Equinox 800, simple question

Just because you have out hunted other Nox users does not prove anything.
I find that most hunters are not particularly proficient at hunting no matter how fancy their Detector is.

The Equinox does not have some of the visual features of the V3i and CTX but will out hunt them in skilled hands,
In tough conditions. All the information you need is there to be heard in the audio of the Equinox.

The same cannot be said for the CTX and V3i.. There will be nothing to analyze with the fancy screen if you never
heard the target in the first place and walked right past it.

After saying this, I do believe some hunters will be better off with something like a CTX.
Once set up they are very easy to stroll through a park and do well.

For hard core old coin park hunters, the Nox will find more in tough conditions.
If It didn’t I wouldn’t have sold my CTX, E-Trac or V3i.

Bryan



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2018 05:19PM by Cabin Fever.

shoveler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >
> > Traditional jewelry hunting, I guess you are tal
> ki
> > ng gold jewelry.
> > I don’t really see any advantage of using the da
> ta
> > (additional) on either the White’s V3i or the CT
> X
> > for finding.
> >
> > Wonder if,,back in time long ago all folks had t
> o
> > use to detect with were fbs/fbs2 detectors and s
> to
> > ck sized coils and all the parks were busted har
> d
> > for decades.
> > How much gold jewelry would be left today???
> >
> > Imo tons!!!
> > Give me a Nox, turn me loose in those parks and
> BA
> > M!!!
> >
> > You start introducing ferrous to the equation fb
> s/
> > fbs2 detectors fall way short compared to the mi
> gh
> > ty Nox when talking of finding lower nonferrous
> co
> > nductors.
>
> This just demonstrates that you don't really under
> stand the info these machines present you with to
> begin with.
> I have hunted these types of parks countless of ti
> mes now with NOX users and have yet to have one of
> them come up with more quality low conductor find
> s than I.
> I have no doubt if we went to the same park and hu
> nted together the results would be the same. I wou
> ld have 8 nickels and you would have two,,,plus a
> lot more crappy foil

Back in the day you grid off a park with CTX and stock coil one direction.
And put a skilled Nox user right behind the CTX runner. Hunting in the same direction.
I know exaclty what would be happening.
The CTX user would be crying likely.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/17/2018 06:21PM by tnsharpshooter.

My experience is the 800 is a dig everything detector. The target ID is to tightly grouped and unstable. I hunt salt water beaches. It is light but not very well balanced. You can't argue the price though. Dry sand, damp sand, and water you are going to dig caps and occasional Bobby pins as well as lots of tiny shards of copper and brass that will travel thru your scoop several times before you capture or give up on the target. There is a lot of time wasted on these and other targets as I mentioned before, you dig everything. The CTX on the other hand has stable target ID, not so tightly grouped, target trace and target PP and is very well balanced even though it is heavy. I primarily hunt gold jewelry and with the exceptions of some chains for me the CTX is the detector of choice. This is just one mans opinion and opinions very so, what ever machine you are comfortable with, that's the machine for you!!!

For me I can use it in the salt and then go home and land hunt with it too.
The light weight is nice for a minelab.

Cabin Fever Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just because you have out hunted other Nox users d
> oes not prove anything.
>
> Bryan

On the contrary , it proves I find more good stuff with the CTX than they find with their NOX under those circumstance.
I'd lump you in with them

shoveler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cabin Fever Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Just because you have out hunted other Nox users
> d
> > oes not prove anything.
> >
> > Bryan
>
> On the contrary , it proves I find more good stuff
> with the CTX than they find with their NOX under t
> hose circumstance.
> I'd lump you in with them


I’m sure you would.
Confirmation bias is very powerful.

Bryan

wayfarer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> calabash digger Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > What class of more expensive detectors you talki
> ng
> > about? For relics it will hunt circles around th
> e
> > CTX and eTrac. Of course coins might be a differ
> en
> > t story???
>
>
> But there's also a big difference in build quality, adjustability, and visual information.

There’s a big difference in price too. Fascinating it’s always compared to machines at 2 & 3 times the list price, that in itself speaks volumes.

Carolina Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>.......... It is light but not very well balanced.

LOL, ridiculous. If you find it "unbalanced" you need to shorten the rod. Don't blame the equipment when you use it incorrectly. The EQX is the lightest and easiest to swing detector I've owned in 36 years.

Cal_cobra Wrote:
-
>
> There’s a big difference in price too. Fascinatin
> g it’s always compared to machines at 2 & 3 times
> the list price, that in itself speaks volumes.

It actually speaks nothing except that human nature has not changed.
Every "in vogue" detector that has been introduced in the last 40 years has been compared to higher priced models.
Higher priced models have more features , whether you want , need or use them is irrelevant , they still have to be factored into the price. Is the NOX a better value?,,,,,definitely , if it fits your needs better. Does that make the others poor values? Let's be honest , the NOX is basically an unrepairable sealed control handle and a coil attached to a Dollar Store broom handle. It works well and it's too soon to judge it's durability but it looks to be very good. KIA and Hyundai autos are proving to be much the same but no one who owns one will say they are the build quality of an Acura or Lexus without being classified as delusional.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2018 03:34AM by shoveler.

Nox - light - yes - easy to swing - no. The heavy standard coil plus the poor ergonomics of the straight shaft introduce noticible torque with each direction reversal of swing. You have to expend energy to resist it.

Dave Johnson pointed this out to me when I showed him my new Nox in El Paso back in March. Dave is the guy who designed the F75 - a perfectly ergonomic design.

Rick Kempf
Gold Canyon AZ- where there is no gold



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2018 02:03AM by lytle78.

silverfiend Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Carolina Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >.......... It is light but not very well balanced
> .
>
> LOL, ridiculous. If you find it "unbalanced" you
> need to shorten the rod. Don't blame the equipment
> when you use it incorrectly. The EQX is the light
> est and easiest to swing detector I've owned in 36
> years.

You must be a dwarf if your equinox is balanced so you can shorten the shaft to 3'. Lol Shaft length is dictated by one's height and reach. This machine is toe heavy at any length.

The detector is light, but not easy to swing. We still have to deal with a coil on the end of a pole. It requires a steady force to lift that coil. A counter weight is needed. And for the counter weight to be effective it has to be behind the cuff enough to provide proper balance. All third party shafts to this point have failed in that area.

calabash digger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe what shovel said is inaccurate.... A new
> Deus battery cost 50.00 bucks and I don't believe
> a Equinox battery is going to be that much differe
> nt. I just looked a ctx battery pack is 150.00 My
> buddy basically had a eTrac redone at kellyco new
> face and all that jazz a year or so ago. I think i
> t cost 175.00 it was out of warranty.


Do you or anyone else know for a fact that these high dollar, pain in the ass to replace batteries, add to the performance of the unit compared to say 4 or 8 double A.

Bill long Wrote:

> Do you or anyone else know for a fact that these h
> igh dollar, pain in the ass to replace batteries,
> add to the performance of the unit compared to say
> 4 or 8 double A.

Electricity is electricity so I don't think performance is an difference.
Ergonomics from reduced weight and long tern lifespan are the convenient advantages of Lithium and they do provide full rated power until the very end of the charge instead of tapering off like others. A Deus battery is very cheap compared to a comparable alkaline or other rechargeable in the long run but they are difficult to find set up with the 2mm connector. NOX batteries will be similarly cheap and if Minelab was really thinking they would have used a proprietary connector and all battery replacements would have to go through them.

Cutting the battery out of the original Deus coils is indeed a PITA but not to difficult if you study it a little but certainly voids any existing warranty , especially where moisture might be concerned. I'm sure a DIY battery replacement and moisture issue will void your NOX warranty as well.

Why the battery scrutiny? I've had rechargeable devices that had batteries lasted for ten+ years. The EQ can take a USB battery, or you can have ML service it with a replacement, so I really don't see the fuss (just something to bitch about?)? Sure, if the control head dies after three years, that could be an issue, but as it stands now, it's pure speculation, nothing more. Personally I could care less if the EQ is disposable after three years, so too will my phone. By then I'll by the next version of the EQ, and it'll be improved, so a non issue as far as I'm concerned as I'll certainly purchase the next model and/or the SMF from Nokta.

I don't find it to be nose heavy, or unbalanced, but each to their own. The Impact was exceedingly unergonomic and unbalanced to me, but again, there's not a one size fits all in the detector world. Some like S-rods others straight rods, I personally don't care as long as their light weight and easy to swing, which I find the EQ to be. I actually find the EQ to be easier to swing for long periods of time them my F75.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2018 06:50PM by Cal_cobra.

Cal_cobra Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why the battery scrutiny? I've had rechargeable d
> evices that had batteries last for ten+ years. Th
> e EQ can take a USB battery, or you can have ML se
> rvice it with a replacement, so I really don't see
> the fuss? Yes if the control head dies after thre
> e years, that could be an issue, but as it stands
> now, it's pure speculation and nothing more. Per
> sonally I could care less if the EQ is disposable
> in three years, so to will my phone. By then I'll
> by the next rev of the EQ and it'll be improved, s
> o a non issue as far as I'm concerned as I'll cert
> ainly purchase the next model and/or the SMF from
> Nokta.
> I
> I don't find it to be nose heavy, or unbalanced, b
> ut each to their own. The Impact was exceedingly
> unergonomic and unbalanced to me, but again, there
> 's not a one size fits all in the detector world.
> Some like S-rods others straight rods, I personall
> y don't care as long as their light weight and eas
> y to swing, which I find the EQ to be.


Yeah Cal, person can drop loads on an Etrac with its shoddy battery. Oem battery will it even last 3 years with moderate to heavy use?? I doubt it. So a person can pony up bucks for RNB battery and they are properly off to the races.
Never have seen posted here, where’s the beef with this??
Not to mention when the sun is shining I have tilt the Etrac most every time to even see what the screen is reading.

Poor Equinox.
Thing gets raked over the coals by some.

Some here would complain if they were hung with a new rope.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/18/2018 12:23PM by tnsharpshooter.

If you have to have one get the 800. The Gold programs do very well when relic hunting while getting rid of small iron. It will be uncomfortable to use if your tall with short arms. The flexing of the shaft as the coil is swung can really wear on you. Good targets are lumped in with trash so if you don't like to dig it all I would be taken back. For me it is to sensitive. But that is just me. It is very deep when adjusted properly but for me the engineering kind off dictates what you must do for each program. Let me do it. I don't like ready to go programs and yes you can change them like most . Since I'am the "Barometer" of the metal detecting world( fact or fiction) I rate it at 70 degrees. 6/39/BP. Man that's hot. 90 degrees for sure.

Lots of pro's and just a few cons. Just can't be beat for the bucks. It not only likes caps and washers but sees every shredded piece of aluminum. At the beaches I hunt that's a major problem with all the tourist trash in the sand. I have found that I can tell a cap in a large amount of cases but the newer ones just give a bouncy number as do the tabs. My friend I hunt with digs all with his Safari and has yet to come behind me and find a good target I have missed. Just have to get some time on it to see,.

goodmore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The detector is light, but not easy to swing. We s
> till have to deal with a coil on the end of a pole
> . It requires a steady force to lift that coil. A
> counter weight is needed. And for the counter weig
> ht to be effective it has to be behind the cuff en
> ough to provide proper balance. All third party sh
> afts to this point have failed in that area.

X 2

RNBs are just great batteries. I used some of the Maxxpack ones....... had real trouble with those and the smart charger. Seems their smart charger wouldnt recognize the battery if they got to low..... then you had to use the ML slow charger to get them back up. Ive not noticed any difference in power and i use the back light and come off the beach after 7 or 8 hours of AM hunting and still have 3/4 battery life. Not like some of the old machines where you got half a battery and it was obvious you lost some depth. Ive had batteries...... old batteries on the Xcal that have lasted years and they are only HALF the power of these.

Cal_cobra Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why the battery scrutiny? I've had rechargeable d
> evices that had batteries lasted for ten+ years.
> The EQ can take a USB battery, or you can have ML
> service it with a replacement, so I really don't s
> ee the fuss (just something to bitch about?)? Sur
> e, if the control head dies after three years, tha
> t could be an issue, but as it stands now, it's pu
> re speculation, nothing more. Personally I could
> care less if the EQ is disposable after three year
> s, so too will my phone. By then I'll by the next
> version of the EQ, and it'll be improved, so a non
> issue as far as I'm concerned as I'll certainly pu
> rchase the next model and/or the SMF from Nokta.
>
> I don't find it to be nose heavy, or unbalanced, b
> ut each to their own. The Impact was exceedingly
> unergonomic and unbalanced to me, but again, there
> 's not a one size fits all in the detector world.
> Some like S-rods others straight rods, I personall
> y don't care as long as their light weight and eas
> y to swing, which I find the EQ to be. I actually
> find the EQ to be easier to swing for long periods
> of time them my F75.


Wasn't bitching about the batteries pal. Just wondering if they added anymore performance to the unit compared to standard batteries. Didn't mean to put you on the defense.

Bill long Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cal_cobra Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why the battery scrutiny? I've had rechargeable
> d
> > evices that had batteries lasted for ten+ years.
> > The EQ can take a USB battery, or you can have M
> L
> > service it with a replacement, so I really don't
> s
> > ee the fuss (just something to bitch about?)? S
> ur
> > e, if the control head dies after three years, t
> ha
> > t could be an issue, but as it stands now, it's
> pu
> > re speculation, nothing more. Personally I cou
> ld
> > care less if the EQ is disposable after three ye
> ar
> > s, so too will my phone. By then I'll by the ne
> xt
> > version of the EQ, and it'll be improved, so a n
> on
> > issue as far as I'm concerned as I'll certainly
> pu
> > rchase the next model and/or the SMF from Nokta.
> >
> > I don't find it to be nose heavy, or unbalanced,
> b
> > ut each to their own. The Impact was exceedingl
> y
> > unergonomic and unbalanced to me, but again, the
> re
> > 's not a one size fits all in the detector world
> .
> > Some like S-rods others straight rods, I persona
> ll
> > y don't care as long as their light weight and e
> as
> > y to swing, which I find the EQ to be. I actual
> ly
> > find the EQ to be easier to swing for long perio
> ds
> > of time them my F75.
>
>
> Wasn't bitching about the batteries pal. Just wond
> ering if they added anymore performance to the uni
> t compared to standard batteries. Didn't mean to p
> ut you on the defense.

Bill my comment wasn't actually directed towards you, no worries.

Cal_cobra Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Bill long Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Cal_cobra Wrote:
> > ------------------------------------------------
> --
> > -----
> > > Why the battery scrutiny? I've had rechargeab
> le
> > d
> > > evices that had batteries lasted for ten+ year
> s.
> > > The EQ can take a USB battery, or you can have
> M
> > L
> > > service it with a replacement, so I really don
> 't
> > s
> > > ee the fuss (just something to bitch about?)?
> S
> > ur
> > > e, if the control head dies after three years,
> t
> > ha
> > > t could be an issue, but as it stands now, it'
> s
> > pu
> > > re speculation, nothing more. Personally I c
> ou
> > ld
> > > care less if the EQ is disposable after three
> ye
> > ar
> > > s, so too will my phone. By then I'll by the
> ne
> > xt
> > > version of the EQ, and it'll be improved, so a
> n
> > on
> > > issue as far as I'm concerned as I'll certainl
> y
> > pu
> > > rchase the next model and/or the SMF from Nokt
> a.
> > >
> > > I don't find it to be nose heavy, or unbalance
> d,
> > b
> > > ut each to their own. The Impact was exceedin
> gl
> > y
> > > unergonomic and unbalanced to me, but again, t
> he
> > re
> > > 's not a one size fits all in the detector wor
> ld
> > .
> > > Some like S-rods others straight rods, I perso
> na
> > ll
> > > y don't care as long as their light weight and
> e
> > as
> > > y to swing, which I find the EQ to be. I actu
> al
> > ly
> > > find the EQ to be easier to swing for long per
> io
> > ds
> > > of time them my F75.
> >
> >
> > Wasn't bitching about the batteries pal. Just wo
> nd
> > ering if they added anymore performance to the u
> ni
> > t compared to standard batteries. Didn't mean to
> p
> > ut you on the defense.
>
> Bill my comment wasn't actually directed towards y
> ou, no worries.

Bill long Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> According to most reports this detector appears to
> be better than most. It's got to be more than bein
> g able to run multi frequencies at the same time.
> What else is it?

Hey Bill,

I don't know if you can leave OUT the Multi-Frequencies. I believe they are key to the success formula I've been having with my EQ800.

What I like?

My biggest measuring stick is that it finds stuff. I like that.

I find that the Target ID numbers are quite accurate even at significant depths and I can use that to highlight masked or co-located targets to be brought to my attention.

The 800 allows even more separation of targets using audio tones, tone volumes or flat out discrimination if I want. And I can still listen to the iron audio if I wish so I can be aware of all that is under my coil.

It separates targets exceptionally well, even with the 11" coil and for me, hunting behind decades worth of other hunters at many of my locations, it is important to look at the ground and all she contains a little bit differently than everybody else that passed through before me.

It is light weight and contrary to many that think otherwise, I find it well balanced and easy to swing. It is also waterproof or resistant, so I don't worry if the rain starts or if i wade out into the water a bit. Dropping the detector by accident isn't a loss of a $1k detector.

The user interface is easy to negotiate, the factory programs are effective for me AND I have a wide array of programs to use from Park to Field to Beach to Gold Prospecting.

And I didn't break the bank buying the thing; less than $900.

What do I wish was a little different?

1. I wish the search rod and cuff were a little more substantial. They feel like they're from the ultralight backpacking world. Very Nice for backpackers that measure every gram of weight they're carrying but how sturdy are they in the long run under heavy use? Will I end up replacing them with a $100+ aftermarket search rod / cuff?

2. I wish the control module was serviceable rather than throwaway. I don't like the thought of having to cough up $XXX.xx (some are guessing $500? ) if I have an issue with the control housing after the end of my 3 yr factory warranty. A friend bought my Tesoro Silver Sabre (old original metal box model from the early 80's) after borrowing it to find his lost wedding ring. Found the ring and didn't want to give it back. It is still working great after 30+ years. I still have an old Bandido as well. (I think Tom CA is still sporting one of these as needed and it is still working well for him) My generation fixed things, replaced parts and put items back to work. Not a fan of tossing things in the dust bin and running out to buy another. Doesn't feel right.

However, these wishes aside, I like my EQ800 purchase and enjoy using it MOST of the time when I head out to the field. I still have occasion that I grab my Racer 2, Etrac or something else, but for the most part, I feel like I have a good friend in my 800.

Rich -

------------------------------------------------------------------

Just one more good target before I go.

I'm thinking about getting one of these Reb. I probably will early next year. From what I've heard on here & from friends who use them they are a nice machine. My buddy is using a 600 & is doing well relic hunting. He said it'll dig 10" bullets witch is good for a vlf in semi hot ground we hunt. HH