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Hi Folks, Thought I would start a thread showing my first attempt at an analog detector, I've been working in the electronics field for many years mostly in the analog/rf area. Hope everyone enjoys the process, and any input or suggestions would be appreciated. I'll try and post as I go along, but this is my after hours hobby, so updates may come every few weeks. I apologize if this goes overboard on the images. So here goes..... Here is the overall unit, the display will tip up and turn on. Closeup of the display Display tipped up, it will show RSSI across the top, and material ID in the center and across the bottom. Control Panel, has gain hi lo, discrimination on off, coil balance, threshold, volume, phone jack, and on off with lo bat indicator. Coil Actual board and display turned on and balanced, I'm sorry for the vertical image I couldn't straighten it up, the coil is under the paper, it's a hand wound 3" OD test coil. Note that this board has only three adjustments and the one in the above renderings has four, this one has no threshold adjust. 1957 silver quarter Gold chain and cross. Aluminum pull tab. Coke bottle cap. Clad quarter. My steel cutters. I'm getting parts in to start putting the new one together, hopefully my updates to the circuit will work out. We have a saying, "may have to shoot the engineer to finish the project", it feels like every other day I come up with another improvement :), anyway I hope you guys enjoy this, I'll post as I go along. -Sun-Boy

Hey y'all, Let me start this by saying the opinions you read in this post are mine. Now I'll give ya some resumé: I've played in rock bands for many years, from 50s and 60s to loud heavy metal, I've even seen Styx twice, had my ears ring for three days after each show, and I still pass hearing tests with flying colors. I've been to 100s of concerts. I'm no stranger to high end audio and studio quality headphones. Basically I can hear a mouse fart in a coliseum, and no tones are lost to me. 😁 I think my eardrums are probably steel. Since I got the Manticore, I've used the ML105 headphones, and they're fine, but get in the wind on a cold day and the wind goes right through the earcups, they wheeze and whistle, and you can't hear your targets. They're great for calm days, and with an ocean breeze they aren't too bad when it's hot. They give you situational awareness which I heartily endorse. They are loud, you even find yourself turning down the volume, they have great dynamic response. They are by far the best sounding headphones for the Manticore that I have. But... Get them wet and they're toast. Go out in a high wind and you're toast. 🤔 That's where the Killer B Thresher headphones come in, Thresher was bought out by the Killer B company. They are waterproof to over 100', they're tough, well made, have a nice long cable and high quality wires and hardware. Somewhere I read that Killer B upgraded the drivers, and while they sound "canny" and thin, they do deliver some pretty decent volume especially because they are compatible with the Manticore "Underwater Volume Boost", which puts you about where the ML105 headphones are with loudness, just a much "thinner" sound. I bought them for water use. A few days ago I found out that Killer B makes a wireless set for Minelab, even uses their wireless tech so there is no lag, and no additional transmitter is required. They pair as quickly as the 105s, you hold the red button in to enter pairing mode, put the Manticore in pairing mode, and a couple seconds later they're connected. I think they are using the same circuit for wireless as Minelab does under license. They have real leather covered earcups and headband, they're comfortable, have well made components and they block out about 90% of outside noise. I bought them to use on cold windy days. The similarity to the ML105 headphones ends, however. Again, these headphones have a thin "canny" sound, their dynamic range doesn't come close to the 105s. If it did these would be perfect, as it is I'll probably only use them for cold windy days after hunting season, and maybe early beach mornings if it's windy. They are also not loud. You have to turn the Manticore volume all the way up. Another thing I find a bit trifling is the intense multicolor LED on them, it blinks like a runway beacon. 🫤 Honestly, I think I will keep all three, I like that I don't have to charge the Threshers. Each has its merit and use. For most detecting I do I'll probably use the ML105 headphones, they sound great and are extremely comfortable. For the rest of relic season I may use the Killer B's. I am also looking at a way to use my Creative Jams, they are light and great when it's really hot. I have a solution but again they aren't loud, despite their internal volume and bass boost. Most APTX-LL transmitters don't have inline volume. 🫤 🍀

BeddingScan MD-9000: Drone-Assisted Multi-Tech Metal Detector Technical Specifications: Drone-assist Technology for reducing weight: Integrated micro-drone assist system reduces effective handheld weight by 40%, utilizing counter-lift propulsion. Total weight: 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) with drone assist; 2.0 kg (4.4 lbs) without. Drone battery life: 3 hours of continuous assist per charge (rechargeable via USB-C). Zero Impulse Transmission (ZIT): Eliminates electromagnetic interference with proprietary zero impulse signal modulation. Achieves 99.9% noise-free detection, even in highly mineralized soils. Detection depth increase: Up to 30% deeper than traditional pulse induction systems. XRF Analysis Integration: Built-in X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer for real-time material composition analysis. Identifies metals with 95% accuracy (e.g., gold, silver, copper, lead, aluminum, iron) within 5 seconds. Detection range for XRF: Surface to 5 cm (2 inches) depth. Non-destructive analysis with safety interlock to prevent accidental exposure (Rad exposure badges included). Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Capabilities: Ultra-wideband GPR system for subsurface imaging up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) deep. Resolution: 2 cm (0.8 inches) for objects as small as 1 cm³. Real-time 3D mapping displayed on a 5-inch OLED touchscreen. Automatic ground balancing for varying soil conditions (sand, clay, rocky terrain). Detection Coil and Sensitivity: 12-inch lightweight full carbon-fiber elliptical coil with dual-axis scanning. Sensitivity range: Detects objects from 0.1 grams (small nuggets) to large buried artifacts. Maximum detection depth: 2 meters (6.5 feet) for large objects; 50 cm (20 inches) for small gold and other objects. Ergonomics and Portability: Collapsible design with a folded length of 60 cm (23.6 inches) for easy transport. Adjustable handle with vibration-dampening grip for extended use. IP67 water and dust resistance for all-terrain operation. Power and Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery with 12-hour runtime (combined drone and detector usage). Fast charging: 80% charge in 1 hour via included 20W charger. Solar charging compatibility with optional accessory panel. Connectivity and Data: Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless headphone support and data transfer. Companion app for iOS/Android: Logs finds, maps GPR data, and analyzes XRF results. USB-C port for firmware updates and data export. Additional Features: AI-driven target identification with 90% accuracy, reducing false positives. Built-in GPS for geotagging finds with 1-meter accuracy. Audio feedback: Multi-tone discrimination with adjustable volume. LED indicators for battery, drone assist, and detection status. Operating Conditions: Temperature range: -10°C to 50°C (14°F to 122°F). Humidity tolerance: Up to 95% non-condensing. The BeddingScan MD-9000, combines cutting-edge technologies into a lightweight, user-friendly package, making it ideal for treasure hunters, archaeologists, and hobbyists seeking advanced detection capabilities. (April Fools, 2025)

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but have come across an application in IP Australia by Nokta for a design filing titled Nokta Active Magnetic Sensor Technology lodged November 2024. Wonder if this relates to their new PI machines?

The audio from Micks microphone is atrocious and the video'ing is less than ideal, but you'll get the gist. To be fair, Micks 5000 has an audio booster with speaker so it is a lot louder....but the benefits of the mods are obvious. See video below:

While cruising around the Focus Speed website (also new to me) I stumbled upon this article about a detector (Heysung HS-6000 AI) I've not seen mentioned here on detectorprospector.com. You may want to take a look. I sense at least one shortcoming but don't want to prejudice anyone's view by starting that discussion before you've had a chance to read about it.

I am also hoping for better small gold discrimination on a PI detector, but as Steve has described in the below article this is a hard thing to accomplish. Even the GPX-6000, GPZ, SDC have all dropped discrimination from it's features probably due to the smaller disseminated gold capabilities it's after and the fact that these latest Minelab detectors are more of a true gold detector vs. a multipurpose gold and relic/coin detector such as the GPX-5000. Even though the Axiom has small gold capabilities and offers partial discrimination, it is also very limited at separating out two foot deep 3" nails. Please read the following note from the Garret Axiom owner's manual below: Note: Iron Check is a conservative function. To help ensure Axiom does not misidentify a good target as iron, the iron tone (buzz) will only activate on strong signals. Therefore, small/weak iron targets may not identify as iron. In addition, due to their large, flat surface area and relatively high conductivity, steel bottle caps will typically not identify as iron. Examples of iron targets that will produce the iron tone (buzz) are: a 3-inch nail to a depth of about 5 inches; and a ¾-inch boot nail to a depth of about 2 inches. In highly mineralized areas, Iron Check accuracy may be affected. And in the comparison chart from the GP-3000 located below nothing has really changed in this regard over a 20 plus years timeframe. Miracles can happen, so maybe in the future we will see some new breakthroughs in PI's discrimination capabilities, but so far just some more dig it all.

Which detector released in the last 5 years will be able to see a silver plate with a diameter of 10 cm, deeper than my gpx4500?

I do what I can to foster competition that develops alternatives to the all too common VLF detector. There are plenty of options out there, but in my opinion they all weigh too much or cost too much. Usually both. I envision people out there with a popular VLF metal detector for beach, relic, or gold detecting. These machines all sell for around $700 and weigh 2.5 - 3.9 lbs. Perhaps they would like to add a ground balancing PI (GBPI) to what they have. I think that for "normal people" with normal budgets a machine under $2K and under four pounds just makes sense. It would be more than twice what they spent for their VLF, and in this day and age there is no reason why a decent PI should weigh over 4 lbs. I am drawing the hard line at 5 lbs. I am setting under 4 lbs more as an aspirational goal that I think can be achieved, but recognize that battery power and coils are key inhibiting factors in high power PI systems that may make sacrifices in depth necessary to get total weight under 4 lbs. To clarify what I am talking about here, I should say that for many people a $700 VLF detector is a great place to start and in many cases is all a person ever needs. However, there are places where extreme ground mineralization and mineralized rocks (hot rocks) severely impede the performance and use of VLF detectors. Alternative technology to deal with these conditions has been developed, by far the most familiar being the Minelab ground balancing PI (GBPI) detectors. These differ from common PI detectors by having the ability to ground balance. Other brands have offered the Garrett Infinium (discontinued) plus Garrett ATX and the White's TDI models. These detectors are used not just for gold prospecting but also by relic hunters, beach detectorists, and others who face challenges regarding ground mineralization and VLF detectors. Frankly, in my opinion GBPI technology is largely maxed out. The main room for improvement comes now in better ergonomics at lower prices. This challenge therefore limits detectors to those that weigh under 4 pounds with battery included, and which sell brand new with warranty after discounts for under US$2000. Detectors need not be ground balancing PI models, but must offer similar ability to ignore mineralized ground and hot rocks that trouble VLF detectors. I am going to rate detectors as to their relative performance using what I call the "Minelab Rating Scale. Details here. 1. Minelab SD 2000 - crude first version, very poor on small gold, excellent on large deep gold 2. Minelab SD 2100 - vastly refined version of SD 2000 3. Minelab SD 2200 (all versions) - adds crude iron disc, ground tracking 4. Minelab GP Extreme - adds greatly improved sensitivity to small gold, overall performance boost. 5. Minelab GP 3000 - Refined GP Extreme 6. Minelab GP 3500 - Greatly refined GP 3000, last and best of analog models 7. Minelab GPX 4000 - First digital interface, rock solid threshold 8. Minelab GPX 4500 - Refined GPX 4000, solid performer 9. Minelab GPX 4800 - Released at same time as GPX 5000 as watered down version 10. Minelab GPX 5000 - Culmination of the series, current pinnacle of GBPI prospecting machine technology. All Minelab models leverage an existing base of over 100 coil options from tiny to huge. I am a very practical person when it comes to detecting. I know all the existing models and options by all brands very well, perhaps better than almost anyone. This is the way I look at it is this. If I personally were to spend a lot of money to go gold prospecting for one month, and needed a GBPI detector, considering machines past and present, what would I get and in what order of choice? Put aside concerns of age, warranty, etc. just assume functioning detectors. Here is the issue in a nutshell. On the Minelab scale of one to ten as listed above, I would be generous in rating the White's TDI SL as a 2. Same with the Garrett Infinium which I will mention in passing as it is no longer being made. If I was going to spend a month of my time and a lot of money going on a prospecting trip, I would choose a TDI in any version over the SD 2000. I might go with a TDI Pro over a SD 2100 but I would have to think real hard about that, and when push comes to shove I would go SD 2100 were it not for the realities of age I said to ignore. A newer TDI Pro might be a better bet than a very old SD 2100 from a reliability standpoint, but again, this would be a tough choice. The TDI SL not really. In my opinion I would be shooting myself in the foot to go on this hypothetical trip with a TDI SL instead of a SD 2100. You see the problem now? The Garrett ATX fares better. I would rate it a 3, roughly analogous to the SD 2200 variants. Still an agonizing choice really and the ATX being new versus SD 2200 being old might again be the tipping point, but from a pure prospecting options perspective the case can be made that the SD 2200 might be the better way to go. The problem for this challenge is the ATX weighs way over 4 lbs and sells for slightly over $2000. The price is close enough really but the 7 lb weight is way off. That's it folks. That is reality. The best of the best that the competition can offer can only go solidly up against models Minelab has not made in years. I am not saying that to be mean or as some kind of Minelab toadie, that is my pure unvarnished opinion as a guy who is pretty well versed on the subject. Let's bring it all home. This person with the $700 machine really, really wants that under 4 lb, under $2K GBPI machine, but if they do their homework they discover that truthfully, they would be better off shopping for a used Minelab than what the competition offers new. With the TDI SL rated as a 2 the ATX in a much lighter box at under $2K is a solid win as a 3. A well designed ATX with standard dry land coils would look very enticing as compared to the GP series Minelabs. But Garrett refuses to budge! White's can certainly do something, anything to improve the TDI SL. A battery that lasts all day would be a good start. In the end they are limited by the basic single channel design of the machine. The SD 2000 dual channel design was literally the answer to and the improvement on the single channel technology used in the TDI, the basics of which predate the SD 2000. Still, White's currently owns the under 4 lb under $2K GBPI category so they have the first out of the starting gate advantage. Anything they do would at the very least just show they have not given up. The Minelab MPS patent that formed the basis of the SD series has expired. Not sure about DVT, which formed the basis of the GP series. Where is the competition? What the heck is going on here? Much gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair is going on here, that's what!!! That is my challenge to the manufacturers. Under 4 lbs, under $2K, on the 1-10 scale I am offering, what is the best you can do? The TDI SL as a 2? Really? Yes, really, that is currently the best of the best in the brand new ground balancing PI, full warranty, under 4 lb, under $2k category. You can pick up a 3.5 lb TDI SL right now brand new for $1049. The White's TDI SL takes the crown. Note that a challenger has a half pound of weight they can add to the TDI SL and still make the 4 lb mark, and retail can be almost double the $1049 of the TDI SL and still come in at the 2K mark. I therefore do not think my challenge is outright crazy. Hopefully we will see more competition in this wide open category soon. I have been beating this drum for years to no avail, but I do have reason to believe we are finally going to see more alternatives soon. I hope. Maybe? All I know is I have had it. I sold both my 6.9 lb Garrett ATX and 7.2 lb Minelab GPZ 7000 and am boycotting metal detectors that weigh over 5 lbs from here on out. I don’t care how well they work, I simply refuse to buy such heavy beasts anymore. In the future I will support and give my dollars to companies that pay attention to and prioritize lightweight, more ergonomic designs. White's Electronics TSI SL metal detector

Does anyone know the definitive answer regarding what frequencies the Minelab Explorer II actual transmits and receives? Because over the years I’ve read so much conjecture about FBS, that it has only helped to fuel further confusion rather than given a precise answer.

I was on Amazon just now and noticed Carl Moreland @Geotech has finished his 3rd edition of the book, "Inside the Metal Detector". On sale for $40.00 right now until Jan 1st. Regular price looks to be $50.00 I have the 2nd edition on digital kindle ebook and have been thinking of getting a paper copy. When I went to Amazon looking for it I found the new, recently finished 3rd edition. Thought I would give it a shout out and let folks know. HH Mike

Hi there, I came across the UIG Gold Digger Detector on your website, and it looks really interesting! I was hoping you could help me with a few questions before I decide: Do you think it’s a good device overall? Is it worth the money in your opinion? Are all the features it claims to have real and reliable? I’m planning to use it in a very noisy area with a lot of metal pieces in the ground, but I only want to focus on gold and ignore other metals. Do you think this device can do that? Do you have any other suggestions for detectors that might suit this purpose better? Thanks in advanced

Looks like everyone is having a different copy version made of all the older Minelab technology. A definite sign Minelab needs to start filling the demand for newer better detector technologies unless of course they have hit a wall. I doubt that is the case as they have the largest electronics engineering team ever known for hobby detector development and have had these engineers on board for a long time now. Surprising they have had no new releases for such a long time in the gold detector series. So what has happened in comparison to the early years when the SD/GP/GPX releases were quite frequent, seems every 2 years or sooner then. Even though they were mostly minor upgrades until the GPX series they were enough to get the buyers interested. The GPX-5000 is about 14 years old and has been still a great selling detector, now it’s not available in the U.S. and you can only get a fake on the knock off marketplace now. SDC-2300 is 12 years old and still no Platypus coil for it. ZED is 9 years old. GM-1000 is 7 years old and still single frequency. So other companies have had plenty of time to make similar designs in a lower price range. Seems like we should have had had an upgraded wide variety and selection of the above mentioned models out by now. Give me a GPX-5500 in a light package and includes the SD2200d or original GPX-4500 depth range and Micks mods incorporated into it and you would have the professional gold hunter market covered. The GPX-6000 should have been called the GPX-auto lite since it has no larger coil options and would of been a great entry level for beginners with a lower price point than the above professional option mentioned. Hopefully things change for the better with the current Minelab corporate leadership and that they get back into the top player market again.

Just watching a vid of a guy showing the difference of low, mid, and high freqs on the same targets (all natural finds, not buried plants). Was demonstrating how 40 kHz was slamming these nickels and pulltabs, but 4 and sometimes 7 wouldn't touch them. It got me wondering. I've heard that if you run low freqs you will likely miss gold, especially small gold, but does the pendulum swing the other way? Lower freqs should hit silver better, right? Does that mean that in high freqs you are likely to miss silver? Just my musings on a typhoon filled day...

I always wondered why some targets have a tone roll and others are flat. I thought it might have a lot to do with target density and their conductivity so I plotted it out. This doesn't include size, shape, orientation or depth, just a raw comparison of metal types. You will notice when the 2 values are close the drop of on a target is quicker. What is really interesting is Aluminum is slightly overlapped. Also notice how extreme gold is. Keep in mind conductivity will translate to phase angle. Chart isn't in any particular order of metal type. Something to think about.

Anyone care to comment on whether the extra (initial startup) 0.5V is risky or whether this old circuit has some safety margin built-in.? I have 8x1.2v NiMH's which come off the charger at around 11.1v. I know they will soon settle down to nominal voltages after some run time. The lower and upper Voltages are 6.5v to 10.5v as per the schematic. I know I could use the 6 x AA alkalines but I'm trying to avoid these if possible. I could also take the batteries off the charger before they are fully charged.

Lots of people may think they have owned a Fisher, Tesoro, White's, or other brand detector, when in fact they really owned a Dave Johnson Detector. The companies came and went but the mind behind many of the best detectors ever made belonged to Dave Johnson. He was like a professional gunslinger that everyone hired at one time or another. From Interview with Dave Johnson at https://www.fisherlab.com.ua/downloads/documents/journals/Interview-with-Dave.pdf Many of the people reading this interview unknowingly own products of your design. Would you mind listing them? My first metal detector (in 1971) was a portable experimental vehicle detector for use on roadway loops. It discriminated between cars and trucks, but to become a practical product would have required a lot of development and nobody was interested in investing in it. Fisher in California: 1260, 1220, 1210, 1235, 1225, 1212, 1265, 1266, CZ6, CZ5, CZ20, original Gold Bug, Gold Bug II, Gemini, and industrial instruments including TW6, FX3, XLT-16, PF-18, and circuitry of the TW-770. Tesoro: Diablo MicroMax, Lobo SuperTraq. White's: GMT, MXT, analog circuitry of DFX, Beach Hunter and PCL-600 line tracer. Troy: X-5 and X-3. FTP Bounty Hunter: major revisions to existing platforms most of which originated with George Payne. The BH Junior, Platinum, Gold and security wand (sold under various trademarks) were new designs. FTP Teknetics: T2, Alpha, Delta, Gamma, Omega, G2. FTP Fisher: F2, F4, F5, F75, F70, new Gold Bug, circuitry of the TW-82 industrial line tracer. In the case of microprocessor-driven FTP products, the software was coded by John Gardiner and Jorge Anton Saad. Mechanical designs were done mostly by other people, but I engineered the ergonomics of the T2 mechanical design, which is also used on the F75. See also Detector Stuff Interviews FT-Fisher Engineers, David Johnson and John Gardiner at http://detectorstuff.com/detector-stuff-interviews-ft-fisher-engineers-david-johnson-and-john-gardiner/ Dave's detectors are more similar than not. There is a direct progression from the old analog with knobs 19 kHz Fisher Gold Bug, to the 17 kHz Tesoro Lobo ST, the 19 kHz Troy X5, the 15 kHz White's MXT, 19 kHz digital Fisher Gold Bug, and finally 13 kHz Teknetics T2 and Fisher F70/F75. Having used them all I can attest to a similar feel driven by the same ideas and methodologies of the mind behind the machines. Want people to know you own one of the Dave Johnson detectors listed above? Just download and print the attached logo and apply to your detector.

I ve just seen this on the main French MD dealer site ( Maison de la Detection ). No control box , no cables , the detector is controlled from a smartphone via a dedicated app ... Looks like more to an entry level detector as its freq is limited to 7khz with a few settings , but the technology is innovative .. https://www.questmetaldetectors.com/product-page/quest-air Specifications WORKING METHOD* : VLF Single frequency 7.5kHz AUDIO OUTPUT* : 16Levels Volume By Smartphone SMARTPHONES COMPATIBILITY: Built-in V4.0 Bluetooth Module PROTECTION: Entire Unit IP68, Waterproof to 1M TELESCOPIC ROD: Fast Release Cam-lock 2 Sections Straight Rods Extendable from 80CM to 130CM HEADPHONES: Wired headphones connect to your smartphone. WIRELESS AUDIO: Optional Bluetooth WIREFREE VIBE/PRO HE DESIGN: Sleek, Flat-folding Design ARMREST: Position Adjustable Flexible Armrest Cup with Strap HANDLE: Position Adjustable, Grenade Textured Surface BATTERY : Built-in 750mAh Li-Po Battery for 10Hrs Operating RECHARGE PORT: Durable and Corrosion-Resist Magnetic USB System DETECTION COIL:9“ TurboD Performance Waterproof Coil METAL ID: 99 Metal I.D. Level for Target Identification GROUND BALANCE: Automatic(pump) or manually (selecting) PROGRAMS * : Discrimination/All Metal Programs GAUGE: Depth Reader,Metal ID Indication, Battery Status.etc SETUPS*: Recovery Speed , Threshold, Tones, Iron Audio WEIGHT: Lower to 2.5LB OPERATION TEMP RANGE: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) NON-OPERATION TEMP: -4° to 113° F (-20° to 45° C)

This is a copy of a post I made elsewhere, expanded and updated. Do we really need a zillion controls? You know, one of the best detectors I ever had was the White’s MXT. Not a ton of settings, just three modes with some basic adjustments. Easy to understand and a good if not great performer, got the job done. There is a fine balance between features and usefulness. V3i went too far for many, and many who got a V3i went back to the MXT. Not because the MXT was more powerful but because the ability to easily master its control set inspired confidence. With V3i you honestly really never really knew if you were set up right. Maybe the elite here will take a pass on detectors with basic control sets, but trust me as a very successful detector seller in my day, the cutting edge is not where the bread and butter sales are. I sold about 50 MXT for every V3i that went out the door. Amazing thing about the MXT - the control set: On/Off and Gain (Sensitivity) Mode Switch - a. Coin & Jewelry b. Relic c. Prospecting Ground Switch - a. ground tracking b. salt (beach) c. locked at last tracked position Dual Control - a. disc in relic mode b. vsat in prospecting mode Threshold Pinpoint Trigger Just the basics, not even a volume control. You did that at the headphones. Yet it not only worked it worked extremely well because the three main modes were close to perfect as they were. Do you really need twenty adjustments for iron bias and tones etc. or do you need a detector designed to work properly out of the box with only a few controls? I think the MXT perfectly illustrates that more controls is not always better. The choice of course is an individual one. I like full tones for instance but does it make the detector find anything deeper or give it better separation? A person running two tones will find the same targets I find in full tones. I would say it helps me decide what to dig and what not to dig, better discrimination, and there is that. So I'm not saying any opinions on this are right or wrong but I do think a solid case can be made for detectors that are designed to run extremely well with minimal adjustments. The MXT was a best selling classic and it was largely because anyone could pick it up and go without getting a degree in metal detecting. Everything you needed to know was printed on the bottom of the control box! Minelab obviously bought into this philosophy in PI after the settings packed deep menu GPX 5000. The GPX 5000 is the V3i version of a PI detector. The SDC 2300 by contrast is a study in simplicity, and the Gold Monster plus GPX 6000 continue the idea of less being more. Food for thought.

I did not know where to place this topic? Mods can move it to where they think it should be. My background is writing software for mini-computers and later the Windows PC. We always developed on the same computer that the end user was running the programs. I stopped programming for a living in the late 80's. I would suspect the metal detector programmers developed the code on an emulator on the PC and then compiled the code to work on the actual metal detector chips. But these are just wild guesses for I don't have a clue and would be interested to know. I do know we have members who do know this information, so that is why I am posing the question. Thanks, John

Are all losers in the 21st century. Why are prospectors stuck with large bulky tip over devices when we know at this point the manufacturers can do better? Why have this? When we could now have something like this? 2.5 lbs, built in wireless headphone capability, fully rechargeable and runs for days on a single charge, completely dirt and water sealed, good range of coils at a decent price. The closest you can get to this is a Gold Bug Pro, which honestly is not half bad, but it's not as good at hitting gold as the other three up top, and the control box is still three times larger than the one at bottom. So how about it manufacturers, anyone interested in building a genuine 21st century VLF nugget hunter instead of continuing to sell us old boxes that really are so last century as to be sort of embarrassing at this point?

I know with smf, turning sensitivity down and/or turning iron bias up helps. My single frequency detectors get zero false hits. I'm guessing the false hits come from the high frequency in smf? My Gold Racer at 56 khz hits great on smaller iron relics which I like. The Gold Racer is great relic hunter with great depth and absolutely incredible separation like nothing I've seen.