McKinney_5900 said:
The manual indicates that the factory programs are "turn on and go" for the new owner getting used to the V3i. Well, "turn on and go" it ain't, even with the factory programs.
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Also, the manual is IMPO, "shallow" in it's explanations of many of the functions. The manual certainly has chapters on all of the functions alright, but is only scratches the surface on many program setting details,,,just enough to get me into trouble.
For the dollars and cents this unit costs up front, I'd suggest thinking long and hard before promoting one to someone. It may have capabilities no other detector has, but it shouldn't take endless studying the manuals(which don't impress me very much) just to make this detector user friendly right out of the box, just to GET TO! those extra capabilities.
Howdy Amigo!
The information I've quoted here is right on the money! I was the first in the state of Colorado to get the new V3 when it arrived in stores. Then I got it upgraded to the V3i a few months later. My machine has already been back to Sweet Home twice now, and is almost ready to go back a third time for issues I've encountered. While at work one day, I tore up my knee and will need to have surgery on that issue, but I've been shelved because a blood clot developed in that same leg, so I am stuck waiting for medication to eliminate the risk of that blood clot breaking loose during surgery. Point of this is, I haven't been able to spend quality time with my V3i to work out the problems caused when I did a master reset, as advocated by one of the guru types on the White's forum! That made a mess of my machine, and rendered it nearly useless.
That being said, the machine worked okay before I screwed it up by following bad advice. Not stellar, not astounding, but mediocre.
It never found anything deeper than 6 inches before. And as for the notions that it is "Turn on and go", well I'm sorry to report that the very first thing I had to do was fiddle around with the RX Gain and Discrimination settings to get it to quiet down. It was a wonderland of falsing otherwise, and target sounds that seemed attractive proved unrepeatable. After adjusting both RX Gain and discrimination, it ran pretty good, but not impressive. My MXT 300, and my newer MXT Pro could easily get results as good or better than the V3/V3i.
There is a notion around that folks who bought the V3/V3i are just a bunch of cry babies when it doesn't fulfill their expectations. It should be remebered that those expectations are based on what claims were made about this machine before buying the thing. The manual(s) are not a wealth of information regarding all the settings that can be fiddled with on this machine. The fact that you need to get both manuals to support understanding the machine is indicative of how lackluster they are.
While I can see what the potential is on this machine, and have seen reports from others who have enjoyed real good results with them, easily finding coins down to a foot and better, they all have one thing in common. They are all long term users who have a wealth of expertise to tweak and cajole the machine into giving what most of us ordinary types figured we'd get straight out of the box. The list of settings and possible combinations, all of which can have an affect on several others when one is changed, runs well into thousands, if not millions, of possible permutations. If you have a highly technical background, you're good to go and will enjoy this machine. If you are a regular, run of the mill, ordinary guy who just wants to enjoy finding good targets at remarkable depth, you're in for frustration that would test the patience of Job! You'll spend much more time learning the settings and what they do than hunting. Personally, I didn't sign up for a science project. I wanted results, and while I have enjoyed some terrific finds, they were nothing the MXT Pro couldn't match handily.
And if you hit that frustration level, you'll soon discover that you are viewed on other forums as "lazy", "Unwilling to make the sacrifice" and a cry baby. That's what you can expect for your sacrifice of time, energy, money and study when things just don't gel for you with the V3/V3i. I know, because I've already been treated to rhetorical affront and condescending hyperbole on other forums.
In the end, the user is told they are just too stupid to own such a complex machine.
Ah, now we're having fun, eh?
My opinion is that you have a truly great machine in the MXT. It will give you results without a degree in quantum physics as prerequisite. While I have the MXT 300 and the MXT Pro as well, if you have an MXT then you already have a terrific machine. The Pro just gives you a few other options that might prove useful, but not really anything significant. You get tone I.D., lighted screen, trigger forward locking your pinpoint (handy for DX-1 probe users!!!) and some other changes. Is it worth moving up to the MXT Pro? That is a question only the customer can answer for him/her self. It was for me, because I do a great deal of hunting after dark. Plus, I really like the tone I.D., though the tones are somewhat harsh on the ears in my opinion.
So my best answer to your question is this...
There are all manner of folks running around who will rave about the V3/V3i.
I ain't among them. Those who view it as a terrific machine have all kinds of technical expertise.
I'm just an average guy who wants to spend more time finding gold than fiddling around with settings.
While I hold a college degree in Sports Medicine, nothing in my education prepared me for this machine.
It is dynamic, complex and has a real steep learning curve. If you have a keen understanding of the various settings and what they do, you'll enjoy this machine. Even then, you'll likely spend far more time fussing over settings than bringing in the goods!
I have found a whole bunch of gold and silver with my MXT 300 and MXT Pro.
I've also found it with my V3/V3i.
But for the money invested, the time spent, the frustration endured, the sacrifices made....
I'd have been better off just hunting with my MXT machines.
The final word is, I've spent a great deal of money on White's machines.
XLT, MXT 300, V3/V3i, MXT Pro, Prizm 6T and associated coils.
My next purchase is likely to be a different brand because I want to enjoy the hobby,
not field abuse from guru types who look askance at anyone that can't measure up to their years of technical experience.
However, to be fair, I talked with a rep at White's and they said I'd be taken care of. That's great.
But the other forums out there will quickly ruin your day, especially the one you'd think would be most concerned about your customer experience. Don't bet on it though.
Hope you find this answer helpful, and I want to add in closing that I've known njnydigger for some time, and guess why he's posting over here. And me too! After all, who are we? Just customers, that's all. There are plenty more of us where we came from!
Blessings,
M-Taliesin
