Whites TDI Classroom

Do we need the new models for use in the US if we already have a TDI?

I'm pretty excited about it over here in australia. I presume its going to be a great detector like my MXT has been. I'll be using it on the australian gold fields. Is there going to be much of a range of coils available too? There are many 0.2 to 0.4 gram nuggets all over the diggings only the GPX 4500 users seem to be getting them though. The grounds generally too hot for the GMT.

You certainly don't NEED the new TDI if you already have the older model, but White's is on their persistent quest to make the good better, especially for the TDI relic, nugget and jewelry hunters. It just takes one good find the other hunters missed to pay for a new one. Unless you are hunting in extremely mineralized ground though, there is little to gain with the Pro version. The Pro is being shipped now if you are one who just HAS to have latest/bestest.........

---

Bells and whistles are nice, but nothing will substitute for the basic understanding of the hobby.

CTX 3030, V3i, Pro XL M6 W/Bigfoot coil, Cibola/modified



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2010 10:37AM by Larry (IL).

Aussie MXT, you are a good example where the better GB control, volume control, and slightly more aggressive filtering will be a positive.

---

Bells and whistles are nice, but nothing will substitute for the basic understanding of the hobby.

CTX 3030, V3i, Pro XL M6 W/Bigfoot coil, Cibola/modified

Hi Frank well the best way to answer that is how much control do you need over the detector? The TDI Pro has two GB pots, a coarse and fine for really narrow balance window. It has a volume control to manage target signal volume with head phones that has volume control. Power is no longer switched on by the toggle switch it is on the gain knob. It has one Batt LED instead of the 3 the TDI has. It has the great flat black powder coat finish like the MXT 300 and DFX 300. If I was going to buy a first TDI the TDI Pro would be my choice for sure. Will I sell my TDI and buy a new TDI Pro, NO. I hunt 99.9 % of the time with my headphones, and I have never found ground in the lower 48 that the TDI will not balance on. The one I saw was not any better at detecting targets than the TDI I have. Whites will be introducing new Mono coils that should improve depth on large targets and may help with a smoother threshold. The current duel field coils is the best for all around detecting. With the little 7" DF coil it is a killer on deep old silver coins.
Keeper Swinging
CH

---

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the
pretense of taking care of them".
Thomas Jefferson
GPX 4000, Whites TDI
Falcon, CO.
.

CH Do you know if Whites is going to make a smaller mono then the 7.5? I now use the 12.5, 7.5 and 5X9 Jimmy. A smaller one i think would work well for finer gold and cherry picking silver and gold jewlery in the trash. I think this will be a great forum.

Hi Frank.
I don't think Whites has decided on all the coils that will be available yet. I do know the Aussie TDI will come with the 12" mono and the US TDI will have the 12" Duel Field coils.There are many coils that will work with the TDI one that I like is the 14" Elip Nugget finder coil.
Keeper Swinging
CH

---

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the
pretense of taking care of them".
Thomas Jefferson
GPX 4000, Whites TDI
Falcon, CO.
.

There has not been a place in the US that you could not ground balance the TDI. But having the extra range may also have this plus. More volume on high conductive metal. The higher the ground balance control is set the louder the response to most coins and large brass items.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/02/2010 06:10PM by Detectorguru.

I just received my TDI Pro this week and I am looking forward to testing it at the beach at the end of July. I am having a 18 inch mono coil made as we speak and I think I will also have a 6 or 8 inch mono made if the 18 inch turns out to be as good as I have heard from others. I do like the volume knob for targets as my hearing gets worst with age. Whites really makes some great machines and I am sure the Pro will prove to be just one more with many more to come. All I can say is thanks Whites please keep on keeping on!!!!!!

Thanks Mr Bill, and Finds for this form. Larry(IL) you are correct,The old or the first is all you need in the lower 48.

Hi Frank,

I will offer my opinion on the subject since I still have one of the earliest models and have the predecessor to the TDI and have been in communication with Eric Foster for a long time now. Please keep in mind this is strictly my opinion.

The present or original TDI works just fine here in the US. I have yet to find a place where I can't ground balance or need additional controls. Now, there are a couple of places where the GB was a little touchy to adjust perfectly but that is all. However, when Eric Foster visited OZ and tried the original TDI, there were places that clearly needed additional help to obtain a decent GB setting. Also, since the ground is so bad there, Eric offered a couple of other ideas to further enhance the TDI's performance in OZ.

It is impossible to fully describe the differences in ground conditions between OZ and here except to say they are very different. The ground in some places in OZ are dramatically more radical when it comes to ground mineralization. So, the ground in OZ requires finer adjustments for the ground control as well as some other minor changes to the detector for the best results. If Whites wanted to provide a detector optimized for the OZ goldfields, then the mods had to be done. Thus, the Pro came into being. At least, that is my opinion as to why it exists. Since Whites was going to build the pro for use in OZ, the logical thing to do was make it available here in the US since it did offer some features not found on the original TDI.

Does a person really need the Pro here in the US? Not really, but we don't need all the fancy features available on vehicles either, but we buy them anyway. The point is, the TDI basic unit is more than capable and is a good choice. In my opinion, one shouldn't worry about whether they should be thinking of selling one of the early models, especially if money is tight. If money isn't an issue and a person wants the latest and greatest with the additional features, then the Pro is a good choice.

Reg

Hi CH,

Having just returned from the Whites factory, I would like to address this coil issue. Once again, I am going to offer my opinion and it is just that, my opinion. While there I got the opportunity to see the coil fabrication process and I have to say, it is more complex than one realizes. What I never thought about before is the wide range of coils already made by this company. No, many of the coils are not for the TDI, but take a look at all the different models and coils available for them and the number of different coils already being made by Whites is staggering.

One other thing that most people do not know is the phrase "Made in America" is extremely important to Whites. Almost all of their coils are made at the factory and that is a complex time consuming process when one looks at the process from start to finish. What is even more complex is what needs to be done if they decide to make a new coil size.

As an example, lets say they decide to build some new coil. Well, first Engineering would have to calculate and then build a prototype. This could take weeks depending upon the complexity and the detector involved. Then the machine shop would have to build a form or a form would have to be built if the housing was to be made outside the facility. BTW, if Whites farms out items such as making something like an injection molded form, they use a local supplier to assure it is made in the US.

Then the actual coil making process is put into place once the coil housings are available. The forms have to be shielded, normally in batches, then the windings have to be made. Once all parts are available, the assembly and alignment process takes place. Then there is the testing to assure the coil is working properly. Finally, there is the shipping process.

Now, what I have done is simplified the coil making steps and this doesn't show the actual complexity or time involved. If you look at Whites website and see all the models presently being made, plus keep in mind many coils made for early detectors have to be made also, it quickly becomes overwhelming just keeping up now.

What else people should realize is engineering spends most of their time working on new ideas to improve a detector design or to come up with innovative new designs. It is only through new ideas and models that Whites will continue to exist. So, coil making is not that high on their list of priorities.

So, the point to this long winded post is any new coils in the near future will probably come from third party sources such as Jimmy Sierra or maybe Lamarc who is presently making coils for the TDI. Also, remember that coils made for Minelab PI's will work on the TDI, so Coiltek or Nugget Finder coils can be used also.

One more point I will bring up and that is the fact, it is not that difficult to build a working coil for the TDI. Unlike some other PI's, the TDI is extremely forgiving and can tolerate wide variations in coil fabrication and still work fine. So, the idea of a person who has the basic skills can readily make their own coils if they desire.

Reg

Hi Reg, Welcome to the TDI Classroom forum. Thanks for the great insight into Whites coil process. You are very lucky to have had the opportunity to have seen the inside of Whites.I herd that Jimmy's coils are made by Whites isn't that correct? I most likely will add one of Lamarc's nice monos he makes.
Keeper Swinging
CH

---

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the
pretense of taking care of them".
Thomas Jefferson
GPX 4000, Whites TDI
Falcon, CO.
.

Hi CH,

Jimmy Sierra's coils are not technically made at Whites, although many parts may come from Whites. They are made by one of the people that works at Whites and are made at the guys personal workshop. All of this is done with Whites knowledge and permission.

Using this technique still provides the right engineering, technical soldering skills, parts and know how in making the coils, but doesn't interrupt the production cycle at Whites to make a few different coils.

There is at least one other coil for Jimmy Sierra, not for the TDI, that I know of that is made by another person outside of Whites. This guy also has years of experience in coil manufacturing and has made third party coils for years.

Reg

Hi Reg thanks for the real skinny on the coils.
Keeper Swinging
CH

---

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the
government from wasting the labors of the people under the
pretense of taking care of them".
Thomas Jefferson
GPX 4000, Whites TDI
Falcon, CO.
.