2-4 inches is it worth it

[Anonymous]

Well after reading the claims of the Deepstar 3 one has to think ,"is it for me" ,as one gets older "in my case" the deeper very quite signals are harder to hear ,so any detector that gives the extra inchs will of course give you the added bonus of bringing you up to standard on them signals you find hard to hear,I for one find it difficult to understand using the same batteries a different detector can give you more deapth , still we shall see ,I will be following the deepstar3,and its use over the next few months,and hope to have some thing to post on its negative and positive sides ,I like the added probe, for im told I dig huge holes so it should help in that respect ,especially in the dry sand area . so to Eric and Mr Bill good luck ,and has the posy ring I found from the 17th Century says "except thy good will"

 

[Anonymous]

You got me on the batteries. <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug">
What was done is the Nicads were switched over to the NiMH cells we used in the Aquastar. The Voltage of both cell packs were at 15 V. What has help to improve in depth over the older Deepstar

 

[Anonymous]

Hi John,
The battery is just like the fuel tank on a car. Use a high horspower engine and drive fast, the fuel will be used up quickly. Use a small engine and drive at 50 mph, the fuel will last twice as long. The Deepstar 3 battery will last about 8 hours on a full charge with the long (100uS) transmitter pulse, or 16 hours with the short (50uS) pulse. On the Aquastar, this was called NORMAL mode and ECONOMY mode. If I put the same battery on the Goldquest SS, it would last 38 hours before recharging. You would think that the detection range of the Deepstar would be about five times the range of the Goldquest, but unfortunately it does not work like that. To gain even a few inches of range needs a disproportionally large increase in power.
The same battery would give even more range on the Deepstar if you would accept, say 4 hour operating time, to transmit double the current. Everything else being equal, you would gain about 10% more range. Things in the electronics would start to get warm, though. Much like in a car, you would need a bigger radiator/heat sink to dissipate the extra heat and carry extra fuel/spare battery for those full day trips.
As you say, having 2 - 4in more range will make those signals that are faint on a lower power detector, come in louder and clearer, rather than go for the ultra faint signals on the Deepstar and then wishing for even more power. I think you will find that what it gives is deep enough.
Eric.