What would it take?

[Anonymous]

I have learned alot of this forum and have always wondered why so many great minds don't get together and build the best PI detector on the planet? I know Eric and many other are busy on other projects and may not have time to do it. But wouldn't it be great if everyone could get together and build the most versitile PI ever? I'm talking about a detector that is light weight and goes underwater. Is able to be ground balanced and is very well built. It could be used for nugget hunting as well as beach hunting. I mean a real go anywhere do anything detector!! It could have several different coils and mounting configurations. I honestly think it could be done. I mean look at the competition they suck <IMG SRC="/forums/images/frown.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""> Take Garret for example they are so busy with the security detectors and have all but given up on hobby detectors. In fact you can't even get the optional coils for the Infinium they claim are available on their website! Whites make the same thing year after year with little or no improvements <IMG SRC="/forums/images/frown.gif" BORDER=0 ALT=""> Minelab hasn't shown any interest in making a underwater PI. If anyone did make such a detector I think everyone would buy it. I know I would anyway. What would it take?

 

[Anonymous]

In many ways, what you are suggesting is already happening. There are many great minds that post on this forum and also email each other and myself regarding new ideas. This happens because we are individuals, who as both users and designers, want to end up the best possible product. Also, we are not constrained by company politics which severely limit the flexibility in larger organisations.
However, metal detectors for hobby use are just one small segment of the total detector market and in terms of profitability, unfortunately not one of the best. If my small business was in solely designing and supplying treasure detectors, I doubt if I would survive financially. The industrial, security and military market is a much juicier apple for those larger organisations to bite at. I, from personal choice, only now operate in the treasure and industrial markets and my sales are about 50/50 in these areas. It is the better returns in the industrial sales that support further development in the hobby side. Also a lot of the technology that results from paid industrial development also finds a secondary application in hobby detectors.
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