New D2 Software

[PI-Man]

‘Backhoe’s are optional’. I am hoping the new D2 software upgrade has a new program called that.  ? 

Actually I think you guys are smart to sling that Axiom out there when you get a chance.  The D2 is great as some other machines but a pulse should theoretically get you deeper.  Never know what XP is coming up with, but in the end we should dig everything — that good stuff named GOLD can be tricky for any machine.

Never know when I am on road where I could end up.  Of course I like the idea of a dedicated digger.  ? 

[midalake]

8 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

Look up "iron falsing with my Deus 2"

Research "inaccurate ID's with Deus 2"

OK, I will play>>

The D2 really struggles with the bi-metal Mexican coins. Less than the Tarsacci , and more than the /Equinox and Manticore. 

I notice other iron needs a special ear too, with a 180 look sometimes. 

I get VERY inaccurate ID's in mineralized salt water with Black Sand. I also worry that I do not fully understand the difference between a deep nonferrous and ferrous target because they react the same.

The same in wild and buried tests, once a target gets beyond TID range it is VERY difficult to figure out what the target is. 

The D2 is not a perfect salt machine. 

[F350Platinum]

3 hours ago, midalake said:

The D2 is not a perfect salt machine. 

And I never wrote it was. ? Thanks for the input midalake, I know you to be an experienced user, I respect and trust your tests and opinions. ?

I have used it in dry/black sand, and had no real ìssues to speak of, but I don't test, I just hunt. My Equinox didn't find anything else there afterward, about the only test I've done.

3 hours ago, midalake said:

once a target gets beyond TID range it is VERY difficult to figure out what the target is. 

How deep are we talking here? PI range? Depending on what the target is, I've truly had it hold ID as deep as 12" or more. Solid ID. The objects were larger, but not huge. When I go to a beach I'm after recent targets, not archaeological digs.

Sorry about the bi-metal Mexican coins, that's good to know but I've dug a Tombac button with an iron shank or 10  at 6-8" and knew exactly what it was. Solid ID. More often they don't have the shank anymore but the iron halo is still there. Solid ID. I might hear an iron tone or that "squiggly" one. I've adopted a a new maxim, "Squig means dig" ?

3 hours ago, midalake said:

I notice other iron needs a special ear too, with a 180 look sometimes. 

With the settings I'm using lately after hundreds of hours on the machine myself, I don't dig much iron at all anymore, as a 45 to 90 degree turn tells me all I need to know. I can't imagine not doing that. ?

These are cherries, I'm not picking cherries. What if the update solves some of these small issues? ? Especially the small gold problem I've read about? That will only serve to make the D2 even better than most at everything.

I've also read you have difficulty with the coil not staying straight in the surf. Does a smaller one solve that issue? ?

In general I can't see many/any of the new machines doing a better job by any margin that makes the D2 less preferable overall, especially when factoring weight, interaction with accessories and portability in. Most certainly not where I am. I've even seen the new 900 sidelined here. We don't know why yet but it is what it is.

Real issues are read and dealt with fairly well by XP, I recall the first few updates, luckily I bought mine shortly after the 0.71 update so I guess I am prone to far less skepticism/cynicism than early adopters. I'm fine with the current version, like the good Captain above.

As implied I have a strong feeling XP is out for blood with the upcoming update, I think it will be well worth waiting for quite simply because it has taken so long.

Thanks for playing! ?

 

[F350Platinum]

6 hours ago, PI-Man said:

‘Backhoe’s are optional’. I am hoping the new D2 software upgrade has a new program called that.  ? 

Haha, just come up with "backhoe" settings (use Relic as a base) and label it "BHO". I don't have the patience to create much more than a 3 character name on the D2 ?

[Carolina]

I see Tennesseesharpshooter says he has a new WS6 testing changes in the software and Andy’s wife Charlene tells me Andy has the new beta version for testing so I would say we are very close now.

 

[midalake]

5 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

How deep are we talking here? PI range? Depending on what the target is, I've truly had it hold ID as deep as 12" or more.

It is plausible on larger targets to TID at 12" in good conditions. Black Sand with moving salt water not so much.

5 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

Sorry about the bi-metal Mexican coins, that's good to know but

Yes, well the "but" is I have to run the bottle cap and silencer both at 2. This will make most of these bi-metal coins fall in iron sounds and cause signal breakdown. 

5 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

after hundreds of hours on the machine myself, I don't dig much iron at all anymore, as a 45 to 90 degree turn tells me all I need to know.

 I have been working the D2 for the last few weeks straight and want to learn it better before the rough wave season gets here [out again today].
Time is important especially working in large surf. Needing time for more target investigation and turning 90 degrees could even be dangerous in the zone I hunt. Am getting better on iron.
 

5 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

What if the update solves some of these small issues? ? Especially the small gold problem I've read about?

  Small gold at a salt beach with black sand is a pipe dream. But my understanding is nugget hunters are looking for something different.

5 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

I've also read you have difficulty with the coil not staying straight in the surf. Does a smaller one solve that issue? ?

No. The waves here are very forceful right now. When I get hit with a wave there are two options. Pull the coil out of the water[however this requires eyes in the back of my head] OR pin the coil to the sand when the wave hits.
EVERYTIME, I pin the coil to the bottom the coil offsets. Then because the coil is offset to the rear it takes more of an effort to get it back into hunting position. When this season ends, I will be looking for a high-quality centering device [not infill] that hopefully will not break. 

5 hours ago, F350Platinum said:

Thanks for playing! ?

No Problemo>>>?
 

 

[PI-Man]

This is interesting about the bi-metal coins glad that was mentioned.  Still new to the machine and some medical is holding me back at this time detecting (couple more weeks).   Hopefully XP is addressing the issues that all have mentioned.  Most issues I have are same as others.  The screen glare is my number 1 concern at this point and everything crammed in close on higher ID’s — they could have done better.  Maybe they only use theirs on gloomy days.  Not sure how or if they could fix the display via software to help.  

 I do have an area where we find the small bronze sheathing nails that are in very heavy black sand (pi country).  This is a good real world testing area for me with D2.  If it can punch through the black sand at that location and pull the bronze out it passes the snuff test.  There are a few guys around this area who are using them in surf (Atlantic) and doing well with depth, but then again our conditions/mineralization might be different than others.  Depth on smaller gold is what I always like to obtain — low conductor diamond earrings n such.  For me that is one of the real test that a detector is good to go — say a small clasp at several inches plus (t or greater).  I’ll take take the micro bits of fishing hook wire too it builds confidence up in machines capabilities.

Betting most get upset with the wait on the software updates like me.  That’s why I am a firm believer in business when building widgets the designer/engineer/programmer better have a vested interest/end user of product as well.  Yes I hate being a beta tester too.  Seems like in todays world that’s what all of us have become.  Probably why I like my TDI so much.  Just knobs and ?.

Hard part is we all know there is a beta version out there now and some are getting good results with it which is promising — just wish it was a faster process.  Kinda like waiting on the front porch for UPS or Fed Ex when you order something good.  

[CPT_GhostLight]

I know, I get it. I look forward to what's coming up too. Maybe it would be cool to just throw the updates out there to everyone like another company does and let us all beta-test it. It would probably greatly accelerate the bug reports and fixes and as long as we could roll back to the last good working version, I'd be fine with that.

Just a thought. ?

[TJ Jeepguy]

I’d still like to see a computer interface that would allow importing, exporting, and customizing programs.  Sure it’s easy enough to do on the control unit, but it would be great to have the ability to come back from the field and either revert back to a custom program or store a new variant.   Even more, it would be great if program settings could be migrated through a utility from an older machine version to the latest one.