Hey Mr. Metal detector industry. Can we get with the program?

[JASONSPAZ1]

Today, My Nephew got a toy Teddy Bear with USB ports on it. This Teddy bear which costs 39.99 can be hooked up to a PC, and the parents can go online and program it to talk to the child about the child's life. I asked myself, why do no Current detectors have USB ports, so I can edit programs and trade programs on line? Why do none of the detectors have higher resolution LCD screens like an iPOD or a Nintendo DS? The old argument of "A detector with those features would cost to much" is old.
HELLO! Have you seen the cost of todays High end machines. They cost as much or more than PC's and Laptops.
The technologies I just mentioned have been around for over 10 years. And all the detector industry has done is Re-hash and Re-introduce old models with new stickers. All of the current major detector manufactures are guilty of lagging in the R&D department. I hear through the forums that White's has a "long term R&D project' rolling out soon. I hope it is not just research and application of new adhesive sticker technologies. another example is Minelab. yes, the Explores SE, is nice and all. But why such a low system clock speed with an LCD as slow as spit dripping from a bully's lip. And where are the tiny battery packs that Mini DVR camcorders use?
I am not attacking any particular brand here. They all need to get with the program(pun intended).
Tesoro, maybe they are working on a DNA reading program that wont allow the detector turn on until the toggle knob scans your thumb and correctly id's you, and if it determines that you stole the detector your thumb will get "HoT". And maybe Garrett will come out with a fiber optic technology that will allow the machine to turn different shades of Green.
OK, I am getting silly and out of hand. I truly don't mean to offend any of the brand loyalists. I love my Garrett GTA-x 1250, and my Minelab Sovereign GT. But I love my USB ports as well as My Nintendo DS, iPOD and Teddy bear. And I would like to have a detector that is even mid range in performance with the user ease and application of todays mainstream technologies. What Happens if the Japanese enter the detector market? I'll tell you what will happen the detector industry will get Pearl Harbored and only a couple will survive. Please Mr. Metal Detector industry. Get with the latest technologies and merge it with your current detector in field performance. That merger would equal a new and great revolution. Imagine being able to plug your detector into the PC and get a readout of all the targets your machine sounded off on. Being able to show off and share on line that great program you created would be awesome.
Once again I do not mean to personally offend anyone, I am just trying to start and good healthy debate.

Thanks
JASONSPAZ1

 

[scsomike]

i can understand exactly what you are saying, especially on any DSP based detectors. how about one step further, built in bluetooth for small GPS units or even an onboard GPS unit. I know it was draw more against the batteries, but imagine being able to log information in the field and to mark hunting grounds as waypoints from the control box!

 

[HuntRick64]

I see the desire for these things, but at what cost? I am not talking directly about the price you pay, but the quality you expect. My daughter has had 2 IPods that had awesome displays, even my wife's cell phone had an incredible display, until she dropped it. My daughter's IPods lasted less than 2 years each and cost as much as mid-range detectors. I can definitely see the benefit from modern technology, but I want to be able to drag my detector through the brush, the beach, the mud, the dirt, throw it in the back of my truck and still expect it to work when I hit the switch. I can still pick up a detector that is 20 - 30 years old and, #1 - it still functions and #2 it still finds coins and jewelry. It probably finds more than the newer detector, because I am having to dig everything. My point is that I do agree with you as long as they can continue to make them tough. When I look at everything else in the electronics field, fancier also means wimpier (if that is a word). I have been through 4 cell phones in 6 years and not one of them was eliminated due to lack of features. The were eliminated because they quit transmitting and receiving calls. I would pay the price of a new cell phone just to have my first one back. That was the only one that didn't quit working, the phone company quit using its technology and made it obsolete.

 

[Paul(NWO)]

1. Reliability: As has been stated before. Detectors aren't like Ipod's where you break and buy another one just as unreliable. We as detectorists hold the companies liable if they break and they have had a proven track record of not breaking.
2. Temperature range. Metal detectors work in ranges of temps that a computer, cell phone, Ipod or Teddybear were never intended for. Every new function you add will cause new components or a new chip to be added or made. The more the functions the more the heat it will generate. This is in an enclosed control module because it needs to be at least water resistant and they do operate under these conditions. As you speed up the processing it also generates more heat.
3. Programs: Because of the limitations of the existing components on the control board what tweaking you can do with programs will only produce relatively minimal results. I don't care what you do to your 6 popper in your Mini-van it's never going to be in NASCAR.
4. Power supply: Batteries. The new technologies allow batteries to last longer and produce more power. Weight could be saved and the batteries would last only as long as the current Alkalines if the size were reduced. If that was the case you would have an odd sized battery and not readily available everywhere.
5. GPS: This could be added. With heat and cost to consumer considerations. They are readily available and those that want them most would most likely have them.

How about something we as detectorist would have to us exclusively, like seeing underground. A readout that would show what we're actyually looking at. No more can slaw, Rings not pulltabs. Of course the sucker would weigh 10 pounds , burn your fingers and have to carry the car batteries in the wagon behind you but what a ride.
HH

 

[scsomike]

just food for thought, i have a cingular 8125 pocket pc/phone. it runs windows mobile 5 (well, now i run WM6), has an Omap 200mhz processor and a decent amount of storage. it has a 2.5" lcd touch screen display with a slideout keyboard. it doesn't weigh that much and gets a decent life out of the charge on the battery. it's pretty rugged, i've tackled people that i've had to arrest and its been dropped and banged around pretty good. there's a lot of technology we could use, it all comes down to cost and as mentioned, reliability.