Best Beach Detector

[U.K. Howard]

I live in the U.K and mostly detect on beaches. I currently use a C Scope CS4 pulse induction machine, but am wondering whether I might find a benefit by upgrading to a more expensive machine. I have drawn up a list of other PI machines, but without having any personal experience of using them, it is impossible to tell which, if any, might be better than my CS4. The machines on my list are: Tesoro Sand Shark, Garrett Sea Hunter Mk2, Whites Surf PI. Would anyone like to offer an opinion as to which might out perform my CS4?

As for the Garrett Seahunter MK2, I have noticed an American retailer offering this model for sale at roughly

 

[bob.oz]

You can go to the beach and water forum and see what the different machines are doing in the water.....I can only give my opinion on the Surf PI...Does me well!!!..sorry can't compare it to the CS4 having never used one.The Tesoro forum has lots to offer on the Sand Shark abilities you might post your question there,same with Garrett forum about the MK2. GL

 

[Nauti]

Hi Howard,i too live in the U.K and do mostly beach detecting now.......i have recently moved to the coast.I use a minelab sovereign which is one of the best beach machines around.One word of advice I would give is if you don't get a p.i,get a minelab multi frequency machine.One of the most respected and best beach machines ever made is the excalibur from minelab which is basically a waterproof version of the sovereign.......these machines will keep up with a p.i machine and have the advantage of discrim if you get hacked off with having to dig everything.The other advantage of these machines is they also perform brilliantly inland if you ever have the wish to use them for inland detecting.

 

[SpiritRelic]

Hi Howard,i too live in the U.K and do mostly beach detecting now.......i have recently moved to the coast.I use a minelab sovereign which is one of the best beach machines around.One word of advice I would give is if you don't get a p.i,get a minelab multi frequency machine.One of the most respected and best beach machines ever made is the excalibur from minelab which is basically a waterproof version of the sovereign.......these machines will keep up with a p.i machine and have the advantage of discrim if you get hacked off with having to dig everything.The other advantage of these machines is they also perform brilliantly inland if you ever have the wish to use them for inland detecting.

So true.The Sov is excellent at the beach.Minelabs are the best in minerals.After all,they started in Australia.

 

[KinTN]

Hi Howard,i too live in the U.K and do mostly beach detecting now.......i have recently moved to the coast.I use a minelab sovereign which is one of the best beach machines around.One word of advice I would give is if you don't get a p.i,get a minelab multi frequency machine.One of the most respected and best beach machines ever made is the excalibur from minelab which is basically a waterproof version of the sovereign.......these machines will keep up with a p.i machine and have the advantage of discrim if you get hacked off with having to dig everything.The other advantage of these machines is they also perform brilliantly inland if you ever have the wish to use them for inland detecting.

Agree 100%.

 

[chipmonky]

In the uk TDI for the wet sand Excalibur for the water and 705 or similar for the trashy dry

 

[goodmore]

I believe the Minelab CTX is the best beach detector. With the 17inch coil it can discriminate and hit just as deep as a PI unit. And with the ability to switch coils it becomes a very good water hunter. Yes it is expensive. But a good gold find makes it lighter on the wallet.

 

[chipmonky]

Yes its good but still will not touch a high power P.I on depth for small high value rings and chains

 

[U.K. Howard]

Hi, and apoligies for my delayed reply.

I have read through all of your comments and am very grateful that you've taken the time to reply to my original question. There is certainly plenty to consider, and I'll perhaps post further questions in the relevant detector make/model sections, as suggested. As for multi-band, I doubt whether I could afford a TDI or top of the range Minelab, but might possibly be able to go for a Whites DFX E, or Minelab Safari. Presumably these would be an improvement on the CS4?

 

[chipmonky]

Second hand sov are good value. safari also good on beach

 

[KinTN]

I do well on the beach with my Safari fwiw. Its a good all-round machine and a killer on silver.

 

[Nauti]

Hi again Howard.The safari will compete with the cs4 on depth but has the advantage of discrim.Also,there is the advantage of coil choice with the safari whereas the coil on the cs4 is hardwired I believe.

 

[UK Brian]

Your first listed detectors are all waterproof. If you really don't want to go in the sea its easier to get better performance at a lower price.

Deepstar 3 or TDI will outperform all the Minelabs, the Garrett Sea Hunter, Tesoro pulse, Fisher CZ's, Whites Dual Field, Surfmaster, Beach hunter I.D.,DFX, V3 and V3i, Eric Foster Beachscan and Sandpiper, C-Scope 4 and 6 and 7 UMD.

The P.I.'s will lose a degree of beach coverage due to more iffy signals being dug and the fact you will be digging deeper. On the other hand you will be able to sweep faster than with twin or multiple frequencies so do gain a bit back.
If your local beaches have much black sand then that should keep you in the P.I. camp but low price pulse doesn't give that good a performance. You really need to spend more so that the depth advantage makes up for the lack of discrimination.

The Garrett Seahunter will be the same as the U.K. sold version. I never found it very good but it is a good price for a waterproof detector. The Infinium IS supposed to be different with better discrimination or depth depending if its set up for the U.S. or Australia.

 

[U.K. Howard]

I've taken a look around for the Deepstar 3 mentioned in the most recent post by UK Brian, but am unable to find it for sale on either the internet in general, or on ebay. The only items that came up on ebay under a search for the name of Deepstar, were motor vehicle wheel hubs, dvd moves, and 12" vinyl, so I am guessing that this machine is no longer in production, and that those who are fortunate to own one, treasure it so much that they are unlikely to ever part with it? As for the White's TDI, I have seen this model before, as it's been around for a year or two. I'd love to try this out if, it were a little less expensive to buy. But hey, perhaps it's worth every single penny? I'd welcome views and opinions from anyone who has used this machine. How is it better than the CS4? Is it similar to the Seahunter, in as much as it perhaps incorporates some form of discrete discrimination? As for the Infinium, I have not researched this yet, so will go away and have a look for this now. More to follow........

 

[U.K. Howard]

Okay. Further research conducted. I have found and read a few reviews on the Infinium by Garrett. It looks as though this is a combined land and underwater diving machine. Some say good, some say great, whilst others don't rate it at all. Is this by any chance an updated version of the Seahunter?

Some say that the Sovereign from Minelab is great on the beach. Would it perform better than a DFX E, or Safari?

During the course of my most recent research, I happened to come across a machine called a Black Hawk PI, retailing at over 3000 euros. It looks very posh. Has anyone used one?

Also, on a recently viewed, but pretty old (if that makes sense) episide of CSI Vegas (circa 2002/3), the investigators were using what appeared to be some form of machine which they moved over the surface of the ground (mounted on wheels, a bit like a shopping trolley) which included a screen showing the exact location of metal, and bone, etc. I guess this would be using some form of radar technology, or ultrasound? Does anyone know of such machines, and can they be used for metal detecting in a hobby sense? The thoughts of wheeling one of these machines along the local beach, and actually seeing the position of coins and rings under the sand seems rather appealing, if perhaps a little too good to be true. Maybe the wheels might require swapping out for some form of ski-type base, to prevent sinking into the soft sand?!

 

[Nauti]

Howard,are you for real......are you playing us all for fools or are you genuinely writing these posts from the comfort of your padded cell in the local asylum?We have all tried to give you good advice and we have all given you our time to try and help you make a choice on a detector.The last paragraph of your last post makes me believe you are either taking the p*ss or you are mentally challenged. Come back down to earth and stop taking advantage of the good folk on this forum.....i bet many who have read this last post feel the same but have been too kind to say anything.

 

[UK Brian]

The Infinium is rather different to the Seahunter. I hate it but its cheap. I'm supposed to be getting to try the Black Hawk soon if its the OKM one so I'll let you know. Radar developed by a British company has now been combined with a pulse type mine detector. I think the machine is sold under the Vallon label.
Lots of radar around now being used by the arrkies. Have a look at www.archaelogyexpertinfo.uk/GroundpenetratingRadar . There's handheld or sled designs. Not easy in use which together with cost is why you don't see people using them. The T.V. screen type machines you see advertised that look fairly detector style don't show you whats underground but use algorithms to simulate the detectors best guess.

My old DFX could be used quicker on the wet sand (once set up) but the Sovereign is so easy. Use no notch, minimum discrimination (it already overdiscrims in my view at zero) , set slight threshold and then the only real problem is to set sensitivity. Some sites will need you to adjust it to suit conditions others you may be better just clicking into "Auto". Sweep slow. I would rather detect in all metal then switch to discrimination as required but you can use discrim. all the time and switch to all metal to pin point.

 

[Jim Robertson]

I have sold some of my detector's over the past few weeks and the four I am keeping as long as I hunt will be the Sov. GT, TDI Pro, CTX 3030 and the GPX 5000. I use the 5000 for Relic hunting and the other three for the beach. I do like the 3030 with the 17 inch coil but the TDI Pro will go deep with a mono coil. You do have to dig everything with the TDI but it is hot on SMALL gold jewelry. There are a lot of folks hunting now and the ones that are good or know what they are doing you just have to reach deeper than they are going. These are just my picks as of today. I know there are a lot of great machines out there you just have to use what you believe in. I really believe a big part of our hobby is between our ears much the same as golf. HH to all and may your next find be great.

 

[U.K. Howard]

The Black Hawk I mentioned earlier is indeed the OKM one, so if you do get to try it out, perhaps you'll post back to let us know how it performs. As for the radar equipment, it all sounds interesting, but as you say, it is probably well beyond the financial reach of many of us, so guess I'll stick to the more conventional equipment. The Sovereign sounds to be my best choice should I decide to buy another machine.

Thanks to all who have contributed constructive advice.

 

[UK Brian]

Though its a cheap option (the Sovereign) don't forget there's several models running from the Mk 1 with iron mask running through to the GT which has reintroduced that option. Over ten years old models you might not be able to get repairs as spares run out and Minelab don't want to repair older machines. The U.K. repairer also charges more for a basic check/tuneup which is odd as it only takes three minutes to open the Sovereign. I had better admit that even with a few third party coils my Sovereign has failed to keep up with todays performance needs so hasn't been used by anyone except my brother in a couple of years.
153 rings last year even though the beaches remained sanded in most of the time. 95% with the Whites TDI pulse.