What every newbie wants to know

[BioProfessor]

I don't want to start a "war" here but I have to ask the ultimate question. You know, the one everybody wants answered but there is no answer. It is that age old - "What is the best detector?" question.

Before everybody yells at me, let me put the question in context. I bought my first detector - Garrett Infinium LS - to hunt the beaches along the coast of Georgia. It was waterproff, can detect way deeper than I want to dig, and is pretty easy to operate. It is a PI machine and works well in salt water soaked sand (Can you say heavily mineralized?). It has the dreaded PI problem of pretty poor discrimination. It is a pretty much "Dig it all." unit. I don't really mind that on the beach. The digging is easy and I am doing it to find stuff. So I find a lot of stuff - bottle caps, tent stakes, fishing sinkers, buried crushed beer cans, pop tops, and enough change to buy a battery or two. No pirate gold yet. Just doing my civic duty of ridding the beach of trash and junk. I like the machine and it works well for what I bought it for.

I am going to Europe this summer for 3 months and have been in contact with several people and we plan to hunt some Roman and Celtic sites. For this, I think I need a VLF machine. I have been looking at the Garrett GTi 2500, the Minelab Explorer XS and SE, and White DFX and Spectrum XLT but I will consider any model. I have asked the people I will be detecting with in Europe about the different ones and the only thing they have in common is to stay away from the Garrett. I can't figure this out. Bench and field tests give the 2500 the highest rating.

So, in your opinion, what would be a ranking of the new imaging VLF units. The prices are about the same.

Anybody willing to wade in and try to answer the unanswerable?

Thanks!!

Daryl

 

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[BioProfessor]

But Cortes, you speak only one language.

 

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[Charlie P. (NY)]

I just ordered the White DFX E-Series detector. It was the only one I could find with VLF and "Regular" frequency that could be used either separately or together. I got it with the Super 12" search coil, the 8"x14" Eclipse Deepscan DD1400 coil, and the Eclipse Shooter DD 4"x6" coil.

Thanks for all the advice.

Wish me luck with the junk the Romans left behind or better yet, buried.

Best of luck. Take lots of pictures and share your good fortune with us!

While you're waiting. Get out in your yard and bury several copper and silver (or even clad) coins at 6", 8", 10" and 12" in marked spots. You'll want to know your detector cold before the "jump date" and the DFX has a reputation of a long and steep learning curve. Play LOTS with the sensitivity and pre-amp gain. I understand the factory presets assure a very stable detector, but at the cost of depth. Play with setting the pre-amp up a notch to increase target acceptance.

Have fun!



http://metaldetectorreviews.net/detectors/8-1-whitesdfx.html

 

[BioProfessor]

I took the advise of fellow posters and ordered the "Digging Deeper with the DFX" today. Figured it would be a good reference and a good add-on for the manual. I downloaded the manual a week or so ago and it really wasn't that informative. I totally agree with what you say about setting up a test site. The conditions where they find the Roman or Medieval stuff is tought. Items runs from gold, silver, bronze, or copper coins, to iron belt buckles, clothing fasteners, and on and on. Different items made of almost any metal but aluminum or other modern metals. I am going to try and find some objects to use that will mimic what might be there. Items made of copper purchased or make them - cut copper tubing for rings, etc, 24kt gold foil since their gold tended to be fairly high carat, some bronze plumbing fixtures, as well as some old nails, lead fishing sinkers, just as much variety as I can get. A lot of work but it will pay off in the long run. I also have a hunting site that is so littered with stuff that I really can't hunt it with my current machine. It is a fairground that has held the county fair since the 1830's. I get about 3-5 solid hits per swing in some areas. When I dig them just to check the area, they are rifle cartridges, shotgun shell brass ends, bottle caps, wire, nails, staples, jar tops, crushed cans, etc. If I can get the machine to sort some of that out and I can master the test bed, I think I will be good to go.

I'll take plenty of pictures. Scenery if I don't find anything worthwhile. Or me throwing the detector into the North Sea if I can't find anything.

 

[Ray S ECenFL]

You might find this site of help, on your trip with your new DFX.

http://www.geocities.com/garys_hoard/dfx/

Happy Hunting and Good Luck on your trip.

 

[BioProfessor]

That is a good link. Thanks!! Real tested numbers for the pro settings. Yeah!!!

I ordered the book - "Digging Deeper with the DFX." I downloaded the manual from White's site and I know I'll need the extra help.

I'll post my first good find. Hopefully it will be soon after I get there. If not, maybe pictures of cheese or the french fries with mayonnaise they love to eat.

 

[AgileMJOLNIR]

Bio,

may I also recommend you visit www.kinzlicoils.com

It's another forum I frequent, made up of detectorists from all around the states. There are many very knowledgeable people there as well as several that have gone on these Europe trips many many times and could probably offer some great advice to you.

 

[BioProfessor]

Man you are good. Thanks for contributing to the forum.

Keep em coming.

 

[AgileMJOLNIR]

My pleasure, just tell them Agile sent ya

It's a great forum I have been part of for several years now. The owner of the forum Jeff just got back from his Europe trip maybe 4 months ago, he found some really great stuff!