Do I need a detecter with a screen or is just sound ok?

[Rockhoppernc]

Well I am looking for a new toy and was wondering if I would be better off with a detecter with a lcd screen or just one with sounds?

Thanks

 

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[luvsdux]

Boy, you opened a can of worms here. If you'd been on the forum longer you'd know that this can be a hot debate. Simple answer - no - you can find metal with just the sound a detector makes. Screens add another dimension that can help decide whether a target is likely a coin or not, but it is a machine's best guess. The main argument is whether a person gets to depending too much on the display and therefore passes up junk that may have been a good target. Sound only (beep and dig detectors) usually have a discrimination knob that can be used to help determine whether the target is a coin or other item, but it takes some practice. I started with beep and dig detectors, then added several with displays and have done well and can function pretty well in the field with either. If you do go with a display, it can be a good practice exercise as you get to know the detector to cover the display some times when you hunt to help you get familiar with the sound(s) as well. One thing it's good to know is that ultimately all machines only tell you that there's metal under the coil. The displays and other enhancements are nice, but not entirely foolproof, nor required to find targets. My two bits.
luvsdux

 

[jeff of pa]

personally, in spite of the fact I rarely look at the screen, I feel like I'm using Junk
if it ain't there.

Not true of course, But I am spoiled by it being on every machine I enjoyed using

 

[luvsdux]

Jeff, I've never felt that my beep and dig detectors felt like junk, lol. However, I'm a fan of looking at the screen less and listening more. Screens do add an extra dimension to help decide whether to dig or not, especially to the coin shooter, but not a great help to the relic hunter that's looking for old iron, and of debatable help on jewelry unless you're running very low discrimination and digging it all for the most part anyway.
luvsdux

 

[Rockhoppernc]

Ya, looking for an all around detecter. I live in the mountains and history is all around my house. I also like to bottle hunt, yards and parks and very much woods hunting old home sites. it has been years sence I have had a detecter dropping a few bills and hitting the hunt.so I can see where a lcd screen would come in handy.

 

[Clay Slayer]

I had a Garrett Ace 250 and now I have a Teknetics Delta 4000. I know both are pretty much entry level but I've never really found the screens very useful. I'm leaning towards a Tesoro Vaquero as my next detector. Reviews seem pretty good, and I like the fact that I have less to fiddle with to get it going. Besides, my 40'ish eyes are to the point where my reading glasses are needed at that 2'-3' range. With a Tesoro, I don't have to worry about my glasses.

 

[Bitpusher]

I had a Garrett Ace 250 and now I have a Teknetics Delta 4000. I know both are pretty much entry level but I've never really found the screens very useful. I'm leaning towards a Tesoro Vaquero as my next detector. Reviews seem pretty good, and I like the fact that I have less to fiddle with to get it going. Besides, my 40'ish eyes are to the point where my reading glasses are needed at that 2'-3' range. With a Tesoro, I don't have to worry about my glasses.

I have a Delta 4000 as well. I've found that the VDI is nice, but isn't 100% accurate. The "meta information" is more important to me - if the VDI jumps around a lot, it's likely that the target is irreguarly shaped, like can slaw or something. If it's consistent, then it's probably a solid piece of something.

Hold down pinpoint, and see how big the target is - visualizing the shape of the coil's detection cone helps a lot here. I can usually tell if I'm digging up a coin or a pull-tab before I start digging.

The depth indicator is also very nice. It's accurate enough to be useful, and helpful in conjunction with the VDI as well. If it's deep and the VDI is constant, I know it's a solid object far below ground. If the pinpointer then tells me it's only 1" or so wide, then I know it's almost certainly an old coin. If the pinpoint tells me it's very narrow one direction and long the other, it's probably a nail.

You're never going to get 100% accuracy with any method, and the screen isn't going to tell you the whole story. It gives you more information faster, though. I can go detecting in the dark without seeing the screen, and still have a very good understanding of what's under the ground.

 

[Frankn]

-Well, My Whites Surfmastwe PI Is basicly a turn on and go. It has two knobs that i just set on the preset marks and detect. It is mostly used on the beach. I can pinpoint well enough with the edge of the coil to just scoop it up So in effect, no screen is required for me to detect on the beach.
-My Whites XLT is my general purpose detector. The screen serves several purposes. It gives me an idea of what is down there with a graph and ID number. It has the best pinpointing in the industry which uses two graphes, a current and a memory, this gives you the depth. The screen also presents the various programs for my selection. Almost anything in it's computer program can be set using the screen.
-My Hays 2 Box came with a signal strength gauge used to set the signal strength, track the signal variations and also to check the battery voltage. I have added a bright red LED that lights when a target is detected. So in effect I run both ways depending on the target I am after.

Yes, you can run barefooted with just a sound and still find the targets, But as you progress in detecting, it is nice to have access to other information.

Also you don't need a new detector with all the bells and whistles. All of my detectors are over 12 years old. Frank...

 

[smokeythecat]

I had a Garrett AT Gold and Pro, and they drove me nuts with the screen and tones trying to decide what was under the loop. I settled on a Tesoro Cibola, it's a lot less money and I'm doing very very good with it. I don't dig iron unless I want to, and face it, anything better than an iron target needs to get dug because you just never know....It is a hot debate. See if there's a local dealer near you and test each kind on the same set of targets to get a feel for what you like best.

 

[Iron Patch]

I've been using the same type of detector for 13 years and can't tell you what any of the screen readings mean... and I do mean that literally.

 

[mrwilburino]

For those of us that hunt for deep, old coins in areas that contain a lot of modern trash, a good multi-tone metered machine can make all the difference between success and bi-lateral rotator cuff surgery.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

One of the reasons I got one with a screen was to have a little more info like how deep a coin was and the M6 has knobs not a touch screen. Too many bells and whistles confuse me.

 

[Rockhoppernc]

I also like one with a screen to have a little more info but if I can get a better MDT for the money, Well you all know.
mrwilburino, can you give me a little more info on multi-tone metered machine and an example or 2?

I live in Asheville Nc, and plan on getting an all purpose machine some time this week and know I can kind something between $200 and $300. ,
plan or using it for coin/relic/bottle mostly with a little gold on the side.

 

[mrwilburino]

Garrett Ace 250 & 350, Teknetics Delta, Fisher f2, and Bounty Hunter Platinum are all decent in that price range. Keep in mind however, meters and multitones are helpful for some types of hunting, for others.......not so much.