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Lonestar vs Tracker 4

K

kndubois

New member
I'll be purchasing my first detector soon, and have narrowed my search to the Lone Star and the Tracker 4. I'll be using it primarily to search for Jewelry or coins. Does anyone have any recommendations concerning either one of these and if so,why?
 
:ausflag: I own and operate 2 tracker IV's. They are the detectors I use for coins and jewelery. While they don't have LCD's they operate to the same depth, and the batteries last longer than the Lonestar because of this.They are easy to operate and have found well in excess of $20,000 and closer to $30,000 (retail) worth of coins and jewelery in the last couple of years. I have my settings on tone disc, lowest disc on the dail and sensitivity set at 4 oclock. Just remember that the LCD on the Landstar only gives you a possible target ID. I dig everything that gives a good signal tone, including pulltabs and 5c pieces (AUD). This is where the smaller gold and platinum jewelery items are! If you disc pulltabs and 5c coins you are walking over these items and the next guy with a setup like mine will take them home!!! I would rather pick up 1000 pulltabs than miss a small platinum or gold ring with a 2ct Diamond sitting on top!!!.That being said they are very good units to learn on, and I love them and will continue to use them until they fall to bits. Hope this helps, regards Nugget.:) P.S: Take a look at the post," Enjoy the show" on this forum, more than half was found using the tracker IV's, the rest with the Infinium LS.
 
Hello !

I completely agree with what nugget said . If there was one difference to mention, apart from battery duration, it is the autinotch mode on the Lonestar. It might save you some precious digging time in very trashy areas, but as nugget said, digging about everything that gives a good signal will greatly improve the total value of your finds.

The most important thing that is written in all BH owners manuals is the fact one should dig only STRONG and REPEATABLE signals. This is something I can check every time I go out on our beaches here. Also, found alot of gold rings in the pulltab range : bad news is the digging work on ptabs, good news, those rings ARE heavy !!!

HH

Nick the Belgian.
 
I agree also...Do not go for all the bells and Whistles right off the bat...I would get a Tracker IV, and learn it well...Then in the future, you can trade it up for another detector based on what you might want as added features.

HH,
 
Thanks for the input from all! I'll be heading down to our local Academy store to pick up a Tracker 4 this afternoon. Hopefully I'll be sharing some exciting finds with you guys in the future.
 
Can't wait to see your loot! Keep us posted, regards Nugget.:)
 
Hi Nugget:

Fantastic slide show! I work a couple of tourist beaches here on the UK's south coast and I have been successful with my Fast Tracker but not on the scale you have achieved. I normally work with SENS at 3 o'clock and Tone Discrim set at 10 o'clock when working the dry sand. Perhaps I am setting too high? I have found that the Discrim will reject some watches and most pocket knives because of thier iron/steel content. The only sure way to success is as you say, dig nearly everything.

On the wet sand, I set the SENS to a position until the false signals are eliminated, and the Tone Discrim set to about 8 o'clock. I am working with a BH 10" Magnum coil for extra coverage and depth.

Regards

John H
 
Hunting in the UK, wow. I see so many fantastic finds from there, Roman etc. I use the 10" on my units too, slightly better depth and cover more ground. The only reason I find so much is the hours on the ground (10-14hrs a shift) and tens of thousands of tourists flocking to Surfers Paradise each year! Even then your technique and search patterns must be better than other detector operators. I was detecting on the beach just after INDY one afternoon, a few of the surfers said I was wasting my time as between 5 to 7 operators had already hit the 300 meter area. I put in 14hrs, and took home around $80 in coins, a Platinum wedding band (sold for $127 @ scrap price) A mens 925 New Zealand made Bracelet (41 grams), a large 925 mens ring (6.5 grams), a mobile phone(working) and A digital camera!!! I sell most of my stuff at the markets and on Ebay, what was my hobby has turned into a full time job!!! If you set up your unit to the same settings as I do you will find that your yearly jewelery total will double at least. If your not picking up pull tabs then you are walking over Gold and Platinum Jewelery. Do bench tests and use different coins, pull tabs and jewelery items, you will be surprised at ther results. Hope you find some great stuff in the new year, HH, regards Nugget.:)
 
H Nugget;

Many thanks. I am certainly going to spend some time with your settings, as the moment I am finding plenty of coins but few rings. So, you set your TONE DISC at the lowest setting? Does that mean you simply switch it on and keep the knob as low as it will go without switching off, and dig everything that comes over loud? I'll let you know if my finds rate improves.

Happy New Year

John H
 
I see you post about the tracker IV--how about the next one up the quick Silver--anyone familiar with this one--Thanks
 
hey there nugget--been watching all the post on these detectors--you seem to be pretty wise on such--is the quick silver compatible with these two models as it is in between--can it be used on the beach as well as land--sorry for being long winded but I am new and all the talk is really made me more interested--got a VLF and a quick silver for christmas--two different folks didn't know what the other was giving--boy was I surprised--am looking foward to all this and any seasoned info on which to do what with (using on land or the beach) is appreciated as I can't find much from the dealers--
 
Yes John, turn your Discrimination dial to the lowest setting, you can't actually turn this off, as it simply goes to the lowest setting. If you get interference then your Sensitivity will need to be turned back a litte bit too. I don't work with it always on 4oclock, because of the interference factor. If you keep your coil height constant and your swing speed the same you can actually work the wet sand on the beaches too, without too much interference! HH regards Nugget.:)
 
Hi Chivas:

Did I read it right that you hunt with the Discrimination at 8 o'clock? That is not a bad setting, but I hardly ever turn mine above the lowest setting...I just ignore the iron signals if I am not in an area where relics would be found...Here in the City, most iron signals are chain link fence remnants, or nails and screws. My particular Land Star has a HARD time distinguishing between pull tabs and nickels...this drives me nuts sometimes...I also get a lot of copper/dime hits on old pieces of copper house wiring. This coming Spring, I intend to hit more beaches, and some other hot spots I have found over the winter through my research...

Happy Hunting,
 
I keep all my metal that can be sold as scrap, as the price of clean copper is $6.50c KG Aluminum,at $1.50 KG, sinkers I keep if they are in good nick and sell them at the markets for $2 a bag, or 80c KG at scrap for bad ones. I find that at the end of the year I make enough to buy a new coil etc.. I find a lot of 1c and 2c pieces these also sell at $6.50 KG. and they have not been legal tender for quite a few years. Batteries pay for themselves as well. HH regards Nugget.:)
 
I've been doing some research, on the Bounty Hunter detectors. I really believe that the Tracker IV board, is the basis for all of the higher priced detectors. Of course without all the extra bells, and whistles. Which I find only more confusing, than accurate. As the accuracy of coin type, and depth is highly dependent on conditions.

Checking the comparisons on the Bounty Hunter site, there is only a slight difference in depth detection on anything from the Tracker IV up. I really believe its the best return for the money spent, on a Bounty Hunter detector. And as I am beginning to realize, more discrimination means more missed, and maybe valuable targets. I think digging a little scrap, is a fair tradeoff for the rewards. Of course going under the bleachers, at a race track is an exercise in total frustration, as I found out several years ago. No detector could possible discriminate all that trash, and come away with anything of value. But the one I was using at the time was a Chinese knock-off, and I really believe was default to Beer Caps, and Pop Tops. :)
 
Hi Landstar/Nugget:

Got a break in the freezing weather over here and went out on my local beach with the Fast Tracker set as you suggested. No rings, but many 20p coins, all of which previously 'resided' in the ring-pull band of DISCRIM. Found more 20p's than ring-pulls. Quite amazing and many thanks for the tip. Have a great 2008.

John H
 
Glad it is working out for you...if that worked, and you did not get any false signals, try turning up the sensitivity just a touch...if she starts getting fussy, back it back down until she settles down.

HH,

BH-LandStar
 
Just another trick for the pull tabs and ring pulls, if you dig them, then put them inside the soft drink tins. They add up over a period of a year. You'll end up with an extra KG or two. I always dig them because they give the same signal as an AUD $2 or $1 coin! Although some give the double blip if they are very close to the surface. Live your dreams! HH regards Nugget.:detecting:
 
I hunt with the BH Prospector (Tracker IV) with the 10" and I use to dig only on strong and repeatable signals. Well I did an air test and noticed that anything below 3 or 4 inches just barely gave a signal. With this information I started hunting with a different approach. I set my detector just how the books says Sens cranked to the right, Disc set at 12 o'clock. I keep my coil as low as I can get it to the ground. I keep it perfectly level and move SLOW. I mean I move really slow. Using this method I have just gotten a little "beep" and than nothing. I will than focus on the area for several sweeps, I usually get another little "beep". Than I switch my toggle to the center position and hit it again. If it gives a "slight beep", I move on. If it is a decent hit I dig. Once I remover about 3" of dirt, I hit it again, toggle to the right, and check my single. By using this method I have dug some finds at impressive depths. It takes time, but it does pay off. If I ignored weak singles like the book says, I would not find half the stuff I have.

Just food for thought.
 
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