PI's in saltwater versus Excalibur & CZ-20 questions { Oh, & Hi Mr Bill! :-) }

[5282jt]

About 3 years ago, I did loads of test comparisons with PI's, Excals and Cz-20's over the course of a year..
At the time, I tried the Beach Scan by Eric Foster, White's SM PI PRO, Tesoro Sand Shark, Fisher's PI, Headhunter PI,Garret Infinium and any others I could find-like the Barricuda.
"ON MY BEACHES" From Sarasota down to Port Charlotte and out to Boca Grande's beaches, the PI's failed to perform well in the water, either poor depth [like on the Sand Shark] or uncontrollable rise and fall of threshold sound with each wave-to the point of unuseable with the HH PI for instance.
The Beach Scan & HH PI were the best on wet sand, as long as the coil didn't go in the water. Bobby pins at a foot. { OH MY BACK! } The Excal was the best in the water, the CZ-20 was made the best and easiest to hipmount of the 2.
Anyone have a different experience in my areas?
Anything come out since, that you feel warrants further investigation?
Also, my interest lies in finding small 14kt gold rings. So, the detector that hits small gold is what would matter to me most.
Thanks,
Chuck,Diggin'it in Florida

 

[bearkat4160]

The Infinium is made for Prospecting and is the best water PI made to find small gold. If you use it again maybe try some of the smaller coils for it. They are also been improved to be more stable in all areas.
It has to actually be de-tuned some for the surf as it is more sensitivity than standard PI's. Those are usually pre-set grnd balance. Infinium is auto, Im sure you know.

Reports from the gold fields it is finding 0.2 gram at 3-4 inches and smaller gold also now. The new coils made a difference.

That is my choice,HH

Alan

 

[Mr.Bill]

Hi Chuck

Nice to see you back. I hope your feeling better.

I remember those incidents quite well. Your a bit off tail though. As I recall we tried out 2 Headhunter PI's there. I had the first 10 that were manufactured, and 2 went to you. Of course, they were bad. They had coil problems, and that was what caused your problems. With them. Since that time a whole lot of Headhunter PI's have been sold there, and I'm not aware of those problems any more.

On the Beachscan, That one I don't remember you having problems with. Lots of changes to that model since then. It's now the Goldquest SS V.3, and at 10

 

[5282jt]

I did get those 2 HH pi's from you and they were both bad, just as you said and you took them both back for me. You have always been a GREAT help to me and to many, many detectorists! I honestly can't imagine not having you around!
I did buy another HHpi about a year later-used-that according to the prior owner, was the newer version coil?? Who knows? And I know that Frank Hamil tried a number of them "BACK THEN" with the same problems- I sure wish I had gotten better sooner, so that I could have hunted with you in Bradenton area! Right up the road! Then I could have tested your HHpi with you-the pi expert, right there to guide me!
For me, the rise in tone "back then" made it unusable. Any adjusting I tried, helped, but as it improved, I lost more and more depth on the small gold rings until they dropped out. Would that still be the case?
The Beach Scan was just about the same as the HHpi- same depth and abilities, same problems for me.
One of these days, if I can get $ together, i'd love to try an HHpi again! In fact, if you get a good used one of the improved models, send me a price and maybe i'll sell my dog or boat and buy it!
I had varied health problems over the last year and a half to 2 years-largely unexplained [by doctors ] P~A~I~N.
But I also got a nervous condition and "come and go" bouts of depression. I'm at least 75% better [pain wise at least] now and seem to be still improving
HH and thanks!!

 

[Mr.Bill]

Hi Chuck

I really hope they get a handle on it for you. We missed your posting.

I was over there using a Aquasearch & a Goldquest SS. I did not try a HH PI there. I have certainly sold quite a few around there though. On the Goldquest & the Aquasearch the circuit is different than the HH PI, and there's more adjustments that can be made by the user. Just changing the SAT speed would have helped a lot, plus setting the pulse delay back to 15

 

[5282jt]

Hi Bill,
Oh ya, the doctors have me loaded up with Prozac, Xanax, Percocet and Hydrocodone! If I can remember who I am half the time, I feel much better-I think? What were we talking about now????
I only use the pain meds at night now and if I wasn't addicted to them, I might get by without them?
Ya, I talk with Frank by email all the time and just talked with Chuck in Ft Myers and we are gonna get together for a hunt this summer.
I hope to meet up with Frank in Miami too.
He has 2 of the Aquasearch detectors and says they are "IT" I don't know what they cost, but i'll bet it's too much for me nowadays! :-(
Before I got sick or whatever the heck went wrong with my body and brain, I had a reasonable amount of "PLAY" money. Not now. :-(

 

[oldobxguy]

HI, guys I enjoy reading your posts although only understand some of whats being said. As a newbie to MD THing this kind of info is very much needed and I'm sure as I get more involve with my retirement hobby understanding of the tech jargon will improve. Chuck, digging'it in FL, been-there-done-it with the pain and I understand why you are depressed. My doc prescribed Zoloft and it relieved most, not all, but most of my pain. Good luck. I live at the NC OBX beach and want to TH under water and on wet/dry beach and the Aquasearch and HH Diver seem to be good MDs for that purpose. Any thought or insight on these two or maybe others? Thanks, ChuckW digging'it on the OBX