Waterproof Pulse Induction Detectors Compared

[Off Grid]

Steve, In a post a few months back I think you wrote that the enclosed DD coil for the ATX was not waterproof. Is that the case or did I get it wrong?

[mn90403]

9 hours ago, lostcoast said:

Now that White's has closed, what are your guys thoughts on buying a used Surfmaster PI Dual? I can get one locally for ~$400.

Good price.  Buy it if it works.

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

I never liked the DF, to much back ground noise. I did have a friend who used one a lot and he said it's the little blank outs that were deep targets.. Still to much chatter for me...

Never liked the Infinium either.. because of the High low then low high tones.

Used a Sand Shark for a few months on and off, I did like the audio and clean threshold. Just not deep enough, Every other water machine I had used was deeper, PI and VLF. 

I did like the Sea Hunter but I proved to a friend that the Excalibur in All metal with a good set of head phones was as deep, if not deeper. I did the same with the Whites DF.. Excalibur was as deep when modified.

Fisher "AQ" Limited... by far deeper then any PI I have had before. 

In the works, having a old Barracuda being repaired, see if I like that..

 

[Steve Herschbach]

On 6/1/2020 at 11:22 AM, Steve Herschbach said:

Fully submersible pulse induction metal detectors

Only five years later, over half the waterproof pulse induction models are gone. Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Sea Hunter, White's Surfmaster and BeachHunter, all gone. Rumor is that the ATX is on the short list to being discontinued. SDC even though it is "waterproof" is really is not a submersible beach PI. Amazingly we are pretty much down to the Fisher Impulse AQ (now at $1999) as about the only new with warranty option left on the table. Sadly it is held back by never being fully realized as promised with the so-called Limited Production model being in eternal production, the newer version died on the vine. Maybe the new Nokta Pulse will help a little, but the reality is that the new multifrequency detectors have all but killed off pulse induction beach detecting. With that in mind maybe Fisher can be forgiven for not putting any more effort into the Impulse AQ.

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

I think your right Steve, water proof PI's are a thing of the past for most.......... the New machines seem to cover everyone's needs. Locally over the last 12 years I've only seen two using PI's. Many now use the Nox.. a few the D2s nd Manticores.

Except me..........I love my AQ's and blessed both are still alive and finding gold. Kind of funny I still catch a lot of flak from a few over my love of the AQ.. some are kidding I know...... the others, no clue ?

Would be nice to see another option like the Nokta Pi

[Tony]

I should have bought 10 White's Surfmasters back in the day......the problem is I didn't have enough money back 20 years ago. Having said that, my Manticore is the deepest beach detector I have personally experienced. Yep, deeper than all of my previous PI detectors. I do enjoy nice beach sands though and only rarely have to deal with black sands in the water.

I have a friend with the original Deepstar (Eric Foster machine) and I plan a head to head against the Manticore. I am very confident of the outcome....stay tuned.

[Steve Herschbach]

Impulse AQ is perhaps the finest beach PI circuit I have ever employed. Like a TDI on steroids with butter smooth, superb audio that for a PI detectorist is the key to everything. Unfortunately I sold mine when I was told the new drop in battery version was just months away at most. That was years ago. I have been tempted to buy another but frankly I refuse to reward First Texas for continuing to sell a prototype as a finished product and never following through on the promise to deliver said finished product. I also was hoping for the Impulse Gold, which was to add adjustable ground balance. Also a promise that never appeared. I'm finding the Algoforce to be a better alternative for me since it does have adjustable ground balance (Impulse is a complete fail for inland detecting) but I am limited to waist deep wading since it is not waterproof.

I coined the saying "use a VLF when you can and a PI when you have to" and nothing I have seen in my ground changes that with the latest super duper whiz bang SMF detectors. I have a beach here very thick with magnetite where a Manticore will call a nickel ferrous at 1 inch and lose the signal entirely at 2 inches.

An Algoforce with 14x9 Nugget Finder Advantage Mono in long pulse mode will hit same nickel at over a foot. PI is for harsh conditions and people who do not have harsh conditions do not need PI. I have almost zero use for a SMF where I detect because I purposefully detect where VLF/SMF detectors lose 50% or more of their depth. That is the entire trick, the entire ballgame for people who are into PI - target and detect locations where VLF and SMF fail. There is a reason many serious gold prospectors all over the world use PI detectors almost exclusively.

On the flip side, I would never use a PI if I did not have to. I'm doing great with the Manticore using it where it excels. Why use a PI in Florida? The whole VLF versus PI thing is a made up debate with neither being "better" than the other per se. Use the proper tool for the job, that's all. It makes no sense to use a PI in mild ground where SMF depth is just as good but with discrimination. It also makes no sense to use a SMF in ground where a good PI is getting four to five times better depth.

 

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

2 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

"use a VLF when you can and a PI when you have to"

Well said..

You had another post from years ago that were words of great wisdom and I can't remember it but it did have these words..

"at the end of the day"

It was from a post over on Findmall, maybe 15 years ago? I'll have to see if I can find it. 

 

Found it.. Aug 25, 2009 and it still holds true to this day at every spot I hunt and some have been amazing.

"But at the end of the day never forget that metal detecting is very site dependent and so what works well in one location will be lackluster in another. Use what works!"

 

 

[JCR]

 I am thinking I am on "middle" ground where I detect. Most of my sites are in red iron ore type soils with fairly high maghemite mineralization. According to @Geotech's book IMD3, this type of mineralization affects detectors differently than Magnetite/Black sand.  Single frequency VLFs struggle on even shallow targets, Multi frequency VLFs perform much better but also struggle past moderate depth.    I'm hoping for an affordable PI unit with decent target ID and the needed Stability & adjustments for Inland relic & coin hunting.  I'd like to try it anyway. It would be a good learning experience.