Omega 8500 New Features

[Cal_Cobra]

Some nice features on the 8500:

NOTCH VOLUME – Adjustable Volume Offset by Target Category. Each target category can have its volume adjusted independently. This advanced setting affects the Master Volume setting and functions only in DISCRIMINATION Mode.


I really like the Deep mode. I'd equate the "Fast Filter" the the FA mode on the DST enabled T2 & F75 with the other modes being a permutation of a Boost Mode.

DEEP
This allows 4 settings with varying filters that may increase depth under certain
conditions.
D0
.Fast filter. Best for target separation and searching in heavy trash. It is
the least sensitive of the Deep settings.
D1
.Regular filter. Best for general conditions.
D2
.Deep filter plus 60 Hz notch. This is a slower return setting that will
eliminate some EMI. The noise floor will be increased. This mode is best
used in cleaner soils and Sensitivity must be adjusted for proper use.
D3
.Deep filter plus 50 Hz notch. Same as D2, but with a 50 Hz noise filter.


Multiple Target Category System.

This feature is available only in Discrimination Mode. For each target, the Omega 8500 calculates four
independent numerical Target-ID’s on each pass of the coil; one primary
and three secondary. Each one of the Target-ID’s will correlate to a target
category on the LCD. There will be one solid primary category lighting up
and up to three additional secondary target categories. All are different
readings of the same target, with the primary category being the one with
most reliable signal. If the Target-ID’s vary, they will show up as multiple
illuminated categories, and this could indicate the detector is picking up
noise, a faint/weak signal or that the target is irregularly shaped.


I wish they included the 11" DD vs the 10" concentric coil, the 11" DD was a great on my Omega for sniffing silver out of demo sites and iron trash. I never did get great depth with my old Omega (my F75 LTD blew it out of the water), hopefully the 8500 is more sparky and the "Deep" mode really is truely deep

 

[detectingMO]

I would guess it will come with the same coil configrations as the current omega.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

I would guess it will come with the same coil configrations as the current omega.

That's kind of a bummer, because I bet with the 11" DD or the NEL Snipper coil this is going to be a great silver snipper, and perhaps a good relic hunter with some of the nice features it has.

I see what FT is doing.....they're implementing a lot of new features, sprinkling them here and there on various machines. I think we will see the culmination of these features roilled up into a new high performance flag ship model. Slowly sprinkle the new features out on the "mule" machines, work the kinks and bugs out, and then release a new super flag ship unit when all the features are perfected (next gen T2 and F75). I like where they're going with these new features we're seeing on the new F series machines and the Omega 8500.

Craig do you know when the 8500 will be for sale?

 

[detectingMO]

I would guess it will come with the same coil configrations as the current omega.

That's kind of a bummer, because I bet with the 11" DD or the NEL Snipper coil this is going to be a great silver snipper, and perhaps a good relic hunter with some of the nice features

Craig do you know when the 8500 will be for sale?

bummer? omega currently has a 11dd configuration for sale at $649. I would think new 8500 would as well.

No news on release yet. I'm pretty sure its locked and loaded though.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

I would guess it will come with the same coil configrations as the current omega.

That's kind of a bummer, because I bet with the 11" DD or the NEL Snipper coil this is going to be a great silver snipper, and perhaps a good relic hunter with some of the nice features

Craig do you know when the 8500 will be for sale?

bummer? omega currently has a 11dd configuration for sale at $649. I would think new 8500 would as well.

No news on release yet. I'm pretty sure its locked and loaded though.

It must be about ready to release if the manual is published already. Very interesting machine, cannot wait to see some solid user feedback on it.

 

[jim tn]

Although I always wished the Omega's I had had an inch or two more depth, I really like the Omega platform as it really loved silver. This looks like there may be some additional depth with the 8500. Have some trips coming up later this year and sure would be fun to try it then. HH jim tn

 

[Mega]

I always fancied trying a Omega8k out on some roman/saxon trashy sites,but never got around to using one as i still find my original green T2 does everything that i require from a detector,especially easy of use and very deep.

Will look forward to seeing the initial reviews on this new machine,must admit they are starting to get slightly complicated with so many settings rather than the simplicity of the original T2.

 

[horikindaguy]

I always fancied trying a Omega8k out on some roman/saxon trashy sites,but never got around to using one as i still find my original green T2 does everything that i require from a detector,especially easy of use and very deep.

Will look forward to seeing the initial reviews on this new machine,must admit they are starting to get slightly complicated with so many settings rather than the simplicity of the original T2.

once you get the settings 'dialed in' they will be saved across power cycles, certainly a necessary feature with the many settings possible....

if they've figured out how to get more depth (on silver for example) combined with lower EMI they'll have a winner.....I'll be looking for comparisons to the segment leading (price wise) AT Pro series....

FT needs something to gain some market share on it....

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Unfortunately FT seems to be focusing on the lower end, low performance side of the market, it would be great to see them come out with good, innovative, mid-range and high end machines. Tough to compete with the AT Pro and Makro Racer at their performance price point......time for FT to change things up, which I suspect is on the horizon..... will it be the 8500??

I hope the 8500 turns out to be a killer machine....it absolutely 100% needs better depth and better EMI handling to stay competitive......I suspect from reading the manual that they've incorporated a form of DST into the 8500, as FT machines have been pleagued with EMI issues, and even though Dave Johnson publically blew it off a few years ago here as "normal" he apparently rethought that statement, and has given us DST which works quite well. I made the statement a few years ago here that if he would add adjustable/disable'able backlighting, boost mode and a trigger to the Omega, it would be one killer silver slayer....it looks like he may have given us 2 out of 3.....I'm looking forward to the beta tests when they start to trickle out.... and as the operators manual is posted, I suspect it shouldn't be long.

 

[jim tn]

You are spot on with your thinking, Brian. I wish they had made it at least weather proof, too. I am not an over all in a driving rain hunter, but will with my A T Pro in a light drizzle on occasion. Anyway, being less emi prone and a little more depth will be great if that turns out to be the case. HH jim tn

 

[detectingMO]

Never had depth issues with the Omega. Already seemed to be a better performer than the ATP for me anyway. Definitely version 5/6. I'm most excited about FA mode. The omega recovery is the reason I always felt compelled for a second machine like the g2 ATP or racer. Now the racer is in short company with how fast it is on recovery but if that mode is at least twice as fast as the old omega I would be good with just one machine. especially with with a snake coil or something small. My old version 5 would hit a buried 8" dime and 10" dime just barely with high tone in disc. That's plenty of depth.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Never had depth issues with the Omega. Already seemed to be a better performer than the ATP for me anyway. Definitely version 5/6. I'm most excited about FA mode. The omega recovery is the reason I always felt compelled for a second machine like the g2 ATP or racer. Now the racer is in short company with how fast it is on recovery but if that mode is at least twice as fast as the old omega I would be good with just one machine. especially with with a snake coil or something small. My old version 5 would hit a buried 8" dime and 10" dime just barely with high tone in disc. That's plenty of depth.

I had an earlier version of the Omega, it was a good machine, but wasn't that deep. I really liked it for competition hunts (super light, ergonomic, and locked onto coins), and it was a great silver slayer at demos, just wasn't doing it for me when deep coin shooting in parks and what not.

This new feature is interesting too:

IRON INDICATOR:
The iron segment will react to every iron signal and promptly display it at the
center of the screen. This signal is speed dependent, so it may blink rapidly if the
coil is swung too fast. Heavily mineralized soil can also illuminate the Iron
Segment Indicator.

 

[jim tn]

Yeah, I agree with you on your depth. The two I had could never hit a 10" deep dime and only one, and just barely, could hit one at 8". Some days, not at all. That's about it for my A T Pro, too, however. HH jim tn

 

[detectingMO]

sorry 10" dime was a typo. meant quarter. barely a tic on 10" quarter. 6" dime and 8" quarter rock solid with 49 sens. thats all I ever realistically need.

 

[jim tn]

n/t

 

[Dave J.]

Cal was just stating his honest opinion. I didn't choke on it, no need for anyone else to get unduly exercised about it.

 

[horikindaguy]

Cal was just stating his honest opinion. I didn't choke on it, no need for anyone else to get unduly exercised about it.

hey Dave, just wanted to forward my appreciation to you and your team. have had some time with my new G2+ (have now sold my G2) and it's simply better, not even counting the new features. I can't really pin it down but it feels more precise in its id (and id is shifted a bit also, in a good way)....seems to really help in quantifying and thereby digging less trash....I'm finding more clad with it....will pay for itself faster!

I'm patiently waiting for some reviews on the new 8500 and am interested but the G2+ is so good (for my urban use) that I don't think I'll be able to justify getting one and I fear that it simply won't be able to match the EMI resistance and solid id capability of the new +. I find it pretty remarable how well the thing works with a 19khz frequency. I'm using the 5x10 btw, it glides nicely and has good coverage and is much better with bottle caps...

oh, and I really enjoy CalCobra's posts, very knowledgable, articulate guy....