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I went out this morning to a beach that I call zinc beach because that's what I generally find there. Today was a minus tide and I got up early to try it one more time. I'm glad I did! The beach has high sand and a sharp slope about 25-30 feet to a mucky bottom at low tide. Right where the slope stops I have found some clad coins, a wheat penny that looked brand new and some aluminum bits. Farther out on the flat muck I probably dug 10-15 zincs in the couple times I had been there before. Today I walked out right where I had found some coins before and was heading right to the edge of the water. First target was a 1950 wheat that looked like it fell yesterday. The second target got my heart going! I saw a copper/gold colored edge and I thought it was another penny that rang low, I can't remember for sure what it rang up as but I think it was 10/11. I picked it up and realized it was a ring and right away started looking for marks. 18k and a C with a diamond above it as a makers mark! Awesome! I made my way to the edge of the water and walked back and fourth along the edge of the water moving back up towards the slope in a crescent shape (the water was higher on one side and I stayed right on the edge). I got a couple coins, another wheat and I dug some small trash. On one of the passes heading back down the side I got a 31 and thought it might be a quarter or a silver quarter. I was surprised when I saw the spoon and immediately rubbed the muck off the spine to see if it said sterling and sure enough! It came out bent like that, I wonder if someone was using it for something other than eating! My alarm went off for 7am and I started making my way back and got a quarter right near the hole I dug the ring from and thought to myself let me check around here a little more because I've found some heavy things right around this area. The next target I think was a 14 (I was hunting by sound more than by VDI numbers) and I dug a hole and checked the sand and muck I pulled out...nothing. Then I looked back down in the hole and saw it sitting there, another ring! Gold with a red/dark pink stone. It is cracked at the bottom and not a closed loop but still rang up pretty solid. I checked for a mark in this ring and all I saw was was looked like a weird sideways 8 and a K. I came to work (conveniently right down the street) and I washed it off and I saw the mark is a diagonal anchor with a K. I knew then it must be an old ring but my question to you all is how old and where could it be from? I'm thinking England. My town was settled in 1639, could it be from the 16-1800's? What about the C makers mark on the other ring? Any ideas?

It is rare I would dig a nickle on a hunt let alone 3! Was a quick 3 hour hunt in a very small 1800s park I have hit for many years. Most of this stuff had to have been previously masked by screw tops and iron. More than a few of these had a nail come out of the plug first or after I retrieved the target. One wheat has iron oxide on the obverse from where it has been resting on a nail, cant get a date off of it. I had such a great time! I had to share, thank you for your time and looking! What a day! 1941 Jefferson 1909 V Nickle x2 1916, 1919, cant see date Wheat 1903, 1893, 1890 IHC Sterling Ring 2 piece great seal button 1951 Canadian Cent and other tiny non FE stuff!

For fast and easy, the EQX manual suggests; turn it on, choose a mode, noise cancel and go detecting. In my particular case however, I've found adding the auto ground balance step enhances the performance of my EQX in this particular area. I get deeper, clearer target hits in my test garden anyway when I add that one additional step: Turn it on, choose a mode, noise cancel, auto GB and then go detecting works best for me. Admittedly, your area and ground conditions may be or will be different than mine here in central Florida but give it a try and see if you get similar enhanced results. I'd be interested in reading your opinion after including that additional step to "fast and easy". Just the view from my foxhole...

Had a great club hunt last Saturday - found some type of ID tag. Been researching all week but nothing yet... This was close to a foot deep ..

Today i took the Nox out again and only the Nox "mistake" ! I went to the beach at around 12 noon so i could work the tide out then do the tops for the fresh losses and i am sure there would have been some . The machine behaved mostly lower down the beach between the tides where i found all the finds for today . I didn't have any gems this time , considering the conditions of the beach i am surprised . It looked good . But like i said it was a mistake to only take the Nox , normally i would take the Terra and change the machines over on the Anderson shaft. When i tried to use the Nox on the dry tops like the last trip i had nothing but interference from something . Maybe EMI from the clubs again or maybe mobile phones ?? plenty of people using them on the beach today . It got so bad that the headphones kept tripping out and the machines main speaker would go on , then the machine would just go silent like when the ET or Explorer's would nul on a target of Iron or something . I noise cancelled several times but it made no difference at all. So i gave up at around 4pm and headed home . My finds for today were £15.03p and 2 foreign coins . It is an understatement to say how bad the conditions of the beaches i search are , and many think i am being negative . I'm not . From now i will only take the Nox out with the Terra 705 , it will mean more weight in the rucksack but its the only way to make sure i have a machine for all areas of the beaches i do . The Nox works in the water and up to the ridge where it gets level with the tops but on the tops its hopeless . I will have to visit another beach elsewhere at some point . Tomorrow i am thinking using the ET so i can go on the tops and do a little in the tidals too , on that beach that and the Explorer 11 are the only machines i have that can do all areas without trouble . Except for some nulling on Iron and bonfire markings , that will be early in the morning at 5am till 10am if i go . Tuesday is a definite due to 6 days working after that. Very frustrating !

I sold a Gold Bug 2 and bought an Equinox 800 to add to my arsenal. It finally arrived but still to early to head out. I want to try it on some trashy tailings piles where I have found nuggets in the past. Just got to get rid of the snow!

Participating in a forum and sharing detailed information takes a bit of effort. We all lead very Busy lives today. Our lives are full of distractions from work, family and all kinds of other things. My Nox 800 is due to arrive with me tomorrow and I can safely say that I have gained some very helpful and interesting tips/information here on this forum. I thank all you posters that have shared their experiences. Wednesday after work I have 2 hours to hunt in an old area that saw a lot of activity from the early 1920's. I'm trying to stay away from cellar holes until I can somewhat master the beastie! Ok well maybe as long as Saturday lol. Wish me luck..I'd love to be one of those guys with sillllvar on the first outing ? HH Sillllvar

Finally, they have arrived, now I can put the snorkel back on..... Extra long cable, 41" of straight cable from connector allowing you to Velcro under the arm and still have plenty of cable to the headphones. No cable having to dangle in front of your face! Loudness is good, preliminary garage tests show constant mid 70's decibels on a target with full volume on the machine settings. Fit is typical Koss yellows and can be improved with gel ear pads which will be on order shortly. Cliff

Went to a place that I knew had lots of trash, bits of metal and square nails and I've hunted this place out I thought. I had found a seated quarter and V nickel back in the day but nothing for the last couple years. This is why I got the equinox for places like this. Mostly shallow Target surrounded by iron.

I just saw a picture of a gold nugget found with an 800 that is a specimen greater than 15 ounces and it has more than 5 ounces. (I know exact numbers but it is not my nugget.) This is the largest nugget I've heard about so far. Has anyone heard of a larger nugget? Mitchel

Got my E-800 back from Minelab and hope the 3rd time is a charm. For anyone questioning Minelab customer service. DON'T! Minelab customer service is 2nd to none.They fix or replace your detector in 2 days or less and I am certain that depends on their workload but both times my detector has been sent it they were sending it back the next day or day after. I am headed out for a cpl hours this morning wearing my new Equinox T-shirt and I am sure if other people detecting see me they will run when they see I swing an Equinox..LOL I was gone all week so only hunted one day with my 600 even though I like it I had my 800 tuned better and now I have to start from scratch with my 800. There really is very little difference other than the gold feature and a cpl other settings but I think psychologically I find more with the 800 but then again I have 130+ hours on the 800 and maybe 15 hours on the 600. Going to a heavily hunted area this morning that I know produces good finds. I just know not to expect much. I have to get out of the house before the wife wakes up. Taking her to dinner today for Mothers Day so I want to get some hunting in before I take her to dinner.

This morning the tide was in early so i went to the beach for an 8am start , the tides are a bit short right now and much of the beaches are built up . I used the Nox today and i decided to have a go on the dry tops and try to solve the EMI issues . First though i got my feet wet looking for goodies low down and came across a few coins and a knackered strange looking Silver ring with its band broken . When i got to the area that has the worst EMI i went up to the tops and did a noise cancel , this time it worked . Though only for 15 minutes or so then i had to do it all over again and then again ...... . By the end of the search i had found £22.72p and the Silver ring . I wish the Gold would show up , maybe it will on the longer tides when i can get onto sand but then i am working the next long tides so might have to wait till later . I saw 2 other detectorists , 1 with an E.Trac and the other with a cheapie machine , dont know which machine . My next day out is in the weekend . Working tomorrow .

Sold a camera I don't use anymore for $1800 on Facebook today...in only two hours!! Those funds will be held in abeyance for purchasing the two accessory coils for the Equinox, and whatever other peripherals they might come up with that might interest me. I'm still #3 with my dealer for the 800, but #1 for all accessories. Might end up with a coil before the 800!! Sigh... I am also seriously thinking about purchasing the Gold Master 1000 for Meteorite hunting, and gold (if I'm ever in gold country). Have to make that decision before Minelab does away with it's military 15% discount on detectors. The only thing holding me back is that there are some folks testing the 800 in Meteorite areas, and I'm waiting to see if they can be as effective as the GM1000. If it is, then no GM1000 necessary. Leaving the 600 here in Florida at our permanent home, where it will be primarily a beach machine whenever I can spend some time here, away from where my wife is stationed in the Air Force. The 800 will reside with me in Oklahoma for the 2-3 years of my wife's Command there. The ArchMage SoundClean9 headphones are working crazily good with the 600, and once I have the 800 headphones, I might buy another set if the MineLab's are less comfortable! GREAT product for the price! ($45 on Amazon, and true LL). 20 days to go until heading for the DustBowl, tornados, earthquakes, hail, blistering heat, and other fun! ?. But I'm looking forward to hooking up with SteveG there and hunting together. I'm sure he can teach me a LOT about Oklahoma conditions and detecting!?

I'm coming from the at pro and i'm having a bit of trouble getting use to the flutie tones of the equinox.

Been waiting since November and it's finally arrived! Of course it's 106 degrees here today in AZ and I have family here from CA for a couple more days, but I'll be getting out on Wednesday for sure.?

Hi Guys, Just joined this forum when I saw all the great info. Have found some some nice finds but no silver yet, mostly wheaties.. (the places I've hit I haven't found silver in at least the last 5 outings anyway so wasn't expecting much, plus a couple new spots I wanted to check out that I figured were hit hard, but still got something from each.) Still reading through older posts, but wanted to see if anyone has live dig videos of iron trash areas or ghost towns? I'm curious what a good target amongst the trash would sound like. I'm moving from an Explorer to take advantage of the speed of the Nox in these areas. I have been digging mostly clean signals in trash for now, and hitting nice on nickels and wheats, but still looking for some masked silver the Explorer might have missed. The watch was 6" and the token 2" in trash, from different locations.

Big thank you to Gerry's Metal Detectors! My new Nox 800 is due to arrive Tuesday according to Fedex. After watching and waiting I'm ready to find that seated coin that has eluded me for so long. I can see it in my hands... Pretty crazy to think I've found a 1745 half reales and a 1836 Drapped bust half dime before a seated in 5 years of US metal detecting right? It's a strange game this metal detecting. I'm hoping I can find my white whale with the Nox! HH Sillllvar

My headphones arrived, and I fully charged them. Followed the directions for pairing with the 600. It pairs, but only to the basic Bluetooth symbol. I cannot pair to the Low Latency + symbol, and it clearly has some very discernable latency. I have no idea how to figure out whether it's the headphones or the 600 which is not pairing to full APTX LL. I need help! Any ideas? I tried Factory Reset on the 600 three times, and reset the pairing function on the headphones a number of times. No joy.

I've been having problems with the audio breaking up and dropping out on my WM 08 wireless audio module. At first I thought it was my earbuds, made for Android phones which have an extra connection on the 1/8" plug. I've also tried Sennheiser sports earphones and Bose noise cancelling travel headphones both with standard 1/8" plugs. All have the same issue. I keep the module in the back of my CamelBak and think the combination of the water inside and my body is enough to shield the signal. It was unusable at the beach yesterday until I put the module in my front pocket, but it still was dropping out pretty regularly. Another theory, cellular tower interference. There was a portable cellular tower erected at the beach yesterday for Spring Break. I also have a tower near my house. Both are transmitting on 2147.5 Mhz according to my Network Cell Info app. I've tried finding the FCC info for the frequencies on the WM 08 but haven't had any luck. Anyone else having issues with the WM 08 wireless audio module? My ML 80 Bluetooth wireless headphones work great, but I wish I could use the WM 08 so I can wear a sun hat.

From Minelab’s Treasure Talk... EQUINOX 800 & Shallow Coin Hunting Mark Williams I can think of no better time to put the new EQUINOX 800 through its paces on shallow targets than after a large festival. After these events, there are always an abundance of lost treasures lying mostly on the surface, hidden only by the grass, or a thin layer of dirt; but you will also hit targets at depth. Over the years, this has become well known amongst detectorists and, as you can imagine, these events always bring a multitude of us ‘out and about’, rushing around to see how much we can find, before everyone else… This year, for me, was going to be a whole new ball game, especially with the EQUINOX having the ability to hit targets quickly and accurately, while also having super-fast recovery between targets. It takes a bit of getting used to the tight target identification system (TID), but once you work it out, it actually works to your advantage. The one coin that gives me the most grief when hunting the good ol’ Aussie $1 & $2 coins is the cursed 1c piece or, as we call them, ‘brown buggers’; because even though they are so close in their TID, they do actually jump around a bit more (typically between 22 – 24). The other targets that do this are aluminium screw caps, but if you set your tone breaks correctly, it is quite easy to tell the difference between both of these unwanted targets and the more desirable $1 & $2 coins. This brings me to the TIDs for the modern Australian decimal currency and where I set my Tone Breaks, Tones, Frequency, Sensitivity, Recovery Speed and Volumes for successful and efficient detecting. Firstly the TID’s you will need to recognize are as below. I have chosen Multi and 10 kHz to match the TIDs against (the reason I use the 10 kHz is simply my preference, because much of the time the signals are slightly more stable). My measurements are close, but not identical, to the information guide in the EQUINOX Instruction Manual: Now let’s look at how and where my tone breaks are set while running in 5 tones. To set your Tone Break simply use the Settings button to move between functions until you highlight the Accept/Reject icon; then press and hold the Settings button until there is a solid line underneath. Using the Accept/Reject button, select each bin and set to the following by using the Plus (+) and Minus (-) buttons: b1 = -9 – 0; b2 = 1 – 14; b3 = 15 – 20; b4 = 21 – 23; b5 = 24 – 40. To set your Tone Pitch, use the same process as above, but this time select the Tone icon and again select each bin by using the Accept/Reject button: b1 = 1; b2 = 5; b3 = 10; b4 = 20; b5 = 25. To set your Tone Volume, use the same process above, but this time select the Volume icon and again select each bin by using the Accept/Reject button. b1 = 5; b2 = 15; b3 = 15; b4 = 25; b5 = 20. After setting this up, I also run my Recovery Speed at 7 and Sensitivity down around 10, because I am specifically aiming at shallow targets (this also reduces a lot of unnecessary noise). The following video shows the typical solid repeatable tone that you hear from a $1 or $2 coin in either Multi or 10 kHz. The audio is very similar in both frequency settings: 1c pieces will only be an issue if you choose to run in multi-frequency AND have your b4 Tone Break set too high. If you do prefer to run in multi-frequency, you will find, by using these settings, it will save you from digging those pesky 1c pieces and most aluminium caps. If you are in Multi, what you need to listen for is a higher tone like a quick ‘chirp’ amongst the signal as it jumps between b4 tone setting and b5 tone setting and this will let you know that it is more than likely either a 1c or screw cap. You can hear this, as demonstrated in the video below: I have found though, that if you run in a single frequency (my choice is 10 kHz), you will eliminate this problem as the TID’s become more stable and the tone breaks will be sufficient enough. With the EQUINOX 800, you can save a single frequency program in “User” and just toggle between both to check targets, which is also very effective when it comes to identifying ferrous screw caps. (Refer to Gordon Heritage’s blog and video.) This is a very lethal program when hunting shallow targets, as you will see from a pic of one of my 2 hour sessions after a festival. These settings are actually just as effective when hunting deeper, as that is where most 1c pieces are located. Just remember to turn your Sensitivity up! So happy hunting all, and good luck out there.

I am getting ready tomorrow to go on my first hunt with the 600. I was wondering what would be the best setting to start with. The area I am going to hunt is an area old homestead sites which has yielded before is a 1857 coin. Milk86

Well, up until now I have been running a pre-production Equinox 800 but Minelab did tell me all along that an actual production model would land on my doorstep someday. And so one just did. It was fun to see one nicely packaged in the box - good job with the packaging Minelab! Funny true story is the one I got is one that has a looser upper twist lock that others have experienced. Even with the twist lock firmly engaged the junction is looser than my prototype unit. Looks to be something that snuck into the early production line models. In my case I will do something about it on my own rather than look this gift horse in the mouth. Anyway, I have been wanting to get the Equinox into the water, but frankly I did not trust my prototype as regards how waterproof it might be. I had visions of mine failing after being submerged and so have resisted the urge until I had a backup - which the pre-production model now is. The fact they sent me this means that production must be catching up. Or that they had one of these loose rod units to get rid of so sent it to me. (just kidding guys at Minelab - thanks)! Up until now I was kind of focused on how well I could hunt coins with Equinox and plenty happy on that count. Now it's off to the races for a little jewelry detecting this week.

I went out with a friend who had just gone from the ATMax to the 800 and he wanted some help getting used to how the minelab spoke and some initial instruction on setup. I was most interested in seeing if I could get the sound attenuated like I did in my 3030 and having a hunter with me to call over for a "whisper" on my 3030 was most helpful. I was running a wide open screen manual 24, high trash, deep on, and rest off. I find a quite deep tone and have him come over and we dial back the sensitivity until it started to sound clean, but quiet. He was running park 2, GB 4, 50 tones, bias of 2, and recovery 5. We pulled the target and it was a deep brass? star at about 8.5". This park has given me tons of deep keepers so we pressed on. The next person to find a deep target was my friend, and he called me over. He turned off the wireless so I could hear it and he was tagging it good and it was coming in softly. It was undulating between 13 and 14. I was excited thinking it may be a deep nickle. I tried it on the 3030 and I couldnt get it. I bumped up sensitivity to where it started to get chatty and I dialed it back by 1 putting me at 26. I couldn't get it, not even a null. I tried going from high trash and fe-coin and ground-coin... Nothing. So he pin pointed it and I cut and popped the plug for him, I was too excited to stand and watch. I get the plug open, put the pointer in, and no hit. Plug was only 5" deep so I went further and I started to hear it with the pin-pointer. Here is a picture of what it was... I was gob-smacked... Small 2 piece button. I turned off the 3030 and retrieved my 800. We both got dialed in and it turned into a day of history retrieval from the park. What a fun day with a friend and had my best silver day in a park for a loooong time. His take was an 1889 V nickle 1891 IHC and some other fun stuff. I had a 46 Rosie, 44 Washington, a nice clay marble and some other odds and ends. Thanks for looking and may you find the treasures you are looking for!

Took my eight year old son out turkey hunting this morning and he scored big time on a nice Tom. Then we got permission to detect around the old barn thats there. Found these four old toy cars, a few clad coins and one wheat penny with my nox. It's been a good day. ?

Over the last couple of days the weather has been wet and a bit windy , looking at a nearby beach i pass every day when working that usually looks like my local beaches i search it didn't look good . Anyway i decided to go this morning at 5am for a while and work the tide out . I was also wondering which machine to use , either the Nox or the ET . In the end i went with the Nox . When i started i searched along the lower beach above low tide but above the sand but the finds were quite sparse so gave up after a couple of hours . At that time the sand was showing and so i put the Nox in Beach 2 and got my feet wet , my settings are different to the ones on the Beach 2 but when i went into the water the Nox stayed completely stable and no falsing . I only found 3 coins but then i didn't expect them . By the end of the search i had found £5.11p . Unfortunately no gems this time. Beach 2 works far better than Beach 1 . Unfortunately the Nox wont work on the top parts of my beaches due to huge amounts of EMI but at least i have found where its best suited. My next hunt is either tomorrow or next Monday , that will be with the Nox too.