Druid, let's see, you've had your Nox for less than two weeks and you're whining about it. You will not really understand it until you have over a hundred hours using it and that may not be enough. 16 sensitivity on your Nox is still better than any setting on an Ace 250, and multi freq rules in any mineralized soil. Just because you cross-thread your cuff screw in doesn't mean the machine is cheaply made. I think perhaps you are just not cut out for a Minelab user, they are HARD to learn without a doubt. I began with a Garrett nearly fifty years ago and stayed with Garrett for years, still have them and use them, but when it comes to straight out performance Minelab multi frequency rules in my area. When I got my Safari, I was amazed at how little I knew about using it when I had nearly forty years of detecting experience with other machines. I thought something was wrong with the machine, there was only something wrong with me. Once I learned to lower sensitivity and use the machine properly I found out how truly amazing the Minelab technology was. Going from Safari to Nox was much easier because I am already Minelab multi trained. Use patience and I am sure you will find your Nox an exceptionally useful detector, if not there are many other machines out there that may suit your needs better. I too run sensitivity at a low 16 on many trashy areas and believe me, it will still find a silver dime at 9". I can only run high sense in areas with less trash like field and woods hunting. I don't know of any mid range to high end machine that one can use full power in trashy areas on, even my ATP has trouble in trash at maximum sensitivity. Also remember "he who digs the most holes finds the most good stuff", there is no miracle discrimination, and many iffy signals can be good signals on any machine. By the way, when the ATP came out they had wobbly shaft issues and many had pinpoint issues that had to be addressed by Garrett's warranty department. I have also seen many broken cuffs and even housings on the ATP.
Hva, look at Calabash digger's video on ATP/Nox comparisons it is very informative. Max is just an ATP with backlighting and wireless phones technology, there is nothing new about it's detecting technology. Nox 800 will blow the Max out of the water when learned properly and can be used in areas the single frequency VLF Max or any other single frequency VLF will not work efficiently. The learning curve on the Nox is steeper than that of the Max to some folks but not to others. The Nox has the faster recovery speed and the Max has more coil options which I like, but I have given up my ATP for the 800 for most all hunting I do.
Thoughts??
. I had used the AT Max for about 2 weeks, got lucky and found a gold ring on the beach (dry sand) and couldnt manage to find anything in the wet sand due to high quantities of black sand. I figured I could sell the AT and the ring I found and buy a multi-frequency detector, and ended up getting the Equinox 800... Wow what a difference. I massively prefer the equinox over the AT Max in almost every condition to detect. Being a multi-frequency detector, it can go to areas the AT Max will struggle including metallic beaches and highly mineralized soil. Definitely if you have the money, upgrade to the equinox! It will pay itself off in no time!
