GPX 5000 Mods Video

[Aureous]

1 hour ago, Tony said:

Got me thinking......when I had a 4500 many years ago, I could never run it past about 2/3 GAIN.....even in moderate ground. I'm wondering where (ground) the extra GAIN (from mods) would be of any use?

Curious...was the 4500 new or used? Just in case you got a Chinese knock-off? Yeah the std gain control got a bit wobbly at the upper end on the 4500 but yours sounds like it was a bit more unstable than most? The mod gain control can be used by itself with the std gain control at 0. It often provides the ability to open up the mod gain to ridiculous levels in more moderate ground conditions. 

[Tony]

30 minutes ago, Aureous said:

Curious...was the 4500 new or used? Just in case you got a Chinese knock-off? Yeah the std gain control got a bit wobbly at the upper end on the 4500 but yours sounds like it was a bit more unstable than most? The mod gain control can be used by itself with the std gain control at 0. It often provides the ability to open up the mod gain to ridiculous levels in more moderate ground conditions. 

Genuine one from REEDS bought in 2015 when they re-released it. I'm sure there was nothing wrong with it just needed to tame it to a degree. Maybe the ground wasn't so "medium" after all ?

[Gold Ryder]

16 hours ago, phrunt said:

It certainly screams on the targets but sounds like it quietly falses a lot on the normal surrounding ground, I wonder how well it goes on targets that are not screamers where you have to concentrate to get the little weak target signals.

These mods are very interesting though, I'm a bit annoyed I got rid of my 4500 as I'd get it modded and leave my 5000 alone.  I don't want just a modded machine, one was recently for sale in NZ but I didn't notice it.  JW bid on it but didn't take it seriously in his bidding so missed out.  He already has a modded 4500 though but older mods, never really uses it.

Reading some of the comments Mick said this, 

The most common issue is the grounding(well not grounded) of the case and front panel. This gets fixed on every detector that comes across my bench along with most of the coil sockets.

I found that with my 4500, they had painted the entire outer shell so it wasn't grounded, my 5000 was not like this so Minelab picked up on it in later builds.

Its damn tricky to figure out the soft signals.  I just spent 2 1/2 weeks everyday with it in the AZ desert with Reese. And I still have no clue on the softies.  I tested it enough to trust a bang through signal.  But I know I was missing out on some whispers.  Its 4 more buttons/switches to dial in on top of the original 5000 nuances.  I can't even say I feel close.   I need alot more time and testing.  It is finicky throughout the day to, and it must be pretty powerful. Because it hates planes, cars driving by, my 4 wheeler running and even my cell phone on off in my backpack.   Ill try to update as I keep tweaking it.   I will attest after seeing the crazy effectiveness of the 7000s and a 12" evo on course spongy gold and highly mineralized ground in the area we hunted.  I had detector envy.  The 6000 just cant get past it and I have my doubts on the 5000 even modded. Next time I go back down I will have one in hand. Or perhaps an 8000 or whatever Minelab calls it.  If they actually produce it.

[Zephyr]

35 minutes ago, Gold Ryder said:

 Its 4 more buttons/switches to dial in on top of the original 5000 nuances.

What is the 4th control? 
 

my “level 4” has:

- a small toggle switch that can turn the receiver circuit on extra early for high frequency use.

- a variable knob to control TX gain.

- an 8 step dial to select frequency ranges.

 

 

 

[Gold Ryder]

41 minutes ago, Zephyr said:

What is the 4th control? 
 

my “level 4” has:

- a small toggle switch that can turn the receiver circuit on extra early for high frequency use.

- a variable knob to control TX gain.

- an 8 step dial to select frequency ranges.

 

 

 

My bad I was driving home.  3 lol.  3 more to hyper tune with the rest of the 5000s many tweaks. 

[PeterInSa]

Have not used my 5000 seriously in the goldfields as yet, awaiting the mod call up.

From my 4500 days of 12+ years ago, the start up in the goldfields in a new area from memory, was something like this with same settings/coil from yesterday.

Turn on.

Emi check

Ground balance

Check audio, if wavering adjust RX gain

Still slight wavering adjust stabilizer

Go Detect...

With the Mod 5000, what is the sequence of additional steps for small Gold????

 

[Gold Ryder]

34 minutes ago, PeterInSa said:

Have not used my 5000 seriously in the goldfields as yet, awaiting the mod call up.

From my 4500 days of 12+ years ago, the start up in the goldfields in a new area from memory, was something like this with same settings/coil from yesterday.

Turn on.

Emi check

Ground balance

Check audio, if wavering adjust RX gain

Still slight wavering adjust stabilizer

Go Detect...

With the Mod 5000, what is the sequence of additional steps for small Gold????

 

Lots of variables, backend timing, you have to manual tune the mod depending on coil size.   Back end RX Gain, Back end stabilizer.  Front end search mode,  tracking,  3 Mod switches to match gold size, coil size, gold texture and TX gain.  It all needs balanced. Sometimes multiple times a day. 

[PeterInSa]

Don't have an issue re Balancing the Detector settings, as long as there is a sequence and the method is known.

eg Manual Tune depending upon coil size is that a set Frequency depending upon the coil size, similar to the switch selectable Algo E1500 or  is it tuned to a max audio sound, and this check is done after the Turn on ie B4 GB and EMI..

[Gold Ryder]

39 minutes ago, PeterInSa said:

Don't have an issue re Balancing the Detector settings, as long as there is a sequence and the method is known.

eg Manual Tune depending upon coil size is that a set Frequency depending upon the coil size, similar to the switch selectable Algo E1500 or  is it tuned to a max audio sound, and this check is done after the Turn on ie B4 GB and EMI..

Its a range depending on coil.  Im not a fan of Woody's mods but he has a good video on it.  My 15" evo seems to be fond of 160 give or take 10.  The bigger the coil the lower you tune it.  Im on then fence on wether to get NFs 12x8 MK II. Or just run my 12 and 15" evos.  The 12" round is supposed to be a hotshot on mod. So far Ive just been running the 15.  Ive got a 6000 that does just fine for small gold.