34 replies to this topic

[dutch john]

Steve... Ol' jim straight here... Great to see your post.... keep
em' coming.

My Best to All and keep swingin' your detector; and Merry Christmas and a most happy, heathful and prosperous new year...

[Steve Herschbach]

Merry Christmas to you and your Jim. Thanks for all you do for us detectorists.
Steve Herschbach

[dutch john]

Steve... Gosh you have done so much positive stuff to advance
"electronic prospecting" over the years. I'm still learning.
When you speak I listen... jin straight.

[Uncle Ron]

Hey Jim...Merry Christmas to you...I just came from some meetings over your way with the Book publisher, Gem Guides... Russ Warner asked me to give you his regards and tell you he's still a little bit dislexic...

And merry Christmas to Steve, Chris and Bob, too!

Cheers, Unc

[Beer Beeper]

I was told by Minelab the Sovereign GT is not good on gold smaller than about 1 gram.

Yes this is way overdue. Minelab should put the GPX-5000 technology in to a lighter-weight and more compact E-Trac/Safari housing with an all self-contained Li-Ion battery, signal enhancer, and built-in external speaker being an all-in-one, grab and run unit. With a factory carbon fiber or fiberglass upper shaft.

Yes I support the military greatly too with much thanks including our freedom is not free with great sacrifice, after growing up with vets and my grandad with years of very long time direct active war service without getting killed was a miracle, and follow closely WW-I and II stories on the Military Channel. But they have also done some mistakes. Sadly saw the video of the Apache helicopter machine gunning a bunch of innocent civilians and Reuters journalist employees on the ground mistakenly thought the camera shoulder bags were AK47s and a telephoto lens on a camera was a RPG, mowing them down along with a van, with two young children inside who were also hit, that was picking up the injured. Not intentional but a very serious thing with very bad judgement by the Apache pilot not to circle around with the helicopter to have a look from another angle at the camera bags and telephoto lens on a camera.

Steve H., you have contacts then pull strings, (in your off-season winter time)work with either Whites(in Oregon), Fisher, Garrett, or Minelab(through Jonathan Porter who knows Bruce Candy, etc. personally) to design a new VLF detector. Chris Ralph may also help you. Thank you for helping us in advance if you do.

[FlakMagnet]

This is a bit off the topic of the thread - hope it's ok...I will start a new thread if need be.

It sure seems on the surface of it that MineLab could put together a GPX5000
in a housing a touch larger than the size of their current battery,
unless perhaps some empty space around the boards is necessary for cooling or whatever,

This is not a complaint per se - I would use the machine if it weighed more than it does.
it would be interesting to learn why they have not pared down the weight and the bulk.
Does anyone know if there is a reason for the box size?

[fredm]

speaking for Minelab, almost seriously;

LOOK YANK, this is the way we have always done it and we ain't gonna bloody change...

Merry Christmas boys and girls

fred

[dutch john]

Ol' dutch john.. Thanks uncle Ron...Merry Chrismas to You and All; and all the dyslexics out there. Gem Guides are carrying my books; also Chris Ralphs Fists full of Gold.

And My Best to All of us who have served in the military to keep our country free.

And, yep Flak; big bulky detectors can be miniturized. But
as an example, you can buy a big, bulky and visible detector in a box for less than the miniturized $4000 USA hearing aid (Made in Germany) I wear in my right ear and constantly fear of losing.

[Uncle Ron]

Steve - I know what you mean. You mention the DFX, but the problem there is gain. I think the Eureka is also underpowered when it comes to sufficient gain to properly do the job. Of course it's not that simple as jacking up the gain causes some other very real problems.

We need a user selectable, digital, multi-frequency machine, with the gain sufficient to find very tiny gold like the GBII. The problem is that doing a digital GBII isn't going to be easy. We've talked about that – in my interview with him Dave admitted it would be "difficult". I got the drift that he was more optimistic about multi frequency machines. I just don't want a multi-frequency machine that runs at medium and lower - 18 and 4 kHz. Without the upper frequency stuff like the GBII or the Goldmasters, it's not what I am looking for.

I honestly think we could all come to a pretty close agreement on what we'd be looking for in a top flight VLF detector that was within the reaches of current technologies. The problem is that the makers produce what they think will sell well, not cost too much to make and is not too difficult to design. You are right that none of them listen too closely to what their customers want to buy. Perhaps we need to speak louder and let our requests be known to all of them?

Here is what I think is a reasonable list of features, all of which are found in one form or another on VLF machines currently on the market, just no one machine with all of them. Why can't they be combined? I'd be interested in comments on what realistic additions would be necessary to make a top of the line, cutting edge VLF for prospecting?

Multi-frequency with user selectable High (60 to 90 kHz) and medium frequency (15 to 20 kHz).

Dual frequency operation option.

Gain sufficient to find very small gold in the high frequency setting (must at least equal the GBII).

Ability to discriminate out hot rocks.

Ability to handle fairly highly mineralized ground – even if only in a special discrimination mode.

Ability to notch out not only any target types but also multiple ground types, so the operator can notch out the ground and also notch out a certain hot rocks. In other words, more than one ground balance setting.

Memory to save notch and discrimination settings for various locations.

Digital design with a controlled volume output, maximum signal loudness limitations, threshold loudness control, variable audio tone, adjustable gain.

Both manual and automatic ground balance adjustments.

Tracking mode option.

Digital display of GB, GB settings and target response.

Selection of different sizes of coils in both concentric and DD configurations.

EMI noise reduction adjustments.



The other thing is that everyone is now making the same thing - mid range htz, "do it all" machines powerful enough to do a decent job on gold but with a sufficient discrimination to use for jewelry and coin shooting. The problem is that "do it all" machines by nature must make compromises. We have the MXT, Tesoro Lobo, T2, GB Pro, F75, AT Gold, XTerra 705, etc. - it's too much of the same thing over and over slightly re-done and re-packaged. Yes, each model has its own subtle differences, but they are all in the same design class. The manufacturers have figured out these are popular detectors (and my guess is that they are not that difficult for a good EE to design), but how many similar ones do we need? Half ton pick-ups have long been the best selling vehicle in America, but what if the only car any of the manufacturers made was a half-ton pick up, it would be a pretty sorry situation.

We've all heard the saying "Build a better mousetrap wand the world will beat a path to your door" – We just seem to be stuck in "build a mousetrap like everyone else and you can keep your head above water."

Steve, you have a great holidays, say hello to the family and get some sleep my friend. 4 am is a little late to be up posting on forums.

Hey Chris ... I just learned that APPLE is coming out with a Smart I-Phone App called Minelab GPX 5500 ... $5.00 plus coil adapter ... Coming soon ... Cheers, Unc

[dutch john]

Uncle Ron... quick question... Is Russ or Greg Warner (Gem Books) selling any of your maps...?

Now Back Please listen...What's the problem... Steve H. can find gold with a "Harbor Freight" studfinder tied onto a broomstick...

[Uncle Ron]

Hi Jim...No, Gem Guides distributes books from my wife's company...My maps are too specialized for them... Cheers, Ron

[AzNuggetBob]

Hey Chris ... I just learned that APPLE is coming out with a Smart I-Phone App called Minelab GPX 5500 ... $5.00 plus coil adapter ... Coming soon ... Cheers, Unc

That was a good one Ron, Jim I still pick up your books and read them over and over again, don't want to miss anything.
They are a great read and loaded with prospecting info. Take care guys, AzNuggetBob

[dutch john]

Here I be ... Uncle Ron... Thanks...
AzNuggetBob... Bob, You still have my email address? Please give me
a shout... I have something more for you.
"tailgate" jim straight

[AzNuggetBob]

Steve
Have you checked for patents on your idea(s)? Patents are just one reason some improvements never happen. AzNuggetBob

[Mxt Sniper]

How about using the MXT as a base for a better prospecting detector, adding a 75khz or higher freq setting, perhaps a notch system for hot rocks. The MXT already has a lot of coils available to use for different type hunting. It also seems to have plenty of power, both audio and sensitivity. Probably not so easy as it may seem to build, maybe the added 75khz setting would require different coils to use with it. I know I really like the user interface with knobs versus menus to wade thru. Just a thought anyway.