Matt,
The Cortes has some really nice features.
1. THe TID meter works in both the Discriminate mode and the No-motion all metal mode.
2. The bargraph lets you easily id rusted iron. And the bargraph is a true bargraph. You can see the target return signal displayed on the graph.
3. The ID numbers have a great low conductive spread so you can pretty much tell the difference in targets. For example, on mine, a nickel peak id is 39, and those rounded flip top tabs that normally get dug thinkging they are nickels peak at 41. No more digging those.
4. Along with the id numbers is the Sum mode. This sums and averages the readings to give the peak id number. It is a must have feature for a VDI type machine IMO. This is the feature where the tones work. You have to remember that this is a sum & average function. If you try to hunt in this mode as if it were a true tone id feature, you will be mis-identifying targets. I've already tried it and it is not designed to operate that way.
I could go on but these are the features I found most inportant to me. For a another field test, go to Joan Allens UK webpage and read their field test at: http://www.joanallen.co.uk/a_testreports/cortes.html?src=internal
The only depth information I have is based on air tests since I have not done any deep target hunting with it yet. But I can get an audio and overshoot null response on a quarter in the no-motion mode at 14" at between 1' and 2' per second sweeps in air. Repeat "in air".
The meter id is good to about 9" to 10". It is non-functional beyond that.
Good luck with your selection.
Mike
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