Now I know this is a great machine and I have found a lot of newer coins and the ID is very good. Most of my friends use the Minelab II and they get a lot of silver that I don't get. I've got the small elliptical coil and the larger 12" DD coil and Grey Ghost headphones. Help convince me not to switch. Thanks, Greg in MI
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2 years with MXT time for a Minelab?
- Thread starter ssgreg
- Start date
I have owned four MXT's and I can appreciate what they are capable of doing.
I don't own or use one right now, however, because there are some things about it that annoy me and, well, ... it just isn't a 'fun' detector for me for the types of hunting I do.
Now, whenever I get the chance I head out to ghost town sites or old homesteads and similar old and often overgrown or brushy sites. I have models that work for me.
But I also am stuck in town way too much so I will spend some free time working playgrounds or other modern-use sites, but what I enjoy the most is "Silver Shooting."
I have used the MXT's and a variety of coils and put them up against some of my favorite models , and some I don't like to use, just to find a better silver-shooter. The XL Pro has usually come out on top compared with the MXT, coil size for coil size, when hunting older sites for the "deeper" silver that others have missed. I am not going to exaggerate, either, and will tell you that a LOT of it still remains in the +3" to 7" range in many older parks and schools and court house lawns and ......
I have several good friends locally who always, month after month, produce more silver coins than anyone else. Almost all of them have been using a Minelab Explorer XS or Explorer II.
I have put the Explorer II & MXT up against each other in many old parks and compared signals one against the other on located targets suspected of being Indian Heads on up. The MXT has never done better than the Explorers on silver coinage. Period.
I would use one myself except with my health I can't handle (and wouldn't want to handle) the heavy coil and poorly balanced detector. I know it works and what it can do, I just don't find it comfortable to use while doing it!
It's not just a frequency thing, either, because I have done a lot better on many silver targets when I compared the MXT against my Shadow X5, which the MXT didn't match on audio response to deeper silver.
I have been working three of these same older parks with the new Minelab X-Terra 50 and comparing signals with my friends, using a variety of makes and models. I don't know how it will do in the end up against the Explorer's as a couple of those buddies are out of town, but I will hunt with them next week. For now, however, I am finding the X-Terra 50 more enjoyable to use than the MXT for the most part.
I am still a White's fan, for those models that work for me such as the XL Pro or my modified IDX Pro or the XLT. But for now, I am hoping to see a revised and improved MXT in the future that might be a little quieter and give other models some competition.
Monte
PS: No charge for opinions.
I don't own or use one right now, however, because there are some things about it that annoy me and, well, ... it just isn't a 'fun' detector for me for the types of hunting I do.
Now, whenever I get the chance I head out to ghost town sites or old homesteads and similar old and often overgrown or brushy sites. I have models that work for me.
But I also am stuck in town way too much so I will spend some free time working playgrounds or other modern-use sites, but what I enjoy the most is "Silver Shooting."
I have used the MXT's and a variety of coils and put them up against some of my favorite models , and some I don't like to use, just to find a better silver-shooter. The XL Pro has usually come out on top compared with the MXT, coil size for coil size, when hunting older sites for the "deeper" silver that others have missed. I am not going to exaggerate, either, and will tell you that a LOT of it still remains in the +3" to 7" range in many older parks and schools and court house lawns and ......
I have several good friends locally who always, month after month, produce more silver coins than anyone else. Almost all of them have been using a Minelab Explorer XS or Explorer II.
I have put the Explorer II & MXT up against each other in many old parks and compared signals one against the other on located targets suspected of being Indian Heads on up. The MXT has never done better than the Explorers on silver coinage. Period.
I would use one myself except with my health I can't handle (and wouldn't want to handle) the heavy coil and poorly balanced detector. I know it works and what it can do, I just don't find it comfortable to use while doing it!
It's not just a frequency thing, either, because I have done a lot better on many silver targets when I compared the MXT against my Shadow X5, which the MXT didn't match on audio response to deeper silver.
I have been working three of these same older parks with the new Minelab X-Terra 50 and comparing signals with my friends, using a variety of makes and models. I don't know how it will do in the end up against the Explorer's as a couple of those buddies are out of town, but I will hunt with them next week. For now, however, I am finding the X-Terra 50 more enjoyable to use than the MXT for the most part.
I am still a White's fan, for those models that work for me such as the XL Pro or my modified IDX Pro or the XLT. But for now, I am hoping to see a revised and improved MXT in the future that might be a little quieter and give other models some competition.
Monte
PS: No charge for opinions.
While working the local park today, we found a fairly nice sized silver ring, and a small silver cross. The cross has the words "Chapel Ster" on the back. A Little research on the Internet leads me to believe the cross to be a child's cross or possibly a cross off of a rosary. I gleaned the following off the Internet
The foremost artist blacksmith of the twentieth century, Polish-born Samuel Yellin (1885
The foremost artist blacksmith of the twentieth century, Polish-born Samuel Yellin (1885
You are my Hero!
How many thousand dollars worth of detectors do you, or have you had?
I thought having had 4 others, (None of them serious machines, like the MXT) that I had been around.
You the man.
It seems to me that the longer I own each detector the better my finds ratio. I imagine I'll have this MXT for a few years.
as always
How many thousand dollars worth of detectors do you, or have you had?
I thought having had 4 others, (None of them serious machines, like the MXT) that I had been around.
You the man.
It seems to me that the longer I own each detector the better my finds ratio. I imagine I'll have this MXT for a few years.
as always
I hope this works. This will be my first picture post. This is the back of the little silver cross we found today. I put it next to a penny so you could see how small it is. The neat thing is I was messing around with the Stock Coil that came with the MXT. First time I have ever used it. I bought an 14" and a 4.5" x 7", when I first had it shipped. My wife was doing so well with her stock coil on her ACE 250. So I thought, what the heck lets try mine. 10 minutes later I get a hit at 13"s. My first thought was, no way am I going to dig anything that deep. Call me lazy, but our soil out here is really a challenge. I'm not sure why I changed my mind but I looked around and I was very alone except for the wife. I carry a small pick in my treasure bag. The kind where the wood handle can be slipped out of the pick head. I put that thing together and away we went, after a very careful pinpointing. I hammered my 2 ft long screwdriver in the ground about 7" right over the target so I would not get lost. Then I dug all around it. This was work. I then broke out what I think is a German Military shovel. The kind that folds out as a pick, a hoe, or a shovel and has that leather cover for the blade with belt loops. (Very Heavy for it's size, but stout.) Anyway after an exhausting dig. With the help of my new 140mm Pinpointer, there it was. Not a huge find by any means but a fun one. And although there are machines that may be better at silver, I guess this will do for now. Happy hunting from 85 mile north of the country of Mexico. And as always,
OK.... I'll try that photo again.
I hope this works. This will be my first picture post. This is the back of the little silver cross we found today. I put it next to a penny so you could see how small it is. The neat thing is I was messing around with the Stock Coil that came with the MXT. First time I have ever used it. I bought an 14" and a 4.5" x 7", when I first had it shipped. My wife was doing so well with her stock coil on her ACE 250. So I thought, what the heck lets try mine. 10 minutes later I get a hit at 13"s. My first thought was, no way am I going to dig anything that deep. Call me lazy, but our soil out here is really a challenge. I'm not sure why I changed my mind but I looked around and I was very alone except for the wife. I carry a small pick in my treasure bag. The kind where the wood handle can be slipped out of the pick head. I put that thing together and away we went, after a very careful pinpointing. I hammered my 2 ft long screwdriver in the ground about 7" right over the target so I would not get lost. Then I dug all around it. This was work. I then broke out what I think is a German Military shovel. The kind that folds out as a pick, a hoe, or a shovel and has that leather cover for the blade with belt loops. (Very Heavy for it's size, but stout.) Anyway after an exhausting dig. With the help of my new 140mm Pinpointer, there it was. Not a huge find by any means but a fun one. And although there are machines that may be better at silver, I guess this will do for now. Happy hunting from 85 mile north of the country of Mexico. And as always,
We Wish you Luck
Larry
I hope this works. This will be my first picture post. This is the back of the little silver cross we found today. I put it next to a penny so you could see how small it is. The neat thing is I was messing around with the Stock Coil that came with the MXT. First time I have ever used it. I bought an 14" and a 4.5" x 7", when I first had it shipped. My wife was doing so well with her stock coil on her ACE 250. So I thought, what the heck lets try mine. 10 minutes later I get a hit at 13"s. My first thought was, no way am I going to dig anything that deep. Call me lazy, but our soil out here is really a challenge. I'm not sure why I changed my mind but I looked around and I was very alone except for the wife. I carry a small pick in my treasure bag. The kind where the wood handle can be slipped out of the pick head. I put that thing together and away we went, after a very careful pinpointing. I hammered my 2 ft long screwdriver in the ground about 7" right over the target so I would not get lost. Then I dug all around it. This was work. I then broke out what I think is a German Military shovel. The kind that folds out as a pick, a hoe, or a shovel and has that leather cover for the blade with belt loops. (Very Heavy for it's size, but stout.) Anyway after an exhausting dig. With the help of my new 140mm Pinpointer, there it was. Not a huge find by any means but a fun one. And although there are machines that may be better at silver, I guess this will do for now. Happy hunting from 85 mile north of the country of Mexico. And as always,
We Wish you Luck
Larry
MXT. I have also used all of the Minelabs and they are excellent detectors....I have found that the Minelabs have a longer learning curve than the MXT... To get the most from a Minelab, you will have to slow your sweep speed down and learn what the detector is telling you.... I personally think that if I had to use one Minelab as my favorite.. It would be the Quattro... The processor on the MXT is much faster and the audio in the relic mode is great..on the Minelab, it will take a little getting use to, but you should do well.... If it doesn't work for you, Minelab's have a high resell.. Thanks and happy hunting, Richardntn
steve herschbach
New member
Hi,
I have to second what Monte says to a large degree. But I thought I'd toss in a long morning coffe post.
I am a multiline dealer in Anchorage, Alaska. The MXT was my second most popular machine this year. The reason it is so popular is that my bestselling machine is the GMT. What people in my area are always thinking about is gold nuggets. So they usually want a "gold nugget only" machine - the GMT, or a "very interested in gold nuggets but want to do everything" machine - the MXT.
I sell all the other brands, and have no particular personal brand loyalty. I currently own Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, and White's units for various uses. But if asked what one machine would be best for hunting gold nuggets one day and coins the next, my answer is the MXT. The MXT is a very good good machine that has found countless pounds (yes pounds) of gold in Alaska. And yet as you know it is a pretty darn good coin detector.
But the fact is that it's strength on gold does play against it for coin detecting. The machine is noisy compared to dedicated coin detectors, and its depth on silver, while good, certainly is not as good as something like the Minelab Explorer, which basically was designed as a silver getter.
But like Monte, I do not use the Explorer myself, as I also find it uncomfortable to use, and too slow for my taste. Don't get me wrong; it is an excellent machine, with great depth. You'd have a hard time going wrong with it if getting deep silver is your main criteria. I just put a huge premium on how a machine feels and sounds and the Explorer just does not do it for me. For a long time I was a CZ user, as I like the sharp tones and when hipmounted the CZ puts no weight on my arm. I still have a CZ-70 Pro and may drift back to it sometime.
But I really have not found the perfect machine for my coin and jewelry use yet. For gold detecting I have three that all together do it for me. The Minelab GP 3500 is my main gold getter. But if I am chasing smaller gold I use the Fisher Gold Bug 2. And for nuggets in very trashy areas, like old campsites, I use the MXT. They each have an edge over the other two for some particualr nugget task, and so I simply need all three.
The same problem exists for coin detectors. I just can't seem to settle on one that really seems to do it for me, but I'm still looking. My preferred general use machine this summer was the White's DFX, which makes a good machine if you already own an MXT (I do) as you can share coils between the two machines.
I like a coin machine that is relatively simple, is light in weight, and which has clean, quiet operation. Depth is somewhat secondary as I like using small coils and hitting trashy areas for the shallow silver I still seem to be able to find. My CZ hipmounted and with 5" coil still seems to be my standard to beat in some ways.
So I played around a lot with the Garrett Ace 250 (really fun little unit), and the new Minelab X-Terra 50 got some last minute use before I got froze out. I do a lot of jewelry detecting, and so crazy as it may seem to some folks one criteria I have is that my detectors must offer me the option of tuning out coins. I hunted coins so long that if I hear them it bugs me not to dig them, and so if I am after gold jewelry I prefer to simply not hear them. My MXT would be a great jewelry detector for me except that it is noisy in general, and I cannot notch out the top end targets. The DFX is far smoother, and lets me notch out coins so I can concentrate on low end gold and aluminum.
The Ace was a blast in that it is very light, and very easy. Pretty much just fun to use. But it has not quite enough target resolution for me, and if deep silver is your goal it has only moderate depth. But ultimately I went back to my DFX. Then came the X-Terra 50. It has great promise for my uses, but the truth is that I simply did not get enough time to use it before the ground froze. It gave a good first impression, but I'm a bit doubtful it will make me set the DFX aside. A lot will depend on the accessory coils that are released for the XT-50.
And you know what, just typing about my old CZ has got me wanting to dig it out and use it again! I still am fond of that machine and it's sharp tones. And yes, the CZ-70 Pro will notch out the coins.
I ramble on like this just to show that we all have lots of preferences that matter most to only us. I get people who argue with me about my preferences, who tell me I would do better doing this or that. They do not understand that I've been detecting for 35 years, and that I do it now as much for the Zen like meditative state I enter when doing it as anything else. I can go out and dig aluminum for a couple hours and have a great time. Every time an aluminum target comes up I get this little feeling that says "yup, still gold around here". I've long since found I can find anything with almost any detector made. It is more about picking the right places to hunt, and getting out and hunting a lot, then about having any particular detector. Certain feels and certain sounds just make it a more pleasurable experience for me, and I'm still looking for that perfect coin/jewelry machine.
I mentioned on the DFX forum how I'd like a programmable tone id so I could assign any VDI and tone selectively instead of having to choose between 1, 2, or 254 tone modes. The Explorer does not turn me only with its musical responses, and I'm no less fond of the the multi-tone mode in the DFX. People always come back and tell me I just need to use it and learn to love it. They do not get that I want detectors to do what I want, not make myself do what the detector wants.
The problem is that my perfect machine would have to weight less than 2 pounds, have only an on/off knob, and make a nice pleasant sound only on "good targets" while ignoring "bad targets", whatever I deem those to be. Is that asking too much? The X-Terra 50 is a move towards my ideal machine, as it is light in weight, has enough target resolution for me to pick what I want to concentrate on (usually jewelry but if not then silver - I'm very much a "cherry picker") . The tones are good on my ear, and they hit my preferred areas mid-low is gold jewelry/aluminum and high is silver/large clad. Mid-hi tone is the zinc/copper penny tone, which of late I've considered as trash targets.
As far as the MXT goes, I hate to see them tone it down much. It might make it a better coin detector, but it would no doubt give up some ability to do what it does best in my market area - find gold! We have enough coin detecots on the market, and so the best answer is just use another unit to look for silver. But if you get the Explorer I'd advise you to keep your MXT for some time. You might end up missing the MXT, because as Monte has pointed out, there isn't a single detector that will do it all "the best." I've come to the point I have to where I've found it is not the finding but the looking that I enjoy most, and so "best detector" can come to mean something entirely different than "goes deepest".
Well, I've rambled on enough. I think I'll go dig out my CZ and run a coin under it and listen to it go "tink". I always liked that sound!
Steve Herschbach
I have to second what Monte says to a large degree. But I thought I'd toss in a long morning coffe post.
I am a multiline dealer in Anchorage, Alaska. The MXT was my second most popular machine this year. The reason it is so popular is that my bestselling machine is the GMT. What people in my area are always thinking about is gold nuggets. So they usually want a "gold nugget only" machine - the GMT, or a "very interested in gold nuggets but want to do everything" machine - the MXT.
I sell all the other brands, and have no particular personal brand loyalty. I currently own Fisher, Garrett, Minelab, and White's units for various uses. But if asked what one machine would be best for hunting gold nuggets one day and coins the next, my answer is the MXT. The MXT is a very good good machine that has found countless pounds (yes pounds) of gold in Alaska. And yet as you know it is a pretty darn good coin detector.
But the fact is that it's strength on gold does play against it for coin detecting. The machine is noisy compared to dedicated coin detectors, and its depth on silver, while good, certainly is not as good as something like the Minelab Explorer, which basically was designed as a silver getter.
But like Monte, I do not use the Explorer myself, as I also find it uncomfortable to use, and too slow for my taste. Don't get me wrong; it is an excellent machine, with great depth. You'd have a hard time going wrong with it if getting deep silver is your main criteria. I just put a huge premium on how a machine feels and sounds and the Explorer just does not do it for me. For a long time I was a CZ user, as I like the sharp tones and when hipmounted the CZ puts no weight on my arm. I still have a CZ-70 Pro and may drift back to it sometime.
But I really have not found the perfect machine for my coin and jewelry use yet. For gold detecting I have three that all together do it for me. The Minelab GP 3500 is my main gold getter. But if I am chasing smaller gold I use the Fisher Gold Bug 2. And for nuggets in very trashy areas, like old campsites, I use the MXT. They each have an edge over the other two for some particualr nugget task, and so I simply need all three.
The same problem exists for coin detectors. I just can't seem to settle on one that really seems to do it for me, but I'm still looking. My preferred general use machine this summer was the White's DFX, which makes a good machine if you already own an MXT (I do) as you can share coils between the two machines.
I like a coin machine that is relatively simple, is light in weight, and which has clean, quiet operation. Depth is somewhat secondary as I like using small coils and hitting trashy areas for the shallow silver I still seem to be able to find. My CZ hipmounted and with 5" coil still seems to be my standard to beat in some ways.
So I played around a lot with the Garrett Ace 250 (really fun little unit), and the new Minelab X-Terra 50 got some last minute use before I got froze out. I do a lot of jewelry detecting, and so crazy as it may seem to some folks one criteria I have is that my detectors must offer me the option of tuning out coins. I hunted coins so long that if I hear them it bugs me not to dig them, and so if I am after gold jewelry I prefer to simply not hear them. My MXT would be a great jewelry detector for me except that it is noisy in general, and I cannot notch out the top end targets. The DFX is far smoother, and lets me notch out coins so I can concentrate on low end gold and aluminum.
The Ace was a blast in that it is very light, and very easy. Pretty much just fun to use. But it has not quite enough target resolution for me, and if deep silver is your goal it has only moderate depth. But ultimately I went back to my DFX. Then came the X-Terra 50. It has great promise for my uses, but the truth is that I simply did not get enough time to use it before the ground froze. It gave a good first impression, but I'm a bit doubtful it will make me set the DFX aside. A lot will depend on the accessory coils that are released for the XT-50.
And you know what, just typing about my old CZ has got me wanting to dig it out and use it again! I still am fond of that machine and it's sharp tones. And yes, the CZ-70 Pro will notch out the coins.
I ramble on like this just to show that we all have lots of preferences that matter most to only us. I get people who argue with me about my preferences, who tell me I would do better doing this or that. They do not understand that I've been detecting for 35 years, and that I do it now as much for the Zen like meditative state I enter when doing it as anything else. I can go out and dig aluminum for a couple hours and have a great time. Every time an aluminum target comes up I get this little feeling that says "yup, still gold around here". I've long since found I can find anything with almost any detector made. It is more about picking the right places to hunt, and getting out and hunting a lot, then about having any particular detector. Certain feels and certain sounds just make it a more pleasurable experience for me, and I'm still looking for that perfect coin/jewelry machine.
I mentioned on the DFX forum how I'd like a programmable tone id so I could assign any VDI and tone selectively instead of having to choose between 1, 2, or 254 tone modes. The Explorer does not turn me only with its musical responses, and I'm no less fond of the the multi-tone mode in the DFX. People always come back and tell me I just need to use it and learn to love it. They do not get that I want detectors to do what I want, not make myself do what the detector wants.
The problem is that my perfect machine would have to weight less than 2 pounds, have only an on/off knob, and make a nice pleasant sound only on "good targets" while ignoring "bad targets", whatever I deem those to be. Is that asking too much? The X-Terra 50 is a move towards my ideal machine, as it is light in weight, has enough target resolution for me to pick what I want to concentrate on (usually jewelry but if not then silver - I'm very much a "cherry picker") . The tones are good on my ear, and they hit my preferred areas mid-low is gold jewelry/aluminum and high is silver/large clad. Mid-hi tone is the zinc/copper penny tone, which of late I've considered as trash targets.
As far as the MXT goes, I hate to see them tone it down much. It might make it a better coin detector, but it would no doubt give up some ability to do what it does best in my market area - find gold! We have enough coin detecots on the market, and so the best answer is just use another unit to look for silver. But if you get the Explorer I'd advise you to keep your MXT for some time. You might end up missing the MXT, because as Monte has pointed out, there isn't a single detector that will do it all "the best." I've come to the point I have to where I've found it is not the finding but the looking that I enjoy most, and so "best detector" can come to mean something entirely different than "goes deepest".
Well, I've rambled on enough. I think I'll go dig out my CZ and run a coin under it and listen to it go "tink". I always liked that sound!
Steve Herschbach
Jackpine Savage
Active member
was more gold machine than coin machine. I gave it a good run when it came out and tried another one later on. My impressions did not change. While I did not keep the second one long enough to try out all the after market coils like you did Monte, I have to agree that it just did not have the responsiveness to silver that I was looking for. I sure wish I HAD kept the X5 so that I could try out the DD coil they developed for it as it certainly did have the deep silver responsiveness I like. However the disc adjustment was just too lacking on the low end for it to work out as a jewelry hunter in my iron infested fresh water lakes. At half the price it might have stayed as part of a 3 or 4 detector arsenal. The CZ's are great machines, but after using others like the 6000 XL PRO and the new more moderate sweep Fishers its hard for me to go back to them. Still they have that deep silver responsiveness that is hard to touch. I have to hand it to the Sov owners that have learned that machine. They get their Zen from going slow and working all the interesting signals to see what the detector can make of it. Its very satisfying to them and the better ones are very succuessful.
3-4 machines is about right to cover all the bases and the search for something better is always part of the fun. Both you and Steve pointed out that there is no best machine for all purposes and we each have our likes and dislikes when it comes to our own personal Zen.
HH Tom
3-4 machines is about right to cover all the bases and the search for something better is always part of the fun. Both you and Steve pointed out that there is no best machine for all purposes and we each have our likes and dislikes when it comes to our own personal Zen.
HH Tom
Greg I hunted with the MXT for three seasons loved the machine and made alot of great finds with it. Decided to try a Quattro recently and let me tell you I am totally impressed with this machine. If you can keep the MXT because it does have a purpose. And its always good to have a back up. You definately have to slow it down with the Minelabs but its the deepest machine I've ever used and i've been hunting the past 15+ years and have tried them all. You wont be dissapointed.
IS THE KEY.It takes a little time to get use to.But once you do,you'll know what's under the coil soon as you hear the targets tone.You relly do need to go to a park or a school for a while.Someplace where there's a lot of targets.I can tell when I go over a copper peeny,zinc penny,clad dime,clad quarter or silver just by the tone.Have you tried the 15kz mode yet for gold.How's it respond to nuggets in 15kz?Dave
steve herschbach
New member
Hi Dave,
Really, what is wrong with me just wanting a machine that will cleanly notch out the ranges I select, and beep on the stuff I want it to beep on, preferably with a tone or two I find pleasant to listen to?
What if I really just do not want to get a sound from VDI numbers I want to reject? I'm not saying any one method is correct or denying that hearing all tones is not best. But if I want only a select set of VDI numbers to beep, what is wrong with that as long as it makes me happy?
To each their own. I used to run my CZ in all-metal and listen to all tones. It helps eliminate the old iron issue people complain about with the CZ units. Iron that will chirp high with iron notched out will read iron on most swings and only chirp high now and then. So I do know about the old listen to it all routine.
But that does not mean I always want to do it. Lots of people may prefer to reject all VDI numbers except dimes on up. I do not see anything inherently wrong with that, if they are happy doing it. Why have a reject feature at all anyway? Me, I'd prefer to dig alumium in hopes of gold and not be bothered with pennies. As in I do not even want the machine to beep on them.
Just like I'd like a machine that can reliably tell the difference between pennies and dimes. Just beep on dimes on up. The DFX in 3 Khz only mode is so close you can taste it. Maybe we need a 1 kHz mode?
The DFX is surely a good good jewelry detector due to its 15 kHz frequency. But I've never thought it hit as hard as my MXT on gold, and so I'd always grab the MXT first for nugget detecting. But for jewelry I do just the opposite, as the MXT is noisy in parks. And I can't notch out what I want to notch out, which to me is the big selling point on the DFX.
One thing I'm not and that is some kind of super technically proficient operator. I'm sure you'll always be better with a DFX than I, Dave. I seem to be the last guy around who does not get all that concerned about getting super depth of detection. I seem to find enough stuff 4-5 inches deep to keep me happy. Given the option I'll go small coil for parks and such. The only time I turn into a depth monster is when I'm runing my GP 3500. I got a 27"x21" DD coil this year, and I'm serious when I say you need a shovel with that thing!
Just chalk me up as weird and stubborn, Dave. What I'd like right now is a machine that gives me a sound on exactly the range of gold/aluminum targets I want and quarters plus... and nothing else. I do not need a meter. Two tones would be nice, one for gold range, and one for quarters on up. Depth is no big deal as I'll pass on anything deeper than my screwdriver can pop up. Fast recovery is of course important.
So far the DFX is the best thing going for my admittedly strange preference. I can tweak in exactly those items I want and leave the rest. The X-Terra 50 has had my interest for similar reasons but I doubt it will have me giving up my DFX. The Fisher ID Edge would really make me happy if it just had independent notch selection instead of its factory presets. Still, I'm sure I'll be giving one a spin.
Oh well, enough rambling. Always fun to chat, Dave. Thanks for all your great info on the DFX forum!
Steve Herschbach
Really, what is wrong with me just wanting a machine that will cleanly notch out the ranges I select, and beep on the stuff I want it to beep on, preferably with a tone or two I find pleasant to listen to?
What if I really just do not want to get a sound from VDI numbers I want to reject? I'm not saying any one method is correct or denying that hearing all tones is not best. But if I want only a select set of VDI numbers to beep, what is wrong with that as long as it makes me happy?
To each their own. I used to run my CZ in all-metal and listen to all tones. It helps eliminate the old iron issue people complain about with the CZ units. Iron that will chirp high with iron notched out will read iron on most swings and only chirp high now and then. So I do know about the old listen to it all routine.
But that does not mean I always want to do it. Lots of people may prefer to reject all VDI numbers except dimes on up. I do not see anything inherently wrong with that, if they are happy doing it. Why have a reject feature at all anyway? Me, I'd prefer to dig alumium in hopes of gold and not be bothered with pennies. As in I do not even want the machine to beep on them.
Just like I'd like a machine that can reliably tell the difference between pennies and dimes. Just beep on dimes on up. The DFX in 3 Khz only mode is so close you can taste it. Maybe we need a 1 kHz mode?
The DFX is surely a good good jewelry detector due to its 15 kHz frequency. But I've never thought it hit as hard as my MXT on gold, and so I'd always grab the MXT first for nugget detecting. But for jewelry I do just the opposite, as the MXT is noisy in parks. And I can't notch out what I want to notch out, which to me is the big selling point on the DFX.
One thing I'm not and that is some kind of super technically proficient operator. I'm sure you'll always be better with a DFX than I, Dave. I seem to be the last guy around who does not get all that concerned about getting super depth of detection. I seem to find enough stuff 4-5 inches deep to keep me happy. Given the option I'll go small coil for parks and such. The only time I turn into a depth monster is when I'm runing my GP 3500. I got a 27"x21" DD coil this year, and I'm serious when I say you need a shovel with that thing!
Just chalk me up as weird and stubborn, Dave. What I'd like right now is a machine that gives me a sound on exactly the range of gold/aluminum targets I want and quarters plus... and nothing else. I do not need a meter. Two tones would be nice, one for gold range, and one for quarters on up. Depth is no big deal as I'll pass on anything deeper than my screwdriver can pop up. Fast recovery is of course important.
So far the DFX is the best thing going for my admittedly strange preference. I can tweak in exactly those items I want and leave the rest. The X-Terra 50 has had my interest for similar reasons but I doubt it will have me giving up my DFX. The Fisher ID Edge would really make me happy if it just had independent notch selection instead of its factory presets. Still, I'm sure I'll be giving one a spin.
Oh well, enough rambling. Always fun to chat, Dave. Thanks for all your great info on the DFX forum!
Steve Herschbach
Well I cant say enough about this last post. Thank You for saying it. I have only been on here a month or so, and I must say I really like and admire each and every DFer out there willing to give their views and advice to the new or not so new DFer. I don't think I have enjoyed any forum more, ever, in any hobby I have had. You guys are all top notch! The one thing that has always bothered me though is that any time anyone presents the idea that they don't want to follow the old mantra
" Listen to it all, Dig it all, at any depth"
They are nearly stomped to death. And absolutely made to feel as if they are not worthy of calling themselves a DFer. If you don't believe it, just read back as far as the messages go, it's always there and not just in this forum either. Now forgive me if I am wrong, but I will bet that most of the DFers out there, where dazzled into ponying up their $700.00 to $1000.00+ depending on accessories, by a salesman who one day swung a selection of dimes, nickles, pop tabs, and quarters under the coil in a showroom, and waxed poetic on how these fabulous new machines can help you find what you want and block what you don't, and even better tell you the depth.
In my mind a very admirable and desirable set of features. Unless of course you mention your desire to use these features on a forum. Then of course someone is guaranteed to come along and try to make you feel stupid for even mentioning your desire to use those same features. What could be more stupid? Paying around a grand to get these features and then not using them ever? I really like how the last post posed the question "why did we buy discriminating detectors at all then?" Now I have to admit most days I pretty much listen to everything and dig most everything myself. But hey sometimes I like to just coast and cherry pick. You know I may just not feel good that day. Or more likely as often happens after spending hours and hours of DFing, I will be swinging on my way back to the car and, oops a hit. Possible penny or a dime at 10 inches! Naw, it just isn't worth it right now. But hey a few feet closer to the car if a potential Quarter at one inch pops up, heck ya. It only makes sense doesn't it. It's why we don't all ow PI machines right? You know, I think it is right and often helpful to point what might be missed out to the new guy, but notice that some do it gently while offering answers to the question asked, never making the new guy feel stupid for asking. My favorite post are the positive responses that actually address the question asked, and that help us, all of us, really learn how to use those special features of these great machines. That is what makes this one of the best forums on the entire Internet. You guys are all great. And as always....
" Listen to it all, Dig it all, at any depth"
They are nearly stomped to death. And absolutely made to feel as if they are not worthy of calling themselves a DFer. If you don't believe it, just read back as far as the messages go, it's always there and not just in this forum either. Now forgive me if I am wrong, but I will bet that most of the DFers out there, where dazzled into ponying up their $700.00 to $1000.00+ depending on accessories, by a salesman who one day swung a selection of dimes, nickles, pop tabs, and quarters under the coil in a showroom, and waxed poetic on how these fabulous new machines can help you find what you want and block what you don't, and even better tell you the depth.
In my mind a very admirable and desirable set of features. Unless of course you mention your desire to use these features on a forum. Then of course someone is guaranteed to come along and try to make you feel stupid for even mentioning your desire to use those same features. What could be more stupid? Paying around a grand to get these features and then not using them ever? I really like how the last post posed the question "why did we buy discriminating detectors at all then?" Now I have to admit most days I pretty much listen to everything and dig most everything myself. But hey sometimes I like to just coast and cherry pick. You know I may just not feel good that day. Or more likely as often happens after spending hours and hours of DFing, I will be swinging on my way back to the car and, oops a hit. Possible penny or a dime at 10 inches! Naw, it just isn't worth it right now. But hey a few feet closer to the car if a potential Quarter at one inch pops up, heck ya. It only makes sense doesn't it. It's why we don't all ow PI machines right? You know, I think it is right and often helpful to point what might be missed out to the new guy, but notice that some do it gently while offering answers to the question asked, never making the new guy feel stupid for asking. My favorite post are the positive responses that actually address the question asked, and that help us, all of us, really learn how to use those special features of these great machines. That is what makes this one of the best forums on the entire Internet. You guys are all great. And as always....
Funny, I just ran into this issue tonight. My only "modern" machine has been the MXT and not knowing any better I've been either enduring the extra noise or "cherry picking" when I get tired of it.
A friend bought an ACE 250 last week and was showing it to me tonight. After a little playing, I noticed it's ability to cancel out specific ranges and was amazed. What a neat feature!
In the past month I've been racing against the frozen ground and specifically was looking for gold and silver. Of course I'd have to stop and look at everything in between. The ability to cancel out those "tweeners" would really have come in handy.
You may have just sold me a DFX Steve.
A friend bought an ACE 250 last week and was showing it to me tonight. After a little playing, I noticed it's ability to cancel out specific ranges and was amazed. What a neat feature!
In the past month I've been racing against the frozen ground and specifically was looking for gold and silver. Of course I'd have to stop and look at everything in between. The ability to cancel out those "tweeners" would really have come in handy.
You may have just sold me a DFX Steve.