Another ? on detectors! Is it time to upgrade. Any thoughts???

[ugotit22]

I started detecting about a year ago. After much researdh i decided on the Whites IDX Pro. All in all i love the machine. So far in a year i have found countless artifacts, 150.00 clad, 38 silver coins, 22 large coppers, and 2 gold rings. With all that being said i feel that b/c im useing an out dated model i may be missing deeper/better stuff. I reall was thinking about getting an dfx or minelab. The only prob. is, like every has said you need to know your machine. And above all else, i KNOW my machine. I know exactly what it is sayign to me when he reacts. Almost 99% of the time im on the same page with it. This is the only reason i dont want to change and get a "better" machine. So once and for all A. How much depth am i losing with the IDX Pro. and B. should i upgrade? thanks for you imput.
Keith

 

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[kevo]

I don't really know much about other detectors other than mine, but knowing your machine is 90% of the battle in my book. I remember my first dozen targets and how frustrated I was that I couldn't pin point anything. Sure, some models might be better. What are the average depths that you are recovering from?

 

[Damien12]

I hear people saying " i want to find deeper stuff" No machine is designed to go 5 and 6 feet. I dont know about everyone else..but most of my finds are 2-4 inches. With some being 6 inches. But no deeper than that.
Most machines , even older ones will go 6-8 inches deep. That should be enough. I dont want to dig a foot down every time I get a signal. I have found stuff 130-180 years old at 4 inches. Its NOT the machine...its the OPERATOR that matters. I say...If you're ready to try something new just for depth..I wouldnt switch.
If you're tired of your machine, want to keep up with the digital technology, and want something lighter
to hunt with...Go for it!

 

[kevo]

Yup!! The dime I posted the other day is an 1841 and was only down 3 inches.

 

[texan connection]

I went from the ace 250 to the minlabe SE and really havent noticed any depth diffrence it might be a inch or 2, but thats it. The main diffrence I see is the discremenation, I dont dig as much trash.
Ive dug pennies at 8 inches or so, The silver dollar I dug was 12 to 18 inches and rung up clear as a bell.

 

[jgas]

If you read about something called the Dirt Strata you will find that most coin size objects will sink in the ground only so far and then stop. Gravity cannot keep them sinking further and further. They will generally stop between 4 and 7 inches depending on the type of aggragate. Unless of course there was an outside source to get them deeper(tilling etc.) So your detector will go plenty deep enough for the good targets. I found the 1812 large cent only 4 inches deep and in great shape. As stated by others, unless you want a lighter weight detector or you really like digging a foot or more all the time go with ground penetrating radar! Ha Ha...Sounds like you are locating some great finds..It's all about the learning of your machine and being zen like with it. jgas

 

[liftloop]

make it intresting get an under water detectore I just order an 18 inch exceleratore coil from kellyco for my mxt.the next coil is going to be the 5 inch excelerotore,and then hopfully my nexts detectore will be an under water for warm ranydays an swiming holes an beaches

 

[Born2Dtect]

The IDX Pro, also my first machine has a good rep for going deep. It gets deep targets. Especially relics. I kept mine after upgrading for a few reasons:;variable freq, good when competition hunting; black sand switch good for beach hunting; and the fact that you cannot get anything for them.

I upgraded to a Minelab EXP II. Reasons, more depth, "DD" coil better pattern covers more area, better ID, more types of discrimination settings. No doubt the EXP II and now the EXP SE are top of the line. White's products are good but I hear some say they don,t like various things about the DFX, MXT, or XLT, the Whites top products.

I am a member of a detecitng club and it is interesting to see which detector are used. #1 Minelab EXP XS, EXP II, EXP SE, #2 Fisher CZ-3D, #3 Whites XLT, DFX. I also see that users of these three rarely stray. Once they use one they stay with it.

Ed D.

 

[bcs123]

i use an mxt and love it i find all kinds of great stuff as deep as 13'' (thats as far as i dig here the ground gets really hard any deeper) but like everyone else said the depth you find things in your area wont change very much so to upgrade just for that isnt a very good reason by its self

 

[gregl01]

I've used a few machines now and really don't think depth is all that matters. You're IDX is a good machine and you're doing well with it. A different machine may have better features, more info, lighter, etc.... but will it find more You may want to try a machine with a higher frequency that is hotter on brass, lead and gold. That may net you some nice relics. Do you what you think you need, just have fun..

Greg

 

[Cr4zyH0rs3]

Well I used both Whites & Minelab and each machine has thier ups and down, it what you like and what you will have fun that will help you find more and better stuff.

 

[Pepper2004]

If you have money to burn go for it. Sounds like the one you have is doing a great job.

 

[redlined]

Not trying to hi-jack the thread, but do Minelab's give off a constant "hum" like the White's do? My buddy has an MXT and he said he's gotten used to it. Do you get used to it after so long? I know when I was growing up I had a cheap detector that constantly gave off a "roar" no hum to it. Just asking as I've never used either, but plan on purchasing on or the other fairly soon.

 

[Ricardo_NY1]

Hello Keith,
Here's my advice for you.........research what detector fits your detecting needs, and go out and get the best one that you can afford. Personally, I recommend an Explorer, but that choice is all yours. I agree that the "Operator" factor is a huge factor, but ask yourself this.......would the best "Operator" in the world who knows his Bounty Hunter Junior or White's Prizm be in a better position than an "Operator" who is working with a Minelab Explorer or Whites DFX and knows either one of those models? The question is not hard to answer. The Operator who knows his top of the line machine will be better off than the operator who knows his lower end model. That is why it is important to get whatever machine you want to upgrade to as soon as possible.........because it will take time to learn it. And one day, you'll speak of it the same way as you do about your current machine.
I think some people's reasoning is a little off about newer or more expensive models. They start thinking, newer, more expensive=depth. Depth is not exactly what newer technology or more expensive detectors are all about. As for a minelab explorer which is what I use, it is not so much the depth that amazes me anymore as it is the discrimination and being able to see coins dead smack in the middle of trash/iron that impresses me. So let's forget about depth and realize that newer technology and price do amount to better discrimination, trash/object separation, better ID and yes, you do get pretty good depth with some of those high end machines.

 

[JerV3]

Sounds like the IDX is serving you just fine.

Location is a big part of everything. I got good spots so I could do well with my kids ace250 compared to my dfx.

I like the top end units. They simplify your hunting for you. Less trash dug more stable and alot easier to use. If I had the money I'd sell the IDX and get a top of the line. Wouldn't cost you that much to upgrade.

HH Jer

 

[Digger]

With out a doubt, knowing your detector will give you the best depth that detector is capable of, but make no mistake there can be a huge difference between the capabilities of detectors. Some call them "bells & whistles" some call them "frills" but again make no mistake, people don't purchase these higher priced detectors for the heck of it.

Take the Garrett ACE 250 for example. Excellent detector for the money, but as most will tell you they don't play well in wet salt ground. Is it simply "bells & whistles" or needless "frills" to pay a bit more for a detector that can handle wet salt ground? It might be if you never plan to hunt such a place, but then I hate to limit my hunting even if I never plan to hunt in those conditions.

Depth is relative to conditions, so any detector that can hunt wet salt conditions would indeed get better depth in wet salt ground than one that doesn't handle the conditions. Same is true for just about anywhere. There is a place in our local park where the iron is so bad you're lucky to get 3" with a top of the line detector. Don't even bother taking one of the lower end detectors there unless it has a feature allowing it to handle high iron ground.

I've hunted locations where coins 150 years old and more is little more than 4" deep. I've found Indian head pennies from the 1800's on top the ground. In these conditions even that $40 detector is going to make some nice finds. At least for a little while. I've also hunted locations where at 10" I'm still only getting back 50 years in an area where I know there are coins from the 1800's. And this is with the best detectors on the market. The Whites DFX and the Minelab SE. Both able to handle extreme conditions, and both still only to get me back 50 years.

It's the doubt that gets us in the end. Did I buy the right detector? Can I get deeper with a more expensive detector? If I upgrade will I find more old coins? Save yourself some time and buy the best detector you can afford for your type of hunting in conditions. As someone already said, arm yourself with the best detector you can afford, and then take the time to become a master and you will be successful.

But remember. No matter how good you get with your detector of how much you paid for it, unless you swing that coil over that good old coin, you still aren't going to find it.