Gamma/Omega difference?

[Rebel1]

How much actual difference is there in the performance between these two in the field? Is the Omega enough better to justify the extra cost? I know they are both supposed to be good on coins but what about jewelry, especially small gold jewelry. Will the do any good on it? Any and all info appreciated. Trying to decide whether to go with one of them or a Tesoro Vaquero.

 

[aSaSSino]

I made a choice and bought a Gamma because 1) cheaper (few units sold here, so you can obtain a better price, too) 2) no pots on the main unit, only buttons, so it's easy to cover with a tiny plastic bag or cellophane sheet 3) volume control on the unit 4) I prefer the main unit on the top of the S rod, and not on the top of the handle like the Omega...5) lightweight ... you can hunt for hours!!!

Main advantages of Omega are the 3 selectable frequencies to avoid interferences, a little bigger elliptical coil and the ground phase error on the display...

For small gold jewelry, with standard 8" concentric coil, at "90" sensitivity, I can find (in air) a little circular opened baby earring at 7 cm, opened baby bracelet at 9 cm, opened man necklace at 9 cm, a tiny pendant at 12 cm, up to a wedding band at 30 cm... Smallest gold jewels has a VDI of 40 (iron limit) while the wedding bands has a VDI of 56 or more (unfortunately the pull tabs have a VDI of 57 )

I refer to italian 18kt - yellow - gold, white gold is more difficult to find but maybe american jewelry may perform better due to more copper in the alloy...


Happy hunting!

 

[Rebel1]

Thank you for the info. How about the ground balancing? Do you have any problem getting it balanced?

 

[aSaSSino]

Never had problem when balancing (but I've never hunted a very very high mineralisation soil or sand)... the gamma/omega usually refuses to automatic balance when some metallic object is in the ground (ground balance less than 40), but just move some centimeter ago and you will solve, or make a manual balance (very easy, with 1000 levels of balance)...

See you!

 

[Rebel1]

Thanks again. Really having a hard time deciding between the Gamma, Omega, and Vaquero. Any input helps.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Read montes post. He is the best to ask on the 2 machines!

 

[aSaSSino]

I never used a Vaquero but it seems an IMPRESSIVE machine, analogic, old style, without bells and whistles, VDI etc.... but with great capabilities... and keep in mind that Vaquero has an operating frequency double than gamma/omega so it should be better in finding little jewelry!

 

[Merf]

A little off topic since I own a Delta and an F70. I have previously owned both a Cibola and Vaquero.
I have to say that my Delta is at least 1 inch deeper than the Tesoros.
I did some testing with a buried dime and the Tesoros would not hit it at 5 inches in this mild Northern Illinois soil.
I have a Chinese GC 1023 and it is 1/2 inch deeper than both of the Tesoros that I had on a buried dime.
I am not trying to put down the Tesoros but thought it might be helpful to potential buyers to post my findings.
Best Regards Merf


P.S. Both of the Tesoros would air test a quarter at 11 inches but would not get half that depth in the soil.
I sent the Cibola back to find out why, and they fine tuned it. Might have gained a quarter of an inch in the soil.

 

[digginLa]

Have to chime in on this since I own a Omega, used to have a Tesoro DeLeon (traded it in for the Omega) and also use the Tesoro Cibola. When I had the DeLeon I found dime and pennies with it down 7-8 inches so far I haven't found anything particularly deep with either the Cibola or Omega 5 inches is probably the deepest I've found something with both of them not a fault with the machines just the sites I've been hunting with them. The Omega is easy to ground balance if thats a feature you want/need however most of us that have been using it find that there are EMI issues especially if your hunting in town probably 90% of the time I can't get the sensitivity above 75 or so hunting the same places with my Ciblola I can run it with the sensitivity at 10. Here in Louisiana I feel the Cibola is going to get down as deep as the Omega does, I haven't done an air test between the machines just because I don't believe thats any indication of how deep either machine will find a target in the ground. Hope this helps. Jimmie

 

[jmaryt]

i wasn't aware the omega was effected by (e.m.i.) interesting!
can you mitigate the (e.m.i) with a frequency change?.just wondering!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[kraykepler]

My Omega hit a few quarter sized coins and flat buttons at a measured 11 inches (in good soil). In my area, EMI was sometime fixed and sometimes not fixed by a frequency change.

 

[tabman]

I certainly hope that the Omega and Gamma detectors detect as deep or deeper than a properly ground balanced Vaquero, because I'm thinking about getting a Gamma to do some coin shooting. The Vaquero is plenty deep!

tabman

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

You will be surprised how well they lock on coins at depth.

 

[capt.]

I haven't posted in a while but wanted to add that I am VERY pleased with the performance of my Gamma. It is worth investing in one and then investing time in learning how to use it properly. An amazing machine in my humble opinion.

Capt.