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What features would you like to see on a new model of Excalibur?

M

Macaco

New member
I've been using an Excalibur for about ten years.

Been thinking about what Minelab could do to improve the detector.

I'd like to see the housing for the electronics footprint shrunk and the shape changed. Maybe a more squareish housing which is a little more hydrodynamic for swinging side to side underwater.

Another thing that would be nice is if the whole package could be made lighter for use out of the water.

Detachable headphones and coil would be great. Being able to switch coils would be nice and changing headphones could be good too. Detachable components would make packing for travel easier also.

Anyone else have any ideas for how to improve the Excalibur?
 
What you would like to see would turn the Xcal into a leaker.
Every waterproof connector you add increases the chances for leaks.
Changing the shape of the housing to a more square shape will cause warping under pressure, resulting in cracks and leaking seals. The cylindrical shape keeps pressure symmetrical and won't cause warping.
A more square shape would be harder to swing in water.

Reduce weight for on the beach....
Like the Sov, most of the weight is in the coil and battery pack.
A lighter coil for beach hunting may try to float in the water.
I don't see any downside to switching to rechargeable lithium ion batteries if the voltage is right and they last long enough. Very light.

HH
 
Seems Tesoro water detectors are more of a square shape, without any problem.
Wonder if Minelab used overkill so that they would not have to fix a bunch of leakers.

HH
 
... I would like to see ML build a new underwater detector based on the Explorers' technology or perhaps something new and even better and also new user friendly options. If they did, I sure hope that they would still offer the Excal and then wait to see which unit performed the best and with the most utility.

I'm just thinking out loud because I have "next to none" when it comes to experience using a water machine. I've just went through the process of researching which water machine to buy and why. I found that many had high praises for the CZ20, even though Fisher no longer makes them. If they did, I think they would be selling quite a few of them.

That is why I hope ML phases in a new detector before they change out the Excal.

On a related subject, Fisher (now First Texas) announced with the introduction of the F75 that they would be offering several new detectors in the next 2 years with a new water machine being one of them. I'm sure others (including ML) are moving forward with new water machines as well. Hopefully, competition will push ML and others to design and build better and better machines.

Just my two zincs.

HH Alton
 
I've been using undewater cameras, dive lights and other equipment of various shapes underwater for years without leaks.

The connectors used to attach strobes to underwater cameras are very good and don't pose a leak problem unless they're plugged in wrong. They would be fine for connecting coils and headphones. The Excal battery pod connector seems pretty reliable.

When I say squarish I'm not talking about a big square block but something more like some of the narrow, Pelican type underwater cases.

My Excal is dead now because the headphones are shot. I don't know what happened but one speaker is dead and the other one works intermitently. It would be nice if I could just get another set and connect them to the machine but instead I'm going to have to send the whole machine in to have them replaced which is going to cost me a lot more.

Watertight connector technology is excellent. There's no good reason for Minelab not to use connectors for headphones and coils.
 
After some consideration, I think you may be right.......as long as good connectors are used and they are durable enough to take repeated use without getting leaky or the contact pins worn out.

Please consider my statements to be a case of "head up butt disease".
I tend to be on the overly cautious side.

HH
 
Hey Macaco, If you bought your EXCAL new, and NOT USED, then MAKE A PHONE CALL and I MINE A PHONE CALL to Minelab USA in Las Vegas!! Then talk to the Head of Customer Svc., and see if they will replace your headphones for free. He is a VERY REASONABLE MAN to deal with.
If you don't ask for it, then you will never know!!
But, if you bought it USED, then I wouldn't bother making the call.
Hope this helps, BEST OF LUCK, Les
 
I had the headphones replaced about five years ago because they stopped working and now this set has gone belly up as well.

I'm thinking of putting my own water-tight connector on the machine so I can replace the headphones myself.
 
Y'all got to be kidding. Spare a few issues with knobs, headphones (which they already fixed), and the need for a balanced shaft, we all beat the excals to death and they keep on ticking. It is the best discriminating detector...hands down.

I ask why change anything....Remember when Coke switched their formula?

I suppose some miracles do happen, but it could also turn around and bite us in the arse. Hopefully if they change anything they test market it first.

Minelab....please feel free to email me for a test run...I won't charge you anything.
 
PRODUCE A NEW EXCALIBUR GT!

1, Factory balanced 3 piece/travel straight shaft with padded armrest and strap.

2, Yes, yes and yes to removable headphones and coils. Really easy thing to do.

3, Better hip mount set-up.

4, Put NMHI batteries into the battery pod.

5, Offer a 15 inch and 4 inch BBS coil for water use plus various elliptical DD coils for land.

6, Now for my Impossible Dream! Minelab- do above plus this below and you will sell a ton of new Excaliburs! Stuff the Sovereign GT electronics into the Excalibur housing! If you have to drop anything drop only the notch/tone switch. But keep the GB and frequency shift! Forget the meter.

Just think, we would have the best dang waterproof beach machine, plus be able to realistically use it for prospecting! We could choose our coils and carry spare headphones on treasure hunting vacations. Minelab, heck I bet you would make more profit from all the new accessories for this dream machine! I would buy 2 of everything!

I bet Minelab could do this as they have the technology with the GT. So how about it Minelab????? The new Excalibur GT is long overdue!
 
PRODUCE A NEW EXCALIBUR GT!

1, Factory balanced 3 piece/travel straight shaft with padded armrest and strap. The stock shaft is designed to give you the arms of Charles Atlas, what a chore to use!

2, Yes, yes and yes to removable headphones and coils. Really easy thing to do. With an audio machine wouldn't it make sense to have good quality headphones? Something along the lines of GG or blackwidow

3, Better hip mount set-up. a decent wire connection that won't fail when hip mounted, that would save my pocket book and my aching back

4, Put NMHI batteries into the battery pod. woo hoo! the Excal enters the 21st century

5, Offer a 15 inch and 4 inch BBS coil for water use plus various elliptical DD coils for land. surely a decent waterproof connection to allow this is not rocket science

6, Now for my Impossible Dream! Minelab- do above plus this below and you will sell a ton of new Excaliburs! Stuff the Sovereign GT electronics into the Excalibur housing! If you have to drop anything drop only the notch/tone switch. But keep the GB and frequency shift! Forget the meter. the guts of the machine are awesome as is, why mess with it?

Just think, we would have the best dang waterproof beach machine, plus be able to realistically use it for prospecting! We could choose our coils and carry spare headphones on treasure hunting vacations. Minelab, heck I bet you would make more profit from all the new accessories for this dream machine! I would buy 2 of everything! This would be a pretty expensive unit, 1 of each would probably be enough

I bet Minelab could do this as they have the technology with the GT. So how about it Minelab????? The new Excalibur GT is long overdue!
My comments are based on a similar thread I started last year and I was pillaried for daring to question Minelab's lack of upgrading to what is argueably the best, discriminating water hunting unit available. (at the moment) Why wait for the competition to catch up, right? It's a good mousetrap that with a little tweaking could be that much better.
I contacted Minelab at the time and they told me they had no plans to upgrade the Excal anytime soon as they had invested in the X-terra series which had a broader market base. I sure hope that was corporate smoke and mirrors designed to hide the introduction of a new and improved Excalibur, like the one we keep hearing rumours about. (year in and year out)

Cheers,

BDA:cool:
 
[attachment 51496 warmouse.jpg]

Actually, I'm with you...it's pretty much fine the way it is. Although why they are still using NiCad is beyond me. And a straight shaft from the factory would be nice.
 
LOL what a great picture! But...my experience tells me the mouse really needs a neck brace to.
 
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