Re: equinox 800

[jhamner]

Re: equinox 800

I hate to keep asking dumb questions, but the level of frustration with my new Equinox 800 is growing with each passing day! I have had it about a month and have become fairly familiar with the functions, but when I try to input a program for relics, I seem to either get a bunch of false readings and/or chatter. Frustrated, I revert to the factory preset settings, but feel like I am missing a lot of good targets. I input a custom program today and got several good hits very deep, but they all turned out to be old rusty nails! Back to factory preset!
I guess my dumb question of the day is--although i realize all hunts and ground conditions are different, is there a preset series of adjustments I can input and save that would be good for relic hunting and eliminate all those nails! It would also have to be a fairly simple input for my feeble mind--the more advanced the settings, the more chances I have to get into trouble!
Here's how I start--maybe you can help me from here or just tell me to start over!
1. I choose a program area (i.e. field 2 for instance), noise cancel. and then proceed to set the numbers for each function. I ground balance at 0, adjust volume to 25 (1,4,25,25,25) threshold 2, pitch 4, tones 5 (1,2,16,16,19,25) and here's where I get lost for a section. My next adjustments are recovery speed 5 and iron bias 2. I'm sure I have left out some important steps and probably inaccurate numbers.

 

[tnsharpshooter]

I hate to keep asking dumb questions, but the level of frustration with my new Equinox 800 is growing with each passing day! I have had it about a month and have become fairly familiar with the functions, but when I try to input a program for relics, I seem to either get a bunch of false readings and/or chatter. Frustrated, I revert to the factory preset settings, but feel like I am missing a lot of good targets. I input a custom program today and got several good hits very deep, but they all turned out to be old rusty nails! Back to factory preset!
I guess my dumb question of the day is--although i realize all hunts and ground conditions are different, is there a preset series of adjustments I can input and save that would be good for relic hunting and eliminate all those nails! It would also have to be a fairly simple input for my feeble mind--the more advanced the settings, the more chances I have to get into trouble!
Here's how I start--maybe you can help me from here or just tell me to start over!
1. I choose a program area (i.e. field 2 for instance), noise cancel. and then proceed to set the numbers for each function. I ground balance at 0, adjust volume to 25 (1,4,25,25,25) threshold 2, pitch 4, tones 5 (1,2,16,16,19,25) and here's where I get lost for a section. My next adjustments are recovery speed 5 and iron bias 2. I'm sure I have left out some important steps and probably inaccurate numbers.

Alright,
Try this.
Put sensivity at 21-22.
Use 5 tones.
Do not use with horseshoe button engaged.
Do a noise cancel
Do an actual ground balance

You’ll have to set you tone bins like you want to.

Do a factory reset and start from scratch.
Iron bias at 2 good place to start.
Speed 6
Leave it there using stock coil for a while until you progress.
Learn how to tell bottlecaps.
Listen for signals that repeat with sweeps.
Multi frequency only.
Park 1 or park 2 to get started.
Field 2, you need to get some time behind detector first.
Learn how to raise coil to disnguish monster sized targets.
Quality of audio on ferrous vs nonferrous.
Leave threshold at whatever it winds up after factory reset.
You can turn ground tracking on.
If detector gets noisy when sweeping (chirping) do actual ground balance again over clean ground.

You can lower sensivity to 20 if you like.
Depth meter works but not as accurate as some other detectors.

Keep coil close to ground while sweeeping.

You’ll learn how old rusty iron can sound off. And eventually will hear and pass right on buy.

Iron bias of 2 or 3 is good for beginner. You can go to default level 6 and use detector but some targets will get missed for sure.

You gotta crawl with detector before you can run.

You can use detector running 50 tones too. All you have to do is scroll over and change. This won’t affect your 5 tone setup.

Listen to rhyme of tones with Eqx reporting. Especially in heavier iron.


You can use 5 tones and setup up a nickel window ID 11-14 with highest tone assigned. And setup 19 plus ID with highest tone assigned. All other ID numbers (bin wise) go in and assign zero tone volume to. Then you have more of a silent search. With nickels some tabs and beaver tails coming though tonally and higher conductive coins to include memorials and some Indian head coins coming through. Don’t sweep overly fast even with speed 6 dialed in.
The above works well in junky sites.

About all I can tell you to hopefully help you out.

Good luck.

 

[Stiffwrists]

I would definitely do an actual ground balance rather than setting it to zero.

 

[jhamner]

Alright,
Try this.
Put sensivity at 21-22.
Use 5 tones.
Do not use with horseshoe button engaged.
Do a noise cancel
Do an actual ground balance

You’ll have to set you tone bins like you want to.

Do a factory reset and start from scratch.
Iron bias at 2 good place to start.
Speed 6
Leave it there using stock coil for a while until you progress.
Learn how to tell bottlecaps.
Listen for signals that repeat with sweeps.
Multi frequency only.
Park 1 or park 2 to get started.
Field 2, you need to get some time behind detector first.
Learn how to raise coil to disnguish monster sized targets.
Quality of audio on ferrous vs nonferrous.
Leave threshold at whatever it winds up after factory reset.
You can turn ground tracking on.
If detector gets noisy when sweeping (chirping) do actual ground balance again over clean ground.

You can lower sensivity to 20 if you like.
Depth meter works but not as accurate as some other detectors.

Keep coil close to ground while sweeeping.

You’ll learn how old rusty iron can sound off. And eventually will hear and pass right on buy.

Iron bias of 2 or 3 is good for beginner. You can go to default level 6 and use detector but some targets will get missed for sure.

You gotta crawl with detector before you can run.

You can use detector running 50 tones too. All you have to do is scroll over and change. This won’t affect your 5 tone setup.

Listen to rhyme of tones with Eqx reporting. Especially in heavier iron.


You can use 5 tones and setup up a nickel window ID 11-14 with highest tone assigned. And setup 19 plus ID with highest tone assigned. All other ID numbers (bin wise) go in and assign zero tone volume to. Then you have more of a silent search. With nickels some tabs and beaver tails coming though tonally and higher conductive coins to include memorials and some Indian head coins coming through. Don’t sweep overly fast even with speed 6 dialed in.
The above works well in junky sites.

About all I can tell you to hopefully help you out.

Good luck.

Thank you--that's a TON of help--Now if I can just digest it all-don't guess I know how to adjust settings as well as I thought! I'll have to read up on how to do a ground balance plus some other controls.
I'm a little confused on your first two paragraphs--first one mentions several settings and then second one says do a factory reset and start from scratch-do I start at the reset or do the settings in paragraph one and then the factory preset? Sorry--I'm a slow learner!

 

[jhamner]

I would definitely do an actual ground balance rather than setting it to zero.

I don't have the entire manual--is that fairly easy to do? I think I read that you find clean ground and then use the plus and minus keys, but that's as far as I understood about what to do-SORRY-I had a stroke several years ago and I don't process information well.


P.S. Thanks for your help!

 

[Stiffwrists]

I don't have the entire manual--is that fairly easy to do? I think I read that you find clean ground and then use the plus and minus keys, but that's as far as I understood about what to do-SORRY-I had a stroke several years ago and I don't process information well.


P.S. Thanks for your help!

Im not the best at explaining things, but I'll give it a try. Haha. I dont have my machine in front of me.

Scroll over to the second spot on the settings ( it's the one just past the noise cancel) Find a nice clean spot of ground and pump the coil up and down while holding the button on the far right. The machine response will quiet as it balances. Let go of the button when its quiet and then go back to the detecting mode. I'm always surprised how much different sites ground balance differently. I will even ground balance quite often at the same site.

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Thank you--that's a TON of help--Now if I can just digest it all-don't guess I know how to adjust settings as well as I thought! I'll have to read up on how to do a ground balance plus some other controls.
I'm a little confused on your first two paragraphs--first one mentions several settings and then second one says do a factory reset and start from scratch-do I start at the reset or do the settings in paragraph one and then the factory preset? Sorry--I'm a slow learner!

Do factory reset first off.
Then proceed.
Here’s manual online.
For Ground Balance see pages 40-41.
https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/326548/4901-0249-1 Inst. Manual, EQUINOX 600 800 EN.pdf

I am going to post a very good youtube video here done by a respectable gent for actual coin hunting with EQuinox 800 model. Here is video.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ur0FfDDKUo

This next link here will take you to the most organized info wise anywhere on the internet I known of as far as Minelab Equinox. The gent who posted and linked this info was actual Equinox tester prerelease stage. A very knowledgeable gent. I hope I’m not breaking forum rules here by posting. You need some good help though likely in many areas as far as detector goes. This link will definitley answer loads of questions you may have. While looking at this link. If you have any questions asked here and I will try to answer. I have quite a bit of Equinox experience as far as land hunting, no salt water though. Remember no such thing as a dumb question.
https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/5979-minelab-equinox-essential-information/

 

[longbow62]

Personally I think Park1 is worse for falsing deep iron. I like Park2 the best and run iron bias at 0-1, 5-6 recovery, zero discrimination with tones&volume set how I like them. I seldom dig any iron. Like TNsharpshooter said you have to learn what it's telling you. I circle deep iffy targets and if it won't hold tone and ID numbers reasonably close to the best direction I move on.

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Jhamner,
I see you have been member here since 2012.
Have you been detecting steadily since joining here?
And with what models detectors please?
Sometimes knowing what you have been using model wise makes it easier to relate when trying to explain or answer questions you have.

 

[jhamner]

Re: equinox 800

MANY, MANY thanks to ALL who responded to my plea for help. I'm still a little sketchy, but the information that all of you gave me was a tremendous help--I think it's starting to make sense now! I went out today and found several flat buttons, a CW fired bullet, and a large penny. The machine seemed to be performing well! Thanks again to all!

 

[jhamner]

Re: equinox 800

MANY, MANY thanks to ALL who responded to my plea for help. I'm still a little sketchy, but the information that all of you gave me was a tremendous help--I think it's starting to make sense now! I went out today and found several flat buttons, a CW fired bullet, and a large penny. The machine seemed to be performing well! Thanks again to all!

 

[jhamner]

Jhamner,
I see you have been member here since 2012.
Have you been detecting steadily since joining here?
And with what models detectors please?
Sometimes knowing what you have been using model wise makes it easier to relate when trying to explain or answer questions you have.

Yes--I've been detecting for about fifty years-started with a Coinmaster IV, and have subsequently used many other detectors. My current go to's are White's MXT and Technetics T2SE. The Technetics gave me some trouble initially, but now I THINK I am using it correctly. Not sure why the 800 is giving me so much trouble, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, thanks to all of you!

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Yes--I've been detecting for about fifty years-started with a Coinmaster IV, and have subsequently used many other detectors. My current go to's are White's MXT and Technetics T2SE. The Technetics gave me some trouble initially, but now I THINK I am using it correctly. Not sure why the 800 is giving me so much trouble, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it, thanks to all of you!

Wow! 50 years.

Sound so like maybe EQX is coming together for you now.

 

[jhamner]

Yes-it all seems to be coming together--thanks for all your help!

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Yes-it all seems to be coming together--thanks for all your help!

You are welcome.

 

[CarsonChris]

If you don’t want to factory preset all of your modes you can hold the detect button down about 5 seconds in a single mode a reset that individual mode. Thank you Tennessee sharp shooter for all the great equinox info.

 

[jl1252]

Just my .02...

Ive been using the nox for almost a year now, and no matter what i do, i cannot avoid digging deep rusty square nails. I typically run park 2/field 2, sens 20-22, iron bias 3-5 depending on the location. Noise cancel and ground balance often.

Just a thought, why not just use the 2 Field programs (coin/relic) to start and really learn the machine, and then tweek as you see fit once youre more comfortable with it? Im not trying to question youre 50 yrs of experience, just a suggestion since the nox is a fantastic machine out of the box.

 

[normx2]

If it were a Tesoro you would turn the on/off knob to on and then hunt and off when you're done, not sure about a Nox

 

[medicchief]

I hate to keep asking dumb questions, but the level of frustration with my new Equinox 800 is growing with each passing day! I have had it about a month and have become fairly familiar with the functions, but when I try to input a program for relics, I seem to either get a bunch of false readings and/or chatter. Frustrated, I revert to the factory preset settings, but feel like I am missing a lot of good targets. I input a custom program today and got several good hits very deep, but they all turned out to be old rusty nails! Back to factory preset!
I guess my dumb question of the day is--although i realize all hunts and ground conditions are different, is there a preset series of adjustments I can input and save that would be good for relic hunting and eliminate all those nails! It would also have to be a fairly simple input for my feeble mind--the more advanced the settings, the more chances I have to get into trouble!
Here's how I start--maybe you can help me from here or just tell me to start over!
1. I choose a program area (i.e. field 2 for instance), noise cancel. and then proceed to set the numbers for each function. I ground balance at 0, adjust volume to 25 (1,4,25,25,25) threshold 2, pitch 4, tones 5 (1,2,16,16,19,25) and here's where I get lost for a section. My next adjustments are recovery speed 5 and iron bias 2. I'm sure I have left out some important steps and probably inaccurate numbers.

I feel your pain....I've tried everything; FP multiple times, previous firmware, setting after suggested setting.....PLUS the depth indicator is showing a target over 10"+ deep, when 90% of the time the object is +-2" deep. It's also pinpointing at the center of the outermost part of the left coil, half the time. What the heck? Just dug a .5" steel bolt that ID'd at 22! No newb here either. I am getting VERY frustrated!!!

 

[Beachhunter]

I am going to post a very good youtube video here done by a respectable gent for actual coin hunting with EQuinox 800 model. Here is video.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_ur0FfDDKUo

This next link here will take you to the most organized info wise anywhere on the internet I known of as far as Minelab Equinox. The gent who posted and linked this info was actual Equinox tester prerelease stage. A very knowledgeable gent. I hope I’m not breaking forum rules here by posting. You need some good help though likely in many areas as far as detector goes. This link will definitley answer loads of questions you may have. While looking at this link. If you have any questions asked here and I will try to answer. I have quite a bit of Equinox experience as far as land hunting, no salt water though. Remember no such thing as a dumb question.
https://www.detectorprospector.com/forums/topic/5979-minelab-equinox-essential-information/

Tn, Thanks for posting the YouTube link. Very easy to understand the sequence that way. Also, thank you for the information link.