Metal Detector Types, How many and What are they?

[Jerxs]

I know of these type metal detectors

VLF

PI

BFO

Are there any more? If so what are they?

Would Minelabs BBS and FBS technology be considered in a class of its own or would their technology fit into one of the classes above.

Thank you, Jer

 

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[jeff of pa]

BBS (Broad Band Spectrum)

FBS (Full Band Spectrum)

TR (Transmit Receive) different then the other 3 I listed.

MB (Multi Band)

I consider them Different, However Some of the Manufacturers may try to say they are the same as VLF.
In my opinion they would say this because they didn't invent it.
and their detectors don't have it.

Besids VLF is Very low Frequency. Not all Multi Bands have all Very low frequencies only.

 

[Carl-NC]

I know of these type metal detectors

VLF

PI

BFO

Are there any more? If so what are they?

Would Minelabs BBS and FBS technology be considered in a class of its own or would their technology fit into one of the classes above.

That's effectively all... BBS & FBS (which happen to be the exact same thing) are forms of what most people call VLF. See my web site for heaping gobs of technical info on detectors.

- Carl

 

[Jerxs]

Cool; thank yahs for the information.

Nice website Carl!

 

[Jerxs]

One more question. Can all types of metal detectors fit into these classes. (ex. Walk Through, Wand, ........) types of metal detectors that do not fit into the hobby class?

Thanks in advance, Jer

 

[Carl-NC]

One more question. Can all types of metal detectors fit into these classes. (ex. Walk Through, Wand, ........) types of metal detectors that do not fit into the hobby class?

Yes... walkthroughs are PI, wands are either PI or TR (aka VLF).

 

[Carl-NC]

Off-resonance is similar to BFO, as are PLL-based detectors. They can all be lumped together as "frequency-shift" designs.

The magnetometer doesn't detect metal, it detects magnetic fields.

- Carl

 

[Carl-NC]

The off resonance uses one resonator, not two like a BFO.

True, as does the PLL detector, but they are all operate on frequency shifting. That's why I lump them all into a "frequency shift" category. So really, the 3 major categories are: frequency shift, phase shift, and time domain. For 99% of detectors, this translates to BFO, VLF, and PI.

And I think it can be easily demonstrated that an FX-3 "responds" to ferrous/magnetic metal.

It only responds to variations in magnetic fields. It so happens that ferrous metals cause these variations, but so can other things, including non-metals. So even though a mag can indirectly detect ferrous metals, I wouldn't classify it as a metal detector in the general sense.

- Carl