Help!!!!

[nurseterri2]

Hey everyone!!! I just joined the group today. I Live at the Jersey shore and have wanted a metal detector for 20 years. I will be hunting at the beach and local parks and homesteads. What's the best beginner model to buy that will cover both areas I would like to stuck to around $ 200 if possible. Please help ASAP!!!! I want to get started right away!!!!

 

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[Terry Soloman]

Good Luck! In your budget, here are some good choices.


When it comes to wet saltwater sand beach hunting, you'll need step up to a multi-frquency VLF of Pulse induction machine. The quest for the perfect metal detector to this point has been quixotic. Minelab, has come the closest to building a fully submersible beach machine that can discriminate out iron in wet sand and saltwater. The “Excalibur” uses Broad Band Spectrum, or “BBS” technology, and retails for about $1,500.00.

According to Minelab, their BBS operating system, “simultaneously transmits, receives and analyses a broad band of multiple frequencies to deliver substantial detection depth, high sensitivity and accurate discrimination for a wide range of target types.” The key takeaway here is “multiple frequencies.” Unfortunately, radio waves regardless of their frequency still have to be filtered and balanced in heavily conductive wet-ocean sand and highly mineralized saltwater. That limits the systems depth capabilities.

Single frequency VLF machines (Very Low Frequency), have even more limitations in the harsh saltwater environment. Take for example the Tesoro Lobo Super Traq. This VLF single frequency machine (17.9Khz) is one of the finest and deepest gold nugget finders on the market today. The Lobo Super Traq, is capable of finding BB-sized gold nuggets eight-inches deep in heavily mineralized ground, or a nickel in dry beach sand at 14-inches. Put that same nugget – or even the nickel, seven-inches deep in wet saltwater sand and the Lobo could walk right over it while chattering, or maybe without seeing it at all. Why?

The magnetic iron sands (“Black Sands”), salt, and high concentrations of other minerals in the water and sand conspire to bounce the radio waves away from the target. Conductivity and mineralization act like a shield around the target and create white noise that must be filtered electronically. Think of it as turning on your bright headlights in a heavy fog at night. All that powerful light is diffused and causes a complete white out – you can’t see anything three-feet past the hood of your car! However when you turn on your yellow fog lights, you can see a little further – not as far as you could in clear daylight, but further. That is why all radio wave machines must be “ground balanced” or tuned, to maximize their depth potential, and why BBS filters and multi-frequencies are so effective – yet still limited.

Unlike BBS and VLF metal detectors, which constantly send and receive thousands of low frequency radio waves per second, a Pulse Induction (PI) metal detector fires high-voltage pulses into the sand several hundred times per second. If no metal is present the electric pulse decays at a uniform rate with no anomalies. When metal is present a small “eddy” current flows through it causing the voltage decay time to increase, which creates a measurable anomaly. Unlike VLF radio waves, electronic pulses are impervious to the effects of conductivity and mineralization, and are unaffected by salt or black sands.

PI metal detectors give the user superior depth capabilities in all metal detecting situations and soil conditions. Using the same heavy fog at night metaphor that I referred to earlier, pulse induction is like headlights that cut completely through the fog as if it were not there at all. The trade-off for that added depth and clarity is the inability to discriminate, or block out iron targets that you generally don’t want to waste time and energy digging. While a pulse induction machine detects all metals without discrimination, the minute differences in the signal tone and quality can give a skilled and experienced operator a clue as to what the target may, or may not be.

Will one machine do it all? Not in my opinion. I always advise new beach metal detecting hobbyists to have a VLF machine for dry sand (as well as their other dirt detecting needs), and a PI machine for the water and wet-sand (and deep farm field and relic hunting). In truth, it all comes down to what you prefer and can afford. Good Luck!

 

[vpnavy]

1st - Welcome aboard from the great state of Pennsylvania (USA).

2nd -You might consider browsing Sub-Forums: New Jersey for information (i.e., clubs, hunts, finds, legends, maps, etc.) directly related to your state.
3rd -nurseterri2 - Whatever you decide - please consider buying one from one of

's Supporting Vendors.

 

[RotZorn]

Fisher F2 package, that includes a pin pointer and the 8 inch, and 4 inch coils. There are several site you can order it from for like $215. I got my wife one and she loves it.

Have to say I'm kinda impressed with it too, and it's super lightweight- especially with the 4 inch coil.

 

[nurseterri2]

Thanks so much for your input!!! Is it a goid choice for use on loose sand on the beach and backyard hunting

 

[RotZorn]

Truth- I have yet to hunt a beach, but from what I understand wet sand (at least in salt water) cusses issues for some detectors. So if you plan to hunt the waterline or wade out a little and hunt, you will want a detector that is suited for that. Unfortunately none that I know of are in the price range you specified.

I will direct you to two sites - Kellyco and Bigboy hobbies. Check out their sites and you'll learn a lot just reading about different detectors, and you'll get a feel for features and prices!

 

[wkrp43]

Truth- I have yet to hunt a beach, but from what I understand wet sand (at least in salt water) cusses issues for some detectors. So if you plan to hunt the waterline or wade out a little and hunt, you will want a detector that is suited for that. Unfortunately none that I know of are in the price range you specified.

I will direct you to two sites - Kellyco and Bigboy hobbies. Check out their sites and you'll learn a lot just reading about different detectors, and you'll get a feel for features and prices!

Welcome aboard....swing swing

 

[mercury1]

Welcome to the forum nurseterri2. I was just very impressed with Terry Solomon's advice to you and I would just like to add my recent experience. I am new to detecting and started with an ace 250. It wouldn't be appropriate for your needs but I mention it because its an entry level detector, about in the ball park of what you wanted to spend. My advice would be to spend more if at all possible. I've had the 250 less then a month and while I find stuff with it, I can already tell that I'm going to be much happier with a more capable machine. You have the possibility of making some great finds on the beach so get the best detector you can afford, to give yourself the best chance. HH

 

[s.c.shooter]

One never knows what one will find or how much it might be worth. If you start with an entry level machine then hoard what you find until it adds up to enough to buy a more advanced machine. This hobby always has the potential to pay for itself. I have to warn you though, it is addicting!