Does anyone know any details on the omega 8500?

Mike Hillis Wrote:
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> 70 is max signal gain on the Omega. All settings
> above 70 are threshold adjustments.
>
> HH
> Mike

Thanks Mike, I knew that, but the high audio tone when in 3 tone seems louder and easier to hear on my version 5 than it did on my version 4 at a sensitivity setting of 70 and lower. Maybe they changed the sensitivity and threshold ratio. Something changed other than just revision numbers.
tabman

yes, on version 5 and 6 the modulation on high tone is much less. only weakens for those last couple inches of depth.

Monte Wrote:
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> When I went back to sites I hit hard with the
> Omega, the E-Trac found just a teeny bit more
> (deeper).But I also hunted behind where I used the
> FBS units, and hunted with friends who use nothing
> but FBS models, and I always nab a lot of coins
> and other 'keepers' they have missed. And I
> didn't get tired doing it, either, with the
> excellent feel and balance of the Omega package.

Hey Monty, nice to see you around here. Unfortunately I had sold the Omega to get the E-Trac so I never hunted in reverse order.

Monte Wrote:
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> Personally, I am not into the 'depth'
> topic as much as some people are, but I am into
> functional and performance, and knowing how well
> the Omega 8000 performed, then reading the manual
> and information on the pending 8500, it is on my
> MUST HAVE list.

I am really limited in my hunting spots, so depth became an important "feature" to go back through and clean up. Also, some of the ground here is loamy and coins get down there, so depth is a priority.
I am now down to just an AKA Signum, it is NOTICEABLY deeper than my E-Trac and CTX were, noticed that the first hunt. If you ever get a chance try out the Signum. (Not affiliated to them, just interesting tech from Russia.)

Monte Wrote:
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> I used the 5X10 DD coil and, if I had to pick a DD
> coil between it and the 11" BiAxial, it would be
> the 5X10 DD. But for me, when I got into trashier
> conditions, I quickly went to my 5" DD on it's
> own lower rod and easily handled the tougher
> challenges we face. I would guess the coming
> Omega 8500 will have the elliptical Concentric
> coil, and that's fine, but I will track down a
> good 8" Concentric, and possibly get the 5X10 DD,
> but most of the time, in places I hunt the most,
> my 5" DD will be mounted to it and getting the
> best of performance from the soon (I hope) to
> arrive Omega 8500.

I should have tried smaller coils (more) on the Omega, but the sites I hunt (outside of small iron flakes) are not too littered with junk, so I have gotten used to just putting on a 10"-11" coil and covering more ground and not being very hurt with unmasking. (But at times the small coil has pulled out more for me, for sure.)
I had a V3i a few years back and that was really the first machine I got to compare DD vs. Concentrics on. I had a Naughtilus IIb way back that I learned on though. The Concentric was a joy to use but I felt and feel like I have to hunt much slower with it as that narrowing cone field can miss more than a DD in my
comparisons. But the Concentric seems the most natural to use and learn on and for many might be the best coil. With a bit of iron mineralized ground I'm not sure it is the best choice. (My Naughty didn't seem to get great depth in my ground but oddly enough, neither did the V3i.)


Monte Wrote:
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> I am also going to grab another Omega 8000 to have
> on-hand for family, friends and as a 'loaner' unit
> for when I offer it to a property owner to join in
> the fun when I try to gain access to their
> property. It will make a nice complement to
> having the Omega 8500 in hand, because they are
> going to generally appear to be the same or very
> similar.
>
> Monte

Agreed, I'd love to have an Omega 8000 as a backup machine and for my little girl if she chooses to go along. Actually, might as well get an 8500, then I can use it as a co-primary detector.
It is nice being down to just one machine right now. I don't go detecting much but just started back up again. Focussing on one machine has its advantages.

Just wish Minelab would make a lite E-Trac like light machine. That would be my go to machine. The weight of the CTX (and bulkiness) were a huge turn off to me.

Best to you brother,
Albert