now unavailable new. However, I expect an acquisition of this magnitude to take time and I'm not holding my breath on any really new product in 2021 from Garrett. At most perhaps a revival of some White's models, or releasing clones under the Garrett name. At the moment however I see Garrett as the U.S. company with the most potential for the longer term future, regardless of what happens in the near term. First Texas (Bounty Hunter, Fisher, Teknetics) - whereas Garrett seems to have a purpose, First Texas seems adrift these days. Most of the Fisher models on the website have been discontinued, or are decades old. Teknetics as a brand seems nearly dead, focused on factory direct sales. Basic advances like in-built rechargeable battery systems, wireless headphones, and over the internet updates - all go ignored at the company. The only news is a new line of pulse induction detectors, but as the lack of interest from users on the internet shows, most people are not screaming for First Texas to bring a PI to market. Everyone wants to hear about a major response to new machines like the Equinox, but so far it's crickets from First Texas. The final production Impulse AQ will hit the market in the first half of the year, but I expect it to have almost no impact on the overall detecting world, or even the beach detecting world for that matter. People will still choose VLF over PI for beach detecting by huge margins, so the Impulse AQ has a shot at being nothing more than a niche detector in a niche detecting market. The Gold version has potential to crack open the gold prospecting market that Minelab currently dominates, but it is going to have to have a very attractive price/performance ratio if it hopes to make Minelab users consider a new brand. For many gold prospectors Minelab currently is the only choice in detectors. Hopefully there is more going on at First Texas than PI, because they are sliding into irrelevance in high end VLF. It seems more models keep slipping into the Bounty Hunter lineup, and if nothing changes someday the Teknetics and even Fisher lines may be retired. Or the Fisher line could be boosted with new high end machines to become the high tech alternative to Bounty Hunter. That was the original plan buying this old name in detecting, and 2021 will probably determine what happens for the Fisher brand in the future. Revival... or the next slow death? Minelab - on a roll still, with the new GPX 6000 due out this spring. When it comes to cutting edge technology, Minelab remains the company to watch. There is no doubt a replacement for the CTX 3030 in the works, but there are no solid hints at when it may arrive. I am guessing 2022 since the last two rollouts were for coin detectors (Equinox and Vanquish). Minelab tends to address areas in a round robin fashion, and I believe 2021 will preferentially freshen the gold prospecting lineup. Nokta/Makro - the easy picking low hanging fruit of single frequency VLF has been fully exploited at Nokta/Makro, and it remains now to see if they can make the move up to higher tech product like simultaneous multifrequency and ground balancing pulse induction. The rapid pace of new product releases has stalled out as further advances will be more difficult. Historically NM has used their Christmas card to hint at new releases, and this year they took a pass on that. I'm hopeful for 2021 but certainly not holding my breath, as it may be fall at earliest before we hear more. Tarsacci - a new 12" coil for the MDT is in the works, and a possible change to the battery door design in future versions. XP - still largely a one-trick pony with the DEUS, and the ORX, which is really just a subset of the DEUS. Will we ever see multifrequency or PI from XP? All is quiet now with the news over ORX run it's course, and right now there are no hints of anything new from XP for 2021. Just random blatherings from an industry old-timer, worth every penny paid. I'm pretty well set for detectors these days, with only the grudge match between the Minelab GPX 6000 and Fisher Impulse Gold having any interest for me personally. I have to put my money on Minelab when it comes to cutting edge tech, but I do hope the Impulse Gold is good enough and low priced enough to shake things up.
  4. Been meaning to do this test for a while. I used 3 machines that have VDI. Multi Kruzer, AT Pro and Gold Racer. Test was done as follows: Plastic bin 5" high with masking materials above and targets placed directly below. 3 different masks were used: 1 rust, 2 magnetite, 3 crushed coal. All 3 placed into baggies to avoid miserable cleanup after and bags were layed flat with material distributed as even as possible within the bag. All machines set at 80% gain/sensitivity. the Multi Kruzer had the Super Fly coil which I kept on as it is most likely similar to the Simplex 11" and Amphibio stock 11" in performance and separation. AT Pro had stock 8 1/2 x 11 dd and the Gold Racer had the stock 5 1/2 x 10. The Multi Kruzer was run in 3 tone mode, AT Pro in Zero mode, and the Gold Racer in disc 1 with imask 1. I indicated "- -" where there was no ID on display but often especially on the Multi Kruzer there was clear audio of the object below. Targets were: Beaver Tail, US Nickel, 14k Gold Wedding Band, Square Tab, Pull Ring, Copper Penny, Silver Dime and Silver Quarter. This test is much more extreme than what you would typically run into in actual occurances but gives an idea on how machines respond. The masked materials gave little or no audio response but the mineral meters on the Kruzer and Racer were really high. This is important when out in the real world detecting to pay attention to the mineral meter if your machine has it then double check those targets as possibly being of value. Don't move on if you hear an iron grunt. Be nice to see similar tests with an Apex, Nox and Vanquish line up.
  5. We all have seen many videos comparing metal detectors , changing the coils, frequencies and all kind of settings so they can maximize the capabilities of the "machines"! But what about the same machines abilities to detect larger targets like a 20x20 cm or 40x30cm on greater depths?? Am in the only one Qurious about it 🤪 Have someone seen something about it??
  6. Have you modded a detector or a coil over the years to make it perform better than the manufacturer intended? Did you get good results? I just did a search on this forum and found 168 hits for modded. What is your favorite mod?
  7. Anfibio is rated waterproof to 16'. Tarsacci is rated to 30 min underwater. Both ip68 why the difference. I can't find what the Equinox rating is.
  8. I've been trying to make a PI detector as a learning exercise in another forum(Geotech). Asked the question below but haven't got a reply. Maybe someone here could answer the question. Nugget sizing info: We are often asked how many pieces per gram or ounce. It is very hard to predict how many pieces there are per gram or ounce as the # of nuggets by weight varies quite a bit per batch. But in general you can expect around 1-2 pieces of gold for 4 mesh, 2-4 pieces of 6 mesh per gram, 7-12 pieces of 8 mesh per gram and around 15-20 per gram for 10 mesh. You can expect many more pieces for smaller 12 (around 20-25), 14-16 (around 30-50 or more) pieces and hundreds for fine gold. Every batch is very different and each piece of gold is natural and of course therefore unique. Some may be flat and light or rounded and very dense (heavy). How small a nugget can a good PI detect? What mesh size would make good test targets for smaller nuggets? 8 mesh, 10 mesh, both or other? Any guess on typical TC for 8 or 10 mesh nuggets?
  9. This is a nice concept. If works I can see a lot of interest.
  10. Hey folks, new to the forum here. I am working and playing in the state of Alaska, and live in a decent gold bearing area, but it’s mostly flour gold from glacial dust.... geologically speaking it’s pretty young soil with lower levels of mineralization (I was told). The area was never thoroughly mined, because of the difficulties encountered extracting this fine stuff with old methods. Anyway, I have been picking some old-timer’s brains on how to get started, and he suggested this method for this fine stuff.... he liked to locate the mineralization zones with a detector, then dredge or sluice that. That way he would only process the more concentrated material. There are the occasional nuggets, but very scarce compared to the flour. is this a realistic method for doing a little weekend prospecting? I have been looking into detectors (the last one I had was 15 or 18 years ago and it was a very basic bounty hunter great for a kid, but....) seemingly most detectors are trying to tune out the mineralization, and I am searching for it. I was looking at the gold monster 1000, and equinox, but can’t decide if their advanced discrimination would help or hinder my goals. Any thoughts on this technique, and what machines to consider to achieve the goal? Of course I’d like something that could treasure hunt, and do everything else great too, but I know that’s not usually how this stuff works. Thanks for your time and patience. In the meantime I am going to be educating myself on the forum. Trying to soak up all this knowledge.
  11. I just had a pacemaker installed and I’m having trouble finding info on using my metal detectors with it. Just wondering how the detector batteries and EMI will affect my pacemaker. Maybe the only thing I’ll have to worry about is whether it will implode if I swing across a really big nugget? 😳 Hopefully I can keep detecting with no problems from the pacemaker or my heart! Thanks for any input. P. S. I understand if anyone is hesitant to answer because of liability issues. That’s one reason I’m having trouble getting info including from Minelab. Can’t blame anyone for that. Just general info or experiences from anyone that has a pacemaker would help. My doctor has a bad “bedside manner”. The one time I met with him before he slapped it in me was frustrating. He had a standard response to my questions. “Get it or you die”. He is a highly skilled and highly recommended jerk. Maybe I can get some answers on my follow up app’t but not counting on it.
  12. Given that the latest crop of detectors can be updated with new features simply by downloading software updates, how long will it be until manufacturers offer a cheap base model with pay as you go additional features and capabilities. Want more tone options, prospecting ability, custom frequencies, simply pay a small fee and download to your detector. On the same token have to ability to remove unused or unwanted features to de-clutter your detector, and with the ability to load them up again at a later date as needed. This would give the ability for a beginner to grow with their simplified base detector, adding new features as experience is gained and as budget allows, whilst still maintaining a budget initial purchase price. We also often talk about detectors being too overwhelming or complicated to learn for newcomers, so sometimes less is more. The downside for manufacturers is that it would do away with multiple models of detectors, often earmarked by minimal incremental changes to justify producing a new or improved detector. Good for the consumer, maybe not so much for profit margins. In a way it is already happening with detectors like the XP Deus, with constant updates to extend the lifespan of the platform, though hardly a budget detector and the updates are actually free. Any extra costs/profits are made via accessory coils and other add-ons like pinpointers vs charging for added features alone (some new features necessitate the purchase of new accessory coils to be activated). You do have to appreciate that the Deus's lifespan amazingly started out in 2009, proof that a single platform can last the test of time and still be relevant even today. Imagine a base version of an improved Simplex with added hardware/software ability to run multi-frequency and/or individual frequencies, then being able to unlock MF ability down the track as budget allows. It is not always the case the one can afford the initial cost of a fully loaded detector out of the box, nor want to purchase multiple detectors to gain added features and performance. Silly idea or does it have some merit?
  13. Metal detecting has a lot of jargon that makes little sense to beginners. I’ve thought about starting a list on this website, but the fact is it’s been done in quite a few places already. While I still might put one together myself, for now here is a link that can give you all the definitions anyone might need. Metal Detector Terms & Definitions via Google Tesoro put out a great catalog in 2010 that included a lot of extra information, including a glossary starting on page 58. You can download it for free here.
  14. So for you experts on EMI interference. Does EMI effect the powerhead?, coil? or both???? Thanks.
  15. I did a quick recording of items I had going from a small nickel silver bead through a screw cap. Total of 20 items 6" away in both all metal mode and discrim mode with disc at min. It is interesting how you can actually see the different sounds and how they have unique patterns. I plan on redoing the test when I can set up outside. There is a lot of emi here and my audio setup was not tuned so I couldn't hear the threshold through the computer even though it was pretty loud on the detector. The audio was also recorded really hot which I will correct next time. Wonder if digital machines have just flat signals with no variation other than tone and volume? I can't record my Garrett as it has a proprietary audio jack.
  16. Is there now marketed or has there ever been available a detector which inverts the audio volume scale? Many applications produce better finds from the weaker signals, either because those items are smaller (e.g. micro jewelry) or deeper (e.g. old coins and nuggets). Having to listen through the din of trash to hear the weak signals for most detectors is mentally fatiguing. I wouldn't be surprised if this is/was possible with analog electronics, but seems like a task that digital processing could handle easily(?).
  17. I posted this in the vanquish thread but it’s buried fairly deep so I’m asking here too, about the vanquish, it’s multi iq technology rooted in VLF technology or is it something different all together? I was under the impression this is a multi frequency VLF detector that basically samples multiple VLF frequencies simultaneously to better I D targets and while the way it makes this possible is unique the signal would have the same limitation in heavily mineralized soil same as any VLF detector?
  18. How many guys would like JUST A BLING BEEPA. Designed completely for recovering jewellery. Having a lower range and medium so you can just get bling with a bit of rubbish included. Come on their from Nokta Makro you guys can do it.
  19. Hello All, I am new to metal detecting and looking for some advice. Metal detecting is something I've always wanted to pursue as a hobby, but just never really committed to making the investment. I have a few detectors in mind Minelab Equinox 800 or 600 and Garrett GTI 2500 also open to suggestions but those three seems like decent choices for intermediate. My question is how deep can a standard metal detector detect? There's a bit of backstory here but as a kid, I watched the movie Encino Man. For those unfamiliar the movie is about two teenage friends digging a hole in their backyard for a swimming pool. Hilarity ensues when they unearth an ice-age caveman the rest of the movie is a little fuzzy, but they acclimate their new friend to the modern world. Anyway, after watching this movie I convinced my mom to let us dig a giant hole in the backyard! For some reason she agreed. Probably because it kept us busy and out of the house. So flash forward a bit we have a decent sized hole dug in my backyard. Keep in mind I'm 9-10yrs old (so things seem much larger) but as I remember it the hole was at least 8ft x 5ft and probably 3-4ft deep. This was how I spent my summer vacation, everyday I would go outside and just dig! Then, one morning I hit something! Excited, I ran into the house to inform my mom. What I hit was the side of a metal trashcan. The sort of trashcan Oscar the Grouch lived in on Sesame Street. The can was buried sideways and I brushed away enough dirt to tell it was trashcan but the can was still completely buried. My mom freaked out and forced us to fill the hole (whatever was buried that deep was not meant to be dug up!) After 25yrs the house is now mine and the thought of what could be buried there still intrigues me (hundreds of gold bars perhaps 🤔). The home was constructed in 1940, but built on the property of another home which was constructed much earlier probably 1910s. The older home has been destroyed for years and was demolished to built 8 townhouses/condos. However, the old lady who lived there had been in the house since birth and died at age 98. The townhouses/condos were built in 2007 which suggest a 1910 or earlier date for that home. The old woman did tell us about the area when before all the countless other homes were here. How you could see in any direction for miles. Now you need a drone for that and its nothing but developed land for 50-60 miles in all directions. If I had to guess a date for the trash can 1930s era would seem to align well. The short version, there's a metal trashcan in my backyard that I would like to relocate and excavate. However, I am not sure how deep the object actually is at most I would guess its 3ft to maybe 3.5ft. Could a metal detector locate a large object at this depth? I've been searching online for an answer to this question but cannot find any conclusive information. From what I can gather the detect-ability of an object varies considerable and seems based on the objects size. Most coins, for example, are fairly small and anything beyond 30cm (1ft) is probably on the edge of not registering a signal? However, if the object is larger the detectable depth will increase? So if you're searching for a pirate style treasure chest it could be buried much deeper and still be detected.
  20. The Accumulate, Average, and Fade controls exist on several White's models, having first been introduced on the White's Eagle Spectrum. The functions govern how the SignaGraph™ and SpectraGraph™ displays show targets and so are unique to White's detectors. These display controls are also used on the DFX and V models. This note appended to the Engineers Guide to the Spectrum XLT offers a basic explanation of what these controls are doing. The display controls are also covered on pages 45-46 of the XLT Users Guide (excerpted below). Spectrum XLT Engineering Note Using Spectrum XLT Modes: Accumulate, Average, and Fade by Mark Rowan Although the SignaGraph™ display format has been well received, there seems to be some confusion regarding the option (average accumulate, and fade) and how to use them. Perhaps a more detailed explanation is called for. The default (preset) condition is Accumulate/Average/Fade, the fade rate being fairly slow. With each sweep over the target, several attempts are made to assign it a V.D.I. number. Each reading (There may be only one or two, or as many as six or eight readings per sweep) is reported to the user as a vertical bar on the SignaGraph™. (NOTE: If all eight readings are the same, the user will only see one bar). In Accumulate mode, these bars are not "cleared out or "blanked" on subsequent sweeps, but continue to "build up" in the display so that the user sees the entire history of multiple passes over the target. Squeezing the trigger will clear the display if it gets too cluttered, or if the user chooses to move to a different target with those of the second one. However, continually having to squeeze the trigger can be a nuisance -- this is where Fade comes in. If a certain period of time elapses with no new target responses, the vertical bars will be shortened by one increment. Eventually, they will disappear from the display. Notice, however, that if a new response comes along quickly enough, the Fade timer is reset (this is necessary to prevent readings from beginning to fade before the user has even had time to see them). Thus, if the Fade rate is slow and the user is sweeping the loop fairly quickly, no fading will occur until he stops swinging the loop or moves away from the target If he is working a trashy area or has his sensitivity cranked up to the noise threshold, the Fade out may be disabled entirely. This is the justification for the Fade Rate control. If the fade rate is increased, the user can find a level at which Fading will reliably occur, but which is not too fast for his personal taste or his style of hunting. If the Accumulate control is turned off the instrument is in the "single sweep" mode. Each sweep of the loop causes the display to be cleared, and only those readings made during the current pass over the target to be shown. The primary advantage of this is that it reduces the chance for readings from two different targets to be confused with each other. If the Fade rate is set to 0, fading is disabled and display bars will remain indefinitely. Average mode is entirely different than either the Accumulate or "single-sweep" mode of operation. When Averaging is turned off (the default in all preset programs have Averaging on) the vertical height of the display bar is an indication of the strength of the signal when that reading was taken. With Averaging, however, the height of the bar represents a running total of the number of readings that have occurred at that point on the display. For example, if you pass the loop several times over a gold ring and get readings of 1, 10, 40, 10, 10, -20, and 10, the display will show a tall bar at the place corresponding to 10 on the display, and very short bars at the positions corresponding to -10, 0, and 40. If the count exceeds the vertical resolution of the display, the bar remains at its maximum height and all other bars in the display are reduced by one increment, eventually disappearing from the display. The usefulness of this is that if the error in the V.D.I. readings is random (such as that caused by electromagnetic interference or irregular loop motion), it will eventually average out and the display will "lock on", showing a single prominent segment at the correct point on the display. Unfortunately, there is a catch. Iron and foil targets which mimic coins will also appear to "lock on"; the smearing one would normally expect will be suppressed somewhat. However, in the hands of a skilled user this should be a very useful feature. Mark Rowan was a Senior Engineer for White's Electronics, Inc. Mark holds degrees in General Science, and Electronics Engineering Technology, and is a graduate of the University of Oregon. His background includes satellite communications and RF test and measurement instrumentation.
  21. I’m sure I read somewhere that all of these common connectors (typically for headphones) such as the 8 pin style have a limited amount of mating cycles. Connector integrity cannot be assured after this. I guess there is a small amount of wear and tear on the male/female metal contact points as well as the plastic/rubber moulding that keeps water out. Any views on this? Thanks Tony
  22. The cell phone is now a common day device owned by most people. It was inevitable that a metal detector designer would mimic the look and feel of a cell phone in an attempt to modernize how metal detectors are perceived. As far as I know it was Quest (back when they were named Deteknix) that first came up with this design. Or at lest they were the first to really market something like this in 2015. Then we next got the Minelab Equinox in 2018. And now the Nokta/Makro Simplex+ in 2019. Some might call this copycat designing but form follows function to a certain degree and all items copy others in some ways. All T-shirts have a head hole and two arm holes. Still, I think Deteknix/Quest gets the credit here for first popularizing this design. I'll be surprised if more are not to follow. Quest metal detector Minelab Equinox metal detector Nokta/Makro Simplex+ metal detector Quest metal detector controls & display Minelab Equinox metal detector controls & display Nokta/Makro Simplex+ metal detector controls & display
  23. Out with the Minelab Equinox yesterday and getting frustrated with the difficulty of switching to the user 'profile' (plenty of complaints on that since its release) but then wondering why we have only one memory slot. Sure, many detectors have zero.... Are there detectors on the market (or even from the past -- no longer manufacturered) that have more than one user memory slot? It's hard to believe in 2020 with gigabytes of memory in so many small packages/products that we can't have 2 or (am I asking for too much?) 4 places to put user custom set search modes.
  24. I had a guy approach me at the lake today who lost a 14K college class ring size 11. I told him I would spend time looking for it and get it back to him if I happen to recover it. I have a 10K college class ring I found this year(unable to locate owner) but, it's a 10K. On the Simplex, it reads 64-65, the Nox hits at 20-21 I'm wondering how much of a difference the 14K will read. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
  25. Might be a silly question, but I can't find the answer. Seems like all the lower end detectors are always around 5-8 khz. I was always under the impression that the sweet spot for the biggest target range was around 12-18 khz. Are the lower frequencies cheaper to implement, or is there another reason?
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