IMPACT and Testers

[Southwind]

A good example would be the 1835 half dime I found a few months back. This site, Fort Atkinson was built to protect travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. Lots of history. In 1853 they held the big Treaty of 1853 there and one soldier described waking up the morning of the treaty signing to find 5000 lodges of Indians camped around the fort. My buddy's and I have hunted this site, which really isn't very large where the fort was located, for the last 35 years at least. We have if there was ever truly a place one would label "Hard Hit" this is it. I took the Racer 2 which has the claim to fame of finding those goodies in iron infested sites like this one and pulled this 1835 half dime less than an 1" deep. In an area were we walk in to the field to hunt. Not like it was some out of the way lucky hit. 35 years of swinging every detector imaginable over this very spot had failed to see this shallow piece of silver. Of course with the exception of the Racer 2. Now that in my experience is undisputable proof, at least to me, that the Racer 2 is something special not just hype.

Now I wish I had videoed that moment, if nothing else just to see the look on my face, so that it could serve as real life proof of the machine abilities. And its not just that one incredible moment. When I can take a detector to a tot lot that has been hit again for at least 35 years with every machine on the market and pull not 1, not 2, but 3 coins from under 7" of chips and 2" of dirt below that had never been hot yet. That is solid proof of something special. Not some hole I dug in the ground and tossed in a coin but real life hunting proof.

I have had close to the same experience with the Garrett AT Pro. And I don't think its coincidence the AT Pro is one of the most highly praised detector in its range. That is the proof I'd like to see before I spend hundreds of hard earned money on a detector tested by the same testers that told me the MX Sport was up there with the rest. Not putting down the MX Sport just using it for an example. Even the crappy detectors get a thumbs up from these same old testers because they are picked by their ability to make even a pile of crap sound like a good deal.

You got a new detector which you claim is one of the easiest to use detectors on the market, send it to some total newbie and let them prove it then I'll put some confidence in detector testers.

 

[squirrel1]

A good example would be the 1835 half dime I found a few months back. This site, Fort Atkinson was built to protect travelers on the Santa Fe Trail. Lots of history. In 1853 they held the big Treaty of 1853 there and one soldier described waking up the morning of the treaty signing to find 5000 lodges of Indians camped around the fort. My buddy's and I have hunted this site, which really isn't very large where the fort was located, for the last 35 years at least. We have if there was ever truly a place one would label "Hard Hit" this is it. I took the Racer 2 which has the claim to fame of finding those goodies in iron infested sites like this one and pulled this 1835 half dime less than an 1" deep. In an area were we walk in to the field to hunt. Not like it was some out of the way lucky hit. 35 years of swinging every detector imaginable over this very spot had failed to see this shallow piece of silver. Of course with the exception of the Racer 2. Now that in my experience is undisputable proof, at least to me, that the Racer 2 is something special not just hype.

Now I wish I had videoed that moment, if nothing else just to see the look on my face, so that it could serve as real life proof of the machine abilities. And its not just that one incredible moment. When I can take a detector to a tot lot that has been hit again for at least 35 years with every machine on the market and pull not 1, not 2, but 3 coins from under 7" of chips and 2" of dirt below that had never been hot yet. That is solid proof of something special. Not some hole I dug in the ground and tossed in a coin but real life hunting proof.

I have had close to the same experience with the Garrett AT Pro. And I don't think its coincidence the AT Pro is one of the most highly praised detector in its range. That is the proof I'd like to see before I spend hundreds of hard earned money on a detector tested by the same testers that told me the MX Sport was up there with the rest. Not putting down the MX Sport just using it for an example. Even the crappy detectors get a thumbs up from these same old testers because they are picked by their ability to make even a pile of crap sound like a good deal.

You got a new detector which you claim is one of the easiest to use detectors on the market, send it to some total newbie and let them prove it then I'll put some confidence in detector testers.

I only have 6 years detecting experience, and this shorter period here,,compared to many others,,this may be the reason I was asked to test Impact,,or at least part of the reason why.
I do agree with you,,,a manufacturer don't have to always give detector to super experienced,,,to test and talk about,,,I have been saying this for around 2 years now on another forums
I have also publically stated,,,I definitely wouldn't want to be a tester for the same manufacturer over and over as well,, to many other folks out there who are capable and deserving. And adds more spice overall in the long run.

I do think Dilek understands this,,,and I'll bet with time,,you'll see some actions taken to reflect this by the Notka/Makro company.

Bottom line is,,and folks might as well get used to this here,,,Nokta/Makro are a force in the bigger world of detecting manufacturing.
Some folks not familiar with the. or as much,,,but they are one of the major metal detector manufacturers in the world now. IMO.
I have also stated publically in some forms,,,I will test a unit for any manufacturer.
I am not brand loyal,,,but do favor some brands over others for different reasons.

Almost forgot to say,,and I have also already said this elsewhere,,I am going to try and recommend to Dilek,,at least 2 folks to her who I consider would be good candidates for testing possible future models.

I have got you on my list as one of the candidates,,just to let you know.
Haven't made my mind up yet on the other person though.

You see,,I do follow folks,,what they say,,,how they say,,and this plays a big part in my decision process.

 

[nalc472]

I do like that Nokta is responding to the Impact problems and fixing it. If the testers said for example "the tones need adjusted to hear different target types better" and Nokta did nothing that would be bad. However, they seem to be trying to make the best detector before it is fully released. Recently, another manufacturer released a detector that had lots of problems with screen cracking and software problems. It seem to have never recovered. I was going to buy that machine until it got crushed by the users. They should have tested with real world users.

 

[doc holiday232]

Southwind a couple questions:

Please submit your list of "dreams come true testers"

"Give detectors to first time MD'ers" Do you really think that a "first time person" could actually give all the info that the Impact is capable of delivering??

 

[nenadgbeepin]

I do like that Nokta is responding to the Impact problems and fixing it. If the testers said for example "the tones need adjusted to hear different target types better" and Nokta did nothing that would be bad. However, they seem to be trying to make the best detector before it is fully released. Recently, another manufacturer released a detector that had lots of problems with screen cracking and software problems. It seem to have never recovered. I was going to buy that machine until it got crushed by the users. They should have tested with real world users.

Spot on. Bad detectors crash and burn real quick, and even after fixes and updates, they take a long time to recover from a bad reputation. Always best to try as best as possible to get it right beforehand.

 

[J.D]

Hi Nokta Makro detectors I would like to be a tester...how do I become one ... dont expect us to trust your testers so easily...how about letting some new poeple test them out....if you want honest tests with real valuable feedback ...pm me and I'll pm you who I would like to see test out those detectors.Ive been detecting for long time ..I haven't bought one yet ,so far I'm not really impressed or convinced enough to buy one....your call guys pm me if interested ....thank you kindly in advance

 

[Indotguy]

There will be plenty of new Impact "testers" and videos out there soon enough. I wouldn't want to be a tester. Sounds like too much work. I would however accept a free metal detector if Nokta wants to send me one. I promise to give it rave reviews.

 

[Albert]

Dilek you are doing an awesome job along with makro and nokta . I for one I'm happy with all your testers ... monte , steve etc. All we have here on this forum is a bunch of spoiled crybabies that are sore or jealous because they didn't get picked to be a tester . WA WA ! I don't even own any of your products but I'll probably be getting an impact down the road , and no , I don't want to be a tester or get a free detector. I prefer to buy my own and test my own . Enough said!

 

[Indotguy]

Well said. Hear Hear!

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Recently, another manufacturer released a detector that had lots of problems with screen cracking and software problems. It seem to have never recovered. I was going to buy that machine until it got crushed by the users. They should have tested with real world users.

Not only that, but they also tried to cover up the various issues it had. Not sure they ever really resolved all the issues, but these are the exact issues that should be found by field testers. They sent out (IIRC) 30 Impacts to testers around the world, and the things been being field tested for the better part of six months, so it seems that they are absolutely trying to get the best detector they possibly can out to the market. I can think of a lot of issues on various that would've been avoided with proper field testing.

 

[Ozleif]

The Nokta Impact testers are doing a fantastic job in showing us their Video tests in the scenario/arears which are of interest to them !

 

[J.D]

I havnt been pm,d yet so i take it i wont be getting one to test ...

 

[Southwind]

All we have here on this forum is a bunch of spoiled crybabies that are sore or jealous because they didn't get picked to be a tester

No, what we have here is a few people with the balls to honestly post their opinion. That opinion being I believe the vast majority, which are generally silent, want to see live in the wild true to life hunt videos and not these standard run of the mill dig a hole and plant a target videos. I know I want to see a machine taken to a hard hit well hunted site and see if it can pull the goods. That is a true sign of a better than average detector. There are many different detector manufacturers out there making your standard basic detector that will find your average coin . Whoopee Show us something the others won't do and then I'll be impressed.

I've been swinging a detector for 40 years so I know what I'm seeing when I see these staged videos. I can make my 20+ year old DFX do the so called great jobs of sorting junk from good so I'm not the least impressed when I see the lame staged nail board test. It's a rabbit in the hat trick as long as you know how to adjust the detector to do what you want. A live hunt and dig, good or bad, will allow the viewer to make up their own opinion on if that detector could do the job they're looking for. If your product is truely that good then such a test will only serve to make believers out of the viewers. I can tell a good detector when I see a good video.

I have over 60 videos on Youtube using from the DFX to the CTX. Some are nothing but air tests, because I happen to believe they do have value when use properly, some are freshly buried to show how different a fresh vs live target can be, and many are live hunts. These are the ones that count. You hear the sound and see the VDI, then you see the results come out of the ground and you decide for yourself if it's what you're looking for or not.

It take a good detector to impress me believe me. That is why I use the Racer 2 as my goto machine. It does what they say it does.

 

[squirrel1]

It take a good detector to impress me believe me. That is why I use the Racer 2 as my goto machine. It does what they say it does.[/quote]

Who is the "they" you are referring to in your statement???

 

[Southwind]

Who is the "they" you are referring to in your statement???

In this case "They" refers to the Makro. All manufactures make all kinds of fantastic claims. Few live up to those claims. I took my leap of faith not from the manufacturers claims, but the live hunt videos I had watched on Youtube. You can tell a lot from a live hunt as opposed to a staged dug hole with a coin dropped in. A live hunt will let you hear real world results and see real world results.

 

[squirrel1]

Who is the "they" you are referring to in your statement???

In this case "They" refers to the Makro. All manufactures make all kinds of fantastic claims. Few live up to those claims. I took my leap of faith not from the manufacturers claims, but the live hunt videos I had watched on Youtube. You can tell a lot from a live hunt as opposed to a staged dug hole with a coin dropped in. A live hunt will let you hear real world results and see real world results.

The marketing Rep or anyone else I don't think who works for Makro or Nokta,,,has never made any claims period about their manufacturered devices performance,,,meaning they have never ever compared or alluded to another manufacturers product period.
I follow this very closely.

Now the marketing rep may have given a user recommendations for use of their products,,but this is different and ok by me.

Now if you are referring to what is on the packaging/box for a detector,,,then maybe you have a point.
But it seems you agree with what's on the Racer 2 box anyway.
And the price of a detector does have to be considered when rating or taking about.

As a side note here,,,ever look at the box a Minelab CTX comes in???
A detector submerged in water,,right.
What happened to the detector in many cases when it was submerged???

Let me say this.
I think it is delightful to see a manufacturer's rep engaged with the detecting community.
Remember she is engaged not only when there is a problem/issue that needs addressing or fixing,,,,but when things are going well as well.

A true blue detector manufacturer representative.

This should be happening with more manufacturers besides this one IMO.

 

[Southwind]

Well I can't get to makrodetector.com right now but you mean to tell me they say nothing about fast recovery and being able to see in heavy iron trash?

 

[Southwind]

The marketing Rep or anyone else I don't think who works for Makro or Nokta,,,has never made any claims period about their manufacturered devices performance,,,

Makro Racer 2 Metal Detector Features

• High Performace and Unmatched Depth

Look I've got no issues with they way Makro/Nokta promotes their detector. They all want to sell detectors. My issues is the canned testers used that will NEVER have a discouraging word even on the worst product. That leaves little confidence knowing that no matter how big a POS this machine might be, no tester is going to have the balls to say so for fear of losing their tester status. Your users are not stupid and also know this as well. Of course you'll always have the fan club but are they really the market you're after? If so, then hey, you've got'er licked. Welcome to status quo

I was really hoping you guys were breaking the mold.

No offence meant toward your testers but I do not buy a detector based on their reviews. I base my decision based on live hunts I see on Youtube.

 

[Indotguy]

Without mentioning any names, maybe you, Southwind, could share some examples of specific statements the other testers have made about the Impact that you know as fact is not true? Obviously your experience with this detector must have been quite different from the other testers.

 

[Southwind]

Oh you mean like the 18" quarter? Or perhaps the gold chain?

I'm not so much targeting the staged throw a coin in the hole, or nails next to coin cons, but the lack of a good reliable video showing a detectors REAL WORLD capabilities.

I mean com'on how many of you hunt for a freshly buried modern coin at 8"? Why do you suppose we seldom see these testers show us how good or bad a detector is at some hunted hard site? Some old well hit fort or tot lot? My only suggestion is they suck at finding the stuff others missed. I've done several videos of new detectors for review. but I did them in the wild live and raw. It allows a potential buyer to make up their own mind based on what they see and hear themselves not some staged dig like 90% of testers do.

I have no problems with most the testers other than the lame run of the mill hunt and review. Doesn't tell you squat about how that detector is going to fair in the wild.

Be honest now, how many are tired of the same old dig some holes and throw in some coins as a test? Myself the first thing I do is take that new detector to my hard hit but great potential sites to see how it compares to the other I have tried. Sorry if I pissed some people off but I'm no yes man. I tell it like it is. Yeah, and it gets me in trouble a lot, but I do have a rep to believe what I say. I get a lot of PM's telling me they respect my opinion because I'm willing to step on some toes if need be to tell it like I see it. Years ago I got screwed by these yes men testers so I feel the other side of the story needs to be told as well.