Controls Are Dangerous, Keep Them Off Detectors

[Steve Herschbach]

A huge ruckus developed recently over the new Nokta Legend, and a debate over the desirability of an iron bias control. One main argument against such a control came up repeatedly. It’s too dangerous to include. The thought is it could be misadjusted by people who don’t know what they are doing, so it’s best left off.

Really? 

The sensitivity/gain, if set incorrectly, can cause lost targets.

Disc settings when set wrong, can cost lost targets.

Recovery speed, if set wrong, can cost lost targets.

Set the volume too loud, you can damage your hearing! 

I could go on, but I think I’ve made the point. Any control worth having will cause issues if set improperly. So will sweeping too fast or too slow, coil too far off the ground, etc. There is nothing especially different, or “more dangerous,” about the iron bias control, than any other control on the detector.

Long story short, I’m not a fan of dumbing stuff down just because some people will not bother how to learn how to do something correctly, and mess with things they know nothing about. We have default settings for people who do not know what a control does, and they should not mess with the default, unless they know why they are doing it. And if they do, and they miss stuff, frankly, that’s on them. Don’t make people who do understand what they are doing pay the price, for those who don’t care to learn. They have plenty of models to choose from, while full featured models are few and far between.

[☠ Cipher]

I agree. Default settings, advanced user settings etc. There are ways to keep the novice out of trouble if they don’t want to learn. I understand perfectly minimization on a machine like the Simplex. When it comes to your top of the line however, it should cater to the advanced user or provide the advanced user access to advanced controls. Everyone can have their cake and eat it too it would seem. Part of the problem quite honestly is that Nokta Makro is hyper aware and very sensitive to what often amounts to unearned criticism during the learning curve. That hyper awareness is often a double edged sword. It leads to engagement with customers and incorporating feedback, but the sensitivity and the rush to get to the top of the industry often makes for bad optics. More controls are more chances for controversy in their view I’m sure. But as they are learning, controversy can arise by omission as well. Better to ensure the machine has the ability than to leave it out.

[schoolofhardNox]

I agree as well. Put as many controls on the unit as possible. That way if I'm late to the game, I will have many to choose from after some people start selling them cheap when they have had enough. ? Seriously, I'm all for having as much control as I can get. As long as the stock programs give good results, the people that just want to turn on and go hunting will be satisfied. That's how I am with my car.... took me 5 years to realize there was a secret box below the seat to hide valuables ? Never hurt me a bit not knowing that. The car drove me where I needed to go and I could care less about any other features.

[Steve Herschbach]

On 3/5/2022 at 12:48 PM, ☠ Cipher said:

Default settings, advanced user settings etc. There are ways to keep the novice out of trouble if they don’t want to learn.

On Equinox, a newbie can’t even get to the Iron Bias control, without knowing exactly where it is hidden. No such control actually is visible on the detector. You have to go to the recovery speed control, and hold it for two full seconds, to activate the alternate Iron Bias control. Problem solved. Newbies can’t make accidental adjustment, but it’s there for people who want it. People who read the manual.

It’s also not that hard to have a basic menu, and a separate advanced settings menu. XP has the Expert Menu:

Once you begin to understand the Deus you can explore the Expert menu, remember the golden rule “only adjust something if it needs adjusting” some of the expert features are very rarely used during day to day detecting.

[☠ Cipher]

Very good point Steve!

[mh9162013]

I'm all for dumbing down controls and settings for certain customers. The problem with the Legend was that it was specifically designed to go after Equinox (800 in particular, if I recall correctly) users. It wasn't designed to go after Apex or Vanquish users. Therefore, it should have had iron bias adjustability all along.

However, I understand how difficult the iron bias setting can be to take advantage of, so I don't blame N/M for their original decision.

[Joe Beechnut OBN]

I must be a lazy hunter. I like turning the machine on and hunting. I'm reading about all of these adjustments to all the new machines.. I may as well be blind for I have no clue.

[Valens Legacy]

11 hours ago, Steve Herschbach said:

We have default settings for people who do not know what a control does, and they should not mess with the default, unless they know why they are doing it.

As a newbie I for one fully understand what you are saying. I have not yet logged more than 50 hours on my grandfathers 800 and only use the factory default settings.

They work fine for me and on Saturday I actually was able to turn on the 800 for the first time this year. It was very windy, at a very old park, and only had about 30 minutes to use it.

However in that 30 minutes I found a 1957 dime and a 1967 penny close to 7 inches deep and less than 3 inches from one another.

I made my way back to the car and had to leave.

If I can find such things in factory settings why should I go messing with things that I simply do not understand yet.

Thank you Steve for not calling us newbies idiots, while I must admit at times when I am using the 800 I feel like I am when all I dig is pull tabs.

[cudamark]

15 hours ago, Joe Beechnut OBN said:

I must be a lazy hunter. I like turning the machine on and hunting. I'm reading about all of these adjustments to all the new machines.. I may as well be blind for I have no clue.

That's one good thing about the Excalibur.....put a brick on the gas pedal and hunt!