Tag: data logger

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The revolution that is not coming

I have a strange feeling that the world of metal detectors is stuck at a certain point. We have been waiting for spectacular changes for years and they are not coming… maybe they are coming differently, but on a different scale than we expected.

Minelab Manticore or XP DEUS II are really good devices, but do they bring anything groundbreaking apart from the dose of well-known solutions?

Certainly, SMF devices are better than what we know from the past, but they are also not without their flaws. The advantages include stable operation in more difficult conditions and better ID compared to single-frequency devices. More accurate signaling of objects from both ends of the scale – low and high conductors. This makes detection easier. This makes detection easier, e.g. old and fine silver is the beginning of the scale close to iron, while large is its other end in SMF, it works really well.

What disadvantages? Less resistance to EMI interference – after all, we work in a wider frequency range and slightly worse performance when it comes to depth.

In my case, I always choose an advantage in the form of better identification and separation in iron, and this can be different, opinions are divided here.

It must be remembered that such a Nexus MPV3 is completely immune to EMI interference, which makes it much deeper and, after adding the adaptive speed of separating the target, insurmountable … unfortunately, you have to pay for it and it is a device for conscious detectorists. It is not light and consumes 10 AA batteries in a short time. Something for something as they say.

We also have the Tarsacci MDT 8000 with hybrid PI and VLF technology. A mix of pulse device performance and VLF discrimination. The detector is really deep and works great in iron or with magnetic stones. Unfortunately, target signaling and its interpretation is no more difficult than in VLF and SMF devices.

It’s better, multi-frequency detectors are more stable. Such a good old Whites Spectra, using three frequencies, is much shallower and very susceptible to interference. It will not separate as well, especially in iron. In addition, under high-voltage lines, there is no chance and nothing will change it, no change of settings.

It remains to wait and watch what the next years will bring, I know that it will be interesting, that’s for sure.

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Depth or separation?

Depth or separation? The eternal question and sleepless nights. I choose to separate objects because this is the most crucial thing in the places where I am able to search. The race for a few inches leads to nothing constructive, but the ability to see in iron does. Scrap heavily masks targets, and it’s not big objects and nails, but also decay dust – its condensed oxides!

The electronics of the detector have to process a lot of signals in a moment, and if we add other conductors to this, the time to generate a signal is very short. Larger signals effectively cover the response of small objects – higher conductors.

The level of mineralization of the substrate, the sweep angle, the conduct of the probe, and the frequency of work are important. All this has a dramatic effect on the effects. Wrongly selected detector and incorrectly set, and there is no chance for any effects. I have experienced this many times and it was very painful. A change in approach, improved probe guidance, and higher operating frequency, and we begin to hear signals previously unavailable.

So what is my recipe for a lot of iron? It depends on many parameters, but to simplify … a higher separation speed of the so-called recovery speed, higher operating frequency, lower sensitivity to conditions, and lower discrimination. Slower sweep, still parallels to the ground. You can also raise the probe slightly up … so if we are fighting with large disturbances from the ground. It will be shallower this way, but we will hear objects that we had no idea about before.

Finally, you can use a single high-frequency operation, an adaptive refresh rate device (Nexus MP V3), or a hybrid PI/VLF detector (Tarsacci MDT), but who can afford that?!

You can find more on this BLOG and on YouTube and social media on Facebook. Speak soon. Comment under the article.

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The silent killer

There are days when all the monotony is dazzling. And this time it happened. A narrow strip of land, your own buried holes, footprints, and… bang! Signals appear coin by coin. Not that immediately some spectacular silverware. Popularity, but what satisfaction!

One clear thing came to me that has been bothering me for a long time, but let’s start from the very beginning. The premiere of XP Deus II and Nokta Makro The Legend, a number of videos and opinions, and in addition strongly divergent. I own both devices myself, so I started testing. It’s a bad time of year. Summer. Hot and a lot of UV radiation, which, as we know, negatively affects the probes. One place and still the same effect. The work is stable for a while, and then it is difficult to master the device. It does not indicate interference, only the ID jumps, it is difficult to track the target, and the identification scale closes from start to finish. Then I put it down to UV and temperature, and in part it certainly was, but I didn’t take into account the biggest problem of SMF technology … EMI interference, and the quiet ones that you can’t see.

In a regular VLF device, one frequency is easier to manage in terms of external interference, we can see more and we have more control. In the case of a multi-frequency and, moreover, simultaneous device, no longer.

For example, to put it simply, if the device uses two frequencies and one of them is disturbed and simply does not work, we have no chance for correct identification, tracking, and signaling of the target, and the depth performance can be forgotten.

A typical example from my tests is a Minelab Equinox 800 under two parallel high-voltage lines. Quiet and stable and at the same time 5 cm shallow!

The same thing happened to me with Deus II and The Legend. Hence the opinions on the Internet that the equipment does not work and sucks. Mistake! It’s EMI interference. How can you get rid of them and what can be done to make working with the SMF detector problem-free?

We start with detuning from interference (scanning is usually automatic). It is worth carrying out this process from time to time just in case. The next step is sensitivity, we go down to the level of stable operation of the detector and lack of interference, and excitation. All freaks twisting to the max will die in this place. The target’s signal will not cut through the interference. It’s like driving a car with a high beam in the fog. Suicide. The ground calibration, was corrected and checked. You can find how to do it on my YouTube channel.

How to verify? There is a method for this, apart from effective and stable work and a handful of coins in your pocket, you can use the so-called leading signal threshold. Stable means the detector is operating smoothly and the signal is set correctly.

you don’t believe? Video below of a man running XP on Deus I alongside Deus II. After this maneuver, the last version does not signal the coin in audio. After detuning, the coin signal is back!

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Nokta Makro The Legend real SMF

The Collins Dictionary defines the word “legend” as follows: When you refer to someone as a legend, it means that they are very famous and admired by many people. That’s a definition that certainly includes the Nokta metal detector – it means both famous and universally admired.

There are multi-frequency (MF) detectors and there are simultaneous multi-frequency (SMF) detectors. Both have their followers, so which is best? It depends entirely on where you regularly look and how you look, not forgetting other aspects of fun. These will include consideration of after-sales support, accessories such as probes, warranty repairs, and even dealer reputation.

MF detectors offer operators a range of frequencies from 4kHz to 81kHz, depending on make and model. What MFs don’t do is generate multiple frequencies at once, unlike SMF. Because MFs transmit one selected frequency at a time, their electronic target analysis systems are less complex and therefore less expensive to manufacture. This is usually reflected in their much lower price. Many seasoned MF aficionados prefer to tune their detectors to the frequency that best suits the type of target they are looking for… eg gold, minted silver, copper, and even iron objects.

Nokta Legend is a real SMF that transmits 4kHz, 10kHz, 15kHz, 20kHz, and 40kHz synchronously. Why? Straight. SMF is a catch-all system. Lower frequencies penetrate deeper into the ground/wet sand, while higher frequencies – although slightly less so – are more sensitive to small gold objects. A single MF frequency option is also available to the user.

At a price of around PLN 3,835 along with “promotional offers” that include additional probes and other accessories, it is hardly surprising that the Legend is so highly regarded. Don’t be fooled, this is a technologically advanced detector with features usually only available on the market for detectors worth over PLN 7,000. What makes it stand out is that it has an average price.

From a commercial point of view, it’s a damn strong mix. Nokta placed the Legend electronics in the same housing as the Simplex+ model. The build quality and architecture are typical of a Turkish manufacturer. The model is solid and based on the experience gained in the production of other detectors. As sailors say about yachts: “If it looks good, it will sail well.”

Where we have garbage and iron, a small probe should be used, and anyone who searches the shoreline knows what I’m talking about. Beach seekers often avoid cluttered areas like the plague. Other tough guys work in these conditions, pushing the capabilities of their devices to the limit.

Large-diameter probes are not my ideal choice in cluttered areas, due to one major disadvantage: vulnerability to “target masking”. In the case where we have two objects – one garbage and the other, e.g. a gold ring – both entering the field of work, and the garbage object is often the stronger signal of the two and “masks” gold. Some areas were not only loaded to the brim with garbage and all sorts of metal objects but also lost jewelry. Not surprisingly, these places are almost impossible to search with large-diameter probes, and I mean the 11-inch Legend probe as well. As you might expect, many Seekers steer clear of littered areas. The key to unlocking the loot is a probe with a small diameter of no more than six inches. The likelihood of two targets falling into the small diameter of a small probe is much less likely.

I hope the 6-inch NM probe (LG15) will stand out, as does the elliptical 9.5″x5″ (SP24) used in my Simplex+.

It’s obvious that electronics and water are a poor combination. So, if you’re taking your expensive metal detector anywhere near water, especially salt water, it needs to be waterproof to survive accidental submersion. The Legend is fully resistant up to three meters. For diving maniacs, you can buy headphones for diving on a cable. Same as Simplex+.

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Tracking or not Tracking?

Ground calibration is the basis for ensuring the detector’s operation in difficult conditions, it can be carried out manually or automatically. There is still Tracking, i.e. the function of continuous ground tracking.

Good on clean substrates where mineralization often changes over a short period of time. There is also a downside, false signals can be caught, and objects will need to be swept several times to generate the correct signal. Tracking can get completely lost on magnetic stones or with a lot of ceramics and iron. Large clutter also makes things difficult, it’s all a matter of work algorithms and accompanying filters. Values can be averaged and this is where false signals appear.

Manual tuning gives the greatest guarantee that the metal detector is properly calibrated to the ground. Unfortunately, there are also places where the amount of iron makes it difficult to calibrate manually and automatically, and then it is worth starting Tracking … just do it wisely.

We look at the values and if one value is scrolling all the time, just disable the ground tracking. Ready! We have the value we were looking for. The machine did it for us! It remains to check it from time to time. How? Simply pump the search coil over a clear spot, if the signal changes or you hear an excessive response from the ground, re-tune.

Good positioning is crucial for stable operation and proper signal for a given object and decent depth, and we must remember this every time.

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How foil masks signals

A great demonstration of how foil, magnetic stones can mask signals. So is iron. Comparison of XP ORX and Tarsacci MDT 8000. Enjoy watching.

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Whites Spectra uncompromising detector

Whites Spectra is a unique metal detector. Complicated to use at first glance, but giving amazing configuration options. Why is it so special?

Firstly, it is a detector working in three frequencies at once, and secondly, it has a mixed mode, not like the RUTUS in the mono version, but a stereophonic one. What does it give? Both static and dynamic channels work simultaneously and are not switched between each other as happens in the mono version. We hear all the time about the multiplicity of depth and types of targets. It’s hard to miss items and we know what we have under the probe. This is a great comfort of work and if we add to it great identification, this device, despite its age and not very high speed of object separation, is still an unsurpassed model for many manufacturers.

There are also disadvantages, apart from the above-mentioned complication, the weight of the entire device and the color display are not very visible in direct sunlight. It is true that the Sharps LCD has great contrast and good backlighting, but it will not be at the level that black and white screens give.

Another problem is the power source. Factory batteries last literally for a while and are a pain to use and charge. Much better to switch to a pack of 18650 lithium-ion cells (3 pcs.) and an electronic charger. I use such a set myself and the working time is three times longer. I bought a basket for three such cells and designed and printed the housing.

The factory seat post is also not the most comfortable, but you can easily adjust something lighter.

The work itself and the ability to configure after each other give virtually unlimited possibilities. The initial learning about the equipment, it requires a lot of patience and perseverance as well as knowledge of the English language. Dedicating a few months to learning pays off in the field in the form of better identification, easier fastening on the target, and not tiring work. Fewer random sounds are also a big plus.

The ability to configure allows you to adapt to many scenarios and types of searched objects. The separation of software and hardware settings as well as filters allows you to configure the detector for yourself also in terms of audio or displayed ID and pictograms and ending with colors. This is something unheard of nowadays.

The V3i version allows you to use the XY plot option for additional item identification. We see as many as 3 frequencies in a graphic form, which allows you to better determine the conductivity and type of metal in some approximation. Even XP has used this in the XP DEUS I and DEUS II models.

The last thing is the depth indicator. Not as graphic as we know it now, but in cm and all the time in a dynamic mode without the need to track how it was done on other devices. In this simple way, we can distinguish what is surface garbage and what is a valuable item lying much deeper.

Bob Canaday, the late creator of the Whites Spectra, was undoubtedly a genius, and it’s a pity that none of the current metal detector companies have undertaken to continue his legacy.

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Growing up the place

Growing up the place. How to do it? New equipment costs a lot and usually not everyone can afford large investments. We start by checking what we have and what our colleagues have. We do a summary.

  • Frequency – when the metal detector has variable frequencies to choose from, we look for the lowest one. We set. Then discrimination – the enemy of every Detector, down as low as possible or switching to All Metal modes, we gained in range.
  • Filters – reactivity, the lower the value, the deeper the device, but it separates objects worse. We’ll deal with that too by simply sweeping slower. Other than ID or magnetic stones or identification of caps, it is worth turning off.
  • Sweep probe – maybe it’s worth working on better tracking over the ground? Movements should be slow – about 2 seconds from extreme positions and smooth and parallel all the time to the ground level.
  • Seat post – adjust so that the probe is 3 to 5 cm above its surface. The next centimeters are ours.
  • Sensitivity – it’s time to set it to the level of stable operation and get rid of interference. This is our greatest enemy, shortening our ranges. We always use automatic detuning or manually look for the most stable channel or operating frequency.
  • Ground calibration – something often neglected. It is worth doing it precisely in a clean place. We check and repeat as we work. We track the values and, if necessary and possible, manually adjust the conditions. The next centimeters depend on it!
  • The size of the probe – is significant, despite the common opinion, although the truth is that technique counts. For cluttered places, a smaller one will be ok, for large and clean and relatively even areas, a larger one will be useful, which will improve efficiency and range.
  • The seat itself – the most bizarre thing – the direction of the passage. You need to change the overlap on the objects. Across, diagonally along. We go around every signal for about. I suggest using the Tect O Trak application based on data from the GPS of our phone. It’s a lot of comfort and organization of work, especially when we return to our favorite place.
  • The power of nature – you can use rainfall and wind, which cause the soil to lower over time. Often coins can lie washed out on the surface. Meteo forecast is Windy and Meteo apps.
  • Wunderwaffe – it is also worth borrowing a PI frame detector and walk the same place with a device that only sees larger objects and at a greater depth, we will skip surface debris.

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Battery and metal detectors

Nowadays, detectors have integrated batteries, is it good or bad, and how to care for this type of solution? Find out in the article below.

Modern power sources are already mostly integrated into the device. Field exchange is not possible. For some, it’s a disadvantage, because you have to remember to charge before going out, on the other hand, going for replaceable batteries in the middle of nowhere can often be completely futile, and we don’t always remember to take or check spare ones. The disadvantage can also be the number of charging devices. Such XP DEUS has a link in the probe, wireless headphones, and in the RC control panel … it’s a lot, although there is always an alternative, if the headphones are discharged, we have a panel and a loudspeaker, if vice versa, only headphones, and limited settings options.

You can always take a power bank with you or recharge it in the car, but it also takes time. Both solutions have some disadvantages, but what about the durability of such internal batteries? This is where electronics come in handy. Internal circuits manage the charging cycle. The service life is several hundred or more cycles, so it will be enough for some time, and the manufacturer provides for replacement, which can be done on your own or commissioned to the service.

How to charge? As I mentioned above, everything is managed by electronics, and the power of the charger affects only the time of the process itself. The USB standard reigns, so the matter is simple, we are looking for a connector or a charger. For your own safety, it is worth taking care of a good quality solution. YouTube is full of videos of spectacular fires of cheap USB chargers!

The detectors have charging indicators and the process itself takes a few hours, but what is the best way to check if the detector is charged when there is no such indicator or it does not work properly? In a very simple way. We touch the charger. Cold means the process is finished, warm means that we have to wait a little longer.

How often should we charge our detector? After every exit? Always connected? How to store?! The principle is simple. We discharge to 20% not to the end, so as not to burden the cell thermally, overheating drastically shortens its life. Charge to 80-100% capacity. During storage, the battery should not be more than 80% and less than 20%. It’s always worth checking. We will avoid problems in the future.

The replacement itself is not complicated for most solutions, although there are some that require a few gymnastics. For example, XP has a battery built inside the probe, which brings the problem of cutting the resin and refilling it after changing it. Fortunately, there are kits with instructions and there is nothing to worry about if we have a minimum of motor skills.

At the very end, the type of removable batteries. It’s not an easy topic. The market is full of substitutes. The simple rule is only branded and from proven sellers. Cheap cells do not work or only work for a while and fail at the worst possible moment. It is also important to check whether the device will work well with the batteries. They have a slightly lower operating voltage (they last for a shorter time than alkaline ones) and the electronics can play tricks on us, incorrectly signaling the moment of discharge. Strange behavior, and lack of stability of work and ranges are also not uncommon in such a situation. It is worth checking in the documentation attached to the detector what can and cannot be done.

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Professional detectors for deep excavations

Deposits, relics, or treasures keep many people awake at night. This is every Seeker’s dream. Get something like this. It is not given to everyone.

Deep burials are now rare. It’s not an easy topic. The case is complicated and complex. So what to use for a large animal? Lots of people have heard of it but don’t know it. Frame detector, impulse detector, then there are the terms data logger or graphic imaging.

INVENIO device

The choice is wide and the prices can make you dizzy. From the Nokta Makro offer, you can choose the best INVENIO metal detector. The device in a simple and easy way perfectly illustrates buried items, although it requires attention and a certain work regime. Unfortunately, it is not available to everyone. The price of PLN 35,000 means that it remains in the realm of dreams. It must be remembered that this type of equipment is a poor choice for everyday searches. In addition to the knowledge put in, the solution needs time to interpret the data – to process it. It will be more suitable for archaeological research, field measurements, or when looking for specific things.

Impulse detectors

So what to go with a big animal? I recommend a pulse detector. frame and preferably with a magnetometer. I know from experience that for large militaria the size of the probe is 1 x 1 meter or more. Smaller solutions are too sensitive to small objects and this causes various problems in the field.

In our offer, you will find DeepTech Ground Pioneer 4500. The item is interesting because you can order any frame size in the set and you get an 11-inch probe plus a frame. You can look for small items in the uncluttered areas, such as coins, and this is a big help. If it is clean, the performance will be higher than in classic detectors with VLF technology. PI pulse devices do not have discrimination. The magnetometer helps in the rough differentiation of the so-called color of iron. This is a very helpful solution.

Ciekawostką w ofercie jest sonda do sprawdzania szybów wentylacyjnych czy studni. Można ją zamówić oddzielnie, podobnie jak data logger, który pomaga nam w obrazowaniu znalezisk.

Operation of the detectors

Finally, let’s talk about performance. A beverage can is up to 2 meters deep with a frame size of 1 x 1 meter. In the case of a vehicle, you can talk about performance up to 8 meters. No need to worry, we won’t forget the tank. Objects below the size of a can are not detected, which in the case of surface debris – small can help us.

An additional advantage is an ability to work in the case of a highly mineralized substrate. The disadvantage of this type of device is the speed of operation, lack of discrimination or the need for assistance when using. Two people should carry the probe, and the third one operates the control panel, if we add a data logger to this, the whole thing requires patience, coordination, and an understanding of the operating principles.

So who should choose such a device? Seekers, Deposit Hunters, this type of offer is addressed to them. Archaeologists or geologists document places and also search for empty spaces. As you can see, the application possibilities are quite wide.

 

 

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Nokta Makro INVENIO PRO 3D visualization of objects hidden in the soil

Invenio Nokta Makro INVENIO PRO allows you to show the shape, dimensions, depth of deposition, and the type of metal from which the object is made.

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Minelab Manticore The beast is out of the cage

The new beast Minelab Manticore detector and my first impressions. The price knocks you off your feet, but let’s leave it for now and start with the ML 105 wireless headphones. The build quality itself is top shelf. It can be discussed whether such closed and thickly upholstered headphones are a good choice. It’s a matter of taste and season.

Everything is complemented by a spiral cable with jack plugs for connecting headphones via a waterproof connector in the panel. Different sound quality and a nice option. Although I would not enter the water with such a set … it will fall and there is no topic.

The armrest is another example of how you can approach it in a practical way. Adjustment with a simple latch instead of a problematic screw. Way to go.

The soft design of the plastics and the strap with the logo complete the whole. It convinces me, all beautifully set on a carbon fiber seatpost with quick-release locks. In the back part, a plug for rinsing the whole after wading in sandy water. Plus.

The handle with a rubberized grip and a good angle, as well as the undercut for the index finger for weight transfer are another plus.

The panel looks sensational and here the performance of the detector is also not surprising. Buttons, display all in place and finished with the highest quality materials.

The panel looks sensational and here the performance of the detector is also not surprising. Buttons, display all in place and finished with the highest quality mater

The whole is well-balanced and compact, you can’t ask for more. No more flooding electronics like in the old Equinox model and no more breaking probe ears. Now the mount has been moved to the lower element of the frame and even if it breaks, it is not the cost of the entire probe. The 11-inch probe has additional reinforcements and does not stand out from the whole.

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