Rant on some high end detectors

[Hightone]

One thing that really upsets me, is these so called high end detectors that use the monoplaner touchpads. The advantage is supposed to be it's ability to protect the touchpad from dirt, moisture, etc. When I had my Garrett CXIII, pinpointing was such a pain because you had to push hard on the face of the PP button and it still would not make a good connection and would go in and out of PP mode. The philosophy might be nice, but the use of it is frustrating, to say the least. I have even seen where people had to put a sticky rubber thingy on the face, just to get it to work.

High end Minelab, Fisher, Bounty Hunter and Garretts seem to think this is a good idea. In my opinion, it is cheap. They tried this idea on laptops, only to find people found them frustrating and useless. The Garrett GTI2500 doesn't have it as well as the inexpensive Treasure Ace line.

Give me the Tesoro mechanical PP push button or flip switch any day. Plus the quick knob adjustment over the constant flipping through menu options is a breeze. They can have the Explorers, XLT's, Prizm's, Xterra's, Time Rangers, etc. Tesoro has the right idea about simplicity, and I hope they stay that way. It's what makes me love the whole line of detectors.

Rant over.

 

[gregl01]

Amen!!!!!
Greg

 

[Diggler]

n/t

 

[Myron]

[quote Hightone]One thing that really upsets me, is these so called high end detectors that use the monoplaner touchpads. The advantage is supposed to be it's ability to protect the touchpad from dirt, moisture, etc. When I had my Garrett CXIII, pinpointing was such a pain because you had to push hard on the face of the PP button and it still would not make a good connection and would go in and out of PP mode. The philosophy might be nice, but the use of it is frustrating, to say the least. I have even seen where people had to put a sticky rubber thingy on the face, just to get it to work.

High end Minelab, Fisher, Bounty Hunter and Garretts seem to think this is a good idea. In my opinion, it is cheap. They tried this idea on laptops, only to find people found them frustrating and useless. The Garrett GTI2500 doesn't have it as well as the inexpensive Treasure Ace line.

Give me the Tesoro mechanical PP push button or flip switch any day. Plus the quick knob adjustment over the constant flipping through menu options is a breeze. They can have the Explorers, XLT's, Prizm's, Xterra's, Time Rangers, etc. Tesoro has the right idea about simplicity, and I hope they stay that way. It's what makes me love the whole line of detectors.

Rant over.[/quote]

Awesome post!

Myron

 

[DavHut]

I have even seen where people had to put a sticky rubber thingy on the face, just to get it to work.
Im one of them and I find the "sticky thingy" (actually silicone rubber bumpers) to be a real plus. They make the button much easier snd more positive to actuate and cost nothing. Plus, there is a kernel of truth in that they dont get any dirt or gunk in them.
The Tesoro switches will need some foddling to resolve that, too.
In the end it's what works for you and makes you happy. As for me, there is something to like about any detector.

 

[idig3]

knobs only are the best especially if you just hunt by tone only, you
can spend alot more time concentrating hunting than scrolling through
menus

 

[DavHut]

Here's how to deal with menus:

Set them up according to what is needed for the locale - this takes a bit of knowledge to get right. Knowledge is the key, of course. I usually have a couple of custom setups on tap, too, which I have developed from experience.

Then, and here's the real trick, actually bend your knee and dig targets. Dont gawk at the display all the time or fiddle with the settings over every target. That is realy just looking for reasons to NOT dig. Go with the audio and remember why you are there - to recover good sounding targets.

Right now the only instruments I have that are 'menu driven' are a Garrett 250 and 1350. They are as digi-intensive as I like a detector to be. They're great instrument, once you get to know them. In many ways, they beat my Tesoros. YMMV.

 

[idig3]

how does the garrett beat the tesoro's???

 

[Hightone]

that the 1350 is what you are really talking about. The 250 has full time display, so I wasn't talking about accept/reject notch. I've seen so many people selling XLT's, DFX's, Explorers, etc. because of the confusion of moving through a lot of menu's. Some pick it up, some don't. Changing the GB, preprograms, discrimination, volume, etc. on the CXIII I had, and I'm sure the 1350 is the same, required still some button pushing through menu options to change it and having to touch PP or last mode to leave the menu. Over time those monoplaner touchpads require a harder push as the membrane flattens out and makes it harder to connect.

Garrett's are nice in the respect that you can discriminate exactly what you want to in steps of 24 (1350) or 12 (Ace 250). The 1350 does have that sizing feature, which sounds like it's great for can IDing, etc. I, personally, like the sniper coil on the 250. I keep mine on there all the time. But there IS a reason Garrett puts that default feature on the on/off button. It's easier than undoing all those programs. LOL.

Just an old mans thoughts.

 

[DavHut]

how does the garrett beat the tesoro's???

"Garrett's are nice in the respect that you can discriminate exactly what you want to in steps of 24 (1350) or 12 (Ace 250). The 1350 does have that sizing feature, which sounds like it's great for can IDing, etc.
I, personally, like the sniper coil on the 250. I keep mine on there all the time. But there IS a reason Garrett puts that default feature on the on/off button. It's easier than undoing all those programs. LOL."

These are some good reasons. Here's another that is sure to light a fire around here: The 1350 also equals the Tesoros in general depth, in my experience. The V may have a slight edge if you are master of the GB, but the Garrett will honk louder than any Tesoro over an equal target. Here's one example:

Mu son calls me over to listen to a signal, "becuase its boingin' real loud and is stuck on dime," according to him. My Tesoro Silver UMax barely registered the signal as just a whimper. I said, "That goofy CXIII is probably whacked, but dig it up anyway." He did. My jaw dropped.

It was an 1842-0 dime.

I recall a trash filled park, too, the sight of a former housing area. There was LOOOOOTS of trash from the demo'd houses. At first I had a hell of a time with it. Then I acutally listened to the 1250 I had then, letting it work. In my headphones I was getting "boop-crackle-bonk-boooooing-bonk-hoot. Right in the middle of all that crap was the coin Belltone. I dug it up: a '57 Wheatie in the middle of a nightmare mangle of iron and aluminum crap.

In all his writings, Charles Garrett has never talked down anyone elses detectors, that I know of, either. A die hard Tesoro user, after a while I decided to take a look at Garretts a little closer. I've got more stories, and I like Tesoro's plenty - I plan on using one tomorrow. But lets just say I've had a Garrett of one kind or another ever since those times...

 

[cspene]

n/t