Omega or G2 help me choose

[TerraDigger]

The G2 kills the Omega.......true.........if your primarily a relic hunter. The original poster here is primarily a coin hunter.......for that.the Omega wins......hands down. And neither the G2 or the Omega is a wet sand saltwater beach machine. Thats the realm of specialized detectors.
I traded my T2 in for a Omega......as I primarily hunt coins.......and the Omega beats the T2 for coin hunting.......less iron falsing and susceptibility to EMI. The Omega was built primarily for coinshooting. The G2/T2 were not.

 

[Crosby]

There is a new video on you tube from dirt digger that is about the O8 watch how deep this thing can detect.He shows different ways to hunt with the O8.I have one been hunting for close to ten years and hunting old places like there new again.The O8 is a very deep quiet machine.

Can you post the link?

 

[Monte]

I would have rep[lied to a number of posts but I've been out-of-town, again, as I left a week ago yesterday for Idaho for my brother's Memorial Service. Between being gone most of the time since may 21st and elevating my blood clot leg in the recliner, I just haven't been able to to keep up with all of the forum activity. But, there have been some good questions and great replies, and BuckeyeBrad's nailed it!

I do have and use both detectors,......well actually I have the GB with both DD coils instead of the G-2. I also have all the available Frat Boy coils.

I have the Omega and G2. I like them both.

In a nutshell, I'd recommend the Omega for what YOU say you want a detector to do.

I, too, would recommend the Omega from what I read and understood. While I like them both, if I were limited to only one of them it would be the Omega.

Yes, the GB's/G-2's is "easier" to run slightly more stable than the Omega but the Omega (as well as any detector, IMO) can AND SHOULD be throttled back as needed in order to get stable operation without worrying about what that actual setting may be. A lot of folks really struggle in their minds about what they might be missing with lower sensitivity settings, but my experience at sites that I've spent a ton of time running anywhere from hotter than hades to sensible stable levels, less is many times actually more. Achievable depth with lower sensitivity settings is still substantial and as such and more importantly, one is taking away some of iron's ability to mask.

I usually run any detector as high a Sensitivity setting as possible, but at times that means lower than maximum ... and the Omega still performs very well.

The Omega has the ability to run with four different target tones compared to the 2 tone vari-break of the G-2. Although this difference isn't critical in finding desired targets, the four tones will afford you less time spent looking at the display as you hunt.

I sometimes use the 1-tone audio ID, but generally opt for either the 2-Tone or 4-Tone ID to suit the needs I have at a site with the Omega. I like the G2/GB Pro Discrimination and Tone adjustment, but only when hunting in more iron-based locations.

Keep in mind that the high tone of the Omega is (pre-set) modulated, so good hearing and adequate headphones come in to play in order to get the deep high conductors.

My hearing isn't good at all, but my headphone choices make up the difference. I favor the Killer B Wasp and same-performing SunRay Pro Gold headphones.

The more one can and does change things up in their hunting approach(s), the better the chance more finds will come to light.

Spot on, and an 'edge' for the Omega.

Although the Gold machines MIGHT run well with particular examples of concentric coils, there is no guarantee of that, as per the manufacturer, whereas the Omega is designed to run with both designs of coils. In fact, I'd recommend the Omega with the three coil package if you can swing the bucks.

Yep, I agree here, too. I will say that the 11" DD seldom gets used because I prefer the 9

 

[Furious T]

I have both the Omega and the Gold Bug Pro...they are both great machines, and now, if I take one hunting, I take the other as well. I keep different coils on them at any given time, so that I can pick the one the suits the conditions in which I am hunting, and so have an appropriate detector/coil combination without mucking about at the site. Both of these machines are great and I could recommend either...but if you must choose one, I would choose the Omega, but with the 3 coils.
From your post, you seem most concerned about your current detector in very trashy ground...it sounds to me, and this is my opinion only, that the problem is more with the coil than with the detector. If you have a large coil (concentric) in very trashy ground, it does not matter much which detector you use, you will have some trouble picking through the trash and coping with all the noise. A DD coil will help, and a small DD coil will help even more. A small concentric coil on your Silver wiould be better than the 8" standard coil.
Good luck with your choices, HH

 

[Habanero]

I am gonna put the omega/g2 purchase on the back burner for now because I just acquired a Cortes for practically free(have to help on some weekend projects for family member). Yes, I still want an Omega or G2, well I actually want them both but since I just got this Cortes I am having an impossible time explaining to my better half that I need another detector besides my Silver

 

[bible reader]

Well, Habernero...seems many of the "posters" missed your question.. { with the exception of Monte } I think you asked how to "get around" the Pulltabs, Twist Caps,Foil, and "can slaw". You got several answers about how such and such coil will find deep Silver, Quiet, etc. but ..nobody addressed what you asked. Let me tell you...I've been in it for years....all these targets you mention will "signal a find" depending on how high you've got the "discrimination"...that's on ALL detectors, bar none. So, about all I can do is dig the "gold" signal, whether they're "Trash" or not...won't know till you get them out. Hope this answers your questions. HH

 

[TabWhisperer]

Thanks for the information; its good to hear from someone who has tried them both out. Does the Omega "lock on" to targets just as well as the G2? In other words, if there is a good target such as a coin, will the Omega lock in on a solid number and stick with it or jump around? The Cortes I tried was really jumpy with some of its read outs, even in sum mode it just did not want to lock in on a number but would vary. This could have been due to trash surrounding my target, but I am also interested in how the Omega does in this same situation with good targets in trash.

I had a Cortes and didn't like it. Too noisy and jumpy ID made it not fun to use. The Omega locks on like the G2 and the numbers don't fluctuate all over on good targets in my experience. Pull tabs and bottle caps will jump around and if you sweep the tips of the coil over the target you will get iron type readings. But I still dig some questionable stuff. I try to predict what I'm digging and I'm almost always right even if it is a pull tab or cap. That said with either the G2 or Omega (or probably any detector) the ID locks on better at higher gain settings. At 50% gain a coin may jump around a bit if it more than a few inches deep. Crank up the gain and the number locks on consistently. My challenge with the Omega compared to a G2 (in my case a GB Pro) is that it is more prone to EMI and I have to turn the gain down sometimes to get it stable. With the GB Pro I can typically run it at full gain even under power lines. I like both of them. I find myself grabbing the GB Pro first. The Omega has abilities to notch out ID ranges so if you just wanted to look for quarters you can really make it a quiet selective hunt.

 

[earthmansurfer]

The G2 kills the Omega.......true.........if your primarily a relic hunter. The original poster here is primarily a coin hunter.......for that.the Omega wins......hands down. And neither the G2 or the Omega is a wet sand saltwater beach machine. Thats the realm of specialized detectors.
I traded my T2 in for a Omega......as I primarily hunt coins.......and the Omega beats the T2 for coin hunting.......less iron falsing and susceptibility to EMI. The Omega was built primarily for coinshooting. The G2/T2 were not.

I have to agree here. Now I haven't had a G2 but I did have a T2 for a few years and after swinging an O8000 for one weekend I promptly sold the T2 and never really regretted it (I did miss that trigger). I dug more coins and deeper coins with the Omega and right off the bat. I see the T2 as being closer to the G2 in the sense that it is very fast and more of a relic hunter, though I've heard the G2 does well on coins.

 

[digginLa]

From what I can tell from your first post it seems to that changing to a smaller disc would probably solve a lot of the problems your having, I've hunted with the stock coils on my Omega, DeLeon and Cibola even turning the sensitivity down I'm unable to hunt really close to any metal object however when I put the 5.75" coil on my Cibola I'm able to hunt right next to swing set legs, and fences even with the sensitivity set fairly high, in the local parks I've found coins with it that I missed with both of the detectors using the stock coils due to the heavy concentration pull tabs, bottle caps and other metal junk. Your going to lose some depth with the smaller coil but I feel that being able to hunt in areas where the larger stock coils are unusable more than makes up for the lose of depth. Hope this helps. Jimmie

 

[tabman]

Wouldn't the Gamma be a better choice? It's lighter and I've read that it doesn't have problems with EMI like the Omega does. Not sure, but I think I read somewhere that the Gamma detects just as deep as the Omega. I know it's a good bit cheaper.

Yeah, I'm thinking about selling my GB Pro and getting a Gamma if what I'm hearing about the Gamma is true. The G2/ GB Pro does a great job at relic hunting, but I'm not a relic hunter. I like coin shooting and jewelry hunting.

At any rate, the GB Pro is one fine machine and did find me a couple of nice old silver coins.

tabman

 

[Habanero]

Thanks for the information; its good to hear from someone who has tried them both out. Does the Omega "lock on" to targets just as well as the G2? In other words, if there is a good target such as a coin, will the Omega lock in on a solid number and stick with it or jump around? The Cortes I tried was really jumpy with some of its read outs, even in sum mode it just did not want to lock in on a number but would vary. This could have been due to trash surrounding my target, but I am also interested in how the Omega does in this same situation with good targets in trash.

I had a Cortes and didn't like it. Too noisy and jumpy ID made it not fun to use. The Omega locks on like the G2 and the numbers don't fluctuate all over on good targets in my experience. Pull tabs and bottle caps will jump around and if you sweep the tips of the coil over the target you will get iron type readings. But I still dig some questionable stuff. I try to predict what I'm digging and I'm almost always right even if it is a pull tab or cap. That said with either the G2 or Omega (or probably any detector) the ID locks on better at higher gain settings. At 50% gain a coin may jump around a bit if it more than a few inches deep. Crank up the gain and the number locks on consistently. My challenge with the Omega compared to a G2 (in my case a GB Pro) is that it is more prone to EMI and I have to turn the gain down sometimes to get it stable. With the GB Pro I can typically run it at full gain even under power lines. I like both of them. I find myself grabbing the GB Pro first. The Omega has abilities to notch out ID ranges so if you just wanted to look for quarters you can really make it a quiet selective hunt.

I don't want to turn the focus off of the G2/Omega discussion, but I have been using the cortes lately and am just not really pleased with it at all! My numbers jump around quite a bit as well with the cortes, the depth meter is also way off. I am just not a happy camper with it so I am again looking into another detector by this fall if I can't get any satisfaction from the cortes. It is my first machine to have a display and that is really cool, but the numbers are so erratic in both not locking on and with the depth. I did not have it near power lines and was running it stable.

 

[Monte]

Wouldn't the Gamma be a better choice?

Possibly. Performance between the Gamma and Omega is very close, but there are some differences.

It's lighter and I've read that it doesn't have problems with EMI like the Omega does. Not sure, but I think I read somewhere that the Gamma detects just as deep as the Omega. I know it's a good bit cheaper.

The Gamma is just slightly lighter than the Omega. They share the same lower and middle rods and same size control housing. The Gamma's 8" concentric coil and lighter/thinner coil might weigh slightly less than the Omega's elliptical 5

 

[BuckeyeBrad]

I believe the Gamma is not inherently more "stable" than the Omega. One might rightfully be inclined to believe otherwise when they compare the two but the reason is that each have slightly different contours of sensitivity adjustment. Based on what I see with the Gamma and Omega that I have, basically the Omega enters "overdrive" at a lower setting than the Gamma, which is what probably gives the illusion that the Gamma is more stable. If one were to go to say an urban site and try to run both detectors at 90 (be aware in some aspects 90 on the Gamma is more like 70 on the Omega) for example, the Omega might seem the more noisy of the two and then that person could conclude that the Omega is "more prone to EMI" when that really is not necessarily the case. The other wild card in the mix is that some individuals observations could be made with (speculation of the possible extremes) a slightly sub par Gamma vs a hot Omega that might have a marginal coil problem. This too could lead one to believe that the Omega is inherently noisier when it actually is not. Also, were the comparisons done with the respective stock coils or like coils? An 8" concentric vs the 11" DD can help perpetuate the sense of there being a difference in the two detectors degree of stability. I think it is important to remember that historically the engineers at FT are always tweaking design/performance parameters and including some of their new/improved findings on each subsequently released models not to mention the occasional rolling improvement change in current production. The Gamma was first of the three followed by the Omega then the Goldbug/G-2 series. I doubt that it is by accident that the Goldbugs seem to be more stable at higher sensitivity settings.

 

[tabman]

Thanks Monte.

tabman

 

[BuckeyeBrad]

didn't mean to double up on your post Monte but all is well as we were ultimately presenting different POV's.

 

[tabman]

I believe the Gamma is not inherently more "stable" than the Omega. One might rightfully be inclined to believe otherwise when they compare the two but the reason is that each have slightly different contours of sensitivity adjustment. Based on what I see with the Gamma and Omega that I have, basically the Omega enters "overdrive" at a lower setting than the Gamma, which is what probably gives the illusion that the Gamma is more stable. If one were to go to say an urban site and try to run both detectors at 90 (be aware in some aspects 90 on the Gamma is more like 70 on the Omega) for example, the Omega might seem the more noisy of the two and then that person could conclude that the Omega is "more prone to EMI" when that really is not necessarily the case. The other wild card in the mix is that some individuals observations could be made with (speculation of the possible extremes) a slightly sub par Gamma vs a hot Omega that might have a marginal coil problem. This too could lead one to believe that the Omega is inherently noisier when it actually is not. Also, were the comparisons done with the respective stock coils or like coils? An 8" concentric vs the 11" DD can help perpetuate the sense of there being a difference in the two detectors degree of stability. I think it is important to remember that historically the engineers at FT are always tweaking design/performance parameters and including some of their new/improved findings on each subsequently released models not to mention the occasional rolling improvement change in current production. The Gamma was first of the three followed by the Omega then the Goldbug/G-2 series. I doubt that it is by accident that the Goldbugs seem to be more stable at higher sensitivity settings.

You may be correct about the sensitivity adjustments. The only way to be sure is to air test both detectors. Have the Omega set at 80% sensitivity and the Gamma set at 100% sensitivity. If they'll close or the same in the air test, then you would be correct in your assumption.

tabman

 

[tabman]

1.. All Metal Audio Tone options.

Monte

Whoa, this just sunk in. What does the Gamma get? Just one tone and no options?

tabman