Find's Treasure Forums

Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!

You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.

Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.

Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.

Click here to register!



Need Support Help?

Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you

Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.

My thoughts on Detectors lately

F_27stryker1

Active member
Ever since i walked into metal detecting some 7-8 years ago, It seems like no matter what machine you had, 6 months later it was outdated and the new next best thing was the must have. Well let me tell you i started with a teknetics delta 4000, not anywhere near top of the line, but man i loved that thing. I was out everyday for months after work and was finding everything i dreamed of. Old coins, buttons, pull tabs, junk, rings, nails, modern coins. etc. I dug every thing that beeped. Over the course of the next year i put hundreds of hours, if not a thousand on that machine. I knew the vdis to heart, and how depth of an object affected the tones and the vdi, i could almost tell you what was gonna come out of the ground. I filled shoe boxes with relics and cases with coins. I was lucky to have such good areas to go to and some local knowledge of the history too. The delta 4000 was still finding me plenty, but the more i watched youtube, and looking online, the more i felt like i was using something too outdated and not good enough. I talked myself into buying a second machine, upgrading to a teknetics g2. I loved it, it seemed like i found so many things with it, and it had the extra features the delta did not. I was all the time adjusting and going through the menus, tweaking things looking for the perfect settings. It seemed to work at the time, but then i started to realize i wasn't really finding alot more with it than my older delta. This persuaded me to think i needed more, something better. Down the rabbit hole i went. I bought one machine, then another, then another, selling the previous at a loss to help pay for the next. Ive owned 37 different detectors in an 8 year span. From $100 yard sale machines to $3000 flagship machines. Now don't get me wrong, i do feel like some of the detectors i have owned certainly found things sometimes that others would have missed flatout. Some have there strengths and some have there weaknesses. I guess it all comes down to what makes you as the detectorist happy at the end of the day. For me, i'm okay not pulling every single item in the ground at a location up in one day, or finding that quarter 9 inches down on its side with a nail on top of it. Sure it's nice to come home with the goods, but what will it really take. I believe people are too caught up in the hype of the latest greatest machines, the find all machines, the gets it all detectors. If you just put the time and dedication into a decent machine, even something as small as $250 detector or even something as big as a $3000 detector, people would be suprised with what they would learn about them, and what can come out of the ground. If you bought a racecar, would you instantly know how to race and win with it? There are very few in the world that could, but practice makes perfect. Basically the entire point im trying to come across with is that i think people should just get out there and just hunt. Use what you have and learn your detector. If your just starting out this is important because it will tell you what you want/need to do your type of detecting. There will always be a new shiny detector right around the corner, and it's okay if you want to keep buying them, but its not going to make you a better detectorist right out of the gate. It took me years to fully realize that i can be just as happy with an few hundred dollar machine as i can be with something way above that. But thats just me, and i realize that is my opinion and people hunt different ways and for different reasons. As of writing this i own 6 detectors, and find myself using everyone of them. Sometimes i'll start out with top tier and work my way down, and others work my way up. No matter which one, they all miss things, for whatever reason, ground minerals, user error, experience on detector, etc.. But i very rarely come home empty handed.
I don't usually post much as i tend to hold my thoughts and opinions to myself, and just sit back and watch and read. Been a member here since late 2018. Folks there is no buy it and you will find it all detector. I see so many different websites and youtubers comparing and pushing this brand or that brand, this is better that one aint. Use what you want, and just learn it, know it like the back of your hand. If its the newest flagship detector thats fine, but when the new shiny comes out ask yourself, how much better will it actually be than good ole faithful that you know by heart.
I am in no way biased for or against any detectors, i love them all. I just enjoy the hunt and like digging up history. You all have a good night and remember, just have fun
 
.... it all comes down to what makes you as the detectorist happy at the end of the day. ....
Been saying this for years. I still use a 1212X ( 1 knobber like the compadre) at times even though I own detectors costing many times as much. Usually it depends on the situation/location. It all depends on what makes it enjoyable to each person. Like the difference in fishermen. I knew a tournament fisherman where his joy was from the competition part only. He never fished except in tournaments. To each their own.
 
I'm all for technology, but for technologies sake is a whole other opinion. You assume i'm older i suppose, but im 32. I grew up in a wave of exploding tech and gadgets., so no i don't have a flip phone, but i also don't have the latest greatest iphone or android....to many people can't look up from them long enough to see what's going on around them
 
Been saying this for years. I still use a 1212X ( 1 knobber like the compadre) at times even though I own detectors costing many times as much. Usually it depends on the situation/location. It all depends on what makes it enjoyable to each person. Like the difference in fishermen. I knew a tournament fisherman where his joy was from the competition part only. He never fished except in tournaments. To each their own.
To each their own....i agree. There are so many different ways to enjoy detecting, and different hunting styles, grounds
 
Ever since i walked into metal detecting some 7-8 years ago, It seems like no matter what machine you had, 6 months later it was outdated and the new next best thing was the must have. Well let me tell you i started with a teknetics delta 4000, not anywhere near top of the line, but man i loved that thing. I was out everyday for months after work and was finding everything i dreamed of. Old coins, buttons, pull tabs, junk, rings, nails, modern coins. etc. I dug every thing that beeped. Over the course of the next year i put hundreds of hours, if not a thousand on that machine. I knew the vdis to heart, and how depth of an object affected the tones and the vdi, i could almost tell you what was gonna come out of the ground. I filled shoe boxes with relics and cases with coins. I was lucky to have such good areas to go to and some local knowledge of the history too. The delta 4000 was still finding me plenty, but the more i watched youtube, and looking online, the more i felt like i was using something too outdated and not good enough. I talked myself into buying a second machine, upgrading to a teknetics g2. I loved it, it seemed like i found so many things with it, and it had the extra features the delta did not. I was all the time adjusting and going through the menus, tweaking things looking for the perfect settings. It seemed to work at the time, but then i started to realize i wasn't really finding alot more with it than my older delta. This persuaded me to think i needed more, something better. Down the rabbit hole i went. I bought one machine, then another, then another, selling the previous at a loss to help pay for the next. Ive owned 37 different detectors in an 8 year span. From $100 yard sale machines to $3000 flagship machines. Now don't get me wrong, i do feel like some of the detectors i have owned certainly found things sometimes that others would have missed flatout. Some have there strengths and some have there weaknesses. I guess it all comes down to what makes you as the detectorist happy at the end of the day. For me, i'm okay not pulling every single item in the ground at a location up in one day, or finding that quarter 9 inches down on its side with a nail on top of it. Sure it's nice to come home with the goods, but what will it really take. I believe people are too caught up in the hype of the latest greatest machines, the find all machines, the gets it all detectors. If you just put the time and dedication into a decent machine, even something as small as $250 detector or even something as big as a $3000 detector, people would be suprised with what they would learn about them, and what can come out of the ground. If you bought a racecar, would you instantly know how to race and win with it? There are very few in the world that could, but practice makes perfect. Basically the entire point im trying to come across with is that i think people should just get out there and just hunt. Use what you have and learn your detector. If your just starting out this is important because it will tell you what you want/need to do your type of detecting. There will always be a new shiny detector right around the corner, and it's okay if you want to keep buying them, but its not going to make you a better detectorist right out of the gate. It took me years to fully realize that i can be just as happy with an few hundred dollar machine as i can be with something way above that. But thats just me, and i realize that is my opinion and people hunt different ways and for different reasons. As of writing this i own 6 detectors, and find myself using everyone of them. Sometimes i'll start out with top tier and work my way down, and others work my way up. No matter which one, they all miss things, for whatever reason, ground minerals, user error, experience on detector, etc.. But i very rarely come home empty handed.
I don't usually post much as i tend to hold my thoughts and opinions to myself, and just sit back and watch and read. Been a member here since late 2018. Folks there is no buy it and you will find it all detector. I see so many different websites and youtubers comparing and pushing this brand or that brand, this is better that one aint. Use what you want, and just learn it, know it like the back of your hand. If its the newest flagship detector thats fine, but when the new shiny comes out ask yourself, how much better will it actually be than good ole faithful that you know by heart.
I am in no way biased for or against any detectors, i love them all. I just enjoy the hunt and like digging up history. You all have a good night and remember, just have fun
Spoken like a realist,my thoughts exactly
 
Rick, I'm with you. One of the reasons I sold my Eq. 800 was that it simply too complicated. Recently got rid of my flip phone and got one of the more expensive androids. Big mistake for me! My mind is still lost in the tube days when I made my own receivers and transmitters. The tubes told me what was happening. I still miss the glow of the tubes. Modern electronics, to me, do not have character.
 
Very good post
I think there are 4 or more stages of every hobby one goes through.
From novice to experienced- The new guys always are quicker.
Then there is the pressure that everyone with a better machine will find the goodies before you do. Buy buy buy
Then there is the Money Factor - Some better off financially can keep upgrading - even before they mastered last years model
There is also an age factor - I used to find over a 1000 coins per year- Now not going out as much. Older people loose stamina. My back hurts after a 1/2 hour - That new light wait is a must.
Now what was that new machine that can discriminate out bottle caps? Better features sell machines.
 
It's called the advancement in technology.
Do you still use a flipphone?
So what is the best thing that technology has bought to us as detectorists.Is the latest high tech machine really going to find you that much more than the last really good detector?
I've been in this hobby for thirty six years and have used a lot of machines and i haven't seen or used a single new model detector that has made a significant impact on my finds rates over a seasons detecting.I've tested loads of machines in real world conditions and the"latest greatest"has often not shown any real advantage over earlier generation top end machines.
Lets take the latest "best ever" machine the Deus 2.This is the machine that is attracting a lot of attention as the next big breakthrough.So over a seasons detecting if one detectorist used the deus 2 and another say a dinosaur like an explorer on the same fields and compared the same signals,how many more signals do you think the deus 2 would pick up over the old explorer......hardly any is the answer.Most of the latest technology is about weight and cordless technology which is a good thing but people buying the latest machine in the hope it will find them a load more may be disappointed.
 
My brother won't use anything but a flip phone. He doesn't text or use the internet. It's small in his pocket, comfortable to talk with and and tough as hell. It went through the washer a couple years ago. It fell off the roof of his truck going 35 mph. No broken screens, no freeze ups, no restarting it and his service is $9 a month. He also runs a two tone detector with the iron volume on 1. Keeps it's simple and he's happy.
 
My brother won't use anything but a flip phone. He doesn't text or use the internet. It's small in his pocket, comfortable to talk with and and tough as hell. It went through the washer a couple years ago. It fell off the roof of his truck going 35 mph. No broken screens, no freeze ups, no restarting it and his service is $9 a month. He also runs a two tone detector with the iron volume on 1. Keeps it's simple and he's happy.
If his flip phone is 3G he will not be able to use it after the spring of this year. All of the providers have switched to 5G and 3G will not be available. I hate it because I loved my flip phone and did not want to upgrade. The providers made me change.
 
Same position here and there's some irony in there somewhere that the 5G can't support the 3G,,,we will see what washes out but my understanding is I have until the end of the year,,,I'm a great procrastinator.
 
It's called the advancement in technology.
Do you still use a flipphone?
My phone is on the wall and has a cord. I leave home without it. ;-)

For the most part the "new" detectors don't seem to provide a lot of improvement in depth or unmasking over many of the older detectors when the older detectors are used properly. I enjoy going behind someone swinging wildly on the beach with a new detector and finding good stuff with an older detector. Have on more than one occasion had such a person going back down the beach the other way and we would chat some and I'd show a nice piece or two the was "missed with the new detector" ... used with not a very good technique. Thinking about some of those occasions still brings a smile to me.
 
If his flip phone is 3G he will not be able to use it after the spring of this year. All of the providers have switched to 5G and 3G will not be available. I hate it because I loved my flip phone and did not want to upgrade. The providers made me change.
Both my wife and I are happy with our flip top phones and recently upgraded our old 3g AT&T flips to new 5g AT&T flips.....and the price is right,,,,compared to...They are small, durable and do all that we need, talk on. HH jim tn
 
Top