We'll be having a random drawing for a new metal detector on September 6th, but

[Monte]

I hear from some of the folks working on the Research Puzzler Challenge contest and they are stumped! Most who I hear from seem to be hung up on the simple parts, too! A few can't get answers to the 5 Transcontinental Railroad questions, and the rest struggle with what I consider to be the easiest part.

Except for the 5 railroad questions that I switched to this May, I did the rest of this 'puzzler' a number of years ago and we're just now using it as a fund raiser. I figured that my September 6th we'd maybe have 25-40 entrants in the free Random Drawing for a brand new Teknetics T2 metal detector, but right now I'd be surprised if we get more than 5 or 6!! Heck, I drew from my old notes to get the 5 RR questions, then after I was finished I used the Internet (I'm not a big computer fan) and found how easy it is to research some of this stuff up today!

Is it just me or are the folks who've purchased the Research Puzzler Challenge that impaired when it comes to doing research? I figured that would be the easy part since it's geared toward the metal detecting hobbyist. Anyone seem to run into problems doing research? I know that "research" has been a frequent topic at a few local meetings or informal detectorist gatherings around here. I have always enjoyed doing research, which I actually got started doing before I built my first detector in '65, so what do YOU think is a reason that doing research can be such a challenge for some people? I'm seriously curious.

You can see how easy (to me) the RPC is by checking it out there.

Just curious.

Monte
Director, AHRPS.net

PS: I only posted this on the Metal Detecting Forum and here because it relates to a Teknetics detector in the drawing, but mainly because I am curious what causes some hobbyists to have a challenge with what, in my opinion, is a relatively easy puzzler? Do YOU do very much research to find or qualify a potential site to hunt?

Also, while I have heard from some folks working on the puzzler, none of them have been given any answer, clues, tips, etc. All entrants will get a copy of the results after the contest is over.

 

[dirtmaster]

How do I get in on the drawing Monte?

 

[Monte]

but you can just go to ahrps . net and see the puzzler info to the right.

Monte

 

[jbow]

Frankly I am a bit weak on research, mostly I think because I have never seen anyone do it. I am a HS grad with one year of "party" in college way back in 1970... I'm not stupid but I am ignorant about research. I own a sucessful business I started from nothing in 1989 but I had seen my dad do it so I had a vision for it, knew I could do it.

Frankly, and this may sound dumb but... a DVD on research would be well received by me. A double DVD giving methods on one DVD and straight examples on the other, just going through the steps on several research projects. Something I can see done and then do. Maybe all the resources are out there but I come up short when it comes time to get started. I've found a few things like the site of an old horse track here and old fairgrounds from old maps but that is about the extent of it. Everything else has been from asking people questions and always talking to anyone who seems even remotely interested in what I am doing... they all seem to have a suggestion of somewhere to try.

All things considered I reckon if I had a certain target to research I could do it but something as wide as somewhere to detect... I get overwhelmed and sidetracked. I've tried using the OR, I have them on CD-ROM but really prefer to go to the library and thumb through the volumes.. it seems I get conflicting accounts though.

Who knows Monte. There may be a market for a book and DVD on how to research. A DVD would be better for my style of learning. I could read about it and still not know how to do it, but if I am walked through it, watching someone do it, and I am doing it too... as I watch.. then I learn.


I've played electric guitar since I was a kid, first band in the 8th grade, I learned to play most of my new guitar licks by going to see good bands and watching the guitar player's hands. Then i'd "get it" i'd go home and do what i'd seen someone else do.. I could never do that with a book though.

I don't know if this helps or not but really I think it is something I can do, or could do, but being ignorant of it, having never really done it... I don't do it like I should. Stupid can't learn, ignorant just hasn't learned yet.

I'll give a try for the T2.

Julien

 

[Monte]

Matter of fact, it is one of several topics I have jotted down that we're going to be working on and probably have up on the ahrps.net website in the future. Several things in the works but that topic seems to have interested a few, based upon your post and the e-mail I have received.

Monte

PS: Best of luck to you on the Research Puzzler Challenge.