A friend, who has since passed away, turned me onto this about 30 years ago.. I didn't have any equipment, so used his.. Over the years, work took precedent over fun and never had the chance to pursue it.. My wife bought me a BH 2200 for Christmas this year, and I can't wait until the ground thaws out and I can take it to one of the several beaches in the area.. Oh ya.. My very FIRST detector was a "Sargeant Preston of the North West Mounted Police, send a way and get your very own metal detector and be come a prospector machine".... And, if I still had it today, I could sell it on ebay and make a fortune.. Wonder if theres any of them still out there...It was like a little hand held probe that would beep if it came withing a inch or so of metal .. I think it was just a magnet on a pin, that completed the circut with a battery and buzzer when it wobbled close to ferrous metal.. It really would not find coins and gold like the T.V. adds told the kids that sent away for one, but back then, that was the common practice...