Omega EMI Problem Fixed?????

[tabman]

Quote
marcomo

A respected longtime detectorist I corresponded with recently says he and his wife have had multiple Omega 8000 detectors and the one he just got is the first one he's gotten that has licked the EMI issue.


The quote above has really caught my attention. I really like my Omega, BUT there are lots of places that I detect where I can't turn the sensitivity up to where I want it. The 'gain' and 'sensitivity' are both controlled by a single knob. So, when I'm forced to turn down the sensitivity because of lots of EMI, the gain becomes so low that I can barely hear the high tone pitch. Now I need to find out what the upgrade to the new version is going to be.

I sure it won't be a lot since they didn't get it right to begin with. Yeah buddy.

tabman

 

[digsgti]

I'm in the same boat as you tabman. My Omega is a closet queen because it handles EMI so poorly. From what I have read the newer Omegas have some changes internally to help with the EMI issues and the results have been very good. Not sure if an upgrade from Teknetics is even possible, but if it is I would love to send my Omega into them. Might have to give them a call and find out.

 

[D&P-OR]

Well, I don't know how "respected" I am but I'm the guy that Marcus (marcomo) was referring to in his statement.------I was telling Jim about this also.----This last Omega we got is the version 04 and it does indeed handle EMI MUCH better than the earlier ones we had.------Due to the fact that I can crank it up hotter without all that stinkin interference, I believe I can get a little more "effective depth" also.----But it runs so much quieter in the areas I hunt than our earlier ones.------Your mileage may differ--don't rush out & buy one on what I say, maybe I've got an "unusual" machine this time but this is the results I'm seeing.-----Be nice if you could try a latest out version 04 from a dealer or friend & see what you think of it before you buy.---------Del

Quote
marcomo

A respected longtime detectorist I corresponded with recently says he and his wife have had multiple Omega 8000 detectors and the one he just got is the first one he's gotten that has licked the EMI issue.


The quote above has really caught my attention. I really like my Omega, BUT there are lots of places that I detect where I can't turn the sensitivity up to where I want it. The 'gain' and 'sensitivity' are both controlled by a single knob. So, when I'm forced to turn down the sensitivity because of lots of EMI, the gain becomes so low that I can barely hear the high tone pitch. Now I need to find out what the upgrade to the new version is going to be.

I sure it won't be a lot since they didn't get it right to begin with. Yeah buddy.

tabman

 

[MarkCZ]

How are you determining what the version is?
Mine's down for the winter but I don't remember any version displayed on boot-up?

Mark

 

[digsgti]

My Omega is version 04 and Ive used another Omega with the 04 firmware as well. Both had the same EMI problems. I dont know how someone can tell they are getting a better shielded unit or not.

 

[D&P-OR]

Mark-----Push & hold the pinpoint button in before you turn the detector on then turn detector on while still holding the p.p. button in.----The version # will come on the screen momentarily.

How are you determining what the version is?
Mine's down for the winter but I don't remember any version displayed on boot-up?

Mark

 

[MarkCZ]

Mark-----Push & hold the pinpoint button in before you turn the detector on then turn detector on while still holding the p.p. button in.----The version # will come on the screen momentarily.

How are you determining what the version is?
Mine's down for the winter but I don't remember any version displayed on boot-up?

Mark

Well I did that and the first number that popped up was "04"

Mark

 

[John LA]

Mine is an 04 version but I've had it over 2 years. I've never had an EMI problem. Now I haven't used it near power lines
or near commercial/industrial areas. Am I just lucky?

 

[tabman]

Mine is version '04'. I was running my Omega with the 11 inch DD coil at full sensitivity and zero discrimination while out detecting today. I had no EMI issues, but that's not usually the case. I've gone to some places and had to put the Omega back in the car because it went crazy with chatter.

I wonder if Teknetics will come clean and let us know if and when any improvements where made to the Omega to help with EMI.

tabman

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I just bought an Omega 1/6/13 its an 04 version.
Gary

 

[Mike Hillis]

(Tabman, this isn't directed directly toward you. Just a general comment on the subject)

Makes you wonder why they even put a "sensitivity" control on a detector at all since most everyone doesn't want to use it for what it is there for.

http://www.tekneticst2.com/tekfiles/Electrical%20Interference.htm

Quote from the link....What can a user do about electrical interference?

All metal detectors are equipped with a sensitivity control, or with other controls (for instance gain or threshold) which have the effect of controlling sensitivity. The primary reason metal detectors provide sensitivity control, is so the user can reduce sensitivity in order to eliminate response to electrical interference. Some users are reluctant to reduce sensitivity out of fear of

 

[detectingMO]

Also you are aware the two stability settings? You can either set it up where it is stable with the coil held stationary, or if you have any ground minerals, you can set it up stable with the coil 'in motion'. The motion setting usually allows a greater sensitivity setting.

yep, you can simulate this by bringing a magnet close to the coil. All audible emi shuts up.

 

[tabman]

Hey Mike, can you really adjust the sensitivity with that little knobby thingy on lower left side of the screen.

I've tried lowering the sensitivity in really bad EMI areas, but I lose too much 'gain' and that makes it very difficult for my ears to hear the high pitch tone.

Yeah, I know that I can hunt with a single tone that more audible to my ears, but that defeats the purpose of having a multi-tone detector.

The Omega is one of my favorite detectors, BUT there are areas that I just can't hunt with it because of extreme EMI.

tabman

 

[Terry in PA]

Wouldn't you think a company would put better shielding in their product no matter how hot they would make the detector to help with the emi problem ?
I could say that I live in a area where there are power lines in many of my spots.This alone would sway me away from the omega or the other hot detectors. Why pay the money for a detector you can't use because of that reason. I've used other detectors in these areas with no problems and was looking at the omega ..but I think now the emi problem just may have me looking at something different.

 

[Ed in SoDak]

In one schoolyard site I was at where EMI has reared its head I happened to notice that it was worse in a particular direction. If the detector was sounding off when pointed east/west, for example, it was less disturbed when aimed north/south. High-strung and sensitive machines can have problems, it's the law of the land unless we all go off the grid. But try searching in a new compass direction and see if it helps.
-Ed

 

[Monte]

Not for you, but for other readers.

PS....you do know that a Omega sensitivity setting of '70' is max, right? Above that is just kicking in 'extra' threshold benefits that you may or may not be able to use depending on the site conditions.

Consider a few other makes and models, such as:

White's 5000 & 6000 Di Pro SL's and 6000 Pro XL or XL Pro. They do not have a "Sensitivity" control as it is peaked, internally, but they have a Signal Balance control to adjust the received signal before the amplifier.

The XLT and DFX from White's have an All Metal Sensitivity (DC Sens.) and Discrimination Sensitivity (AC Sens.) and also a Pre-Amp Gain (same thing as Signal Balance).

The White's VX3 ad V3i have the same separate adjustments s the XLT and DFX, but they have an adjustment called Rx Gain, and that's the same thing as Signal Balance and Pre-Amp Gain.

The MXT's and M6 have one control called Gain (MXT and MXT Pro) or Sensitivity (M6) that serves the same purpose on any of the models, and incorporated in that one adjustment at the upper end is both an increased target volume and audio saturation, and the Signal Balance. This is noted, and often with some raspy audio, when you adjust above the factory preset setting.

The Tesoro models, most of them, have a suggested Sensitivity setting, but you can adjust up from that into the orange "Max Boost" zone, IF you are able to operate with stability.

Many other makes an models are the same. You have a suggested hunting level, and the ability to increase above that setting IF you can while remaining stable. Can the Omega get a bit cater with a high Sensitivity setting? Darn sure it can! I hunted two sites yesterday, urban parks, were I couldn't get above the mid 60's without a lot of noise. I could, and did, switch to my MXT Pro at one site, but also ran a bit lower setting than I usually do. The other site I just toughed it out with my Omega .... and found stuff.

Also you are aware the two stability settings? You can either set it up where it is stable with the coil held stationary, or if you have any ground minerals, you can set it up stable with the coil 'in motion'. The motion setting usually allows a greater sensitivity setting.

When the search coil is held in the air a waist level, it can be more chattery.

Lower the coil t the ground and, sometimes, the chatter will go away or decrease a bit. That's partly do the the repositioning of the search coil so as not to be easily affected by some outside RF interference.

Sweep the search coil over the ground, and the circuitry is busy dealing with the ground mineral signal to process it and pass along a target signal that often lets you hunt with a little higher Sensitivity setting compared wit a coil held still or held in the air.

Monte

 

[detectingMO]

Wouldn't you think a company would put better shielding in their product no matter how hot they would make the detector to help with the emi problem ?
I could say that I live in a area where there are power lines in many of my spots.This alone would sway me away from the omega or the other hot detectors. Why pay the money for a detector you can't use because of that reason. I've used other detectors in these areas with no problems and was looking at the omega ..but I think now the emi problem just may have me looking at something different.

I believe emi 99% entering through the coil. Looking at wiring on the ones with some shielding it almost looks as if it's wired to try to pull out some of emi that has entered the wire already.