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Which vdi meter for gt

J

Jiminsandiego

New member
Hello everyone. I'm very interested in Critterhunter's vdi strategies . However I can't seem to find what meter he is using. So if you're out there critterhunter which meter(make and model)?
Thanks.
Jim
 
I'm using the regular 180 meter that Minelab currently sells. I think they call it the DigiSearch meter. It's outrageously priced at like I think $180 new but you can find them for $50 to $75 used. Post a WANTED ad in the classified forum on this website and I bet you'll get a few PMs for a used one.

I'm not sure about this but I suspect that some other "180" meters from other companies might be slightly different in the numbers in the mid scale. People always say to use band 2 on the GT because it matches the VDI charts out there for older Sovereigns that can't change bands. Band 1 is said to throw off the mid range numbers a bit for things like nickles. But, I suspect there is more to it then just what band you are in because my testing of coins on my GT using the Minelab meter hardly matched any of the coins the older charts had listed. I suspect the difference is in the different brand meters and not so much the noise band you are in, but band 1 will (I think) raise nickles and such so I try not to use that unless the RF noise nearby requires it.

If you've got a GT and if you've got the current Minelab meter I'll risk blowing my own horn by saying use my chart. At least for me the older charts don't match the numbers very well when I've tested them. I was also very particular about making sure I calibrated the meter to 180 on a quarter (or a dime will work) for each new test target so I know there was no number drift. Yet, if you look at some of the prior charts from people 3 cent pieces are different, nickles are lower for them, and so on. Not sure why since I'm using band 2 like they suggest to match them. That's why I suspect the difference is in prior 180 meters, and no I'm not talking about the old 540 meters here.

There are two separate threads in this forum- one for my VDI ring numbers and the other is a custom coin/trash chart designed to carry in the field that I put together. Both compliment each other in various data so if you are interested in one read the other as well.

I'm also working on a project right now that I think is going to blow away some people in it's concept and function for Sovereign owners. That's all I can say for now but I think it's really got the "WOW!" factor going for it. Stay tuned to this channel unless you are already to the point of not being able to stand any more of my "concepts". :lmfao: I think this one is going to be big, though....And useful, which is a nice change for once coming from me. :rolleyes:
 
I think I remember reading somewhere that when calibrating the 180 meter, it's better to use a pre-1980 quarter when doing it. I think it has something to do with the different metal compositions of the coins. I wonder if not doing so, could throw the readings of certain coins off? I wish I still had a meter so that I could test the theory.
 
This is my opinion on the meters. Minelabs first meter was a bar graph type of meter which many didn't like including myself so Sun Ray made the DTI meter which helped many with the Sovereigns as we can see what we are hearing in the audio. Now some tones were so close and depending on a persons hearing this meter made a world of difference for getting coins and less trash items. Minelab then came out with a 550 meter on the XS2 which was much better than the bar meter, but still not as well liked by many including me as I felt the numbers would fluctuate too much and over lap many numbers. Someone was able to come up changing these meter with a couple different resistors and a different calibration pot. This info was posted on a Sovereign site by a Ken Wildhere and he had the kit which was very reasonable. I was able to get the components after he sold out of them and have done a few of them for others. When the GT came out Minelab made a 180 meter too and is sold today. To me the meter I like the best is the Sun Ray as they have the template that show the numbers of different targets right on the meter plus it sits up nice so the viewing angle is nice. There were a couple of other company's that made meter for the Sovereigns like the Night Hawk and the analog Patriot meter which some like and some don't. The new one i want to try and is made by Joe Patrick the maker of the Patiot meter, It is called the In site meter that puts a 4 digit meter where the speaker used to be so you don't have the weight or extra cables, I feel it maybe a little more precise than the plain 180 meter.
 
I found this link to the ordering information for the Patriot Meter aka In-Sight Target Identification Display

Patriot Meter
 
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