It is easy for many hobbyists around here to get caught up in all the newness that manufactures keep offering. For those who hunt a wide-range of targets in widely-varying sizes and shapes and alloys, it is tough to beat a good analog detector.
Most metal detectors got their start here in the USA, and without a doubt the bulk of the quality built products come from manufacturers here. Yes, there are some well designed models from what we consider to be foreign sources, but most
hobbyists are here in the USA and get their detectors her, and for what most
hobbyists tend to enjoy. That enjoyment comes from Coin Hunting.
Yes, you can hunt coins in other lands, but separate metal detecting hobbyists into one of two groups:
A
"Traditional Coin Hunter" or an
"Avid Detectorist."Metal detector design used to be quite simple, You chose either BFO or a TR model and hunted. Found something and you heard a motorboat increase in beats (BFO) or a 'Beep' (TR), then you recovered it, looked at it, and decided if you wanted it or not.
Then came variable Discrimination and we could reject some of the lower-conductive targets and be a little more selective in what might give us a 'Beep.'
In only a few short years, by '75, we had the VLF (very low frequency) models that gave us ground cancellation from most major manufacturers and we could balance out the ground signal, search, get a 'Beep,' recover it, and take a look to see what we found. Any type of soil in any country, we all had the same options. Then came the dual mode VLF/TR-Disc. models in the '70s, then in 1978 our first motion-based VLF Discriminator (the Bounty Hunter Red Baron), and in no time at all, every major detector maker had copied or designed their own. Most were a fast-sweep 4-filter design, but we could still follow the same steps. All of us might reject some lower-conductivity targets, then search, get a 'Beep,' recover the target and determine if it was a keeper or not.
In '82/'83 we got our first slow-motion, 2-filter type detectors, and very shortly in ±'83 we were introduced to visual Target ID. Produced mainly here in the USA, and the display depicted the most common targets we would likely find. Not perfect, but not too hard to accomplish because we only had a few coin targets to define and mark on the display. For roughly 150 years or so, most of the coins we (in the USA) were likely to lose, to be found today, in all the popular human activity site were: The US 5¢, copper 1¢, silver and clad 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ coins and the big silver $1 and only a small number of clad $1.
Most of these were made of the same or very similar metal alloy and size and shape, and they registered very similar on the target ID display. Later in the '80s they added the separation between Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) 1¢ coins (in '82 they transitioned with both types and in '83 the US went to all zinc pennies). Today we also see some detector models that do NOT show the higher-conductive silver $1 coins because, well, they just aren't in common use or often found. Some manufacturers only list the 10¢ coin at a higher reading than the current Zinc 1¢ where they used to suggest a Copper 1¢ and 10¢ coin together as they have similar read-outs. Then recently I checked out a model that shows the modern a US $1 coin on the display just between the 25¢ and 50¢ US coins.
Added to the TID visual report were different segments for Iron and smaller foil, and most of the early ring-pull type tabs. That set the stage for what I called the separation of the "
Traditional Coin Hunter"and the "
Avid Detectorist." So, what are the differences as I define them?
"
Traditional Coin Hunter"
A person who engages
primarily or
exclusively in the search for common coins, with great frustration at recovering any trash, and who uses every available metal detector feature to help eliminate recovering any possible or probably trash target. (such as Visual Target ID, VDI, Standard Discrimination, Notch Discrimination and Tone ID.) In addition, the very earnest "Traditionalist" will even avoid recovering any so-so target signal, even to the point of only being interested in those targets that provide a reasonably good audio response AND the almost expect a 100% lock-on type visual display of Target ID or a numeric VDI number before they even consider recovery.
To make modern detectors a little smaller and lighter and provide some different sets of visual Target ID and numeric VDI readings, most major manufacturers have gone the route of more digital signal processing. Some a bit, and some to an extreme, but the end result is the same. The more digital filtering and processing, the different the detector will behave.
"
Avid Detectorist"
A person who
might glance at the visual display, but it is only for a hint of what
might be the target down there, and usually only to get an idea of what the size or shape or color might be they are looking for (such as a dark coin Vs a shiny coin). It is my opinion that the "
Avid Detectorist" might not start out as the most learned or skilled detector operator, but it time they will become more proficient and skilled than the average urban Coin Hunter. While the Avid Detectorist might also look for coins, they also are enthusiastic about finding jewelry, trade tokens, bullets, buckles, bells, and any kind of interesting artifact.
To accomplish they mission, the turn the detector on and tune it, usually selecting a very low level of Discrimination, such as just enough to knock out a common iron nail, or maybe (like me most of the time) they simply set it at the minimum and will hear every target the detector can signal on. The
Avis Detectorist might use, but doesn't need (or often want)( the visual display information. Instead, the turn the detector o;n, tune it, search,m and when they get a 'Beep', they recover the target.
Since most Target ID models are made in the USA (or for the USA) and they have display information that suggests USA coins, they are of very little value to many foreign countries. For two very good reasons:
1.. Many countries do not allow metal detecting in public parks and schools and grassy sites. Some just lack much opportunity, compared to here in the USA.
2.. Most foreign countries tend to have a lot of metal detecting opportunities, even very governed, that put the detectorist out in a plowed field or other out-of-the-way location, and they are searching for ALL types of artifacts. Not just a half-dozen popular and similar sized coins from the past 150 years like here in the USA, but a vast array of sizes, shapes and alloys of coins from hundreds of years to thousands! ANY artifact, large or small, or a cache of buried items, and in most cases nobody cares about what a visual display might hint to. Instead, they turn the detector on, search, and when nit 'Beeps' the recover the target and take a look at it.
Of course so;me detector makers try to give some broad generalized idea of what range some targets might fall in and they put those displays on a USA detector to maybe help them sell abroad. But it isn't needed, by any dedicated or avid searcher, and we just want some of the best and most versatile in-the-field performance.
All detectors, when we really get down to it, are analog in the signal transmitting and receiving, and the differences really show when the receive signal is then conveyed very simply, in an analog signal fashion (it has nothing to do with visual displays), or if that received signal is then processed, a number of different times for a number of different things (not needed for the audio but really incorporated for visual display and audio Tone ID signaling) in a digital manner.
Can a highly digital processing detector be used everywhere. Sure, I just don't like what a lot of them do for most of my hunting sites and hunting needs, and I find them less accurate with an audio response that
I can easily interpret. Can an analog based detector be used everywhere? Yes, and in many cases with easier to learn and use set-up and resulting performance. I have a coup,e of the digitally inspired models, but most of my detecting is done with one of the best A to D (analog to digital) detectors I have enjoyed, the White's XLT, whereas most of me serious detecting is accomplished with the very affordable, and often over-looked, analog operation White's Classic IDX Pro or a Classic III SL (same model but w/o any TID display).
Back about fifteen years ago I gave a little hand-on instruction tom an older local guy who had retired and made a couple of trips a year over to England to hunt with some groups or in an invited party. He had used several top-end detectors from several manufacturers, and did seem to be too interested in the TID, although he learned
there not to rely on it. The furrows and such in the plowed fields caused him some problems as did the weight of the heavier search coils. Also, some models had too much discrimination, even on the low end, and it was time for a wake-up call.
I visited with him and pointed out that his White's Classic III SL was quite possibly the best detector he had for hunting those types of sites. It was my favorite at the time. The TID version of the Classic ID wasn't released yet, and the Classic IDX and later IDX Pro were simply the Classic III SL with the TID added. The Classic III SL, and my favorite general-purpose IDX Pro, are top picks for handling any of those foreign sites, and I demonstrated why by showing what they did here in similar applications.
He learned that the slow-sweep, all metal,accept, silent-search Discriminate operation was absolutely fantastic! Using the 6½" diameter coil he already had he was surprised to note that the depth was almost what he got with the 950 coil, but it worked better in the plowed fields and in the furrows, and isolating closely-spaced target. Better still, it had the nice, clean analog audio response and excellent modulated audio to compliment the wonderful depth. From then on, all of his trips he only used that model and had greater success, too.
Many local hobbyists have bought the $900 to $1800 (US dollars) higher mid-to-top end models in the past year or two, only to find out that they seem a little lacking in many trashy sites. Iron nail littered places with closely-spaced nails. Many of the digital model, even with smaller coil in the 5" range, don't handle the nail trash like a good analog detector will. Other actually in-the-field challenges, beyond simple in-the-park Coin Hunting encounters, have frustrated many of them.
Slowly, especially over the last several months to a few years. I have seen more and more of them look for and acquire a good-working analog White's Classic model. Some have gone with the XL Pro, but most have bought, or are looking for, the Classic ID or especially the Classic III SL or IDX Pro.
Quote
amcjavelin[[b
Well maybe from the usa but analog is produced new and alive and well in europe and there are some decent machines that i use frequently and haven't looked back.[/b]
Many savvy USA
"Avid Detectorists" are in total agreement with you and we wish the Classic series would be resurrected, in its excellent analog form, to rejoin the ranks of decent detectors that we own, and use, and also don't need to "look back." Too bad White's discontinued the Classic series and the XL Pro. I am not alone in wishing they would just bring back what works well for all of us.
You are not alone. The USA has offered a lot of really unwanted detectors for the foreign market and you already have some good models made for you, over that way, that lack the visual stuff, but provide raw performance. We need more of those to come from our detector makers because many of us here know the values of a good analog detector.
Sorry to ramble. My old computer died and I am trying to learn this new laptop, pardon my typos, and forum readers here just have to suffer.
Best of success to everyone in the year to come!
MontePS: For a reality check, just read below. Much better than fancy digital visual info, and totally accurate.
"Your Eyes, the ONLY 100% accurate form of Discrimination!"Stinkwater WellsMonte V. Berry Sr.
monte@stinkwaterwells.com(503)481-8147
My main use favorites in order by brand:
White'sMXT Pro w/6½",
VX3 w/950
Tesoro.. Replacement coming ..
TekneticsOmega w/5½x9¾
G2 w/5" DD
