Surfmaster PI dual field "Help please"

[craftyboy]

Hi, Im thinking of buying the latest Whites surfmaster PI dual field, could anyone help please, with any advice on this detector, likes / dislikes or perhaps a link to a reliable and trusted field test, I have used my sov xs2a pro for many years on the wet sand and only in all metal mode and have been fairly successful, should I stick with the minelab, is the dual field better or comparable or is the only advantage of the dual field being waterproof and a lot lighter than the sov. HELP

 

[Steve Howard]

Pulse Units are way different. Definitely have a depth advantage in salt water combined with high mineral irons / black sands typical of Western USA and Hawaii. P.I. performance advantage declines sharply when there is not a high mineral combination with the salt water. Some users get lost when they try to make the transition to a P.I. At first they deceivingly do not seem so different, but once you get your teeth into it you find that everything about it is different. Still, some of the most successful on the beach use the PI. The duel field adds the advantage of a smaller loop and a larger loop at the same time, keeping overall depth on larger targets, and increasing depth to very small items. I have found people who never used a metal detector before take to the P.I. quicker than those of us with habits and preconceived notions. Bottom line, for low mineral salt beaches, probably should keep doing what has been working well for you. For high mineral combined with salt water, the Surf Pi will increase your finds, but your going to have to learn a new and very different detector.

 

[tvr]

Do a search on the beach forum for more recent posts by Craig-PI and cupajo. Craig-PI is a long time PI user and more recently is using a Sov for some of his hunting. Cupajo is another long time PI user, more recently with a dual field and has an Excal. You may be able to get some value from posts they have or the threads with their posts in them. Some of the posts and threads are about finds, but some also talk about use, observations and preferences with the detectors. Cupajo also posts Dual Field things on this forum.

Also look for cjc. He (Clive) has written some books on beach and water detecting and one of his most recent is about PI detecting using the Dual Field.

I have a PI detector, not a Dual Field though, and found that it took me around 20 or so hours to train my ear to hear the small threshold variation (deep) targets. I first thought the PI was average in depth, now realizing that the PI is pretty deep, I just needed to listen better. Now it is all about getting even better with it.

I like the PI detector a lot near the low tide line and in the water. Getting farther up the beach towards or over the dry sand means digging all the bottle caps, tent stakes, lost screws and nails, as well as many hair pins. Hair pins frequently double blip with the PI, but not always. Higher up the beach I usually switch back to a detector that can discriminate out or ID iron targets.

If you can swing the money, keep the Sov and get a Dual Field. Not sure I'd go with only a PI if that is your decision point.
Cheers,
tvr

 

[pistolpete]

I have an Excal and the White's Dual Field as well as other water machines, both vlf and pulse. When I use the excal, I use it in all metal for maximum depth. The Dual Field does go deeper than the excal in all metal. The deepest targets picked up by the dual field are the ones that give a slight increase in threshold. Your choice will depend on your personal preference which include issues like fresh or salt water, amount of trash in the area you want to use the machine in at that particular time, age of the area being hunted, etc. I use my dual field diving with a hookah and choose it over my excal, 1280, sea hunter 2 and bhid. The price of the dual field is very reasonable and there are terrific dealers here on the forum that will give you a great deal. I got mine from NGR in Georgia. Each detector has it's plus and minuses. If you are hunting fresh water, looking for jewellry and old silver, are hunting an old popular in it's day amusement type park and are looking for items at 2 feet plus in depth, go for the dual field.

 

[rehless]

I use the Dual Field, been using it about six months. I do not, how ever use it every where I hunt. Too much machine for average water hunting.
I have other PI machines with smaller coils for every day use. The DF goes too deep for that. I hunt only fresh water, and take the DF where
I know there are old, deep targets. I do not wade, I dive and/or snorkel. If you get one, be sure your digging arm is in shape.

 

[craftyboy]

Thank-You all for your help and advice, as I say I have used the sov xs2a, on the wet sand for a number of years but only in the all metal mode, and always considered it to be as deep as a PI in this mode, however after reading the advice above and looking at other posts/topics on this forum regarding PI's, I stand corrected, and I will invest in the latest whites surfmaster PI dual field. REGARDS