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Date Posted: 23:58:39 08/02/02 Fri
Author: Ralph
Subject: Things are getting a little boring everywhere........
In reply to: Jim McCulloch 's message, "My take on the matter...." on 22:24:37 08/02/02 Fri

Especially if you're in the stock market lately !

But back to the subject at hand.......

Most of our recent discussions were centered on the topic of the possibilities of nugget detecting in the discrimination mode with some of these new-era discriminating machines, i.e. the MXT and X-5. I'm sure each has it's own strengths and weaknesses, whether in all-metal mode or discrimination mode, sensitivity and depth wise, etc.

But if some of our initial suspicions prove to be correct, and we do eventually find it possible to perhaps, for the first time, to do some "serious" nugget hunting in a true discrimination mode of operation with either of these two machines, there are some points that need to be considered in comparisons of the two units:

1. If hunting in the discrimination mode, SAT or self adjusting threshold will become a moot point, since the discrimination modes are silent-search, without the benefit (or need) of an audible threshold to begin with. Even in the all-metal mode, did gold machines not find gold prior to the advent of SAT ? Of course they did !

2. The same applies to auto-tracking for the most part, since lower-level ground signal is eliminated as a result of low-end discrimination, i.e. silent search. Auto tracking is primarily a concern in all-metal mode in nugget hunting. Admittedly, when working in highly inconsistent mineralization, there can be some problems with small or weak target masking due to ground changes. But there can also be problems of an auto-tracker "tracking into" those very types of signals.

3. Where coil size availability is concerned, of course the edge is on the side of White's. After all, we're talking what is basically a newly founded company where in-house engineering is concerned (Troy Custom) and a company that has been in business for decades. What we're talking here is basic versatility due to the availability of different coil sizes, not a head to head, coil size to coil size comparison of basic capabilities of the working end of the two machines. Given time, Troy will have other coil sizes available. Hell, we're still a couple of weeks away from dealer availability of even the basic machine. Do you expect accessory coils first, and the detector later ?

4. Coil "type" (DD vs concentric) and their relative capabilities for nugget hunting is only a part of the equation. White's for years and years used only concentric coils with all of their gold machines ("ellipticals" are made in both types and the shape of the coil has little if anything to do with what is actually inside)..... for the simple reason THEY WORKED JUST FINE in most environments. The very success of the Goldmaster series prior to the advent of the "Twin-D" is proof of that. Yes the DD has advantages in hotter soil conditions, but is not a "necessity" in all ground conditions where gold is to be found, and can actually have a depth disadvantage in less heavily mineralized areas.

5. All of the metered VDI, ground mineral level indicators, target I.D. bells and whistles are all fine and good, and can be of some help at times. But there are alot of electronic gold prospectors who can do just as well without all the flash, and many prefer the simplicity of concentrating in what's in the ground rather than playing detector jockey like some wild-eyed space cadet on another planet in a Star Wars flick. But admit it...... considering the wide variety of relative conductivity values, alloys, shapes, and sizes of natural gold nuggets, not to mention differing soil conditions and target depths, target I.D. on a gold machine is about as useless as anything ever invented. Discriminating or I/Ding iron is about the best we can hope for, and any nugget hunter worth his salt is going to dig every non-ferrous target encountered anyway...... no matter what his detector "says" is in the ground.

I'm not arguing the merits of one of these machines over the other. They are BOTH excellent in my opinion. They are two very different machines in some ways, but much closer in basic capabilities in other ways. One is a bit more convoluted with features than I personally care for, while the other is directed more toward simplicity with all of the basic features needed for most detecting requirements. But no matter the features, all detectors are designed to primarily accomplish two things..... To detect and to discriminate. Some do it better than others, to greater depths than others, and with more target sensitivity than others, with better target separation and discrimination than others. When two machines are closely matched, it may be a difference of only small percentages and personal preference. It can also be a matter of experience in getting the best out of the particular machine.

The problem I do have with the recent discussion is just this.......

Pre-conceived notions aside, you can't determine the taste of an apple by looking at a picture of one, nor can you judge ANY detector until you have tried it for yourself.

Just my thoughts......

Ralph

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