Sir Gala Clad
Bronze Member
My Worst Fear is that the Excalibur will soon follow the Sovereign in obsolescence.
Why wouldn't it - the Xcal is but a less capable sovereign which has been ruggedized for diving to 200 feet.
Both metal detectors rely on analog inputs from knobs to control settings and switches to turn on/off and change modes.
Potentiometers are fragile and easily stripped, switches freeze after exposure to mist/salt in the air.
Both detectors must be carefully cared for and more frequently returned to the factory for repair.
The reliability of electronic circuits can be increased and cost(s) reduced by digitizing analog inputs as soon as possible
and eliminating analog components which can wear out/degrade.
It appears that Minelab had done this with their CTX-3030 which can be used in shallow salt water.
I suspect that obsolesce of the Xcal will depend on how well the CTX-3030 sells.
The Xcals, and Sovereigns will be my last purchase(s) from Minelab when/if this happens.
As Gary T. Drayton states his book on the Sovereign " You cannot beat an old fashioned toggles and knobs machine for getting the best performance possible.
You do not have to fiddle around with display screens and probability meters.
Any minor adjustments on the beach take just a quick turn on a control knob which is far easier than having to stop and scroll through programs trying to adjust a setting.
I suspect that the diving market is small and fragmented - most likely dominated by Pulse Induction (PI) metal detectors,
unless you are diving near modern wrecks where there is a lot of metal. Most Xcals are used at the beach (dry sand, wet sand and shallow water).
If accepted by treasure hunters the CTX-3030 will be used in the same domain as the Xcal as well as on land, and is more flexible: (change coils, headphones, GPS, etc).
Why wouldn't it - the Xcal is but a less capable sovereign which has been ruggedized for diving to 200 feet.
Both metal detectors rely on analog inputs from knobs to control settings and switches to turn on/off and change modes.
Potentiometers are fragile and easily stripped, switches freeze after exposure to mist/salt in the air.
Both detectors must be carefully cared for and more frequently returned to the factory for repair.
The reliability of electronic circuits can be increased and cost(s) reduced by digitizing analog inputs as soon as possible
and eliminating analog components which can wear out/degrade.
It appears that Minelab had done this with their CTX-3030 which can be used in shallow salt water.
I suspect that obsolesce of the Xcal will depend on how well the CTX-3030 sells.
The Xcals, and Sovereigns will be my last purchase(s) from Minelab when/if this happens.
As Gary T. Drayton states his book on the Sovereign " You cannot beat an old fashioned toggles and knobs machine for getting the best performance possible.
You do not have to fiddle around with display screens and probability meters.
Any minor adjustments on the beach take just a quick turn on a control knob which is far easier than having to stop and scroll through programs trying to adjust a setting.
I suspect that the diving market is small and fragmented - most likely dominated by Pulse Induction (PI) metal detectors,
unless you are diving near modern wrecks where there is a lot of metal. Most Xcals are used at the beach (dry sand, wet sand and shallow water).
If accepted by treasure hunters the CTX-3030 will be used in the same domain as the Xcal as well as on land, and is more flexible: (change coils, headphones, GPS, etc).
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