Pulse Induction Vs VLF: Choosing The Best

[john_smith007]

PulseI Induction Vs VLF​

Feature	Pulse Induction (PI)	Very Low Frequency (VLF)
Depth Penetration	Superior, reaching depths of up to 6 meters / 20 feet or more	Moderate, effective for detecting shallow targets up to 2-3 meters/ 6.5-10 feet
Target Discrimination	Variable, some models offer advanced discrimination capabilities	Generally good, able to distinguish between different types of metals
Ground Conditions	Less sensitive to mineralized soil, suitable for a wider range of environments	More susceptible to interference from mineralized soil
Cost	Generally more expensive than VLF detectors	More affordable and widely available

What Should You Choose?​

So, which one should you choose? Well, it depends on where you plan to hunt and what you’re looking for.

If you’re heading to the beach or areas with high mineralization, I suggest going for a PI detector. They’ll go deeper and won’t get thrown off by the ground conditions.

But, if you’re planning to hunt in parks, old houses, or places where you might find a lot of trash, I recommend a VLF detector. They’ll help you sort through the junk and find the treasures.



Regardless of which type you choose, remember to always respect the environment and follow local laws when metal detecting.

And, of course, patience is key! Metal detecting is a bit like fishing – some days you catch the big one, and other days, you just enjoy being outdoors.

 

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[Treasure_Hunter]

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[cudamark]

PulseI Induction Vs VLF​

Feature	Pulse Induction (PI)	Very Low Frequency (VLF)
Depth Penetration	Superior, reaching depths of up to 6 meters / 20 feet or more	Moderate, effective for detecting shallow targets up to 2-3 meters/ 6.5-10 feet
Target Discrimination	Variable, some models offer advanced discrimination capabilities	Generally good, able to distinguish between different types of metals
Ground Conditions	Less sensitive to mineralized soil, suitable for a wider range of environments	More susceptible to interference from mineralized soil
Cost	Generally more expensive than VLF detectors	More affordable and widely available

What Should You Choose?​

So, which one should you choose? Well, it depends on where you plan to hunt and what you’re looking for.

If you’re heading to the beach or areas with high mineralization, I suggest going for a PI detector. They’ll go deeper and won’t get thrown off by the ground conditions.

But, if you’re planning to hunt in parks, old houses, or places where you might find a lot of trash, I recommend a VLF detector. They’ll help you sort through the junk and find the treasures.



Regardless of which type you choose, remember to always respect the environment and follow local laws when metal detecting.

And, of course, patience is key! Metal detecting is a bit like fishing – some days you catch the big one, and other days, you just enjoy being outdoors.

I disagree with many of your claims. Those depth claims are not realistic at all. On typical hobby detectors, anything deeper than 3 feet for a PI, or 2 feet on a VLF is wishful thinking for coin/jewelry sized targets. Sure, if you're looking for a buried car or septic tank, you can get those depths. There aren't any PI's with reliable discrimination yet. As for a VLF being able to distinguish between metals, not really. It mainly discriminates between conductivity, which SOMETIMES can coincide with types of metals. There are PI detectors that don't have adjustable ground balance capabilities. These are virtually worthless in prospecting. Most higher end VLF's are actually pretty good on handling mineralized soil. Cost of either will depend on features and capabilities. There are PI machine from around $600 to ones over $8000. VLF detectors can range from under $100 to around $2500. Buy a machine that matches the type of detecting you plan to do, features that you need the machine to have, and one good at finding the targets you expect to find. If you are going into any water or wet use, get one fully waterproof. If you will be in salt water, get a waterproof simultaneous multifrequency VLF or PI unit.

 

[oldkoot]

I disagree with many of your claims. Those depth claims are not realistic at all. On typical hobby detectors, anything deeper than 3 feet for a PI, or 2 feet on a VLF is wishful thinking for coin/jewelry sized targets. Sure, if you're looking for a buried car or septic tank, you can get those depths. There aren't any PI's with reliable discrimination yet. As for a VLF being able to distinguish between metals, not really. It mainly discriminates between conductivity, which SOMETIMES can coincide with types of metals. There are PI detectors that don't have adjustable ground balance capabilities. These are virtually worthless in prospecting. Most higher end VLF's are actually pretty good on handling mineralized soil. Cost of either will depend on features and capabilities. There are PI machine from around $600 to ones over $8000. VLF detectors can range from under $100 to around $2500. Buy a machine that matches the type of detecting you plan to do, features that you need the machine to have, and one good at finding the targets you expect to find. If you are going into any water or wet use, get one fully waterproof. If you will be in salt water, get a waterproof simultaneous multifrequency VLF or PI unit.

Yeah I also disagree with the Depths quoted

Show me a PI that can reach 20 feet or more depth, also a Vlf that can hit 6-10 foot depths, the OP is dreaming, and who in the heck would want to dig that depth with out a backhoe LOL