PI in freshwater

[Wilberorce]

I was set to get a Headhunter PI for diving in salt and freshwater but it seems that most of the freshwater users prefer VLF models such as stingray, headhunter diver, or excaliber.

Is it that the VLFs are beeter in freshwater or will a PI model be just as sensitive and deep?

 

[gatorguy]

PI can not discriminate all the junk you will get in frershwater is why VLF is better there, but on the beaches the PI will go deeper, which you need. it is hard to make one hunt both ideas successfully.

 

[Black Davy]

My two cents worth. I have the HH diver and have been in the freshwater when my brother was using a whites PI model. We were in chest deep water, he spent more time digging crap and I was getting all the loot. On the other hand later that week we went to the beach and the HH Diver got it tucked to it by the PI model. I love the VLF in fresh water, but I am now looking to also get a PI model for the beach.

 

[annamariaslim]

I was thinking of getting the Goldquest Aquasearch and have a question or two. So the reason most people don't use a PI in freshwater is that it doesn't discriminate? I do not have a problem digging every hit on the md. Here is what I would like to do. I live on a Florida tourist beach,every week lots of very expensive jewelry is lost and think the Aquasearch would be my best bet. I also travel quite often to Dahlonaga Georgia, which was the site of the first gold rush. When there I would like to hit the shallow streams and banks there. Again I do not mind digging every tone. Will the PI work for these two situations,or would a VLF be better? TIA ED.

 

[willy]

Actually, you CAN get a form of disc. with a PI; even better if it's an Infinium or Goldscan5. By advancing the delay a bit, one can progressively knock out lower conductors including some low conductive iron. Then, with either of the two detectors, you now have a 2 tone indication of what's left as to whether the target is a low conductor or high. With the Infinium the low/high break point also advances with increased disc. to the point where some silver then reads as a low conductor. By digging the low conductor signal, a lot of iron trash can be left in the ground. there are also a few other tricks that can be used to ID iron. I used my Infinium to hunt a freshwater beach/lake that was loaded with iron last winter. My trash/cash ratio was actually better than with a VLF 'cause the mineralization in the soil caused basically all worthwile targets to read as iron below 6-7 inches. the infinium could give an "ID" way beyond this depth, so had an advantage... Willy. note: I'm assuming that the GS5 works as stated.. never used one.

 

[annamariaslim]

Mr. Bill can I have your thoughts concerning the questions given in my posting? Thanks much!

 

[gatorguy]

I think Bill has been sick, to answer your question, yes it will work on the Fl beaches and in GA looking for gold. Apparently you haven't hunted much freshwater, if you say you will dig all targets LOL. and yes it doesn't discriminate. Good Luck...Don

 

[Mr.Bill]

To answer your question direct, Yes it would work well for those purposes. You are correct that there is no discrimination. Even the PI

 

[Black Davy]

Willy,

I have been seriously considering the Infinium, Why because it looks like a versitile unit(one that can find gold in Alaska and hit the beaches. Could you give me a little review of how you like it.

 

[willy]

Well, so far it's been a pretty decent detector. I've actually seen it being used (successfully) to find gold up in Ak. I've also seen it being used to relic hunt down in Az. I spent most of last winter using it to hunt a freshwater lake/beach (loaded with iron trash) with great success. It's a detector that a lot of people like to denigrate.. maybe because it's cheaper than anything out there with comparable features. I've tested my unit in various places with different targets and have found that it will detect smaller targets than most VLF's. Now, if the photo uplods properly, you'll see a pic. of a dime & 3 targets The gold nugget weighs abt. 3 grains & the Infinium can easily see it with both the 8" mono & 3x7" DD. It will pick it up at abt. 1" with the mono, and 2" with the DD in/on the ground (ground phase reading of 80 on the GMT). The medium sized piece is lead (a bit over a grain) and gives merely a threshold waver. Now, that's damned fine sensitivity added to which there's 2 speed ground tracking, waterproof to 200', drop in AA's, disc. & tone ID. Now, some would tell you that the disc. (delay) doesn't really work (as a disc.) and the tone ID is just a useless gimmick. Well, hate to rain on their parade, but it really does work. Turning up the delay does cause items to be ignored (including some low sounding iron) and will cause a loss of depth on some targets but, you know what?.. the same thing happens with VLF's!! I don't see people ready to chuck their detectors because of this. Think about it, you'll lose some depth, but it will still go much deeper than any VLF made, in moderate to highly mineralized soil. The two tone system also shifts with advanced disc/delay to the point where some silver begins to sound off as a low conductor. What the detector really needs is a momentary toggle switch that advances the delay to maximum, like the coin check feature on the Shadows (X5, X3, X2) and the Infinium could be more easily used for coinhunting, though it would take a lot of practice. The one area where it has VLF's beat to hell & back is ID at depth. It will give a tone response down to it's maximum depth. I don't know of any VLF that will do so. Therefore, when hunting for deep targets, the Infinium gives you an idea as to what's down there vs. a VLF where you just dig it and hope for the best. Any way, I could rant on for a while, but my typing finger is getting tired. I'll just conclude that the the Infinium is an underrated detector that, given it's performance and features, might just be the best bargain (at the moment) out there re. PI detectors. ...Willy.

 

[Wilberorce]

Checking the forums I see that he is very informative and owns or has owned both.

I am still trying to narrow it down between the Headhunter and the above two.

I will be using it for both marine diving and remote, shallow rivers.

 

[willy]

As far as I know, neither the Surfmaster nor the Headhunter are able to ground balance. That's one of the reasons I swing the Infinium. ..Willy.

 

[Black Davy]

willy,

Your input with explanation is greatly appreciated.