One of the biggest complaints about multi-frequency machines is that they're not user friendly (too complicated/too many adjustments). Isn't it just a matter of time before the detector manufacturers solve that problem and make them as simple to operate as your basic beep and dig machines? If that happens, won't single frequency machines go the way of the dinosaur?
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Will Single Frequency Machines Go the Way of the Dinosaur as Multi-Frequency Technology Improves?
- Thread starter berryman
- Start date
Rainyday101
New member
Nope. I can buy four or more high quality, lifetime warranty, simple to operate, beep and dig Tesoro's for the price of one of them fancy display intesive multi. freq. wiz bangs. They will never get the price down any time soon. If they do, I will re-evaluate my thinking. I might be retired by then. Also I do not see the multi freq's having any depth advantage to the top of the line single freq. VLF's.
TellYaWhut
Member
The Minelab Safari and older Sovereigns are not too difficult to use. Multi frequency machines require time to process the info.....thus slow recovery speed and more masking. As long as there is trashy sites to hunt, there will exist single frequency metal detectors with faster recovery speed.
coin hunter
New member
I think I heard or read that the multi frequencys detector at least by Minlab is under patent design. If so I don't think many companies will be able to use that design. I may be wrong check it out.
Hi,
Who cares ??
I like using my dinosaurs.
None of my detectors are still in production nowadays.
But in the meantime I have gotten to know each one of them very well and know their strengths and weaknesses.
Also I doubt that the large cash outlay for the newest gizzmo is going to increase my find rate enough to warrant such an investment.
I am content with what I got to use and that
Who cares ??
I like using my dinosaurs.
None of my detectors are still in production nowadays.
But in the meantime I have gotten to know each one of them very well and know their strengths and weaknesses.
Also I doubt that the large cash outlay for the newest gizzmo is going to increase my find rate enough to warrant such an investment.
I am content with what I got to use and that
Nauti
Well-known member
Good post skookum......i use a design that goes back over 20 years that still puts a lot of modern detectors in the shade.I do own a multi frequency unit as well.....the sovereign......this is a more simple multi frequency unit without the the unnecessary screens and programs that everybody thinks they have to have to do good at detecting.One thing I will say about multi frequency though.....you can't beat them with a single frequency unit on the wet saltwater sand......and that is why I have one.
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
I use the Sovereign GT. I have Lousy hearing and wear hearing aids. I was so frustrated with the machine when I first purchased it that I was regretting the purchase. This was predicated by me not understanding the different tones that the machine was producing. I purchased a Meter for the machine and that gave me a tremendous amount of assistance in understanding what the Machine was telling me. Of course less than six months after I made my purchase Minelab saw fit to discontinue the Sovereign Line. I have been working a city park lately that at one time was a ball field. The majority of my finds in that park are 4 to 6 inches deep with about 25% being closer to 7-8 inches. Pass the coil over a deep Lincoln or dime and hear that high pitched whisper and Know that you have a good target. I am now very glad that I purchased a multi frequency machine. I love it on the wet sand at the beach due to the outstanding depth that I get. Depending on the coil that I use on the wet sand I can usually run sensitivity wide open. Sometimes I get tired of digging those Deep Holes in the sand and then having to fill them back in
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
No, the single frequency machine will not go away, at least in my lifetime, or until new technology comes to light.
Multi-frequency detectors can and will be as complicated as the manufacture and the consumer will allow. The high end multifreq machines are consumer driven and the manufactures oblige. Those who complain of too many adjustments or just to complicated simply can not or refuses to comprehend what the adjustments are for and how to use them. You can not have too many adjustments in a programmable detector IMHO. Once you have them adjusted to your hunting style and ground, the programmable becomes a turn on and go hunting detector. I use the White's V3i and Minelab CTX 3030 in different hunting environments and I have not made an adjustment in almost a year for either one of them.
As far as simplicity in multi-frequency detectors, they are out there for those who want them. You can't get much simpler than the White's Beach Hunter ID, three controls, threshold, sensitivity and ground balance, and you have audio plus three lights for target ID. That is about as close to a multi-frequency "Tesoro" as you will get. Although designed for water hunting the BHID is a great land machine for those who want a multi-frequency beep and dig detector.
Multi-frequency detectors can and will be as complicated as the manufacture and the consumer will allow. The high end multifreq machines are consumer driven and the manufactures oblige. Those who complain of too many adjustments or just to complicated simply can not or refuses to comprehend what the adjustments are for and how to use them. You can not have too many adjustments in a programmable detector IMHO. Once you have them adjusted to your hunting style and ground, the programmable becomes a turn on and go hunting detector. I use the White's V3i and Minelab CTX 3030 in different hunting environments and I have not made an adjustment in almost a year for either one of them.
As far as simplicity in multi-frequency detectors, they are out there for those who want them. You can't get much simpler than the White's Beach Hunter ID, three controls, threshold, sensitivity and ground balance, and you have audio plus three lights for target ID. That is about as close to a multi-frequency "Tesoro" as you will get. Although designed for water hunting the BHID is a great land machine for those who want a multi-frequency beep and dig detector.
steve herschbach
New member
If you hoist a GPX 5000 for any period of time you realize just how stunted VLF detectors are when it comes to raw power / depth of detection. The only problem is the discrimination is limited, but more and more people are learning to use them effectively. Just like the old non-discriminating BFO and TR detectors you can learn a lot about targets through use. And the GOX does have tones and iron blanking. They are different and limited but they do tell you things once you get over it and work with the machine.
The power is such that even at outrageous prices more and more people are turning to PI detectors and dealing with the junk. The reason is simple. Eventually any location will only give up so much to any and all VLFs. If you want to keep going, get a PI, and be amazed at what was left behind. But you will work for it!
I am far more interested in seeing more done to bring more and better PI technology to market. Less expensive, more compact units. Better discrimination is the main thing. I would pony up $10,000 tomorrow for a GPX with CTX discrimination.
VLF, whether single frequency or multi-frequency, is pretty much tapped out. You can only put the same thing together so many ways. I honestly have not seen any real improvement in VLF since 1990. A Fisher CZ-5 still runs with the best made today.
My advice - keep an eye on PI.
The power is such that even at outrageous prices more and more people are turning to PI detectors and dealing with the junk. The reason is simple. Eventually any location will only give up so much to any and all VLFs. If you want to keep going, get a PI, and be amazed at what was left behind. But you will work for it!
I am far more interested in seeing more done to bring more and better PI technology to market. Less expensive, more compact units. Better discrimination is the main thing. I would pony up $10,000 tomorrow for a GPX with CTX discrimination.
VLF, whether single frequency or multi-frequency, is pretty much tapped out. You can only put the same thing together so many ways. I honestly have not seen any real improvement in VLF since 1990. A Fisher CZ-5 still runs with the best made today.
My advice - keep an eye on PI.
Rainyday101
New member
I am with ya 100% on that. As stated single or multi freq VLF is as far as it is gonna go unless the FCC allows more transmit power. Oh by the way, that will never happen. PI will be the future for depth if price and discrimination can be taken care of.
Larry (IL)
Well-known member
The FCC does not regulate the power output of a metal detector. Metal detectors transmits a magnetic field into the ground to induce eddy currents in another metal object. Although metal detectors operate in the RF spectrum, the RF radiation is miniscule. More power output seldom results in more depth in most cases. Many detectors has a power boost feature that can't be used by a lot of users due to the mineralization in their ground, the high beams in a fog analogy. As Steve Herschbach and others have said, the VHF technology has been pretty much been tapped out.
Sven
Well-known member
I am impressed with the PI's and ability to find targets that my different VLF's walked over numerous times. Thought I hunted one large schoolyard area out with 5 different detectors. Was amazed at the amount
of clad from pennies to $2 coins, etc. that the PI found. As for junk. dig about the same amount as the VLF, except my PI disc out the small foil that drives VLF nuts without loosing the small gold rings.
Tried making mine as compact as possible, control box fits in the palm of your hand.
I agree with Steve, PI's might be the future......
of clad from pennies to $2 coins, etc. that the PI found. As for junk. dig about the same amount as the VLF, except my PI disc out the small foil that drives VLF nuts without loosing the small gold rings.
Tried making mine as compact as possible, control box fits in the palm of your hand.
I agree with Steve, PI's might be the future......