Hi Ed , very good question. And some great pieces of advice have been posted. I would like to give my two cents worth for what ever it is worth. I would recommend getting one of the top of the line detectors and not just learn how to use it but MASTER it. Getting a cheep unit can discourage someone. You have to have patience in this hobby in all area's, Research, detecting and most of all learning the unit. One of the guy that posted before me had one of the best words of advices to offer and that is to talk to the old timers, they have been there and done that. It is so easy for someone to learn in seconds what has taken others week, months and years to figure out by trial and errors and most of the old timers have done most all of it. Any one who wants to learn any thing about this hobby has the best learning devise right here on this forum. If you don't know something or want to know something ,this is the spot to come. Research is of the utmost importance after mastering the unit. Well, that's my advise to and for the NEWBIES. Butch Mayes