Hi there, I'll be getting an X70 in a few days and was wondering if I can get a few questions answered. Some I'll find out for myself when I get it, others require outside assistance. Regardless, the answers might help someone else. I'll be using it for prospecting, as well as coin/relic hunting, and my first question refers to the prospecting mode. Is it a motion AM mode? If so, how fast is the SAT? 2nd, is it possible to extend the coil cord to enable chest mounting? I ask this because I'll be working in streams/rivers and chestmounting (in a plastic bag) would keep the control box high 'n dry. 3rd, how do the 2 modes (prospecting & 0 disc.) compare in sensitivity to very tiny low conductors (GOLD!!!)? 4th, how much leeway is there in sweep speed? 5th, how does the X70 compare to the MXT in sensitivity to reeeaaaally small gold, given the same (roughly)size/type coils? Monte is probably the most knowledgeable re. that question. I'm not trying to start a brand war (after all, I've used an MXT for a couple of years for prospecting and coin/ring/relic hunting), just trying to get some hard facts before I head out to my claims in a month or so. That's about it. All I'm waiting for now is the possible release of the 5x10" DD HF coil.. just the ticket for nugget hunting. Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...Willy.
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Buying an X70..have a few questions.
- Thread starter willy
- Start date
Hi, Willy.
Glad to hear that you are getting a 70--it is one of the most versatile single frequency detectors that I have ever used.
In terms of your questions, I think Monte, Steve and Digger (who has a lot of MXT experience) are probably going to give you the most relevant answers. I'm a coins/jewelry hunter at the beaches and parks for the most part so I will defer to their expertice. You might want to scroll through some of the field test posts from the four of us & others on this forum as they contain a good amount of information on the X-Terra 70 that may be of help to you.
I can tell you that I am not aware of a "cable extension" for the X-Terra's. The box can be removed from the handle but I don't think that the standard coil cable would be long enough for you to chest mount. I understand why you would want it protectd while stream hunting. Perhaps you could bag it on the shaft to offer sufficient protection.
Best of luck with the machine, Willy. If there are any questions that I can answer for you along the way, feel free to post them or email me & I'll do my best to answer them for you.
Bill (S. CA)
Glad to hear that you are getting a 70--it is one of the most versatile single frequency detectors that I have ever used.
In terms of your questions, I think Monte, Steve and Digger (who has a lot of MXT experience) are probably going to give you the most relevant answers. I'm a coins/jewelry hunter at the beaches and parks for the most part so I will defer to their expertice. You might want to scroll through some of the field test posts from the four of us & others on this forum as they contain a good amount of information on the X-Terra 70 that may be of help to you.
I can tell you that I am not aware of a "cable extension" for the X-Terra's. The box can be removed from the handle but I don't think that the standard coil cable would be long enough for you to chest mount. I understand why you would want it protectd while stream hunting. Perhaps you could bag it on the shaft to offer sufficient protection.
Best of luck with the machine, Willy. If there are any questions that I can answer for you along the way, feel free to post them or email me & I'll do my best to answer them for you.
Bill (S. CA)
steve herschbach
New member
Hi willy,
The Prospecting Mode is a threshold based all-metal mode with a medium SAT rate that feels a bit slower than the MXT to me. The cable comes out of the back of the pod in such a way it would be kind of hard to chest mount, and I am not aware of any cable extensions. The Prospect Mode is slightly more sensitive to the smallest and deepest target compared to the disc modes (or the so-called "All Metal" accept all disc mode).
The sweep speed is forgiving, but does seem to do better at a little slower than MXT speeds. I'd give the X-Terra 70 the slightest of edges on tiny gold in air tests but in the field it remains to be seen as you can get good air tests but then have to back sensitivity down in the field to the point that you lose the air test edge. I would in a nutshell rate the X-Terra 70 as comparable on small gold to the MXT.
I have to say small gold is not a major concern for me as I will not use the MXT or X-Terra 70 for small gold. That is why I have a Gold Bug 2. I am more concerned about how the X-Terra might work as a nugget machine for trashy locales like Ganes Creek or for nasty hot rock locations like Moore Creek. I suspect the disc modes will do better at Moore Creek than the Prospect Mode. The only two VLF units that do well at Moore creek are the Tesoro Lobo is disc mode or Fisher Gold Bug 2 in iron disc mode.
Steve Herschbach
X-Terra 70 Information
The Prospecting Mode is a threshold based all-metal mode with a medium SAT rate that feels a bit slower than the MXT to me. The cable comes out of the back of the pod in such a way it would be kind of hard to chest mount, and I am not aware of any cable extensions. The Prospect Mode is slightly more sensitive to the smallest and deepest target compared to the disc modes (or the so-called "All Metal" accept all disc mode).
The sweep speed is forgiving, but does seem to do better at a little slower than MXT speeds. I'd give the X-Terra 70 the slightest of edges on tiny gold in air tests but in the field it remains to be seen as you can get good air tests but then have to back sensitivity down in the field to the point that you lose the air test edge. I would in a nutshell rate the X-Terra 70 as comparable on small gold to the MXT.
I have to say small gold is not a major concern for me as I will not use the MXT or X-Terra 70 for small gold. That is why I have a Gold Bug 2. I am more concerned about how the X-Terra might work as a nugget machine for trashy locales like Ganes Creek or for nasty hot rock locations like Moore Creek. I suspect the disc modes will do better at Moore Creek than the Prospect Mode. The only two VLF units that do well at Moore creek are the Tesoro Lobo is disc mode or Fisher Gold Bug 2 in iron disc mode.
Steve Herschbach
X-Terra 70 Information
Hello again Steve. I'm looking at the X70 as an all-round detector, kinda like the MXT, but with a better disc. mode. For chest-mountig, I'm thinking of making a plate with a round bracket that would have the control box slide into.. like the handle on the control rod. For nugget hunting, I'm mainly looking at it as a bedrock detector for finding reasonably small stuff lodged in cracks. I found the MXT to be a decent unit for doing so, but no more than a couple of inches of penetration, at best, on the tiny stuf. If the X70 can replicate that performance it will do well. Most of the bedrock I've hunted didn't require a fast tracking/SAT speed and mineralized seams could be hunted by slowing down and letting it track out. Seeing as I'm limited in space, and the # of detectors I'd like to swing, the X70 (like the MXT) seems to be a decent choice. With the MXT (in AM mode) I was able to get exceedingly small bits of gold by just listening for a "crackle", no well defined signal, which will do me just fine if the X70 reacts the same way. I doubt that I'll be hunting for flyspecks anyway, since the area where my claims are located is known for multi-pound nuggets being found. Therefor, my Infinium (Thanks Steve!) will be my main detector. There are also a bunch of Forest Service rec. sites I like to hunt and they invariably contain, to my great dismay, hundreds (if not thousands) of .22 shorts/longs. With the MXT, this means a lot of meter reading; hopefully I can just notch them out with the X70.. Ahhh..Bliss! I'm just chomping at the bit; waiting for that 5x10" HF DD to be introduced. ...Willy.
..but I'm not too sure about the cable itself. I'll have a look, when my X70 gets here, at the connector.. can probably buy the male/female ends. The only problem is regarding the "data link". Don't know if it's a specialised cable instead of regular shielded multi-lead coil cable. ...Willy.
BarnacleBill
New member
The coil cable is a Belden Category 5 twisted pair cable, not a molded cable. Ergo, if any water gets into the cable up at the connector end, it is going to most likely end up in the coil, and the coil contains active electronics, eg a microprocessor, gurgle, gurgle, psssst, bang....
Next, I just returned from a beach loaded with .22 shorts, longs, and corroded versions of each in various states. With the HF coil on the X70, they were ID'ing anywhere from 4 to 16 in sand that GB'd at 9. Now being that I was seeking gold rings, I could ignore the unstable bouncers, but the one's that locked solid, I could not ignore. In that you are looking for targets that may bounce, I don't want you to assume you can notch out a small spectrum and be done with it.
HH
BarnacleBill
Next, I just returned from a beach loaded with .22 shorts, longs, and corroded versions of each in various states. With the HF coil on the X70, they were ID'ing anywhere from 4 to 16 in sand that GB'd at 9. Now being that I was seeking gold rings, I could ignore the unstable bouncers, but the one's that locked solid, I could not ignore. In that you are looking for targets that may bounce, I don't want you to assume you can notch out a small spectrum and be done with it.
HH
BarnacleBill
steve herschbach
New member
Hi Bill,
What willy is talking about falls under the realm of crazy nugget detecting tricks.
At Ganes Creek nuggets can run VDI numbers from slightly negative on up into the 70's. Basically, the bigger then nugget, the higher the VDI on the MXT.
So keeping in mind that nuggets read all over the place, if you get into an area where the hunters/target shooters go nuts and .22 casings are everywhere, you can just ignore the narrow band of targets that id as .22 casings. They are not as corroded as what you are digging in the water and so read more consistently. That still means that of course any nuggets that read identical to a .22 casing will get missed. But the odds are greater that a nugget will read either lower of higher.
I always acknowledge that digging every item is in theory the way to go. And maybe later when the pickings get slim the guy that goes and digs all the .22 shell casings will get those missed nuggets. But on the first pass through I'll check for out-of-place targets first. Certainly pulling a nugget up would help me decide to dig all the casings!
So with the MXT you hear each casing beep, then check the meter. With the X-Terra 70 just notch the casings out and look for other things that go beep.
Steve Herschbach
Steve's Mining Journal
What willy is talking about falls under the realm of crazy nugget detecting tricks.
At Ganes Creek nuggets can run VDI numbers from slightly negative on up into the 70's. Basically, the bigger then nugget, the higher the VDI on the MXT.
So keeping in mind that nuggets read all over the place, if you get into an area where the hunters/target shooters go nuts and .22 casings are everywhere, you can just ignore the narrow band of targets that id as .22 casings. They are not as corroded as what you are digging in the water and so read more consistently. That still means that of course any nuggets that read identical to a .22 casing will get missed. But the odds are greater that a nugget will read either lower of higher.
I always acknowledge that digging every item is in theory the way to go. And maybe later when the pickings get slim the guy that goes and digs all the .22 shell casings will get those missed nuggets. But on the first pass through I'll check for out-of-place targets first. Certainly pulling a nugget up would help me decide to dig all the casings!
So with the MXT you hear each casing beep, then check the meter. With the X-Terra 70 just notch the casings out and look for other things that go beep.
Steve Herschbach
Steve's Mining Journal
Sometimes it just gets overwhelming. I've hunted a freshwater beach, here in Osoyooos, a number of times with the MXT I had and my Infinium. It's a veritable carpet of nails under the sand and listening to the barrage of signals for more than a couple of hours leads to a case of extreme mental fatigue. That's where a notch control comes in handy. A lot of the iron will "wrap" around and read right up at the end of the scale on a VLF, so just advancing the disc. doesn't help much. Could dig it all, but sometimes I'm just plumb lazy. As an aside, I'm getting a killer deal on a Tesoro Diablo II, so I'll play around with that for a bit too; maybe do some comparisons. ...Willy.