Menu
What's new
Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!

Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.

Probes: are they worth it?

A

Anonymous

Guest
Are the new fangled probes very helpful once you have a positive ID? Would they save any time in this wet soil I am hunting in?
Thanks.....Roy
 
I guess there are pro's and cons..Pro's help you to find targets in sides of hole, under roots or just plain deep ones. Work real well in dirt piles also.
Sure help to avoid scratching a good coin with your digger..
Cons, just can't see the ones that hook onto your unit as it just makes it heavier and more bulky. Handheld ones even though small are just something else to carry and easy to lose.
Many who have not used one for many years have a system for retrieval and do well, while on the other hand many probe users save time and excell as well. Probbly a mater of preference but do shop around as all probes-pinpointers are not created equal..
 
I use a VP 560 and don't go huntin' without it. it's a class peice of equipment <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
 
Roy, <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
Traveling light is nice, but when you need a pinpointer it sure is nice to have on hand. I wouldn't go huntin without one. I like to use the pinpointer to scrub the ground when I locate a shallow target. Sometimes there is actually no digging, just poppin the coin up out of the grass or dirt. (but you could't see it) There are other reasons that a pinpointer is good (IMO) like when a coin is on the side of your hole, it can sometimes be a little time consuming to find. I also have been in situations that the target was not a coin and thus did not know what I was looking for. I have found either hot rocks or melted metal which looks just like rock, but were metallic content. Keeps your sanity too.
Lar <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
<IMG SRC="/metal/html/garrett.gif" BORDER=0 width=33 height=15 ALT="g~">
<LI>
 
Thanks for the replies.
I sure wish I would have had one today, this sticky soil I am working would be a lot easier with more positive pinpointing ability.
Roy
 
A lot of people swear by them but if you know how to pinpoint correctly they are not necessary. In over 40 years in this hobby I have never found the need for one. It's just a matter of personal choice.
Bill
 
I LOVE my Periscope. It's an inflexable wire, 17" long with a handle. It's got a ceramic tip from which pulses are emitted. It's a a Pulse Induction detector.
It serves as a cross-check on I.D. as well as a precise pin-pointer. As you near the target (maybe 3") the tone (through the switch to your earphones )rises. When you touch it, you can instantly tell if it's iron for certain.
There ARE drawbacks: it's VERY pricey, and you've got to wear the control box slung over your shoulder. But I can find the target instantly, makes for easier recovery as well as a bare minimum in size of hole made.
 
Some very experienced old Pros do quite well without them and, if you are new, I would suggest hunting a while without one. It definitely increases your skill at pinpointing and digging if you don't initially rely on an electronic probe as a crutch for inaccurate pinpointing. But, after you have mastered how your detector's coils pinpoint, a good electronic probe will speed your recovery and make detecting more fun. There are a lot of poor probes out there though and I wasted money initially trying to get by with cheap ones. For instance, the cumbersosme Automax that KellyCo pushes is not worth carrying. I had a White's Bullseye that worked pretty well. I still have and occasionally use the VibraProbe 560 which is a decent performer when the battery is hot. DetectorPro's Uniprobes are fabulous and I use both their models now, but they are quite pricey. I can't speak for the Periscope that some people like, but it is also very expensive. HB
 
I see DetectorPro's have a Uniprobe (with electronics built into the headphones) and a "Pocket uniprobe"
Can the Headphone be used with the audio on the 2500 also, or would you have to carry both sets of headphones?
Do you find the "Pocket Uniprobe" to be the same as the "Uniprobe"....the diference being where the electronis are stored?.
Thanks Roy
 
Now that we're on the subject. When I did these fields in Maine this year I found several Spanish reales. I had a hard time locating them. When I used the 12" coil in the field, I usually didn't leave room for question. I dug about a 6-7" diameter plug.
I had to widen the holes a good 2" to locate these coins. Since then I have been thinking about getting a probe. I would never have gotten away with that in someone's yard. Why do you think those coins where so hard to locate? I now the 12" isn't as accurate in pinpointing, but it's not that bad either. I do pretty well with it. 1250gtax/12"coil Thanks Rich
 
The Original UniProbe is essentially a pair of DetectorPro's Headhunter headphones with built in electronics to drive the attached probe. The headphones plug straight into your detector. With a simple switch on the headphone you can transfer back and forth between hearing your detector or the probe as needed. You are only drawing current from the probe battery when you switch it to probe, so the one 9v battery lasts a very long time. The Pocket UniProbe works exactly the same way, except the electronics are built into a small box with speaker that attaches to your belt. I prefer the Original UniProbe because they are the best headphones I own, but when it gets intolerably hot for full coverage headphones, I switch to the Pocket UniProbe and use light, walkman type headphones. I have no problem hearing the Pocket UniProbe without removing my headphones. Hope this helps. HB
 
When you pinpoint these coins do you detune the coil to narrow the signal down? They might have a large halo depending on their length in the ground and the acidity of your soil.
Bill
 
Thanks HB
I ordered the Pocket probe yesterday, I found your posts on the probes on the DetectorPro forum, and they were instrumental in my final decision.
Thanks again
Roy
 
I have explained this before but here goes again. While you are hovering over the target with the pinpoint pressed - release and press pinpoint one or more times to narrow the signal down. If it's a coin you can narrow the signal down to the size of the coin.
Bill
 
they are great when coin or ring hunting 2500 says 2 inches 95% of the tine it's just under the grass probes save a lot of digging .when looking for a newly lost ring a probe cuts time in half just my 2 cents worth <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
 
I bought the pocket UniProbe. It sure makes my hunting life a lot more fun!
It seems to be able to sniff pretty deep. The deepest coin I have found to date is a Quarter at 5 inches, but it let me know exactly where it was.
The UniProbe really saves a lot of time, and it is very much appreciated.
Roy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top