u2robert said:
Monte, can we expect the same great performance with the Simplex in iron as we do with other Nokta detectors?
A good question that many people might ask. Matter-of-fact, it is one of the questions I have regarding the Simplex + when it comes to performance potential, as well as what performance behavior we can get in very littered sites [size=small]
(referring to modern trashy conditions)[/size], performance in a dense iron contaminated ghost town type site, and ability to handle very extreme salt conditions to include dry to wet conditions.
We need to keep in mind that the Simplex + was designed and marketed for the so-called
" " detector group and that suggests it might not have all the workable features/functions nor the same level of performance potential as a mid-priced to higher-priced model from them. What we do know is the most recent updates with the Simplex +, just released, show us this model does have some very modern features for such a low-priced model, to include Iron Audio Volume. It might be very limited in adjustment range, but at least it is there.
We also know that the Simplex + was engineered by a company that has provided us some excellent build-quality models that are, as a whole, very good at taking on most iron contaminated sites. So good, that while I own some top-performing competitor's models and have compared many tough side-by-side tests with some of my Test Scenario samples, either on my own or with the assistance of friends with their different brands/models, I still have not found ANY detector that can match the performance in an iron nail can demonstrate what I get out of the Nokta FORS CoRe or FORS Relic. Those are my dedicated go-to units for the ugliest of iron debris sites.
I have watched some videos from the UK demonstrating the Simplex + performance and they are very impressive, but there are a few things I'd need to best answer your question:
1st.. I need to get a Simplex + in-hand to put through the paces.
2nd.. We have to remember that the Simplex + comes standard with an over-size 11" DD coil, and that makes it more difficult to get the best performance in a trashier environment. Especially if the trash is ferrous-based junk.
3rd.. I'm here in the USA and while we do have some wide-open grassy parks, or big beaches, and some folks will work open pasture or range land, that is more typical for many other places such as the plowed fields they generally search in the UK or elsewhere. The bulk of the metal detecting sites here in the USA are trashier and more confined such as private yards, playgrounds and tot-lots, parking strips, many other 'common' urban areas, and we can't ignore the very densely trashed non-urban places like homesteads, ghost towns, pioneer and military encampments, logging and mining camps and townsites, stage stops, old dancehall sites or picnic and recreations gathering places, and in most of those environments, we are better served when using a smaller-size search coil.
I wish the Simplex + would have been offered with two different search coils, maybe at slightly different price-points, such as the round 11" DD now standard, and perhaps a 7" Concentric. It wasn't, so now we also have to hope a smaller coil is soon offered up as an accessory for the Simplex +. For most typical day-to-day trashy site encounters, a 7" Concentric would be very versatile. And for the really terrible sites that are loaded with abundant nails and other small iron debris, the 5' DD has proven to be the best all-purpose performer to handle those from Nokta / Makro.
So, out-of-the-box today a Simplex + is probably going to handle a low to maybe moderate amount of iron with the stock 11" DD coil, and I would bet it will better the
"entry-level" offerings from all competitors in it's price range, no problem. But to take on the really tough iron-filled places I mainly search, it will need to have a smaller-size coil. I wouldn't be surprised to see one or two smaller coils from Nokta / Makro in the near future for the Simplex + because that's just how this terrific company operates. They build great detectors and do what they feel is best to satisfy the consumer and their desires.
Monte
