It Better Be Good

[MontAmmie]

9 hours ago, Cabin Fever said:

That’s even better!  Now you HAVE to buy a toy.  You have to be familiar with what your selling and have stock. 

Oh, I'm not a detector dealer.  My fun photography hobby turned into not-so-fun MedStockPhotos.com.  

[Chase Goldman]

22 hours ago, Norm S said:

My wife has asked me countless times if I bought a new detector and I keep saying no. I thought I would tell her when I know they released the Equinox. Well I informed her on Jan 31st that I bought a new Equinox but I forgot to tell her I also bought a CTX 3030. My marriage of 52 years may survive the Equinox but when she finds out I bit the bullet and bought a CTX 3030 Judge Judy here we come. I may have to start a Go Fund Me account to cover the divorce proceedings. 

I did tell her I was going to sell my V3i and that kind of made it ok buying the Equinox but trying to convince her I really need the CTX 3030 is going to be like her telling me she needs another pair of shoes to go with the 150 pair of shoes she already has. 

Buying different detectors for me is the challenge of learning new detectors with the latest technology. .

If I disappear from this site it's probably because of death by Minelab syndrome.  

I texted my $35 per week online therapist and she told me I did the right thing buying the Equinox. She said there is no better therapy than metal detecting with an Equinox for a man facing certain divorce court. 

My wife always asks me why I have more than one detector since I only have two arms and one of them is carrying a shovel.  I never have a good answer for her. 

That being said, I have no idea why you got both of those suckers.  I have only heard of people selling their CTX 's to get an Equinox (or just keeping their CTX's) but not getting both at this point.  Guess I would have staggered it at least.  Purchased the Equinox and then the CTX if there were any remaining performance gaps by the Equinox.  Lol.  Hope it works out.

[steveg]

22 minutes ago, Chase Goldman said:

That being said, I have no idea why you got both of those suckers.  I have only heard of people selling their CTX 's to get an Equinox (or just keeping their CTX's) but not getting both at this point.  Guess I would have staggered it at least.  Purchased the Equinox and then the CTX if there were any remaining performance gaps by the Equinox.  Lol.  Hope it works out.

Chase, 

I did the opposite (in other words, I -- too -- did what Norm S did).  I always have had one FBS unit, for deep coin hunting, and one faster, higher frequency, gold-capable, iron-unmasking type unit -- for relic hunting, occasional gold prospecting, etc.

If you would have looked at my "arsenal" 6 months ago, it was the Explorer SE Pro to cover the "deep coin hunting," and a Fisher F19 to cover the "fast, gold-capable iron unmasker" slot.  I decided to "upgrade," on both counts.  So, I bought the CTX to upgrade my deep coin hunting, and the Equinox to upgrade my gold-capable iron unmasking needs.  It just so happens that in this case, my "gold-capable iron unmasker" can also do a number of OTHER things, too (hence, the reason I sold the F19)!  

Anyway, for me it wasn't "finding a gap in performance of the Equinox" and THEN maybe filling it with the CTX, it was the other way around -- I KNOW of a couple of slight gaps in performance of FBS (tiny gold, and hunting in iron), and so I filled ITS gaps, with the Equinox...

Steve

[Chase Goldman]

Steve,

Thanks for the perspective.  I understand what you are saying.  I always considered the CTX because I wanted a capable VLF water machine I could use on land too, but a couple things always held me back (e.g. obviously cost, recovery speed, weight, menu system complexity) plus I was having great success with the Deus.  Along came Equinox, and it eclipsed all the concerns I had with the CTX.  I know it will not likely be as good on deep silver as the CTX or perhaps not as rock solid on TID on some targets, but that alone does not deter me.  I just don't know how Multi IQ will pan out as compared to FBS.  Two different multi frequency animals.  Will they greatly overlap in terms of capability or only slightly overlap and how? That is the question.   Just like the CTX is not going anywhere, I also do not intend to ditch the Deus either post Equinox, especially not the HF coils which go up to 80 khz. I will give you a like when my "like" quota resets.  Been too generous today apparently...lol

[steveg]

Chase --

"Like" quota, LOL!  I didn't know there was one.  I'm not good at the "likes" thing -- not being on Facebook I guess means I'm not yet used to the idea!

But yes, I totally agree with you.  Cost, for me, was also a big part of why I didn't go to the CTX sooner, and stuck with the Explorer instead (the Explorer being a really good performer for me).

MEANWHILE, since I am primarily a deep silver hunter, what FBS offers over the Deus is why I never switched out of FBS and into the Deus -- even though it's obviously a very good, very capable unit, and in some ways/some applications a higher performer than FBS.  

In MY mind, the Equinox is filling the "Deus" role for me in my arsenal -- again, being a fast machine with ability to hunt/unmask in iron.  BUT -- I agree with you, there WILL be some "overlap" with FBS, as well; it looks like it will be such a versatile machine that it MAY do a lot of what FBS can do, as a deep coin hunter.  I don't think it will "rival" the CTX in that application, but it's nice that it likely won't "struggle" as a deep coin hunter, either.  I think it will be interesting, as you said, to compare the two (FBS and Multi-IQ) and see exactly how much "overlap" exists. 

I also think the same can be said for your Deus, as well...i.e. just how much "overlap" will exist there?  I suspect an awful lot.  I could see the Equinox being a unit that, in the end, could ALMOST (but not quite) replace EITHER the Deus, OR the CTX...but probably not entirely (the Deus advantage likely being the very high freq. as you noted, and the CTX advantage likely being as a deep silver hunter).  It will be interesting to find out for certain.  I think it's at least possible that any advantage the Deus OR CTX have over the Equinox would be small, for most hunters -- such that for anyone but the most advanced, demanding detectorists, the Equinox will be so close to either of those two in performance that they'd never know it.  In other words, just an UNMATCHED "bang for the buck" one gets, with the Equinox, it would appear...

Steve

[mn90403]

The CTX advantage for me was in my coil of choice ... the 17" coil.  At some point on the beach the standard coil was not producing and I got a 17 for coverage. (Is there a better coil for beaches?)  It turned out the real coverage that paid for that expensive coil and the CTX was the additional depth (3-4" over the 11" coil).  It makes the beach come alive for me.  It is also very simple.  Max +3 and beach mode is all I do.  I don't slot anything unless I am just patch hunting and only have less than an hour.  On my beaches it often times max's out the 12" depth mode.  That was the advantage it gave me over the SE Pro 11/12 coil.  I can't use the big one it in a park or field.

I mention this because the Equinox is first going to be saddled with that same open spoke 11/12 coil that Steve is not fond of.  I think my CTX will get better depth than the Equinox until the bigger coil comes out.  I have both of the other coils on order.  I know the big one will pay for all of it.

Mitchel

[Steve Herschbach]

I am quite anxious to get a large coil for the very same reasons. I have to clarify however. I really like the 11” round DD coil for almost all uses. My negative commentary regarding that coil has strictly to do with prospecting for tiny nuggets in rough terrain. But parks, beaches, in the water, etc. I like the coil.

I count ground coverage as every bit as important as depth, maybe more so. That 12” x 15” coil will help a lot in that regard.

[Chase Goldman]

2 hours ago, steveg said:

Chase --

"Like" quota, LOL!  I didn't know there was one.  I'm not good at the "likes" thing -- not being on Facebook I guess means I'm not yet used to the idea!

But yes, I totally agree with you.  Cost, for me, was also a big part of why I didn't go to the CTX sooner, and stuck with the Explorer instead (the Explorer being a really good performer for me).

MEANWHILE, since I am primarily a deep silver hunter, what FBS offers over the Deus is why I never switched out of FBS and into the Deus -- even though it's obviously a very good, very capable unit, and in some ways/some applications a higher performer than FBS.  

In MY mind, the Equinox is filling the "Deus" role for me in my arsenal -- again, being a fast machine with ability to hunt/unmask in iron.  BUT -- I agree with you, there WILL be some "overlap" with FBS, as well; it looks like it will be such a versatile machine that it MAY do a lot of what FBS can do, as a deep coin hunter.  I don't think it will "rival" the CTX in that application, but it's nice that it likely won't "struggle" as a deep coin hunter, either.  I think it will be interesting, as you said, to compare the two (FBS and Multi-IQ) and see exactly how much "overlap" exists. 

I also think the same can be said for your Deus, as well...i.e. just how much "overlap" will exist there?  I suspect an awful lot.  I could see the Equinox being a unit that, in the end, could ALMOST (but not quite) replace EITHER the Deus, OR the CTX...but probably not entirely (the Deus advantage likely being the very high freq. as you noted, and the CTX advantage likely being as a deep silver hunter).  It will be interesting to find out for certain.  I think it's at least possible that any advantage the Deus OR CTX have over the Equinox would be small, for most hunters -- such that for anyone but the most advanced, demanding detectorists, the Equinox will be so close to either of those two in performance that they'd never know it.  In other words, just an UNMATCHED "bang for the buck" one gets, with the Equinox, it would appear...

Steve

Totally agree with you.  I use the Deus mainly for relic hunting (often in hot ground) so that explains why I stuck with it.  Looking forward to see how much Deus overlap occurs with Equinox.  Now owe you two likes.  Lol

[JoeRivers]

 

46 minutes ago, Steve Herschbach said:

I am quite anxious to get a large coil for the very same reasons. I have to clarify however. I really like the 11” round DD coil for almost all uses. My negative commentary regarding that coil has strictly to do with prospecting for tiny nuggets in rough terrain. But parks, beaches, in the water, etc. I like the coil.

I count ground coverage as every bit as important as depth, maybe more so. That 12” x 15” coil will help a lot in that regard.

Steve do you have any idea on what kind of price point on the “6” and “12x15” coils  can’t seem to find any price other than $1123.75 which I know that can’t be right

[Norm S]

I bought both because I wanted them it's that simple. I can afford it and I am retired. I will use the Equinox for beach and gold because I do travel to AZ and NV often. For awhile I will be like a kid in a candy store with to much candy. I will be switching back and forth daily. It's the challenge of learning them that I like.  knowing the 1st 100 hours or so of frustrations. 

I know the CTX can do everything the Equinox can and more but aside from the other great features I like the gps. I used to hunt a 60 acre soccer complex and I would leave sticks in the ground so I knew where to start when I come back and a gps would have been perfect for that area.

I know when I am ready to throw them in the trash I am getting close to figuring them out. I hated my AT Pro the 1st 100 hours or so and really hated my V3i for about 200 hours.. I just wasn't catching on to the V3i but then I went to trying things one at a time and adding to what I know..  The ETrac was a breeze in comparison even though there is much I still don't know about it. I traveled so much last year that I didn't detect much and was rusty when I started up again at the 1st of the year.. 

I am hyped for this year. I will have a good Minelab arsenal to detect anything but love and who needs love at 73. I also like having several detectors so when my Son and grandson visit me I have decent detectors for them to use and also in case the battery gets low on one I have another. 

I can think of more excuses to buy a new detector than I can to go to the casino