My thoughts on the Equinox 800 after 50 hours...

[bubbaron]

I know what you are saying is all true. Maybe sell the 600 and upgrade to an 800. That would solve all the problems and give me exactly what I need. Thanks for the info.

 

[Rattlehead]

Thanks guys.

Very good write-up and very thorough. In my very limited time of use with my 600, I agree with everything you said. I only wish I could set mine up like you did for dirt digging as I too am a dirt digger. With the 600, I can't do it. Some of those features are only available on the 800. Guess I'll have to get the 800??. Maybe you know how I could do the 5 zones on my 600 and punch in your set-up divisions and numbers. I have tried many times but never successful.
Bubbaron NOX 600, AT Pro, AP Carrot Pin Pointer

Unfortunately like tnsharpshooter said some of those options are only available on the 800. If those extra adjustments are important to you, you could probably sell your 600 and get most of your money back then order an 800. Not sure what the current wait times are on the 800 though.

 

[Fool]

great post and insight! Makes me glad i bought the 600 as my 1st detector!

 

[RayK]

From a technical perspective (tech writing) on how the write up was done, I would like to say that your write up was very well done. I liked the layout you did and how you high lighted areas that you thought could be improved. Very good review for someone looking at an honest review to help them make a decision on this detector.

I wish more people would spend the time you did on this write up when they review units. It would be a big help for everybody.

Ray

 

[Rattlehead]

great post and insight! Makes me glad i bought the 600 as my 1st detector!

Thanks Fool! (In my Mr. T voice)

From a technical perspective (tech writing) on how the write up was done, I would like to say that your write up was very well done. I liked the layout you did and how you high lighted areas that you thought could be improved. Very good review for someone looking at an honest review to help them make a decision on this detector.



I wish more people would spend the time you did on this write up when they review units. It would be a big help for everybody.



Ray

Thanks Ray. Sometimes the nerdy side of me takes over when writing. lol Much appreciated bud!




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[kidlester]

Great write up Rattlehead!
A couple of things I would like to have.
- The ability to switch between back and forth between modes like the CTX.
- The ability to create custom programs that could be accessed via a menu. Perhaps stored on a Xchange type program that could be accessed through a USB port.
HH!

 

[Rattlehead]

Great write up Rattlehead!
A couple of things I would like to have.
- The ability to switch between back and forth between modes like the CTX.
- The ability to create custom programs that could be accessed via a menu. Perhaps stored on a Xchange type program that could be accessed through a USB port.
HH!

Thanks kidlester! Sounds like some good additions to me.

 

[Rattlehead]

Just a quick update to this: My Equinox has started to develop a mild shaft wobble. I can notice a slight movement between the upper and lower shaft when swinging. Not really a big deal to me, but I may end up trying an Anderson shaft.

 

[happycamper08]

Great in depth review.

 

[longbow62]

I get the impression from the overall reviews this machine as good as Etrac or CTX which cost substantially more money. Why would Minelab do this? Does not make sense to me that a company would put out a detector that is as good as the detectors they sell for way more money. You know it's the same price as a Safari which I always had the impression was like an Explorer or Etrac without some of the adjust-ability.

 

[Rattlehead]

Great in depth review.

Thank you.

I get the impression from the overall reviews this machine as good as Etrac or CTX which cost substantially more money. Why would Minelab do this? Does not make sense to me that a company would put out a detector that is as good as the detectors they sell for way more money. You know it's the same price as a Safari which I always had the impression was like an Explorer or Etrac without some of the adjust-ability.

The Nox does some things better than the CTX/Etrac, but FBS machines still have some advantages too, especially for coin shooters.

Equinox advantages over CTX/Etrac:
*Speed & unmasking ability
*Hits lower conductors better
*Weight
*Price

CTX/Etrac advantages over Equinox:
*More accurate Target ID
*2D FE-CO Discrimination
*More accurate depth meter
*Deadly on deep silver

Just to name a few.

Minelab wanted to get into the mid priced market in a big way and they did it! I think they knew that high volume sales of a mid priced unit could be just as profitable or maybe even more profitable than lower volume of sales on higher end units. Plus, people will still be buying FBS machines for the reasons mentioned above. These detectors actually compliment each other really well. If you can own both, its a killer combo IMHO.

 

[longbow62]

Okay I was confused. I thought it used the same tech as etrac and ctx. As a newbie I guess I need to take a deeper dive into the differences. As a newbie Minelabs have kind of left me kind of spooked at their complexity. I must admit I am kind of still a turn on and go at this point not delving into a lot of adjustments other than trying stuff other people have posted in regards to detector settings.

 

[Rattlehead]

Okay I was confused. I thought it used the same tech as etrac and ctx. As a newbie I guess I need to take a deeper dive into the differences. As a newbie Minelabs have kind of left me kind of spooked at their complexity. I must admit I am kind of still a turn on and go at this point not delving into a lot of adjustments other than trying stuff other people have posted in regards to detector settings.

Nothing wrong with that. The great thing about the Etrac and CTX is the fact that they can achieve really good results if you just turn on, noise cancel and go. You can tweak some things when you get more comfortable with the detector, but you'll still get great performance right out of the box.

 

[BlackRain]

Great review, my Nox 800 is on the way, I am reading all I can for the next few days.

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[Rattlehead]

Great review, my Nox 800 is on the way, I am reading all I can for the next few days.

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Thanks man. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on it once you’ve had a chance to try it out for a while.


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[Dubious]

Good review. I agree on just about everything (Nox and Etrac here).

 

[Rattlehead]

Good review. I agree on just about everything (Nox and Etrac here).

Thank you sir!

 

[ynnek4]

I get the impression from the overall reviews this machine as good as Etrac or CTX which cost substantially more money. Why would Minelab do this? Does not make sense to me that a company would put out a detector that is as good as the detectors they sell for way more money. You know it's the same price as a Safari which I always had the impression was like an Explorer or Etrac without some of the adjust-ability.

They could possibly do this because the next CTX will REALLY obsolete every detector currently available. Just a thought.

 

[mudwhale]

I can't wait until my 800 arrives! Upon watching all the comparison vids between the Impact and the 800, it seems the Impact has rocked the 800 in side by side finds. I experienced this first hand this past weekend with my bud swinging an 800 and his son a 600. I got the goods they didn't see and couldn't see. I brought home silver in a iron infested site like no other! Folks outside New England have ZERO clue what iron infested means, PERIOD! This is the place the USA started and the oldest places were rebuilt for 300 years....

 

[aaronc]

With all the positive reviews coming in on the Nox I think it's interesting that it hasn't completely dethroned the impact and deus for separation in thick iron,,..even with its apparent speed. A bit of a testimate to those 2 machines in my view.