µMax Bandido vs Bandido II µMax??

[pine3874]

Could someone please explain the differences between these two models. Can't seem to find any information about the µMax Bandido. Thanks

 

[tabman]

Tesoro added a threshold control knob to the faceplate of the Bandido II µMax.

tabman

 

[pine3874]

Tesoro added a threshold control knob to the faceplate of the Bandido II µMax.

tabman

Thanks. Is it possible to adjust the threshold on the µMax Bandido? There is no mention of it in the manual.

 

[Carl-NC]

The original Bandido uMax was a ceramic substrate design with printed thick film resistors. The B2-uMax was a traditional surface-mount PCB. As I recall, the B1 has a threshold trimmer you can remove and replace with a regular pot.

 

[Monte]

First, let me say "Thank You" for using the µ [size=small](micro)[/size] symbol in your post instead of the lower-case 'u' I see so often.

Could someone please explain the differences between these two models. Can't seem to find any information about the µMax Bandido.

Personally, it's more like do I pick a weak attempt that ended up a little inferior, or do I look for the "finished product" with a more successful design. I was a Tesoro Dealer back then, and since I prefer models with manual Ground Balance I handled many of the µMAX Bandido models. There is no such thing as a 'perfect' detector but there are some models that I have found to be "stinkers" in a product line. To me, the µMAX Bandido was one of the stinkers.

In 3/'90 Tesoro introduced their original Bandido. It operated at 10 kHz and had a 10-turn manual Ground Balance control and a 'knob' that fit the Threshold trimmer on the circuit board. In the All Metal mode it had what I considered to be a 'comfortable' auto-tune speed in the Threshold-based All Metal mode. In the Discriminate mode, they introduced their ED-120 Discrimination, which was expanded on the lower end to adjust to just above iron nail rejection at the minimum setting. It was in a smaller under-slung housing and was powered by 2-9V batteries [size=small](although it can operate on a single 9-volt for a shorter duration)[/size].

In 1/'93 they introduced the Bandido II, which also operated at 10 kHz, had a 10-turn manual GB and the same 'knob/shaft' that adjusted the Threshold trimmer on the circuit board. It was in the same smaller-size under-slung housing and powered by 2 9V batteries, and had similar function and performance as the 'original' Bandido, with one exception. They changed the auto-tune to a rather fast retune speed and provided a toggle to select either a fast auto-tune, or 'Normal' which is a static All Metal mode w/o auto-tune and the operator just manually retuned with the mode-tune toggle.

In 4/'94 Tesoro used the display pod of the Toltec II and made a lightweight model that was promoted to the competition hunt enthusiasts as a lightweight detector. It was called the Sidewinder.

Then in 2/'96 they enhanced some of the performance of the original Sidewinder with some circuitry changes, and using the electronic "micro" symbol --- µ --- they had a newly named model series for use of that small control housing, calling them the microMAX --- µMAX --- because they were supposed to be a micro-sized package with MAXimum power. This gave us the µMAX Sidewinder.

In 3/'96 Tesoro introduced the µMAX Bandido based on the new product size name taking advantages of the appeal of the small housed µMAX Sidewinder design. This 3rd model in the Bandido series had a few differences from the first two. The speaker was a little smaller in size. They went from a 10-turn manual GB potentiometer to a 3¾-turn GB pot. They also changed from the 10 kHz operating frequency to 12 kHz. They retained all the control panel adjustments of the first two Bandido models, but they didn't incorporate anything externally for a Threshold control. The first two Bandido's had the knob/shaft that came out a hole in the control housing in the rear by the battery cover that fit in the Threshold trimmer on the circuit board. This micro-sized housing didn't allow that option.

With the µMAX Bandido I did note three frustrations that I had with it, as well as the same things I heard from many users or other Dealers at the time.

1.. To be a fully functional manually GB'ed detector in the All Metal mode, it needed a Threshold control, but it lacked that feature.

2.. The 3¾-turn GB control was a bit 'touchy' compared with the former 10-turn GB models.

3.. It actually seemed to have some rather wimpy performance. Not too impressive in depth, and the audio modulated quickly and trailed off rapidly on targets from about 3".

I much preferred, and continued to use, my original Bandido and Bandido II models. I also tried NOT to sell the µMAX Bandido because I heard too many grumbly consumers who didn't like the sub-par field performance and poor depth .... OR the lack of a Threshold control.

In 10/'97 it's obvious Tesoro heard the complaints of many dealers and consumers everywhere because just about a year-and-a-half after the µMAX Bandido, they introduced the Bandido II µMAX. This model uses the same micro-sized housing, but was a very improved model in many ways. It had a quality external Threshold control on the face-plate, and even that was an improvement over the first two Bandido models. They went back to a 10 kHz operating frequency like the first two models, and then they enhanced the depth and field performance.

They incorporated a Low-Noise/High-Gain circuitry that added a bit more saturation to the audio response, and this model also had more noticeable or discernible depth-of-detection. Of the two µ-packaged Bandido models, it is overall superior in features and all-purpose performance. I will acknowledge, however, that in some really tough conditions many of their models that used the new Low-Noise/High-Gain circuitry had a little more difficulty with target masking in an iron trash condition, but for all purpose performance it was the superior model. That's why I have owned many of them and have one in my current detector arsenal.

Carl NC can easily give us the more detailed or specific electronic build design differences which was possibly the specific answer to what you were looking for. Perhaps this reply just adds a bit to help his technical input, but in the long run my advise would be to shop for the better of the two models, the Bandido II µMAX.

Monte

 

[pine3874]

First, let me say "Thank You" for using the µ [size=small](micro)[/size] symbol in your post instead of the lower-case 'u' I see so often.

Could someone please explain the differences between these two models. Can't seem to find any information about the µMax Bandido.

Personally, it's more like do I pick a weak attempt that ended up a little inferior, or do I look for the "finished product" with a more successful design. I was a Tesoro Dealer back then, and since I prefer models with manual Ground Balance I handled many of the µMAX Bandido models. There is no such thing as a 'perfect' detector but there are some models that I have found to be "stinkers" in a product line. To me, the µMAX Bandido was one of the stinkers.

In 3/'90 Tesoro introduced their original Bandido. It operated at 10 kHz and had a 10-turn manual Ground Balance control and a 'knob' that fit the Threshold trimmer on the circuit board. In the All Metal mode it had what I considered to be a 'comfortable' auto-tune speed in the Threshold-based All Metal mode. In the Discriminate mode, they introduced their ED-120 Discrimination, which was expanded on the lower end to adjust to just above iron nail rejection at the minimum setting. It was in a smaller under-slung housing and was powered by 2-9V batteries [size=small](although it can operate on a single 9-volt for a shorter duration)[/size].

Thanks Monte for the great information!!
In 1/'93 they introduced the Bandido II, which also operated at 10 kHz, had a 10-turn manual GB and the same 'knob/shaft' that adjusted the Threshold trimmer on the circuit board. It was in the same smaller-size under-slung housing and powered by 2 9V batteries, and had similar function and performance as the 'original' Bandido, with one exception. They changed the auto-tune to a rather fast retune speed and provided a toggle to select either a fast auto-tune, or 'Normal' which is a static All Metal mode w/o auto-tune and the operator just manually retuned with the mode-tune toggle.

In 4/'94 Tesoro used the display pod of the Toltec II and made a lightweight model that was promoted to the competition hunt enthusiasts as a lightweight detector. It was called the Sidewinder.

Then in 2/'96 they enhanced some of the performance of the original Sidewinder with some circuitry changes, and using the electronic "micro" symbol --- µ --- they had a newly named model series for use of that small control housing, calling them the microMAX --- µMAX --- because they were supposed to be a micro-sized package with MAXimum power. This gave us the µMAX Sidewinder.

In 3/'96 Tesoro introduced the µMAX Bandido based on the new product size name taking advantages of the appeal of the small housed µMAX Sidewinder design. This 3rd model in the Bandido series had a few differences from the first two. The speaker was a little smaller in size. They went from a 10-turn manual GB potentiometer to a 3¾-turn GB pot. They also changed from the 10 kHz operating frequency to 12 kHz. They retained all the control panel adjustments of the first two Bandido models, but they didn't incorporate anything externally for a Threshold control. The first two Bandido's had the knob/shaft that came out a hole in the control housing in the rear by the battery cover that fit in the Threshold trimmer on the circuit board. This micro-sized housing didn't allow that option.

With the µMAX Bandido I did note three frustrations that I had with it, as well as the same things I heard from many users or other Dealers at the time.

1.. To be a fully functional manually GB'ed detector in the All Metal mode, it needed a Threshold control, but it lacked that feature.

2.. The 3¾-turn GB control was a bit 'touchy' compared with the former 10-turn GB models.

3.. It actually seemed to have some rather wimpy performance. Not too impressive in depth, and the audio modulated quickly and trailed off rapidly on targets from about 3".

I much preferred, and continued to use, my original Bandido and Bandido II models. I also tried NOT to sell the µMAX Bandido because I heard too many grumbly consumers who didn't like the sub-par field performance and poor depth .... OR the lack of a Threshold control.

In 10/'97 it's obvious Tesoro heard the complaints of many dealers and consumers everywhere because just about a year-and-a-half after the µMAX Bandido, they introduced the Bandido II µMAX. This model uses the same micro-sized housing, but was a very improved model in many ways. It had a quality external Threshold control on the face-plate, and even that was an improvement over the first two Bandido models. They went back to a 10 kHz operating frequency like the first two models, and then they enhanced the depth and field performance.

They incorporated a Low-Noise/High-Gain circuitry that added a bit more saturation to the audio response, and this model also had more noticeable or discernible depth-of-detection. Of the two µ-packaged Bandido models, it is overall superior in features and all-purpose performance. I will acknowledge, however, that in some really tough conditions many of their models that used the new Low-Noise/High-Gain circuitry had a little more difficulty with target masking in an iron trash condition, but for all purpose performance it was the superior model. That's why I have owned many of them and have one in my current detector arsenal.

Carl NC can easily give us the more detailed or specific electronic build design differences which was possibly the specific answer to what you were looking for. Perhaps this reply just adds a bit to help his technical input, but in the long run my advise would be to shop for the better of the two models, the Bandido II µMAX.

Monte

 

[bootyhoundpa]

Great explanation monte, ive often wondered about this subject myself...thanks,, not to hijack this post but if the bandito was both 10khz and 12khz are are are all the coils interchangeable or are the 10khz and 12khz specific to there frequency? .

 

[Sven]

Great explanation monte, ive often wondered about this subject myself...thanks,, not to hijack this post but if the bandito was both 10khz and 12khz are are are all the coils interchangeable or are the 10khz and 12khz specific to there frequency? .

Yes they are, Tesoro coils have a wide leeway of frequency, they are not precisely made to operate in a narrow range of tolerance.
All standard 5 pin coils work with all 5 pin Tesoros. The 4 pin coils work only with the newer Tesoros--Tejon, Vaq., Cibola.

 

[bootyhoundpa]

Thank you sven...