whites 5500d series 3

[JJS NEW ENGLAND]

im new to the detecting game and just picked up this detector for 20.00 dollars. i have found wheaties dimes and quarters. is it still good enough to use or obsolete in todays hunting. any info or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

 

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[U.K. Brian]

Did they make a 5500d ? Tried the 5000 and 6000d models.The only 5500 we got over here was the Magnascanner.
The 5000d was a revised series 2 (that was a best seller in its time). A bigger meter was fitted at the end of the handle rather than on the control box where it was not as visable.
Balance was improved. I think this was when they added 'preset' marks to allow a more switch on and go experience for the beginer.
The tone response was increased which improved performance at depth.

How does it compare with todays detectors ? Battery life is not as good, nor is weight or balance.
On the plus side you should have adjustable ground cancellation, and 4 modes, GEB/Norm,GEB/Disc,TR/Disc and GEB/Max.
This makes it more versatile than most modern mid/lower range machines and the only drawback is that the ground cancelling/discriminating mode requires a far faster sweep speed than with todays motion machines.
You also lack the I.D. function of the 6000 Di but as with modern machines its a probablity meter so something that you may do better living without.

More effort is needed on your part than with the latest switch on and go detectors but you should more than keep up with the cheaper modern machines and the GEB and GEB Max will be far deeper.
TR/Disc suffers from ground mineralisation but if set to around cutting out silver paper will balance out the effects of salt on the beach where many single frequency machines can't cope.

So not obsolete at all. If the weight is O.K. for you and your prepared to do a little more work ie detecting in the deeper ground balance modes then switching to discrim. to check out the target you should be more than keeping up with machines at ten times the price.

 

[gallileo60]

Had one, and loved it...I found more coins and jewerly with it than with any of my 3 newer units..sadly it was stolen out of my car........

BTW, the meter reads the same as the 6000, but without the ID'ing labels on it..In other words a penny will read the same (or close to it on both machines).You got a great deal for 20 bucks...Dont worry about it, just get out, and use it...Tom

 

[Slim_Pickins]

I still have mine too. IMHO it is still a good option for coin hunting.
Btw I need the operating freq info so I can find a smaller coil for mine.
Any help is appreciated.

 

[Mudflap]

That detector has a propensity to clean house on silver dimes!!

 

[TonyL.]

Hey, JJS, I just bought a 5500 series 3 also, and I'm probably newer than you at metal detecting. ( Today was my first day). I did a lot of research and for me to be able to afford a machine with the features I wanted, I went with this one for under 100.00. You did get a great deal on yours. I managed to find 2 crushed vintage beer cans and a vintage rusty nail, all at around 5". It was a good day!!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

JJS, that was good for its era (late 1980s, to early 1990s). But answer your question: it is a bit ... uh ... "dated" by today's standards. There are machine that will spank it on depth, target separation, disc, etc...

But if you have prolific sites, that haven't been competitively pounded by today's top notch machines/hunters, then yes, it'll still work.

Is yours a black box? Or a blue box ? I believe the 5500 was similar to the 6000, except that the difference was: the 5500 lacked auto-track GB, while the 6000 had auto-track GB.

If you're in an area where auto ground balance isn't an issue (and can just merely re-balance from time to time), and if yours is the black-box later version, then .... yes ..... it's still a decent machine. I know guys that ...... to this day ..... refuse to give up their 6000 Di pro's. And if yours is a black- box, then yours would be a close-cousin to that.