Equinox Update

[Daltontribe]

I have not seem to many reviews and praises/criticisms on here of the update and was wondering what everyone thought about the update. I have installed it and uninstalled it and then reinstalled it and cannot quite make up my mind on if it is a good one or not. The internet is quite up and down about it, so i thought i'd seek out some expert advice form here.

Daniel

 

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[HighVDI]

I updated and was a little disappointed with the pinpoint on mid conductors. I kept finding silver coins and just left it as is. Machine still gets it done.

 

[sprailroad]

There is a lot on that very subject on the Minelab Forum for Equinox. I went back and forth as well, settled on the "Pre-update" version. Click onto "Forum" near top of page, then scroll down to "Metal Detecting Forum", where you will see "Brands", click "Minelab", and then pick "Equinox".

 

[eman1000]

I've gone back and forth as well. The "Pre-Update" version I was able to distinguish between pennies and dimes easier. Pennies were usually 20/21 and dimes 24-26 but after the update I found many pennies in the 24-26 range and since I hunt modern parks I get tired of digging pennies. However I can say I have tested many coins on edge and silver rings of various sizes and the "Pre-update" version will miss them from a least one direction if not both, but usually just one direction. I could argue that you would likely find these targets if you were properly gridding an old site. (I did hit on nickels on edge though)

I tested the update 1.5 this weekend again and I noticed that the update utility version went from 1.0.4(aug18) to 1.1.1 (dec 3, 18) not sure if this is significant but after the update I had no problem detecting any of the coins or rings on edge from any direction and the penny dime issue did not seem to be an issue? (Especially in Field 2 with 50 tones it was easier to notice a change in tone on the dimes). You do lose depth with coins on edge as expected I was only able to air test at about 6" for a quarter. However I haven't tested this again in the field because we have 8" inches of snow outside.

So for now I am going to leave it on the latest version and do some more field testing. The update did not seem to have any effect on the averaging of targets. For example a nail on top of a quarter or very close to a quarter will either mask the target completely or bring the average down to 14-18. So if you don't have the small coil you should be digging everything at trashy or old sites.

Just in case anyone is interested I did the coin and ring edge test with my Fishers F22 and it pretty much failed every test.

 

[vferrari]

The general consensus on the update is to flip a coin. Lol. eman1000's writeup above seems to capture the difference between pre- and post update well. It really is a try em both and see which one you prefer proposition. I think you will not miss many targets either way.

Regarding the update utility version update - there was no change to the Equinox operating firmware (original or updated), the utility was updated to work more reliably on non-Win 10 machines.

 

[Shooting Star]

Is there a quick way to determine which version is installed on the Equinox?

 

[RustyGold]

I’m under the impression you have to download the update to your computer then hookup your Equinox with the supplied cable to check the software version you have.
Here’s the link:
https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/339677/EQUINOX SOFTWARE UPDATE A4 EN

 

[eman1000]

Is there a quick way to determine which version is installed on the Equinox?

An easy way to tell is put a dime/quater on edge. If you can't hit it then you are on the original version. If you can then your all up to date.
-Other than using a PC I don't believe it says the version on the screen anywhere.

 

[Shooting Star]

I would have expected the version number to be displayed when you turn on the detector. But I guess not. Silly me.