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Sun Ray Probe for the F series
- Thread starter tmanly
- Start date
I'm sure this is probably a great probe, however, it seems terribly overpriced when you consider it is nothing more than the pickup coil with an A/B switch that is utilizing the circuitry of the locator. Makes one wonder how they justify the price when the handhelds have the coil and the circuitry.
Seems like a lot of extra bucks for the convenience of having it attached to the locator shaft and then there is the extra 10 oz. of weight added to what has to be swung around.
No offense to those that have and like the Sun Ray, to each his own. When it comes time to replace my freebie Automax, I'll be considering the Garrett Pro Pointer as suggested to me by another forum member. JMHO, I could be wrong,
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Seems like a lot of extra bucks for the convenience of having it attached to the locator shaft and then there is the extra 10 oz. of weight added to what has to be swung around.
No offense to those that have and like the Sun Ray, to each his own. When it comes time to replace my freebie Automax, I'll be considering the Garrett Pro Pointer as suggested to me by another forum member. JMHO, I could be wrong,
.If you only knew how much it costs to design, manufacture, market, and provide customer support for a product like that........... There's a very good reason why not very many companies are successful in the aftermarket searchcoil business.
There's a very good reason why the stuff that the few successful aftermarket searchcoil companies manufacture is stuff the metal detector companies themselves mostly don't try to compete with. That's how difficult the aftermarket searchcoil business is.
Sorry for coming down so hard on this subject. For a person who doesn't know the economics and technical challenges of high-performance searchcoils, it's easy to look at it and think the price tag is a ripoff. However I do know those economics and technical challenges over 29 years' experience in the metal detector industry and several additional years in roadway loop vehicle detection involving several different detection technologies. I'm darn glad that Sunray does what they do, with a reasonable degree of competence. I don't want the job myself.
--Dave J.
BOILERPLATE: Sunray has no direct connection with FTP-Fisher, we just happen to be companies doing business in the same industry, and our paths cross. I am not specifically endorsing Sunray products, merely explaining the general principle of why they aren't as cheap as (for instance) Bounty Hunter factory accessory coils, and acknowledging that Sunray has a generally good reputation in this industry.
There's a very good reason why the stuff that the few successful aftermarket searchcoil companies manufacture is stuff the metal detector companies themselves mostly don't try to compete with. That's how difficult the aftermarket searchcoil business is.
Sorry for coming down so hard on this subject. For a person who doesn't know the economics and technical challenges of high-performance searchcoils, it's easy to look at it and think the price tag is a ripoff. However I do know those economics and technical challenges over 29 years' experience in the metal detector industry and several additional years in roadway loop vehicle detection involving several different detection technologies. I'm darn glad that Sunray does what they do, with a reasonable degree of competence. I don't want the job myself.
--Dave J.
BOILERPLATE: Sunray has no direct connection with FTP-Fisher, we just happen to be companies doing business in the same industry, and our paths cross. I am not specifically endorsing Sunray products, merely explaining the general principle of why they aren't as cheap as (for instance) Bounty Hunter factory accessory coils, and acknowledging that Sunray has a generally good reputation in this industry.
Dave, I didn't take your statement as "coming down hard" on me, on the contrary. You did a great job of explaining why the advanced technology of the device and the company's coils specific business warrants a higher price. And, you are most correct when you state that I have no idea how much it costs to design, manufacture, market, and provide customer support for such a product. In my own defense, however, don't the same requirements apply to vendors like Garrett? (I know Garrett and other major locator brands do not rely solely on aftermarket coil sales like Sun Ray)
Admittedly, I am painfully new at the whole locating experience, to include the appropriate accessories. My comments were based solely on my electronics knowledge and my experience as a marketing manager for AT&T on a national account. So, please don't take any of my statements regarding the Sun Ray products as derisive or condemning....that was/is not my intent. I learn from experienced folks like yourself.....the reason I joined this forum.
I do wish to thank you for your input, it IS appreciated.
Admittedly, I am painfully new at the whole locating experience, to include the appropriate accessories. My comments were based solely on my electronics knowledge and my experience as a marketing manager for AT&T on a national account. So, please don't take any of my statements regarding the Sun Ray products as derisive or condemning....that was/is not my intent. I learn from experienced folks like yourself.....the reason I joined this forum.
I do wish to thank you for your input, it IS appreciated.
Mike Hillis
Well-known member
n/t
Guys I have had both the FX-1 and the Vibra-Probe 570. My experience with the Fx-1 first. The probe was essentially a small coil for the F75. When you dug your hole as soon as you stuck the probe in the hole it started to make the detector go off. It was effective, but was really hard for me to get a true read on where the actual target was located. I bought the Vibra Probe 570 next. I could not even use the Vibra probe with my detector. Everytime I would turn my vibra probe on it would make the F75 go nuts. As you all know the Vibra Probe doesn't have an off switch. It takes a couple of minutes to turn off automatically. So I would have to wait until the Probe turned off to go back detecting. I grew tired of that and bought the Garrett Propointer.. Problem solved. No problems with interference, very accurate when in the hole. I know this is a Fisher Forum and all, but the Garrett is the way to go if you want a probe that is accurate and works very well with the Fisher F75. That is just my 2 cents.
Just for the record the Sunray Probe is an awesome probe. Just was a little different than I was used to. The Vibra Probe is my back up probe. I use it with my Ace 250 every once and awhile. All 3 are great probes, but the Garrett fit my detecting style better.
Just for the record the Sunray Probe is an awesome probe. Just was a little different than I was used to. The Vibra Probe is my back up probe. I use it with my Ace 250 every once and awhile. All 3 are great probes, but the Garrett fit my detecting style better.
Roland go for the Garrett Pro Pointer its the best and no sen. adj knob its awesome. What I didn't like about the auto max was the on-off button, had to make a holder for it, but mostly it was way to long 19" would keep hitting the ground when I knelt down, but I found a modification where they cut the nose down to make it shorter and it was pretty simple, I'll see it I can dig up the info for you.
shooter said:
Thanks, Shooter. I know the Automax is not a great pointer, but, it does work and is pretty good at finding a target that is the same color as the surrounding soil. My biggest beef is that it seems very flimsy on the probe.......I am very careful not to put too much lateral force on it when probing a plug.
It sure seems like a lot of people are very satisfied with the Garrett Pro Pointer........makes me feel confident that it would be a very good choice out of a lot of other good pointers! Now I just have to convince SWMBO that this is something I just have to have!!!
The Garrett pinpointer has a good reputation (I work for Fisher, I hope nobody heard me say that!) but y'all need to be aware that it operates at a frequency close to the F75/F70/T2, and some units crosstalk, but not the way you might think. Generally speaking when the pinpointer is on, it doesn't crosstalk, the problem is when the pinpointer is turned off its transmitter circuit looks like a huge target to the F75 etc. and as you swing the main machine it'll pick up the pinpointer from several feet away. Because of variation in the resonant frequency of the pinpointers, not all exhibit the problem, and when the problem does exist it's most noticeable with LTD models used in boost or cache mode.
Some of you reading this may find it difficult to believe that a pinpointer would present a problem when turned off, not when turned on, but I ain't pullin' yer leg, this is for real. It was quite a puzzle when first reported.
To my knowledge no interactions have been reported with our other metal detectors, just the ones that run at 13 kHz.
--Dave J.
Some of you reading this may find it difficult to believe that a pinpointer would present a problem when turned off, not when turned on, but I ain't pullin' yer leg, this is for real. It was quite a puzzle when first reported.
To my knowledge no interactions have been reported with our other metal detectors, just the ones that run at 13 kHz.
--Dave J.
rick in mi
Well-known member
You are absolutely right Dave,the garrett pro pointer does 'crosstalk' with my ltd,I can waive my pointer at the coil 3 feet away and the ltd "sees" it.when its off.But.......I still think its one of the best out there for what i'm doing JMHO.
I used to use Sunray probes, but no more. I did not find them to work nearly as well on my Fisher machines as they do on my Minelab machines (had them on my Coin$trike, ID Edge, F70 and F75 LTD).
The Garrett Pro Pointer is a killer little detector (perhaps the best that Garrett makes
), not more target ghosting, no added weight to my machine, superior depth, and one benefit that I didn't really think of until after I had a chance to compare the two - ever try chasing targets in heavy roots where space is tight....the Sunray is a motion detector whereas the Garrett is a non-motion detector....it's so much easier to chase down a target in the roots with a non-motion detector. The only pro that I'd give the Sunray is that you do get the TID, BUT who really cares, as by the time your digging your hole you already have a good idea of the target ID from your detector. Also if you're a detector fanatic like some of us are (not naming any names here ) you'll save a bunch of $$ not outfitting each detector with it's own individual probe too.
Note that I have nothing against Sunray, I believe they make great products, and their probes are good, BUT I think there are better solutions for the Fisher machines.
For the record I've had zero crosstalk issues with my F75 LTD, Tek Omega, or any of my other machines from my Garrett Pro Pointer.
HH,
Brian
The Garrett Pro Pointer is a killer little detector (perhaps the best that Garrett makes
), not more target ghosting, no added weight to my machine, superior depth, and one benefit that I didn't really think of until after I had a chance to compare the two - ever try chasing targets in heavy roots where space is tight....the Sunray is a motion detector whereas the Garrett is a non-motion detector....it's so much easier to chase down a target in the roots with a non-motion detector. The only pro that I'd give the Sunray is that you do get the TID, BUT who really cares, as by the time your digging your hole you already have a good idea of the target ID from your detector. Also if you're a detector fanatic like some of us are (not naming any names here ) you'll save a bunch of $$ not outfitting each detector with it's own individual probe too. Note that I have nothing against Sunray, I believe they make great products, and their probes are good, BUT I think there are better solutions for the Fisher machines.
For the record I've had zero crosstalk issues with my F75 LTD, Tek Omega, or any of my other machines from my Garrett Pro Pointer.
HH,
Brian