Reply to Willy
Well Willy, it seems you may just be quite set against the SD's, so I wouldn't have spent so much time on them in the previous post if I'd known that . . . There are other pulse machines that are completely waterproof if you're interested, not just the Infinium. But, I'll soldier on and try to respond.
"Well, I kinda have a few problems with the Minelab machines. 1) Really crappy design re. environmental factors...good way to lose a lot of money is to nuggethunt with one in a stream (hell, the coils aren't even waterproof). 2) Bad ergonomic design...batteries & bungies hanging all over the place. 3) Poor quality (ref. #2) insofar as the connectors seem to constantly break. 4)"
I've never had any trouble with any of the three machines I've used, with the exception of the rental one having a loose connection right at the box--the three machines have performed flawlessly--but if you've met people that have had all that trouble, they obviously know what they're talking about. I like the design of the SD--the weight is a downside for sure, but with the little backpack that lets the battery rest against your lower back, and with a curly power cord, they are much more comfortable to use. True, no waterproof coils yet, but Coiltek has one they're working on as I type this to you.
Have you done a lot of nugget hunting in running streams? I've given it a shot quite a few times and it's very difficult to chase targets in moving water--I have a pulse machine that's waterproof--and it's close to maddening trying to get the little suckers to stay put so you can ID them.
But, if you've already decided on the Infinium, then you might want to go for it. I've heard a lot of good things about them, but I can't give my opinion on Infiniums as I've only used the Tesoro pulse machine, and the SD's. But I will try to respond to some of the issues you've brought up.
Whenever you observe someone using a machine, factor in how long they've swung the machine, and how much they've found, before deciding on the usefulness of a machine. I know guys that have found hundreds and hundreds of nuggets with VLF's--they are excellent at what they're designed for, but they won't handle extreme ground. I know others, swinging the same machine, that can't even keep it ground balanced, and that haven't found anything except horseshoes and nails. In a like manner, I know guys that have found all kinds of nuggets in terrible ground with SD's, and others that couldn't wait to sell their's off because they couldn't learn to hunt with them.
"Why I was thinking about getting the Infinium is that it is well designed both environmentally & ergonomically. For prospecting in & around water it's superior to the Minelab PI's. It's also lighter, better balanced, and exhibits a better battery choice . . . For now it has the big DD & the 5x10" which would suffice for what the PI's seem to excel at; finding larger nuggets in hot ground. For small stuff, even in bad ground, it still looks like VLF's are preferred. I will admit that there are claims of PI's finding somewhat small gold with small monoloops, but they also talk about sounding off on previously undetectable hotrocks & ground variations...hell, any ol' VLF can do that."
The SD's with the little Joey will find very small gold--I've done it--I was amazed at its sensitivity. But, they aren't near as noisy as a VLF in extreme ground--VLF's won't RUN in the extreme ground I hunted--and the SD's will not sound off on anything close to as many hot rocks as a VLF--ever. So, the small gold issue is more of a moot point now than ever before, as the little coils are made in mono (for less extreme ground) and double D (for the truly nasty stuff). You've got a point, the heavy batteries for the Minelab are a downside, but I always take in several charged spares, which agreeably only adds more weight and work to the expedition. From what I've read, the Infinium is a fine machine, and if you have to pack in over long distances, you might really prefer the lighter weight.
"One thing about the Garrett though is that their land headphones for the Infinium are cheap garbage.
All this leads me to wonder just how much better (if any)are the PI's vs. modern groundtracking VLF's . . ."
Only comment I can make here, is that if they can run, modern VLF's perform admirably, but if the ground's too hot, all the leading-edge ground tracking technology in the world won't help. And, you did have a concern with extreme ground, right?
"Now, with the tech. advances in VLF detectors, how much primacy do the PI's still exhibit? What it comes down to, after quite a few years & many detectors that performed at levels that where less than claimed, is that I wanna buy the bacon & not the sizzle."
PI's and VLF's are different systems--totally. That's why a pulse machine will eat a VLF for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in extreme ground. But that's also why you can find fly speck gold with a VLF in mild to moderate ground. To use the old cliche, you really are comparing apples to oranges, they're both fruits, but man, what a difference. Just keep the two concepts separated, and be comforatble understanding they are designed for different purposes, and they both have exceptional performance in their own areas of supremacy, but neither one can truly take the place of the other.
If you have any other questions, I'll be glad to try to answer them, if not, all the best with your choice, Infinium or whatever it may be.
Lanny in AB
P.S. Seriously, go to The Alaska Gold Forum and get Steve's email or post a question on the prospecting forum and ask him some questions--he loves the Infinium, but has Minelabs and VLF's as well because he maintains that they all have their place.
