Please excuse this Newbie question/statement

[duncan42]

Long long ago (In 1972 W/a Whites can't member the mod) I found several 10kt. gold rings, silver coins, none worth much more than the silver content, lots of clads, and a .47kt mine cut gents diamond pinkie ring in 14k. gold and platinum . Appraised at $800.00 in '73.

I want to get back into the hobby but I'm lost with all this new technology.

After a lot of reading I want a Minelab X-Terra 70 I think...BUT....

Please advise me why if I plan to dig every indication of a target, would I not want a Minelab gold hunting machine?

As Almost Every "Real Good Find" that I have read about is located on a questionable signal, that was most likely passed over by another detector.

Thanks
Duncan

 

[OldeTymer]

Duncan,

I started in 1972 as well. I would guess you probably were using a 66TR, CM3 or CM4 at the time. I was using a Compass 94B.

Back then, digging every signal wasn't an option. We didn't have discriminators so the decision was made for us. Also, there weren't as many various aluminum trash items. There were pulltabs, but they weren't as prolific then. There weren't aluminum cans to contend with either. No aluminum can slaw that is so prolific today. People then didn't throw as much trash on the ground like they do today. It was just a different situation then as opposed to now.

Although digging every signal is a noble thought, I believe that you will tire of that quickly when you "see" how much trash you have to contend with now, and will probably drop the hobby again. Just because a machine has various target ID capability, it doesn't mean that you can't still be selective in the amount of digging you want to do. The beauty of target ID is that you have additional input to help make your dig decision other than just a beep. If just a beep was all that was needed, there wouldn't be target ID machines. Everyone would be using a high end PI unit, and digging every signal. Unfortunately, there is just too much trash for most to follow that route. All you have to do is set any machine to all-metal, and you can dig every target. I think you would find that will get real old, real fast.

The X-Terra 70 is an excellent choice for re-entering the hobby. It gives you a lot of options. It has target ID in the all-metal mode so you can listen to all signals, but you can decide if you want to dig the obvious iron targets, or not. You also will have 3 different frequency choices for different types of target search. 18.75khz for those low conductive targets such as gold jewelry. 7.5khz for general hunting, and 3khz for those high conductors such as the silver and copper targets. There are many more reasons to choose the X-Terra 70 as well. I might suggest that you read the operator's manual, and the various field reports on the Minelab website if you haven't already done so.

Good luck in your decision, and welcome back to the greatest hobby on earth, and under water.

OldeTymer

 

[John LA]

I also started in 72 and hunted till 82. Started back about a year ago. I'm still learning my X70 after using the Explorer for a while.

 

[Digger]

n/t

 

[duncan42]

[quote OldeTymer]Duncan,

I started in 1972 as well. I would guess you probably were using a 66TR, CM3 or CM4 at the time. I was using a Compass 94B.


Although digging every signal is a noble thought, I believe that you will tire of that quickly when you "see" how much trash you have to contend with now, and will probably drop the hobby again.

The X-Terra 70 is an excellent choice for re-entering the hobby. It gives you a lot of options. It has target ID in the all-metal mode so you can listen to all signals, but you can decide if you want to dig the obvious iron targets, or not. You also will have 3 different frequency choices for different types of target search. 18.75khz for those low conductive targets such as gold jewelry. 7.5khz for general hunting, and 3khz for those high conductors such as the silver and copper targets. There are many more reasons to choose the X-Terra 70 as well. I might suggest that you read the operator's manual, and the various field reports on the Minelab website if you haven't already done so.

Good luck in your decision, and welcome back to the greatest hobby on earth, and under water.

OldeTymer[/quote]

Thank you very much for the post. A web dealer starting with "K" has a deal on the 70 that includes 3 coils and some extras so I think I will go with that one.

You have been helpful.
Duncan