Jack Barlow
Member
Spent a few hours this afternoon continuing my education of the Equinox and the new 15" Elliptical Coil.
First off...right B4 heading out, I saw a very encouraging video online showing a fellow detecting the beach using the EQX 15" Coil setup, that had found -7-...yes 7 gold rings, and 3 or 4 silver ones in one afternoon's outing! Just shoot me! (; And I carefully watched his technique as he walked away. He was walking along the beach at a brisk pace, somewhat wildly swinging the coil, arcing up into the air on each end of the stroke. This was by no means a man tinkering along, sorting out the signals under the fry pan one by one! He was really hauling !!!
Then in my search, I went back to the program I normally use, which is FIELD2. I firmly believe in a careful EMI reduction and noise cancelling. This sometimes takes time...and I know patience varies with the operator. To find a perfectly clean spot to noise cancel...can in and of itself be difficult at times. To accept a "slightly noisy spot" is to invite subpar performance.
And I tried a new technique today for EMI REDUCTION, since excessive EMI can be an issue at times. By holding the machine at waist height, coil -edge- vertical to the ground, stand steady and get ready, often 2 hands holding the neck is easier, (mandatory on "The Big Dog," the GPZ 7000 at 11.4 pounds)! Now start your sequence, but we will do this based on the 4 "regions" of the detector. Hold steady and hit the start button and enjoy chugging your first coke down as you smoothly and slowly rotate! But rotate slowly --only through the first 90 degrees of rotation...go slow...take your time, only 1 region! But keep the machine up and level and ready to immediately proceed with the final steps. Next...do Region 2...and repeat the same, smoothly rotate your body through the next -adjoining- region of 90 degrees, holding the coil level and straight, doing your best to maintain the same elevation off the ground.. And repeat for the 3rd and finally the 4th Region. You'll feel bubbly from chugging all that imaginary coke, but the quiet, well behaved machine will make it all seem worthwhile! Let the machine have more readings to chew on to decide the final number/s it will use. I used to do 2 regions and the numbers varied wildly, (watch the screen as you do this EMI tuning)... showing there -IS- much info to be gathered. Maybe it takes just the last numbers and ignores the rest? But from my results, I have a feeling that I am ahead on the game. This was in a very open lot down along the water. It seems to like it, and although a lot to write out here, in reality...it goes very fast. --I'd Love to Hear some Additional Reports on.... "4 Region EMI Tuning."
The 15" coil is very sensitive to small targets. Again from its "roots" of being almost a gold mining machine with the powerful gold modes. Down along the end of the canal, I really put her through her paces.... I had cleaned out this "point" area and as close as I dare go to the reenforced-concrete seawalls. That let you about 2 to 3 feet out from the wall. A lot of prime square footage in "no man's land." But I always assumed if somebody sat down on the seawall cap to fish, their coins and sinkers, etc, would slip out of their pockets and lay directly behind them in the grass.
And so I thought this would be an important test in many regards. Where the 6" EQX would be best to tune out the seawall, I wanted to know what would happen if you lumber along with the big elliptical 15"? My results were as follows....
1. Although the heavily reinforced seawall had tons of ferrous rebar in the wall, the EQX 15 was in fact up to the task! Lower your sensitivity down to 18. Plenty of power...witnessed by finding a half dozen small "slip" sinkers along the wall, some quite deep! You simply pointed your body out to sea as well with the EQX 15" pointed tip of the elliptical, and do the Washington Side Step...we all know so well. Keep the tip of the coil off the seawall only 4", and side step your way along with careful side to side passes. The stuff I missed from the last visit with my Garrett AT Max was amazing!
Almost to reward me, as soon as I approached the wall, I had a fairly steady 29 reading. With my index finger on the seawall cap, and my thumb on the Wright Brothers Quarter, was I ever pleased!!! I hate to use the word trick, let's call it technique...but this opens up areas along docks, seawalls, etc,, for all of us! Thousands of feet that I bet my first detector on...has NEVER SEEN AN EDDY CURRENT!!! Tired at the beach? Just side-step along the docks and walls, wherever grass or dirt meets the edge. I will go back now and continue on cleaning out all the coins and sinkers I missed during normal detecting. Another arrow in your quiver for all to use who read here! But remember...the real secret is the --reducing of the power- to allow you to get so close.
And if lead sinkers reading are close to finding gold...hang on..surprises are coming your way! They don't always pinpoint perfect, especially if there is more than one target, but the EQX 15" will nail them every time. Clear, crisp, pounding signals. Fishing sinkers are actually a very nice item to collect. Don't laugh...but there are so many types and sizes, so many very old style pours with curved over edges on the old pyramids. And they look great in a wooden with glass top display case. I like the 18x24x2"...but they are getting so expensive...they are a buck a piece now on the majors. But with all the work you go through recovering all these items of interest...they should be properly displayed for all to enjoy. Coins are not the only game in town. In fact I enjoy some of this stuff more than some clad coin.
The Equinox always had a superb pin-pointer. I noted that within 10 minutes of starting my machine. Loud and clear and accurate. And VERY ACCURATE with the 15" Coil. I dug about 40 plugs todays, only about 6x6", and only 1 of the lot needed a re-scan. My sweet spot is the FLAT HORIZONTAL LINE ON THE COIL, JUST BELOW THE WHITE SERIAL NUMBER STICKER. TAG YOUR SHOVEL 1" --BELOW- THAT WHITE LINE and you are good to go. Targets show up nicely in the hole starting with this location on the 15" Coil.
I much prefer to run with THRESHOLD ON at all times...to about number 5 to 7, or to where you hear a slight, but solid background sound of all the iron. To me... after you get used to another layer of sound, you first off know what you are getting into...is it high iron, or is this ground -loaded full of iron-??? I went to the point of learning to read and understand the threshold and actually testing myself to see if I could dig a THRESHOLD detected TARGET! I was successful and another tool in the toolbox. The default Threshold setting on start-up is ON... with the first region of numbers on the screen blanked out.
--THE THRESHOLD IS YOUR -GREAT FRIEND- IN WEEDING OUT FALSE TARGETS-- A seldom known or applied "marker" that can be quick and helpful in ascertaining to dig or pass on a target in trash. Practice this (if you wish) until you are a believer in yourself. It's the only way.
I also prefer to run with the horse shoe selected.. Filled in (low region 1 numbers, discrimination OFF). Now ---if you only give it a chance---you will hear the iron target coming through at the EXACT same time as your "Real Target" that you are ready to dig. But wait! If its a "good" target...why is the Threshold --Mirror Image-- that you lightly hear in the background) sounding off --INSINC-- with the "Good" Target!!???
WE CANNOT HAVE TWO IDENTICAL TARGETS DOWN IN THE GROUND, NOW CAN WE? ONE FERROUS AND ONE A NON-FERROUS "GOOD" TARGET READY TO BE DUG. Time to STOP and RE-ACCESS.
Now put the discrimination back ON... pushing the horseshoe button. If and only "IF" your prior "Good" target is STILL EXACTLY THE SAME IN EVERY RESPECT...You very well might have a good target. But if you hear the discriminated signal at all "clipped" or in other strange ways...the signal smoothness and follow through changed...SUSPECT A FERROUS TARGET AND PASS. Unsure of yourself? Fine! Practice with a few of these, and -dig them all to build confidence in yourself.- After a while in a trashy location, you will in fact hear TWO identical sets of target responses, smile and walk on by. You can easily adjust not only the volume level of the THRESHOLD but also the THRESHOLD PITCH that best suits your ears to easily notice changes. GOOD LUCK...this one takes a little practice and a "stick to it" attitude. But the rewards are easily worth it!
Once again in summary...the new Equinox 15" Elliptical Coil has proven herself a strong winner. From that amazing beach report, to my Seawall techniques...and Threshold verifications, she has proven to be strong in all categories and a capable and useful coil, well worth the purchase price. There seems to be no apparent flaws, and a quick purchase to secure one from the 1st batch out to the public, might be shopping Santa well approves of !!!
First off...right B4 heading out, I saw a very encouraging video online showing a fellow detecting the beach using the EQX 15" Coil setup, that had found -7-...yes 7 gold rings, and 3 or 4 silver ones in one afternoon's outing! Just shoot me! (; And I carefully watched his technique as he walked away. He was walking along the beach at a brisk pace, somewhat wildly swinging the coil, arcing up into the air on each end of the stroke. This was by no means a man tinkering along, sorting out the signals under the fry pan one by one! He was really hauling !!!
Then in my search, I went back to the program I normally use, which is FIELD2. I firmly believe in a careful EMI reduction and noise cancelling. This sometimes takes time...and I know patience varies with the operator. To find a perfectly clean spot to noise cancel...can in and of itself be difficult at times. To accept a "slightly noisy spot" is to invite subpar performance.
And I tried a new technique today for EMI REDUCTION, since excessive EMI can be an issue at times. By holding the machine at waist height, coil -edge- vertical to the ground, stand steady and get ready, often 2 hands holding the neck is easier, (mandatory on "The Big Dog," the GPZ 7000 at 11.4 pounds)! Now start your sequence, but we will do this based on the 4 "regions" of the detector. Hold steady and hit the start button and enjoy chugging your first coke down as you smoothly and slowly rotate! But rotate slowly --only through the first 90 degrees of rotation...go slow...take your time, only 1 region! But keep the machine up and level and ready to immediately proceed with the final steps. Next...do Region 2...and repeat the same, smoothly rotate your body through the next -adjoining- region of 90 degrees, holding the coil level and straight, doing your best to maintain the same elevation off the ground.. And repeat for the 3rd and finally the 4th Region. You'll feel bubbly from chugging all that imaginary coke, but the quiet, well behaved machine will make it all seem worthwhile! Let the machine have more readings to chew on to decide the final number/s it will use. I used to do 2 regions and the numbers varied wildly, (watch the screen as you do this EMI tuning)... showing there -IS- much info to be gathered. Maybe it takes just the last numbers and ignores the rest? But from my results, I have a feeling that I am ahead on the game. This was in a very open lot down along the water. It seems to like it, and although a lot to write out here, in reality...it goes very fast. --I'd Love to Hear some Additional Reports on.... "4 Region EMI Tuning."
The 15" coil is very sensitive to small targets. Again from its "roots" of being almost a gold mining machine with the powerful gold modes. Down along the end of the canal, I really put her through her paces.... I had cleaned out this "point" area and as close as I dare go to the reenforced-concrete seawalls. That let you about 2 to 3 feet out from the wall. A lot of prime square footage in "no man's land." But I always assumed if somebody sat down on the seawall cap to fish, their coins and sinkers, etc, would slip out of their pockets and lay directly behind them in the grass.
And so I thought this would be an important test in many regards. Where the 6" EQX would be best to tune out the seawall, I wanted to know what would happen if you lumber along with the big elliptical 15"? My results were as follows....
1. Although the heavily reinforced seawall had tons of ferrous rebar in the wall, the EQX 15 was in fact up to the task! Lower your sensitivity down to 18. Plenty of power...witnessed by finding a half dozen small "slip" sinkers along the wall, some quite deep! You simply pointed your body out to sea as well with the EQX 15" pointed tip of the elliptical, and do the Washington Side Step...we all know so well. Keep the tip of the coil off the seawall only 4", and side step your way along with careful side to side passes. The stuff I missed from the last visit with my Garrett AT Max was amazing!
Almost to reward me, as soon as I approached the wall, I had a fairly steady 29 reading. With my index finger on the seawall cap, and my thumb on the Wright Brothers Quarter, was I ever pleased!!! I hate to use the word trick, let's call it technique...but this opens up areas along docks, seawalls, etc,, for all of us! Thousands of feet that I bet my first detector on...has NEVER SEEN AN EDDY CURRENT!!! Tired at the beach? Just side-step along the docks and walls, wherever grass or dirt meets the edge. I will go back now and continue on cleaning out all the coins and sinkers I missed during normal detecting. Another arrow in your quiver for all to use who read here! But remember...the real secret is the --reducing of the power- to allow you to get so close.
And if lead sinkers reading are close to finding gold...hang on..surprises are coming your way! They don't always pinpoint perfect, especially if there is more than one target, but the EQX 15" will nail them every time. Clear, crisp, pounding signals. Fishing sinkers are actually a very nice item to collect. Don't laugh...but there are so many types and sizes, so many very old style pours with curved over edges on the old pyramids. And they look great in a wooden with glass top display case. I like the 18x24x2"...but they are getting so expensive...they are a buck a piece now on the majors. But with all the work you go through recovering all these items of interest...they should be properly displayed for all to enjoy. Coins are not the only game in town. In fact I enjoy some of this stuff more than some clad coin.
The Equinox always had a superb pin-pointer. I noted that within 10 minutes of starting my machine. Loud and clear and accurate. And VERY ACCURATE with the 15" Coil. I dug about 40 plugs todays, only about 6x6", and only 1 of the lot needed a re-scan. My sweet spot is the FLAT HORIZONTAL LINE ON THE COIL, JUST BELOW THE WHITE SERIAL NUMBER STICKER. TAG YOUR SHOVEL 1" --BELOW- THAT WHITE LINE and you are good to go. Targets show up nicely in the hole starting with this location on the 15" Coil.
I much prefer to run with THRESHOLD ON at all times...to about number 5 to 7, or to where you hear a slight, but solid background sound of all the iron. To me... after you get used to another layer of sound, you first off know what you are getting into...is it high iron, or is this ground -loaded full of iron-??? I went to the point of learning to read and understand the threshold and actually testing myself to see if I could dig a THRESHOLD detected TARGET! I was successful and another tool in the toolbox. The default Threshold setting on start-up is ON... with the first region of numbers on the screen blanked out.
--THE THRESHOLD IS YOUR -GREAT FRIEND- IN WEEDING OUT FALSE TARGETS-- A seldom known or applied "marker" that can be quick and helpful in ascertaining to dig or pass on a target in trash. Practice this (if you wish) until you are a believer in yourself. It's the only way.
I also prefer to run with the horse shoe selected.. Filled in (low region 1 numbers, discrimination OFF). Now ---if you only give it a chance---you will hear the iron target coming through at the EXACT same time as your "Real Target" that you are ready to dig. But wait! If its a "good" target...why is the Threshold --Mirror Image-- that you lightly hear in the background) sounding off --INSINC-- with the "Good" Target!!???
WE CANNOT HAVE TWO IDENTICAL TARGETS DOWN IN THE GROUND, NOW CAN WE? ONE FERROUS AND ONE A NON-FERROUS "GOOD" TARGET READY TO BE DUG. Time to STOP and RE-ACCESS.
Now put the discrimination back ON... pushing the horseshoe button. If and only "IF" your prior "Good" target is STILL EXACTLY THE SAME IN EVERY RESPECT...You very well might have a good target. But if you hear the discriminated signal at all "clipped" or in other strange ways...the signal smoothness and follow through changed...SUSPECT A FERROUS TARGET AND PASS. Unsure of yourself? Fine! Practice with a few of these, and -dig them all to build confidence in yourself.- After a while in a trashy location, you will in fact hear TWO identical sets of target responses, smile and walk on by. You can easily adjust not only the volume level of the THRESHOLD but also the THRESHOLD PITCH that best suits your ears to easily notice changes. GOOD LUCK...this one takes a little practice and a "stick to it" attitude. But the rewards are easily worth it!
Once again in summary...the new Equinox 15" Elliptical Coil has proven herself a strong winner. From that amazing beach report, to my Seawall techniques...and Threshold verifications, she has proven to be strong in all categories and a capable and useful coil, well worth the purchase price. There seems to be no apparent flaws, and a quick purchase to secure one from the 1st batch out to the public, might be shopping Santa well approves of !!!
