I plan to take my vacation on the east coast of Florida . Reading some of the posts, the area is considered to have been heavily sanded in for several years now. Would my Sov be adequate for the conditions or do I need to invest in a P.I. to get the deeper finds? I know I will be digging more. I am considering the Sea hunter Mark II because of cost considerations and the fact that it has interchangeable coils.
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sovereign vs P.I.
- Thread starter Tseeker
- Start date
dewcon4414
Well-known member
We dont have many minerals here in Fl im not certain the the cost vs the ability to disc and cover more beach will be worth your money. Lot depends on the beach.... some are a little more cluttery.... also if you do find a good cut not only good targets fall in there, there are a lot more BAD ones that good ones. Now if you are talking about wet/dry sand the target ratio may warrant the price and ease of just passing junk up. Id stick with the deep Sov.
Dew
Dew
Tseeker,
I have owned and used several PI's and they are amazing machines in the right environment. Many people don't like them on the beach because of their inability to discriminate out any kind of trash whatsoever, and the beach can be loaded with it. In the water however (where the trash content is less) a PI detector really comes into its own.
Since I don't go into the water much at all anymore (surf here is just too rough for most of the year), I became a dedicated Sovereign GT user because of its ecellent depth and discrimination abilities. I also made it sufficiently waterproof that I'm not worried about being along the water's edge (unless the surf is really nasty that day).
I have owned and used several PI's and they are amazing machines in the right environment. Many people don't like them on the beach because of their inability to discriminate out any kind of trash whatsoever, and the beach can be loaded with it. In the water however (where the trash content is less) a PI detector really comes into its own.
Since I don't go into the water much at all anymore (surf here is just too rough for most of the year), I became a dedicated Sovereign GT user because of its ecellent depth and discrimination abilities. I also made it sufficiently waterproof that I'm not worried about being along the water's edge (unless the surf is really nasty that day).
dewcon, we have a lot of minerals here in Fl. We have Black sand and iron on our beaches. Alot of detector just auto out the Black sand ,but it is still here ,now as far as Sov.GT vs PI , The sea huntter is a very good detector, but the Tesoro sand shark will go deeper. The tesoro sand shark cost about $637
the sea huntter is about the same.Both of these detector will go deeper than the Sov.GT. I have own all of these detector also Excall 1000, Infinium LS,PI 1000,2000 and 3000. I think I like the sand shark the best. HH Ron Lord
the sea huntter is about the same.Both of these detector will go deeper than the Sov.GT. I have own all of these detector also Excall 1000, Infinium LS,PI 1000,2000 and 3000. I think I like the sand shark the best. HH Ron Lord
Critterhunter
New member
The BBS units (Sov/Excal) are very powerful machines and go super deep in disc even in the worst of grounds. However, when it gets REALLY mineralized, try the pin point mode. I've only recently started playing with it, after having been told by some beach hunters that it was PI-like in it's depth and ability to cut through minerals that even BBS has trouble with (which is saying alot).
Sure enough, crank up volume to full and sensitivity to full, which you can do with sensitivity in PP I hear, and this thing is giving me jaw dropping depth in a beach where the microscopic iron, minerals, and black sand is so bad that disc is nulling or choiing out at about 4" or so on a coin. Really shocking to hear a hard "zing/zing" in PP mode that disc is not even responding to.
I was told in the past by a few serious Excalibur beach hunters that PP mode, with volume and sensitivity turned all the way up, was giving them PI depth and ability to cut through the worst of minerals. I only recently started exploring that and darn if it don't look that way.
Best part is, that I'm told there are at least 10 distinct "words" in PP mode to judge targets by. I can already see a few which quickly tell me if it's iron much of the time. PP mode is modulated audio too so you can judge target depth just like in disc.
Another perk is I can remove enough sand to see if disc will now give me a response, and if it's still a null then I leave it for the PI guys.
I wired a remote PP switch to my GT so it's easy to do, and some Excalibur guys have done the same for the same reason, but as said no need to switch to disc to judge targets by once you learn the unique language of PP mode.
Now I hear All Metal mode also has some special abilities and language too, and is a very good all metal mode on a detector, so it's like I've got 3 different machines in my control box I never knew I had.
Sure enough, crank up volume to full and sensitivity to full, which you can do with sensitivity in PP I hear, and this thing is giving me jaw dropping depth in a beach where the microscopic iron, minerals, and black sand is so bad that disc is nulling or choiing out at about 4" or so on a coin. Really shocking to hear a hard "zing/zing" in PP mode that disc is not even responding to.
I was told in the past by a few serious Excalibur beach hunters that PP mode, with volume and sensitivity turned all the way up, was giving them PI depth and ability to cut through the worst of minerals. I only recently started exploring that and darn if it don't look that way.
Best part is, that I'm told there are at least 10 distinct "words" in PP mode to judge targets by. I can already see a few which quickly tell me if it's iron much of the time. PP mode is modulated audio too so you can judge target depth just like in disc.
Another perk is I can remove enough sand to see if disc will now give me a response, and if it's still a null then I leave it for the PI guys.
I wired a remote PP switch to my GT so it's easy to do, and some Excalibur guys have done the same for the same reason, but as said no need to switch to disc to judge targets by once you learn the unique language of PP mode.Now I hear All Metal mode also has some special abilities and language too, and is a very good all metal mode on a detector, so it's like I've got 3 different machines in my control box I never knew I had.
I lived on the East Coast of FL a couple of years back. I used most all the PI detectors with the exception of the Sea Hunter. Ended up with a Sovereign Elite and never looked back. The time I saved in not digging iron was more than made up digging good targets. I now have a Sovereign GT but the Elite was outstanding on the wet sand just like the GT.
Tony
Member
junklord3139 said:
Seahunter MKII will slay the Sandshark in all conditions and all targets.
There are two people on all the forums who disagree with this statement.
This is all I have to say on this matter.
And yes, my Sovereign with stock coil in PP is as deep as my Seahunter in all but the worst black sands.
T
dewcon4414
Well-known member
Ron.... you know compared to most beaches ours have a LOT less minerals for a machine to deal with. I find them to be more riddled with the smallest bits of high conductive aluminum than minerals. I know you get a lot of goodies down there with those Ts..... ive heard the Inf. can be a little touchy to use.
Dew
Dew
Critterhunter
New member
Tony, I've heard of PP mode on the Sovereign and Excal being as deep as a PI for some in their soils or sands. I can't remember though in respect as to which PIs they were comparing the PP mode to. You stated one PI that you feel PP mode is as deep as. Can you relate any others that you've heard the same in comparison to PP mode? If you wish you can just shoot me a PM on that if you want, or I'll read what you have to say here. Thanks.
Tony
Member
Critterhunter said:
Hi Critterhunter,
I have used many PI's over the past 10 years, including Minelab SD200v2, Goldquest SS, Deepstar2 (Borrowed), SeaHunter MKII.
At the moment, as I am 90% in the water, I only have the Garrett.
Luckily I have had my Sovereign for many years and could always compare against all the PI's I got to use.
Are you ready for my conclusion;
The Sovereign was as deep or deeper than all of the PI's on the beach (dry, damp, saturated). Big statement I know but 100% true.
Generally, the sand was clear of black sands where the Sovereign would struggle/false in DISC (but in PP was still surprisingly good). I think this is due to the search pattern in PP where it it seeing such a narrow field of material but is concentrated??.
But out in the black sand free with the stock coil and full sens (yep, 9 o'clock position), the depth blew me away.
I also have Shaun's AMP which unfortunately doesn't work at the moment (and he wont get back to me...grrrrrr) and that got me an extra 15% on top of what I was already getting.
To be honest, I don't post those findings much because I have gotten quite a few doubters who consider me delirious by my findings.
That's okay, I just detect behind many of them and excavate holes for the rings.........average men's wedding band to 15".
I recently detected a beach that was covered in beer caps......had to use DISC to remove them (247 in total)....and then switched to PP and picked up 2 nice gold rings down around 13" to 14".
Maybe this DISC/PP "which is deeper" does differ between the Sovereign/Excals????
I have checked about 6 machines and PP was always deeper. PP lets you dial in so much power and there is no falsing at all although I couldn't achieve this max power with my WOT and SEF......makes sense really as a bigger coil is a bigger antenna !
I hope this helps
Thanks,
Tony.
PS.....I had all this data on a spreadsheet on an old hard drive which has since died so I can't retrieve it.
Tseeker,
I have been water and beach hunting with the Sea Hunter Mark II for most of the summer...I have a friend with the Sand Shark and I find things he don't...now I don't know if it is the operator or what, but i would not trade my SH for SS.
Its true that you will dig a lots of junk, but I have found 9 rings and lots of costume jewerly this summer....Last Sunday in knee deep water I found a girls graduation ring...All I have to say is if you are going to hunt in salt water the SH is great.
It's like any other MD, you have to get experienced with the MD, but the learning curve is small with the SH....Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
eek
I have been water and beach hunting with the Sea Hunter Mark II for most of the summer...I have a friend with the Sand Shark and I find things he don't...now I don't know if it is the operator or what, but i would not trade my SH for SS.
Its true that you will dig a lots of junk, but I have found 9 rings and lots of costume jewerly this summer....Last Sunday in knee deep water I found a girls graduation ring...All I have to say is if you are going to hunt in salt water the SH is great.
It's like any other MD, you have to get experienced with the MD, but the learning curve is small with the SH....Give it a try, you will not be disappointed.
eek
Tony, I only have my Etrac as a beach hunter right now but I also hunt in PP and testing on buried targets shows it's deeper on that machine as well. I can hit a faint target, go back to a wide open screen and get nothing, go back to PP and find it again. The Etrac is no king of the beach but it's no slouch either.
Tony
Member
Hello Sailorman,
I have never even held an Etrac before but it is considered a very deep seeking unit down these parts and an excellent beach machine for depth. Interesting with the PP mode so it appears that the BBS/FBS have some similarities in this regard.
With the Sovereign I always Track > Fix > PP.
HH
Tony
I have never even held an Etrac before but it is considered a very deep seeking unit down these parts and an excellent beach machine for depth. Interesting with the PP mode so it appears that the BBS/FBS have some similarities in this regard.
With the Sovereign I always Track > Fix > PP.
HH
Tony