Equinox Software Update 3.0...

[TedinVT]

No sign of a Version 3 manual on the Minelab web site yet, like the Version 2 manual they provided for download.  Anybody know of an updated manual for Version 3 that might shed some light on the new “various” features?

[Jeff McClendon]

I was able to go to a park that I have hunted a lot this morning. There was an area that I had not hunted before that has quite a bit of EMI. I was using an 3.0 updated Nox 600 in Park 1 Multi, -9 to +40 accepted, ground balanced at 3, Auto noise canceled, sensitivity 22, 5 and 50 tones, recovery speed 3, F2 1. The ground for once was really wet (at least by Denver standards) and my Tek Point pinpointer was going crazy (had to retune often) due to the high mineralization and dampness. 

I was specifically looking for mid conductors (US nickels and pull tabs) or US quarters in high EMI so I could test the "stability" improvements and the function of 4 kHz.

I located some 4 to 6" mid conductors that came in at 12,13,14 so possible nickels and pull tabs. This turned out to be correct one nickel at 5" and one modern pull tab at 5". The EMI was very noticeable with sensitivity at 22 in multi but target numerical IDs were good. I switched to 5 kHz and EMI was very bad, lowered sensitivity to 20= still bad, lowered sensitivity to 18 and checked numerical target IDs which were off by 5 so these two nickel/pulltab targets read 17 to 22 with an occasional 14. I switched to 4 kHz with sensitivity at 18 and there was no EMI. I bumped it up to 20, still no EMI. At 22 there was EMI but doable. I left sensitivity at 22 in 4 kHz and scanned the two 5" mid conductors. They both had target IDs in the high 20s to mid 30s with an occasional 14. I was a bit surprised at this so I ground balanced in 4 kHz again and rechecked.....same result. I thought the Nox was relatively ID normalized for 15 kHz.

I did the same scenario with what turned out to be a 6" deep US quarter. In multi it was a solid 29, 30,31. In 4 kHz the same target was 39, 40 and wrapped around to -9,-8-,-7.  

I did find some shallower (3" or less) pull tabs, nickels and quarters. They all read correctly no matter what frequency I used.

Phrunt, I did not notice any improvement in the pinpoint function. The soil conditions (wet, high mineralization) sucked today so pinpointing with the onboard pinpoint function was a real adventure as usual.

So, 4 kHz is noticeably quieter EMI wise. The up averaging really shocked me however in both 4 kHz, 5 kHz and even 10 kHz to a degree. I rarely use the Nox 600 or 800 in single frequency so maybe this is normal?????????

Jeff 

[Dances With Doves]

 I would not mind a 60kz setting in the gold mode and 2 mf settings.I would not mind if they had a coil  optimized for the gold modes like the x-terra  with gold monster type coils.  It  would go like this > mf1-mf2-20kz-40kz-60kz,ad if they want 80kz too.

[GB_Amateur]

38 minutes ago, Jeff McClendon said:

The up averaging really shocked me however in both 4 kHz, 5 kHz and even 10 kHz to a degree. I rarely use the Nox 600 or 800 in single frequency so maybe this is normal?????????

I've noticed it at 5 kHz in my test-stand.  (That's with the 2.0 update.)  I've never used 5 kHz in the field because I like multifrequency and have only switched to single frequency when the EMI was really bad.  But in those cases, 5 kHz was really bad, too.  What I've done in the past (coin and relic hunting) to deal with EMI is to step through the single frequencies (starting low at 5 kHz) and stop when I get one that is quiet.  (BTW, I'm talking gain/sensitivity set at least at 18.  And 22 is as high as I ever go except just to check a really quiet target.)  Sometimes it's 10 kHz and when detecting at that frequency I don't remember any up-averaging, but it might have been happening and I just wasn't being very observant.

So it appears from your report that 4 kHz was quieter (EMI-wise) than 5 kHz.  That's interesting.  Were you hunting large conductors in Asia?

This is exactly the kind of report I'm wanting to see.  Thanks, Jeff.  Now I anxiously await more.

[Dances With Doves]

I did get a half  dollar in 5kz next to a sidewalk in a place I have pounded near my home with  all my machines.I will try 4kz to see  what it can do.

[Smithobx]

So, is everyone in agreement that 4 kHz is a stand alone frequency and not blended in multi in some way in some applications(or not)???

[Jeff McClendon]

8 minutes ago, Smithobx said:

So, is everyone in agreement that 4 kHz is a stand alone frequency and not blended in multi in some way in some applications(or not)???

No 

[Smithobx]

7 minutes ago, phrunt said:

They say in the update notes that multi and other single frequencies remain unchanged.

All other single and multi-frequency settings are unchanged in their performance. 

Exactly, it says “unchanged in their performance” not unchanged in structure or composition. ??

[Jeff McClendon]

I often take things literally.  This image shows the Multi IQ Simultaneous Multi Frequency Range extending below 5 kHz and beyond 40 kHz........... So, once again my answer is NO to the question posed earlier about 4 kHz just being a standalone frequency addition and YES it is already included in Multi IQ.  Auto and manual noise cancel can adjust any standalone transmit frequency or multi transmit frequency setting 9 increments below or above the chosen frequency setting.