Metal detector Depth?

[Jimmy(PA)]

Has anyone noticed that in the last 20 or so years there has really been a standstill on depth? One of the deepest machines I've owned was the CZ7 and the CZ series came out, what 20 years ago? Ya some newer machines might get an inch or two more nowadays though I havnt seen much increase in the Explorers and machines i've used since. Why cant they make a detector that will easily hit a coin at 2ft? I would think the technology is there if they need it? I know some people say they wouldnt dig 2ft for a dime, but I sure would like to have that option at an old site. I dont even need correct id at 2 foot, as far as im concerned if somethings 2ft at an old site im digging anyways.

 

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[Silver Searcher]

Has anyone noticed that in the last 20 or so years there has really been a standstill on depth? One of the deepest machines I've owned was the CZ7 and the CZ series came out, what 20 years ago? Ya some newer machines might get an inch or two more nowadays though I havnt seen much increase in the Explorers and machines i've used since. Why cant they make a detector that will easily hit a coin at 2ft? I would think the technology is there if they need it? I know some people say they wouldnt dig 2ft for a dime, but I sure would like to have that option at an old site. I dont even need correct id at 2 foot, as far as im concerned if somethings 2ft at an old site im digging anyways.

You are opening a mine field here Jimmy

 

[Digger]

My old Eagle Spectrum still can get some amazing depth compared to the newer detectors, but my new DFX can get the stuff missed by my old Spectrum thats not all that deep. Better target separation, better ground handling are but a few of the newer technologies that make a difference in depth on these newer machines.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Jimmy, I don't know how long you've been into this hobby, but I started in the mid 1970s. That was in the TR-all-metal days (Compass 77b, Whites 66TR, etc..). Heck, I even remember seeing a BFO or two still in use By the end of the 70's (scarcely 5 years later), VLF/TR was all-the-rage. All of the sudden you could get fabulous depth with VLF all-metal, and pass foil and tabs for the first time! Then fast forward only a year or two to the very late '70s and early '80s, and guys started showing up with motion discriminators, and all of the sudden, the depth a person could get in disc. mode doubled (when compared to TR disc.)! Fast forward a mere few years, and the sweep speed was slowed down, TID was appearing, and once again, everyone raced to these new advantages! The depth, TID, and swing speed, and other bells and whistles kept increasing every few years.

Then yes, you're right: In the last 20 yrs, it seems that nothing new has been introduced. Just re-packaged whistles and bells of the same things. Yes the Explorer seems to get more depth than other power-house coin machines, but heck, the Explorer is now 10 yrs. old!

Contrast this last 10 years (for example) from the 10 yrs. from 1975 to 1985! I remember when having a machine that was a mere 3 yrs. old, was being "left in the dust" with a dinasour! All I can figure is, that technology has hit a peak. There comes a point when you can not exceed physics. Same for computer chips and "Moore's law". There came a time when you simply can not get smaller or faster, because you've hit the speed of phsyical limitations?

 

[johnnycat]

I would rather have better separation abilities than depth. My X-70 will find me a dime at a solid 8" that's good enough for me.

 

[Jimmy(PA)]

Jimmy, I don't know how long you've been into this hobby, but I started in the mid 1970s. That was in the TR-all-metal days (Compass 77b, Whites 66TR, etc..). Heck, I even remember seeing a BFO or two still in use By the end of the 70's (scarcely 5 years later), VLF/TR was all-the-rage. All of the sudden you could get fabulous depth with VLF all-metal, and pass foil and tabs for the first time! Then fast forward only a year or two to the very late '70s and early '80s, and guys started showing up with motion discriminators, and all of the sudden, the depth a person could get in disc. mode doubled (when compared to TR disc.)! Fast forward a mere few years, and the sweep speed was slowed down, TID was appearing, and once again, everyone raced to these new advantages! The depth, TID, and swing speed, and other bells and whistles kept increasing every few years.

Then yes, you're right: In the last 20 yrs, it seems that nothing new has been introduced. Just re-packaged whistles and bells of the same things. Yes the Explorer seems to get more depth than other power-house coin machines, but heck, the Explorer is now 10 yrs. old!

Contrast this last 10 years (for example) from the 10 yrs. from 1975 to 1985! I remember when having a machine that was a mere 3 yrs. old, was being "left in the dust" with a dinasour! All I can figure is, that technology has hit a peak. There comes a point when you can not exceed physics. Same for computer chips and "Moore's law". There came a time when you simply can not get smaller or faster, because you've hit the speed of phsyical limitations?

The best target ID machine on the market IMO is the XLT and thats 18?+ years old now even older if you count the spectrum and its prior models? I been detecting for about 15 years now but like you said everything seems to be the same stuff but repackaged. I mean they are lighter and more compact then the old models but I havnt seen anything that trumps the XLT's ID or the CZ's depth. Im not complaining I love the detectors I have but it would just be nice to see something revolutionary. I think we will see cell phone technology incorperated more into detectors in the future, touch screen displays with full color graphics and maybe even real time target imaging? Its only a matter of time. P.S. I would love to have a GPS in the machine so when I find a target it will automatically plot the exact location, depth, ID info so when I go home I can download it and see all my data for specific sites on maps.