Ground Hawk

[bayoukid]

I checked around and I guess this is the best place for this thread.

I just purchased a used Ground Hawk via the classifieds here and can't wait for it to be delivered.

This model was originally made in 1982 but was most likely upgraded over the years to some extent.

Anyway, the company is now out of business.

I'd appreciate hearing from those of you who know anything about this now obsolete brand.

Also any other comments are welcome.

--kid

 

[akille68]

Hi,
As I told You I have got one some weeks ago (new version with "lock" "unlock" label).
Let's stay in contact.
All the best,
Ale

 

[SteveP(NH)]

Hey Guys,

I picked one up too (with the lock/unlock) and have gone out hunting with it a couple of times. It is definitely a sensitive detector and if you use the machine and trigger switch the way it is described in the manual then you can usually tell if your target is iron or not. One thing that jumped out at me is that this machine sure does seem to like hot rocks. Maybe that is because I am not getting the GB really dialed in.

Hope you like yours....

 

[bayoukid]

Hi,
As I told You I have got one some weeks ago (new version with "lock" "unlock" label).
Let's stay in contact.
All the best,
Ale

Yes, mine is the Lock/Unlock version too.

I continue to read what I can find on it and some regular users have shared a few things with me but it looks like either the owners don't come to these forums or they didn't sell many machines.

--kids

 

[bayoukid]

Hey Guys,

I picked one up too (with the lock/unlock) and have gone out hunting with it a couple of times. It is definitely a sensitive detector and if you use the machine and trigger switch the way it is described in the manual then you can usually tell if your target is iron or not. One thing that jumped out at me is that this machine sure does seem to like hot rocks. Maybe that is because I am not getting the GB really dialed in.

Hope you like yours....

Ya, loving hot rocks is true of many deep machines. My Fisher F70 would scream at a pea sized hot rock 10 inches deep. No setting with the F70 or 75 can dial out hot rocks. If they're there the F will find em.

About the only machines I know that can ignore them are made by Minelab. I don't recall ever digging one while using my Explorers or the Sovereign GT.

At this point I'm thinking the Ground Hawk is going to be a great machine if I take the time to really learn it.

I'm guessing most owners never really studied it or trusted it.

I mean lets face it, we're all major brand followers even if we'll never admit it..

I can tell you this, if the one I bought turns out like I think it will, another Ground Hawk will be purchased as soon as possible.

--kid

 

[akille68]

Did you read owner manual? There is a method to set detector against hot rocks in lock mode.

You have to set sens. and volume at max, discr. 2, Threshold soft hum, meter needle to black zone (positive) and then turn anticlockwise gb knob (while up-downing coil) until sound starts to click, that You go a little beyond that point and it should be able to null hot rocks.

Trigger tips:

Push: to check target at discrimination previously set;
Pull forward: to check target at max discr. (even if You have set discr. at minimum).

No so strong discrimination on great pieces of iron, so needle helps to understand: it tells You ferrous (to the lef/red zone) or unferrous (to the right black/zone)

Can You do some air tests?

All the best.

 

[bayoukid]

with my machine. I've mostly learning it on my own.

All I have is the short little overview manual downloaded from the internet. It doesn't contain anything like you mention.

Do you know where I can get the full manual?

Thanks much for this good information.

I need to re-solder the coil connector. The unit came with electrical tape wrapped around it and when I wiggle the coil cable I get false signals. This is not good.

But I can already see this is a far more complex machine than what I first thought.

In air tests it's about the same as my Tesoro Tejon. They both set on maximum settings detect a quarter, dime, and nickle the same distance from the coil.

I've also noticed the Ground Hawk produces very distinct sounds on certain targets. In my air tests it's easy to tell a rusty washer form a coin. It's much more difficult with the Tejon.

Thanks again,

--kid

Did you read owner manual? There is a method to set detector against hot rocks in lock mode.

You have to set sens. and volume at max, discr. 2, Threshold soft hum, meter needle to black zone (positive) and then turn anticlockwise gb knob (while up-downing coil) until sound starts to click, that You go a little beyond that point and it should be able to null hot rocks.

Trigger tips:

Push: to check target at discrimination previously set;
Pull forward: to check target at max discr. (even if You have set discr. at minimum).

No so strong discrimination on great pieces of iron, so needle helps to understand: it tells You ferrous (to the lef/red zone) or unferrous (to the right black/zone)

Can You do some air tests?

All the best.

 

[bayoukid]

post today's findings in my soil.

Comparing the Ground Hawk to the Tesoro Tejon.

Depth: nearly the same on coin sized targets. A fresh buried clad quarter at 8 inches was a good solid signal on the Tejon and GH but the Tejon's signal was slightly louder. I therefore would say the Tejon is maybe 1/2 inch deeper on coins but also the Tejon's coil is larger than the coil on the Ground Hawk. So with equal coils maybe they're the same? Another thing to note is the GH has those sweet mellow vintage sounds on deep coins while the Tejon has beeps. Long time buried coins in undisturbed soil would probably detect deeper with both machines.

Discrimination: the Ground Hawk is supreior to the Tejon. The GH can discriminate out a silver dollar sized rusty washer and yet give a solid clear signal on a nickle and gold chain. The Tesoro Tejon can't duplicate this.

Balance and general quality: the Tejon is superior to the GH. The GH feels just like those famous vintage Fisher machines some still use. It's a little top heavy but the weight seems only a little heavier than the Tejon.

Warrenty and coil options: no contest--Tesoro all the way.

Extra notes:

If I could have only one machine and had to chose bewteen these two it would be the Tejon.

I see the Ground Hawk as a great backup machine for coin/relic hunters. I'd love to try the GH at some old park loaded with trash. I'd hunt in all-metal mode and pull the trigger back to check the target in discrimination mode. This seems to work best.

Ever notice that a target gets better or worse the more times you swing the coil over it? The target almost seems to charge with energy with each swing of the coil. Well, hunting in all-metal with the GH seems to charge the target and when you check it in discrimination mode it appears one gets a much more accurate discrimination reading.

Here's what I'd suggest: Hunt a new site with a faster machine and mark the hot spots. Then return with the Ground Hawk and while hunting slowly (like with the Explorer), hunt in all-metal mode using the discrimination trigger on each target.

I could see where this machine could pull targets out of very trashy sites where others might mask out.

That's it fer now.

--kid

 

[akille68]

Hello,
Mine gets 30cm on 1 Euro coin.
Here is a video (sorry it is in italian).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5GOi4EsXVg