Pulse induction saltwater detectors versus Excalibur & CZ-20

[5282jt]

About 3 years ago, maybe 4?? I did loads of test comparisons with PI's, Excals and Cz-20's over the course of a year..
At the ime, 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 etc.
"ON MY BEACHES" From Sarasota down to Port Charlotte and out to Boca Grande, 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.
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?
Thanks,
Chuck,Diggin'it in Florida

 

[Dig]

Isn't Whites supposed to come out with a PI machine with discrimination soon??? I would imagine that could be the bomb. I have a new Excal 2 and I think it's doing a great job....most of the time any errors made are from it's owner.

 

[hobbes_lives]

I've read that it's not going to be waterproof, though.

 

[hobbes_lives]

I've only had experience with the Surf PI Pro, but I know what you mean about the waves. It is quite frustrating at times. You can turn the threshold up and gain down to reduce the problem, but I'm always concerned about a loss of depth from the reduced gain.

It is definitely a stable, deep machine in the wet sand, as I'm sure you would agree.

 

[thinkin2]

I haven't used a PI unit in many years but that was back when I could still dive. Personally I think they were made with diving in mind but maybe some of the newer ones are better? I did use a CZ-20 for a while but didn't like it because of the same reasons you stated about waves. Maybe the newer CZ-21 is better, haven't seen one so can't really comment. The first CZ's that came out, the CZ-6, were like a miracle on wet salt beaches. There was also a unit from Technetics called the TI TEC, if I'm not mistaken, and it was very, very good on the salt water beaches. But a design flaw put that one in the junk yard and it's a shame because at the time I had never seen anything like it. Enter the Minelab units. I started using them about three years ago and truthfully I have never used a better machine in a saltwater environment. Depth is good and stability is good without any need for ground balancing. I truly don't know of a better unit for saltwater beaches or wading or diving in saltwater than Minelab's units. Imo, they simply are the best of the best but I know others believe the same about their equipment. Bottom line is that there are a few units that can do the job but the operator must learn to use them.
Jerry

 

[5282jt]

Yes, the S pi Pro is a decent depth machine on wet sand, nothing like the Eric Foster machine [about 2/3rds the depth and not as deep as the HHpi by any means either.
As to turning up the threshold and down the gain, if you put a tiny 14kt womans diamond engagement ring [ the kind we want to find] { and no, a nickle is NOT any good for testing pi's or any other detector, it falls in with very large mens gold bands at best and always hits harder than any gold } a few inches under wet salt sand and try that, you will se it disappear as those adjustments continue-but stability will increase too-if you want to find iron and quarters..

[quote hobbes_lives]I've only had experience with the Surf PI Pro, but I know what you mean about the waves. It is quite frustrating at times. You can turn the threshold up and gain down to reduce the problem, but I'm always concerned about a loss of depth from the reduced gain.

It is definitely a stable, deep machine in the wet sand, as I'm sure you would agree.[/quote]

 

[Craig-PI]

We all have different places to hunt and I hunt the beaches of Connecticut and I have found that the Excal can not touch the depth I get with my PI PRO.. its not even close.. The only place I would use the Excal was on the wet sand that was iron infested.. I will not take the chance of missing deep gold so its the PI 99% of the time I hunt.

I don't dig bobbie pins or little pieces of wire because I took the time to listen and learn, I am not fooled by iron either..


Hobbes PM me I have a great setting for the PI PRO and you won't hear the waves going over your coil..