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Vanquish

Jeff, where did you get the aftermarket Nox shaft? Thanks.

Detecting Innovations Telescopic Carbon Shaft is the collapsible shaft I have for one of my Equinox so it will fit in a back pack without having to completely take it apart. I also have Steve G's great graphite shaft too. Personally I like Steve's better but I really need the fully collapsible shaft too for what I do.


Jeff
 
Jeff, where did you get the aftermarket Nox shaft? Thanks.

Jeff,your comparing a 199 machine to a $650 machine..I can say without a doubt that between the 440 and the 540 that the 540 is definitely better than the 440.
And if the 540 is compared the the equinox 600 there’s not that much difference..Same technology,same numeric readout,etc..The 600 does have the ability to change recovery speed but the vanquish has better coil selection..I’d have a hard time seeing where the equinox 600 is better than the vanquish 540..Not from my experience,I’d say they’re pretty much equal in the plus and minus department

Hi Woody,

what I'm going to say here is just speculation and maybe somewhat factual, but it is based on my testing and the testing of several other Minelab trainers/specialist that know a whole lot more than I will ever know about metal detecting. Minelab may or may not ever tell us for obvious proprietary reasons.

It seems so far, that the Vanquish models are using only one search mode that is similar to Equinox Beach 1. The different modes: relic, coin, jewelry on the Vanquish may have some slight tweaking of the simultaneous multi frequency weighting and background recovery speed differences between them besides different discrimination settings. For instance, jewelry is really hot on micro gold jewelry and coin, not so much. Otherwise, they would all have to be similar to Beach 1. If they weren't the Vanquish would not do as well on salt beaches. It has to be pre-set for dealing with salt and iron ground mineralization in order for its internal automatic ground balance system to handle turf along with dry and wet salt beach detecting.

So, the Equinox 600 has 5 other very different search modes, along with manual, automatic and tracking ground balance, manually selectable multi or single frequencies, manually adjustable iron bias and recovery speed, 1,2, 5 or 50 tones, threshold tone, and several other audio adjustments to name a few. So, all of the 6 modes on the Equinox 600 are very customizable. Compared to the Vanquish 340 and 440 (which have the same guts as the 540) the Equinox 600 has a whole lot of features (and waterproof sort of......) which I really need and appreciate. The Vanquish detectors just can't compete with that on paper anyway.

I like the Vanquish detectors a lot! If they really are based on Beach 1, that would explain their somewhat more stable numerical target ID results. It might also explain their blind spot on multiple targets under the coil since Beach 1 is not quite as hot or fast as the Park and Field Equinox modes. Anyway, I like the Vanquish models so much so that I have already bought a 340 for one of my grown sons who is a submariner stationed in Norfolk and rarely gets to detect but loves to get in a little surf fishing while dirt fishing whenever he can. Plus, I bought a 440 for me so I can give my Equinoxes a break when I just want to go for a quick, no pressure hunt or if I need a loaner or to help a newbie. Since I have the Nox 600 and 800 I don't see any need to own a 540.

Jeff
 
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The beach mode thing is just a theory that someone came up with,Truth is we don’t know what’s going on under the hood,and neither did the person that started that rumor.
If I owned a nox 600 or a 800 I’d never buy a vanquish,well maybe just for fun.lol.
The performance moves up with the vanquish models,much better discrimination ,more sensitivity,etc..They are not all equal imo..
From what I’ve seen of the 440 and 540 the performance changes with each mode,almost like a different reactivity and targeted frequencies..But that’s just speculation.
I don’t see the equinox finding somthing in ground that the vanquish would miss.I Actually think the 540 in my ground with the 9x12 coil is deeper than the 600..If I went by my test garden results then I’d hafto say I’m sure it is..
Not insinuating anyone should buy a vanquish..But if waterproof and adjustability aren’t your worries then I think it would be a better choice than the 600
 
The Vanquish possibly operating in a mode similar to Equinox Beach 1 is not a rumor. People like me and those with way more credibility than me are pretty sure of it after doing hours of third party testing. It just makes mineralized ground metal detecting sense.

Recovery speed and unmasking are definitely better on the Equinox. Depth is a toss-up so far. Target ID stability so far is as good or better than my Equinox running in Park 1 on surface to 8" targets in mineralized dirt. Past 8" V10 coil versus 11" stock Equinox coil, the Equinox wins in my dirt.

If I didn't need waterproofing and adjustability, I would not hesitate to buy a Vanquish.

Jeff
 
Mulit-frequency Minelab detectors are not affected by salt, wet or dry. There is no special setting for using them at the beach like there is on single frequency instruments. The Beach mode settings on the Equinox just use different frequency weighting, recovery and iron bias settings along with different pre-programmed discrimination settings from the Park, Field and Gold modes. Has nothing to do with the M-F's ability to hunt a salt beach. My Sovereigns and Excaliburs that I started using 25 years ago had no such setting and actually performed better on a wet salt beach than they did in the dirt. Much deeper detecting on same sized targets. It was the same with my FBS units and I'm certain it's the same with the multi-iq instruments, including the new Vanquish line. There's no "beach/salt" setting as it's not needed.
 
I'm starting to hear that Vanquish users are digging lots of nails that sound like coins. Do they have a machine problem, or does the machine not disc nails very well?

It does seem to like certain iron bits more than my Deus or Nox 600 but it is a $199 detector
 
Mulit-frequency Minelab detectors are not affected by salt, wet or dry. There is no special setting for using them at the beach like there is on single frequency instruments. The Beach mode settings on the Equinox just use different frequency weighting, recovery and iron bias settings along with different pre-programmed discrimination settings from the Park, Field and Gold modes. Has nothing to do with the M-F's ability to hunt a salt beach. My Sovereigns and Excaliburs that I started using 25 years ago had no such setting and actually performed better on a wet salt beach than they did in the dirt. Much deeper detecting on same sized targets. It was the same with my FBS units and I'm certain it's the same with the multi-iq instruments, including the new Vanquish line. There's no "beach/salt" setting as it's not needed.

Sorry to slightly disagree here but it is my understanding that the Equinox Beach modes were specially pre-set to handle salt mineralization AND black sand mineralization while also making it still possible to hit small gold targets like micro jewelry and very small gold chains. In order for them to still be hot on small gold requires quite an internal (ground) balancing act. It is also my understanding that the transmit frequency setting for the Beach modes, especially Beach 2 has been lowered and can be internally lowered even more automatically before a salt or black sand overload happens. So, just because the Equinox and Vanquish are simultaneous multi frequency detectors does not make them automatically good on a salt water beach simply by being multi frequency. Gold 1 and Gold 2 in salt sand are a nightmare, from experience.

Jeff
 
Okay, I'll join the Minelab Multi-Frequency / Multi-IQ and Equinox / Vanquish discussion.

#1.. I'm not new to detecting or detectors.

#2.. I've owned 3 or 4 Sovereigns and 6 Explorer units, maybe 7. I have not owned an Equinox although the 800 slightly interests me.

#3.. I do own a Vanquish 540 Pro Pack I bought and really like it for many applications. I know it isn't a "top-end" model, but does have a performance level that is very workable for most places I hunt. I do about 80% old-site Relic Hunting and 20% urban Coin & Jewelry Hunting.

#4.. I also know the EQ-800 isn't handling some of the challenging highly mineralized sites I hunt where dense Iron Nail and other ferrous debris is a tough challenge.

#5.. I also hunt a lot of places that date to the 1910 to 1940 era, homesites and surroundings, and have enjoyed several small 'stashes' of coins. Not a big cache, but emergency 'butter-and-egg' or pay a bill money that was hidden when banks were not trusted as much. Been finding them since 1970/'71, and all of them contained nothing but silver coins. Most often Halves & Dollars. When stacked or in a tight small bag like I've found, a lot of detectors will not respond to a silver stash ... to include the EQ using Multi-IQ.

I have a proven outfit of detectors that I rely on, and none are 'perfect' because such a detector has never been made. I wish Minelab would share more information about the actual frequencies used in their Multi-IQ devices, as well as other adjustment functions. But as I said, I like the Vanquish 540 Pro Pack for what it can do, and have been impressed with the performance, as a whole.

I'm sending my new 540 Pro to Minelab service tomorrow because there are a couple of issues I want fixed, or have an honest explanation why they work the way they do. (Note: I had more comments but I deleted them. I'll wait until the issue is resolved or explained.) None-the-less, the Vanquish 540 impressed me enough that I want to get a 2nd unit to keep a different coil mounted and for my oldest (48) and youngest (38) sons to be able to use when we get out detecting.

Sorry to hear there were/are some issues with the Equinox models, but overall I am impressed with that this offering provides us from Minelab.

Monte
 
Interested

I have a 540 on the way for my wife and would be very interested in why you felt you needed to send the detector in.
 
KevinNC:
I have a 540 on the way for my wife and would be very interested in why you felt you needed to send the detector in.


Kevin, I think you'll both enjoy the 540. I bought the 540 Pro Pack because I mainly use smaller-size coils and the 5X8 is a terrific size for most of my sites. The package balances well, too.

I like almost everything about this unit, and one minor gripe I have is the red backlight. I prefer a white backlight, but red will do, especially if it was brighter. My budget-priced F44, mainly just an urban Coin Hunting device, has a red backlight with '0' for Off, and it can be increased to levels of '1' - '2' - '3' - '4' - and '5' and it has to b very dark for me to get any benefit from the Vanquish back-light as it seems close to a Level '2' or possibly '3' on the Fisher F44. That's the minor issue.

The one that bothered me to send it in with a 5 page write-up so the tech will know what I m referring to, has to do with a 'fixed Ground Balance' or an error in other software programming.

I didn't mention that it fails to respond to a 'short-stack'' of silver coins. For that I either use 2-Silver Halves on top of 2-Silver Dollars, or my other test-stack of 5 Silver Walking Liberty Halves on top of a silver Peace Dollar. There are a lot of detectors that will not hit a "short-stack of Silver" coins, from budget priced to top-of-the-line models.

The main reason, and it can be demonstrated, is that the Ground Balance is set too positive. The Vanquish is Multi-IO designed so I expected that, because the Equinox 800 also struggles with that test in Multi-IQ. If a single frequency is selected and the unit manually GB'ed, the performance can be good on that test.

My issue is with the Disc. mode when you press the Horseshoe button to accept All Metal targets. It doesn't have a true All Metal mode, just Disc. acceptance of all segments. That would be fine because I often hunt in an All Metal Accept Discriminate mode. But the Vanquish doesn't work 'properly' as other makes and models do.

In the Coin or Jewelry modes, if I hit the Horseshoe button to accept all Disc. segments and bob the search coil from 6" to 1" over black asphalt or some of my mineralized soil or rocks, I get a 'Beep' on the down-stroke as the coil approaches the ground. That's an indication of a Too Positive GB adjustment.

In the Relic mode, as well as my Custom mode which I saved off the settings I made in Relic, when I activate the Horseshoe button to accept all Disc. segments, then bob the search coil from 6" to about 1", I get a 'Beep' on the uplift of the coil, away from the ground. That is an indication of a Too Negative GB behavior.

I can grab my Nokta FORS CoRe or FORS Relic or Fisher F44, and some other models I use, and manually adjust the GB from fully positive at '99' all the way to fully negative at '00' and bob the coil on very mineralized dirt and get NO 'Beep' in the Discriminate mode. I can adjust the GB for the ground I'm hunting with any of those 3 mentioned models, accept ALL Disc. segments, and search an area and hear a desired audio 'Beep' from any metal, ferrous or non-ferrous, but not from the uneven ground.

With the Vanquish 540 I can't hunt hardly anywhere (with all segments accepted) because I get false response from the ground. The more uneven the ground, with holes, depressions, furrows, etc., the more pronounced the false response. In any mode I have to reject at least the first two Disc. segments to eliminate the false signals .... and I shouldn't have to.

Anyway, a friend of mine checked his EQ-800 in the Multi-IQ function and accepting all Disc. segments and, in his ground he experienced the same thing. I thought about my comment after making the post and considered editing and deleting that, but I didn't. And I was going to ignore responding to questions about Why' I sent it in, but I asked myself 'Why' do that? We like to know what real concerns might be, so after having my Vanquish 540 for a week of hunting, I called them and then sent it in.

On a positive note, the gal I spoke with at Minelab was very friendly. She was concerned about my issues with the Vanquish behavior. then quickly got the shipping label and info to me so I can ... hopefully ... get the issue resolved.

Are there internal trimmers or adjustments to correct what appears to be a GB related issue? Are all of the GB and other settings "in software" and, if so, are they correctable? I'll know when they e-mail or call and we discuss it and I get it back. If things can be made to work 'properly' then all-is-well.

If the issues with the Horseshoe-activated control to accept ALL Disc. segments is a permanent glitch and not correctable, well .... I'll just have to live with its limited abilities and only use the default modes and my saved Custom mode that only accepts from the 3rd segment up. That's because in a 'normal' default operation the 540 works pretty well, and I can use it and also have it on-hand as a loaner-unit for friends and family.

Either my unit slipped through the cracks, or it's another example of a manufacturer rushing something to market before having ample test samples out there to savvy users, and then addressing the issues before they reach production level.

Sorry to ramble but you asked, so I answered.

Monte
 
Thanks for answering. I assume the beeps were low iron tones sense raising the disk eliminated them. I should have her 540 tomorrow and see if it does the same. HH
 
KevinNC:
I have a 540 on the way for my wife and would be very interested in why you felt you needed to send the detector in.


Kevin, I think you'll both enjoy the 540. I bought the 540 Pro Pack because I mainly use smaller-size coils and the 5X8 is a terrific size for most of my sites. The package balances well, too.

I like almost everything about this unit, and one minor gripe I have is the red backlight. I prefer a white backlight, but red will do, especially if it was brighter. My budget-priced F44, mainly just an urban Coin Hunting device, has a red backlight with '0' for Off, and it can be increased to levels of '1' - '2' - '3' - '4' - and '5' and it has to b very dark for me to get any benefit from the Vanquish back-light as it seems close to a Level '2' or possibly '3' on the Fisher F44. That's the minor issue.

The one that bothered me to send it in with a 5 page write-up so the tech will know what I m referring to, has to do with a 'fixed Ground Balance' or an error in other software programming.

I didn't mention that it fails to respond to a 'short-stack'' of silver coins. For that I either use 2-Silver Halves on top of 2-Silver Dollars, or my other test-stack of 5 Silver Walking Liberty Halves on top of a silver Peace Dollar. There are a lot of detectors that will not hit a "short-stack of Silver" coins, from budget priced to top-of-the-line models.

The main reason, and it can be demonstrated, is that the Ground Balance is set too positive. The Vanquish is Multi-IO designed so I expected that, because the Equinox 800 also struggles with that test in Multi-IQ. If a single frequency is selected and the unit manually GB'ed, the performance can be good on that test.

My issue is with the Disc. mode when you press the Horseshoe button to accept All Metal targets. It doesn't have a true All Metal mode, just Disc. acceptance of all segments. That would be fine because I often hunt in an All Metal Accept Discriminate mode. But the Vanquish doesn't work 'properly' as other makes and models do.

In the Coin or Jewelry modes, if I hit the Horseshoe button to accept all Disc. segments and bob the search coil from 6" to 1" over black asphalt or some of my mineralized soil or rocks, I get a 'Beep' on the down-stroke as the coil approaches the ground. That's an indication of a Too Positive GB adjustment.

In the Relic mode, as well as my Custom mode which I saved off the settings I made in Relic, when I activate the Horseshoe button to accept all Disc. segments, then bob the search coil from 6" to about 1", I get a 'Beep' on the uplift of the coil, away from the ground. That is an indication of a Too Negative GB behavior.

I can grab my Nokta FORS CoRe or FORS Relic or Fisher F44, and some other models I use, and manually adjust the GB from fully positive at '99' all the way to fully negative at '00' and bob the coil on very mineralized dirt and get NO 'Beep' in the Discriminate mode. I can adjust the GB for the ground I'm hunting with any of those 3 mentioned models, accept ALL Disc. segments, and search an area and hear a desired audio 'Beep' from any metal, ferrous or non-ferrous, but not from the uneven ground.

With the Vanquish 540 I can't hunt hardly anywhere (with all segments accepted) because I get false response from the ground. The more uneven the ground, with holes, depressions, furrows, etc., the more pronounced the false response. In any mode I have to reject at least the first two Disc. segments to eliminate the false signals .... and I shouldn't have to.

Anyway, a friend of mine checked his EQ-800 in the Multi-IQ function and accepting all Disc. segments and, in his ground he experienced the same thing. I thought about my comment after making the post and considered editing and deleting that, but I didn't. And I was going to ignore responding to questions about Why' I sent it in, but I asked myself 'Why' do that? We like to know what real concerns might be, so after having my Vanquish 540 for a week of hunting, I called them and then sent it in.

On a positive note, the gal I spoke with at Minelab was very friendly. She was concerned about my issues with the Vanquish behavior. then quickly got the shipping label and info to me so I can ... hopefully ... get the issue resolved.

Are there internal trimmers or adjustments to correct what appears to be a GB related issue? Are all of the GB and other settings "in software" and, if so, are they correctable? I'll know when they e-mail or call and we discuss it and I get it back. If things can be made to work 'properly' then all-is-well.

If the issues with the Horseshoe-activated control to accept ALL Disc. segments is a permanent glitch and not correctable, well .... I'll just have to live with its limited abilities and only use the default modes and my saved Custom mode that only accepts from the 3rd segment up. That's because in a 'normal' default operation the 540 works pretty well, and I can use it and also have it on-hand as a loaner-unit for friends and family.

Either my unit slipped through the cracks, or it's another example of a manufacturer rushing something to market before having ample test samples out there to savvy users, and then addressing the issues before they reach production level.

Sorry to ramble but you asked, so I answered.

Monte

Hi Monte,
I have the Vanquish 440. Mine behaves a bit like yours. Coin and Jewelry modes with the horseshoe button pressed for all targets accepted creates a very faint low tone as the coil approaches the ground which did not change as I pumped and swept over various target free areas. It sounded almost balanced to my ears and gave a bit louder low tone on the down pump and a slight second low tone just as the coil moved away from the ground.

The Relic mode however, produced a very obvious low tone as the coil moved away from the ground and was totally silent approaching the ground, so very negative.

Just for kicks, I did a similar test with my Equinox 600 in default Beach 1 and default Beach 2 so ground balance was left on the factory 0 setting. Pressed the horseshoe button so that all targets were accepted in both modes. Beach 1 was just slightly negative and Beach 2 was just slightly positive ground balance wise.

I really like the Vanquish and the Equinox too!!!

Jeff
 
Okay, I'll join the Minelab Multi-Frequency / Multi-IQ and Equinox / Vanquish discussion.

#1.. I'm not new to detecting or detectors.

#2.. I've owned 3 or 4 Sovereigns and 6 Explorer units, maybe 7. I have not owned an Equinox although the 800 slightly interests me.

#3.. I do own a Vanquish 540 Pro Pack I bought and really like it for many applications. I know it isn't a "top-end" model, but does have a performance level that is very workable for most places I hunt. I do about 80% old-site Relic Hunting and 20% urban Coin & Jewelry Hunting.

#4.. I also know the EQ-800 isn't handling some of the challenging highly mineralized sites I hunt where dense Iron Nail and other ferrous debris is a tough challenge.

#5.. I also hunt a lot of places that date to the 1910 to 1940 era, homesites and surroundings, and have enjoyed several small 'stashes' of coins. Not a big cache, but emergency 'butter-and-egg' or pay a bill money that was hidden when banks were not trusted as much. Been finding them since 1970/'71, and all of them contained nothing but silver coins. Most often Halves & Dollars. When stacked or in a tight small bag like I've found, a lot of detectors will not respond to a silver stash ... to include the EQ using Multi-IQ.

I have a proven outfit of detectors that I rely on, and none are 'perfect' because such a detector has never been made. I wish Minelab would share more information about the actual frequencies used in their Multi-IQ devices, as well as other adjustment functions. But as I said, I like the Vanquish 540 Pro Pack for what it can do, and have been impressed with the performance, as a whole.

I'm sending my new 540 Pro to Minelab service tomorrow because there are a couple of issues I want fixed, or have an honest explanation why they work the way they do. (Note: I had more comments but I deleted them. I'll wait until the issue is resolved or explained.) None-the-less, the Vanquish 540 impressed me enough that I want to get a 2nd unit to keep a different coil mounted and for my oldest (48) and youngest (38) sons to be able to use when we get out detecting.

Sorry to hear there were/are some issues with the Equinox models, but overall I am impressed with that this offering provides us from Minelab.

Monte

Here’s video I did today showing Equinox 800 GB and its behavior over some medium mineralized ground.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycNPsjoDA0
 
KevinNC: said:
Thanks for answering. I assume the beeps were low iron tones sense raising the disk eliminated them. I should have her 540 tomorrow and see if it does the same. HH
Kevin, I am sure you're going to enjoy the 540. I do, but I do so with the caution that I understand the quirks and simply hope there's a way for the Minelab Tech to tweak the GB, if it's tweakable, or correct in a software upgrade. That's the issue.


jmaclen: said:
Hi Monte,
I have the Vanquish 440. Mine behaves a bit like yours. Coin and Jewelry modes with the horseshoe button pressed for all targets accepted creates a very faint low tone as the coil approaches the ground which did not change as I pumped and swept over various target free areas. It sounded almost balanced to my ears and gave a bit louder low tone on the down pump and a slight second low tone just as the coil moved away from the ground.

The Relic mode however, produced a very obvious low tone as the coil moved away from the ground and was totally silent approaching the ground, so very negative.

Just for kicks, I did a similar test with my Equinox 600 in default Beach 1 and default Beach 2 so ground balance was left on the factory 0 setting. Pressed the horseshoe button so that all targets were accepted in both modes. Beach 1 was just slightly negative and Beach 2 was just slightly positive ground balance wise.

I really like the Vanquish and the Equinox too!!!

Jeff
Jeff, I also 'Thank You for replying and confirming the glitch. The 'glitch' is in the Vanquish modes and is related to the fact that it is a Ground Balance issue. Some, Coin & Jewelry, having a somewhat too positive GB (increased audio as the coil approaches the ground) or a too-=negative GB in Relic mode (coil lifted away from the ground).

As I stated, I really like the Vanquish 540 Pro and while I wish it worked properly, it lacks a Ground Balance function to correct the behavior If I reject the first two Dis. segments, which is how I have my 'Custom' mode set up based on the Relic mode, I can hunt most places w/o an issue. I'd just like to be able to use the Horseshoe button and have it work properly to accept all targets, ferrous and non-ferrous, like I do with other models I have.

I do hope to hear from the Minelab service center soon, but just so folks know. I really like the 540 Pro pack and have a 2nd one purchased. It will be shipped tome tomorrow so I'll have in it time for a detecting jaunt I'm headed out on next week. Yes, an annoying glitch, but not one that's going to cause me to get rid of the device. What is CAN do afield is rather impressive. Thus, it stays. I just wanted to see if there's anything Minelab could do to correct the issues that should have been noted, and corrected, with pre-production testing.


tnsharpshooter: said:
Here’s video I did today showing Equinox 800 GB and its behavior over some medium mineralized ground.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycNPsjoDA0
And I 'Thank You', TNSS, for the video because it confirms what I have told friends who have an Equinox. Ground Balance before you hunt!!!

Yes, a friends of mine checked out his EQ-800 as he usually uses it, and that means using Multi-IQ AND leaving the GB at the default '0'setting. he had the same issues I have with the Vanquish, as does Jeff, as do a few others who have read this thread and sent me an e-mail.

Leave you device in the Multi-IQ function, and Do NOT GB the unit, just rely on the default Equinox '0' GB setting. Then select each of the different Default modes (Except for Gold Nugget Hunting) and in each mode, with the Sensitivity set high, bob the coil towards-and-away from the ground starting at about 6". Do it in the Default program, then select the Horseshoe button to accept ALL of the Dis. notches and repeat the test by bobbing the coil.

Each default mode/program might differ, just like Coin and Jewelry being different than Relic on the Vanquish 540. Check the EQ in each of the default programs and with the Horseshoe butting in use to Accept all segments, not if it 'Beeps' on the DOWNSTROKE f the coil towards the ground, or on the UPLIFT of the coil, away from the ground.

Remember ... leave it at the default '0' GB setting.

My guess is you'll get the false beep in each mode/program just like you did in your video. Didn't you notice that the Equinox had that problem ... BUT IT WAS GONE ONCE GROUND BALANCED!

Since the EQ was first introduced I've read comments by some forum posters who have said they don't GB "because the Noise Cancel takes care of that" ... wrong!

Or they make a statement like "there's no need because the Simultaneous Multi-IQ handles Ground Balance." ... Wrong again, or there wouldn't be that issue with the Vanquish or the Equinox.

• Make a fresh video and simply show how the Equinox performs with the default '0' Ground Balance.

• Use each Discriminate mode at the defaults, bobbing the coil, and then activate the Horseshoe button and continue to bob the coil, 6" to 1", up and dawn.

• Note the response for each mode, on both the down-stroke and up-lift.

Then, when finished showing the annoying behavior, you can then do this:

► Demonstrate hoe each mode has a false audio response as shown when the GB is at '0', and then select any mode, activate the Horseshoe to let them hear the glitch, then Ground Balance on that spot of ground. Automated GB or a proper Manual GB, and ... POOF! ... a proper GB eliminates the glitch. At least it did in the video you posted.

Should I buy an Equinox? I might in the future but I have 8 or 9 detectors now, counting the one I just purchased that will arrive next week. I've handled the EQ-800 and it's OK. I know that it has the GB function and that's one of the main reasons I thought about it. But, I don't like the physical package as well as the Vanquish.

The detector I just purchased? As I mentioned above, it is another Vanquish 540 Pro Pack. Why? Because I like what it CAN do and I will likely have to live with the annoying glitch by just not using the Horseshoe button and rely on my reduced Disc. setting in my Custom mode/program.

Sorry to ramble.

Monte
 
In my area in mostly medium mineralized ground doing auto GB on EQx 800 does make a difference.
I may have some video I can edit and include only the change of GB to show result. Let me look and see. I found the video. Currently uploading.
In my areas soil. Running default zero GB setting in lieu of doing actual auto GB, what will a person witness?
You may indeed get signals.
The signal may be shorter.
ID of target may indeed not be shown in window of target.
Swing speed not as forgiving.
Coil position over target to yield more alerting signal more critical.
This video I am posting, remember clad dime is more or less ideally positioned (flat). In real world in the wild this may or may not be the case hence being not ideally positioned could indeed aggravate Equinox capabilities and give poorer signal and or ID. The more mineralization the more critical it is for proper GB for detection of targets.
Will post here soon.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RPJi0PiLa0o
 
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I just got a 540 for my wife and tried it yesterday in our yard. House built in 1900. It does false on some deep iron, especially old nails with larger heads om them. They don't repeat in the same spot every pass like a good target, but will definitely slow you down checking high tone hits. Changing modes didn't make much difference. Cutting Sens down helps some, but depth falls bad if I cut it below 12:00 on the icon. I don't have the smaller coils to try.
 
I just got a 540 for my wife and tried it yesterday in our yard. House built in 1900. It does false on some deep iron, especially old nails with larger heads om them. They don't repeat in the same spot every pass like a good target, but will definitely slow you down checking high tone hits. Changing modes didn't make much difference. Cutting Sens down helps some, but depth falls bad if I cut it below 12:00 on the icon. I don't have the smaller coils to try.

I’ve dug some square nails and some iron with my vanquish..But in all fairness I’ve dug the same with about every machine I’ve had.I can tell a iron squeal on the vanquish now,,but mot if the time I dig them anyway already knowing what they are..Sounds like you already day know the signs of iron tho..Congrats on the machine.
I kept the 440 and got rid of the 540,I prefer the 7x10 coil..Imo it should have been stock on all vanquish and the rest shoulda been aftermarket accessories
 
Our house is right in town, and EMI makes several machines I have useless here. Vanquish did well with the EMI. It's a very hard test for any machine in this yard. A house burned down here in the 1800s before this one was rebuilt on the nail bed left. I can dig a plug anywhere and pick out nails with my pin-pointer. I only tried it for less than a hour and will see if it can pick out anything in the nails later. I have hunted it with 7 machines already and never found a single silver coin yet. There has to be coins masked here for sure.
 
Our house is right in town, and EMI makes several machines I have useless here. Vanquish did well with the EMI. It's a very hard test for any machine in this yard. A house burned down here in the 1800s before this one was rebuilt on the nail bed left. I can dig a plug anywhere and pick out nails with my pin-pointer. I only tried it for less than a hour and will see if it can pick out anything in the nails later. I have hunted it with 7 machines already and never found a single silver coin yet. There has to be coins masked here for sure.

I did that too the vanquish,took it to the nastiest place I know where none of my other machines ever found anything..That wasn’t fair to the vanquish,or to myself.lol..So it could be there honestly isn’t anything there worth finding,or could be found regardless of machines used.
Take that 540 to your park,I’ll bet it’ll be a eye opener on how good that machine really is..Worked for me
 
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