Voodo metal detector ??

[Anonymous]

After nearly 3 months of mind swirling research on metal detectors I nearly came to the conclusion that the industry was cloaked in misty darkness on purpose. Specs are always turned into pizzaz. If something goes deep then why not list it's output in watts? Why not an industry standard garden of nuetral earth for some real test. It's because everyone is making money and no one wants to be the wrench. We want to buy a metal detector so we go into a store that is dark and there is a crystal ball on the table with a misty eyed gypsy woman, or a guy in the alley with no shirt that has some old bones in a bowl he shakes onto the ground and yells, the bones have spoken it's the XJ171prefab vanuatu detector you must buy. Or you can just take your birthdate times 27 divided by 6 and the detector with the closest price (or model number whichever you prefer) is the right one for you. I think no one really wants to no the truth. True specs of power output and reception are never given. Batteries that last a whole detecting season are great, but doesn't a detector need to put out power. I have come away with the feeling that no doubt metal detecting technology is growing. But I have also come away with the feeling that an extremely expensive detector may be no better than a cheap one, and this years model may have changed little from 4 years ago except it now has an ID meter which may ID wrong and you should dig all hits anyway. All the new stuff coming out has new bells and whistles, but no specs to say that is any different that the old ones. So why not true specs and why not true test, side by side tell it like it is comparisons, I know, your dirt is different than mine, your this is different than that. My true conclusion is I want depth and discrimination with multi tones, but I see no true specs or tests to go by. So, I'll go with the gypsy, maybe she will have nice boobs Forgive me for my tantrum, you may now blast away at me.

 

[Anonymous]

If you want true discrimination and tones you want either the DFX or the Explorer (not necessarily in that order).

 

[Anonymous]

Those of us who have been in this hobby for decades have longed for a true detector comparison guide. Field tests by treasure magazines are generally worthless as they can not offend their advertizers.
But after 40 years of waiting one realizes a definitive detector comparison book will never be published. Could one be sued by a manufacturer if a less than favorable rating was given by it's author?
It of course would be a monumental task-lab conditions for air tests and in ground tests. All metal depth tests- discrimination depth tests and ID depth tests for various mineralized soils. Then you have the problem with different sized stock coils.(Yes detector A is slightly deeper than detector B because it's stock coil is larger).
Discrimination is a subjective thing depending on the experience of the user. For example, a certain detector may have a reputation as being "hot" on iron by newbies or people who have briefly used this detector. However, talk to experienced users and they have long ago developed techniques to overcome this issue. A discrimination evaluation of a certain detector can only be made by a very experienced user of that model.
You have probably realized now that there is no #1 detector as serious addicts usually have several models as each detector may excel in different areas.
Perhaps the bottom line is that we are nearing the end of the line of what we can do with VLF technology(With the possible exception of new coil design). As such there are no giant leaps in technology from one VLF to another.
You have to be patient and wait for the next level of technology to be introduced. Will 2005 be the year for the first true reliable discriminating PI to be introduced(A lot of R&D is here)? When that day arrives there will be no debates on which detector is superior in depth and discrimination.
George

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info everyone. Perhaps a simple spec on power output would help. I have listened to others say that air test are not relevant because the dirt assists in the magnetic field. I feel that somewhere an air test has a place. Field reviews and personal preference could sway an individuals choice but if you don't put out the power you can't go deep. And maybe thats part of it, I dont think any manufacturer has made claims of actual depth, instead, everyone finds a ton of good stuff when testing, "On our first test we found this huge gold bracelet and" etc etc.
I visit the Kellyco website quite often looking for info. When I first visited they said "the detectors are in the isles, Fire dept says they have to go", Now they use 3 hurricanes and the oncoming swath to try and sell more. Have there prices changed at all ?? Now we have an "Emergency overstock sale". The original story of Kelly company and how KellyCo was started made me interested in them, but now I have lost faith in them and will not be purchasing from KellyCo even though I am less then 20 miles from their store. I think marketing a product using deadly storms as advertising is cheap and cowardly.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm no newbie Don, and I think you have some good points. It is true that there are a zillion variables in metal detecting, that different detectors excel in different areas, and that knowing your particular detector is the most important factor, but there are a few things that could be compared like air testing, testing in a standardized mineral soil sample, target id accuracy for various coins, iron, etc., but every manufacturer uses mumbo jumbo and testimonials (the least reliable evidence)to promote their products instead. But, in defense of the industry, it is the same in many other sports. For instance, do you see any objective measures of golf clubs, fishing reels, tennis rackets, or bowling balls? A lot of it comes down to personal preference, and a pro in any of these areas (including metal detecting) will eventually try them all to find out what works best for him. I also agree with you about KellyCo. Shame on them for using a disaster for advertising purposes. Also, shame on them for promoting so called "long-distance" detectors that have been proven over and over again to be scams. No dowsing detector has ever worked in a scientifically conducted test. At a treaure hunting/gold prospecting exhibition, I once saw a dowsing detector dealer demonstrate how his device could locate a $5 gold piece he had placed 100 yards away. It was curious to me that that "detector" failed to notice the coin dealer 20 yards away that had 50 times more gold sitting on top of his table. HB

 

[Anonymous]

Good post and questions, Don. Finding "The" detector is a little like detecting. You often don't know what you got till you see it,(or ues it).Most, but not all, of modern day detectors perform within reasonably the same or atleast close to the same performance level. Coin hunters need descrimmination circitry, relic hunters need depth , nugget hunters need gain and beach hunters need a detector that can cancel out minerals in the wet sand. All of the manufacturers are trying to make a machine that is affordable and does what a T/H'er wants. I believe that if you try different types and manufacturers units, you can then make a good purchase and be happy with the "one" you get. If you find things and have fun doing it, the detector you use is the "right" one. I will add however, I use a XLPRO, and I find that with the meter/ID-depth function I don't dig signals I would have when I did'nt have ID. When you only have short times to hunt, you don't want to dig trash so you use the target ID to help you. Good luck and H/H all.

 

[Anonymous]

dear don, thanks for that info. ...i always wondered about those long distance machines...lou... <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt="">

 

[Anonymous]

The best metal detector out there....is the one between your ears, not the one in your hand.
The one in your hand gives the one between your ears an indication only, it's the one between the ears that decides whether to dig or not to dig.
And if the one between your ears is full of work and honey do related topics, then it won't be working to it's full capacity, and you might as well be swishing a stick in your hand..
If you are not in the right frame of mind to go hunting...then you will not find the small stuff nor the deep stuff.
Just my thoughts you understand.
Dino

 

[Anonymous]

I think this is the first time I have read this outstanding advice as you put it but agree 100%. I cannot count the times I have seem "just turn it on and go" and don't make any changes as the only help offered.
The detector is an extension of the brain and provides data input. NASA Tom makes this same point over and over in his material.
HH, Cody