Some musings about HOW GOOD the Equinox might be...

[Cherry Picker]

I guess it all depends on your needs. Personally my idea of the perfect detector would be an E-Trac that hit gold like a Deus/AT Pro. For my tot lot hunting I find the AT Pro to be every bit as good as the Deus. The Deus shines in heavy iron which is seldom the need for me. I my case I just can't see spending $1,200 for something a $500 detector can do.

 

[steveg]

Well I can put your mind at ease Steve real simply from the videos of the equinox that I've seen there is no threat of this thing replacing the CTX 3030, or even the Deus.

Fair enough, Nectar. I have never swung a Deus, so I could not even offer a reasonably educated opinion. I haven't swung a CTX either, but am very familiar with FBS (many years with Explorers, and some time with E-Tracs). I have been skeptical that the Equinox will be "better" than FBS at what FBS is best at (deep turf coin hunting, with great depth capability and unmatched ID capability at depth).

BUT, I have seen some videos that in my opinion would suggest it may in fact be able to compete with FBS (at what FBS is best at). Very preliminary, of course, and I'd need to see quite a bit more. But, I have seen enough to erode at least some of my skepticism. Plus, I put a lot of faith in Minelab, for good reason which I will go into here and bore everyone with at this point. And from that perspective, if Minelab says this machine is a "game changer," I take them at least SOMEWHAT at their word (after you cut through the marketing hype). I seriously doubt they put out a machine that is not at least competitive, if not substantially more capable than, machines in or near its price range. I saw a bare-bones Deus package, new, somewhere online the other day for $799...so arguably, that's one that is "in its price range..."

We shall see. I can understand and appreciate skepticism.

Steve

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Detector to be a very good seller doesn't have to replace Deus or CTX.

This detector may replace CTX though in beach hunting for gold, smaller.

All the detector has to do is get some of the market share from,,,White's, Makro/Nokta, Fisher, Garret, XP, etc

The weight factor will be huge.

Think about this.
Wonder is ace 250 would have weighed 2.5 pounds and been waterproof?
Reckon more units would have sold than have?

Some folks may elect to pony up bucks for Equinox but not Deus, not Etrac, not CTX, Not V3i, etc.

Seems will be classified as versatile.
Could be Jack of all trades, master of none. But a better Jack than some models costing slightly less $$ wise.
This is not so bad either.

Remember not much company in the entire industry as far as waterproof Vlf detectors with meters.

Minelab has chose the route to allow this detector to be built up in time before release.

Will it pay off?

We'll see.

Bottom line.
Minelab has spent it seems loads of $$$.
Moving their repair facilities.
Making 3 new detector releases ( and the R&D loot)
Creating a parts website.

Minelab is taking US/Canadian customers business serious it seems.

Don't forget Dr Tones was chosen.
He was on stage at Detectival.
He is an American.
Minelab didn't have to choose him.
This was intentional in my opinion.
Make Americans take notice.
And guess what?
Seems they did!!

Something else here.
I'd I didn't know better, I would say someone from Minelab has been reading my post on various forums.

Too many coincidences have happened as of late,,as far as topics I have talked about in the past.
Just a hunch.

Maybe the moral of the story here is:
Be careful what you wish for!!!

 

[steveg]

Well thats the pisser aint it Steveg! How much TIME do we have to walk this Planet and sling the gear we already have? Who knows? Granted, its pretty damn good to be upright and walking at our age...Especially when we see folks half our age having trouble just getting down to the mailbox and back without towing a C-Pap machine and GPS...!

This is why we say, "No place is ever hunted out"...physical limitations on what a guy can pull on a certain day no matter what rig they run....Even IF the OX has the ability to find only gold or old silver coins above and beyond all other machines..It may be true, but..."In Whos hands?" Is the question...I do like that OX speed though..just not sure if I can physically keep up with it to make any noticeable appreciation in the actual pay...

Yep, I hear you. Hopefully, I still have enough years left to get used to another new machine, God willing; nothing is a guarantee though, is it?!

Good thing is, especially for those who are getting too old to swing a boat anchor like the Explorer, is that maybe most of that Explorer performance will be packed into this super-light package...

No, no place is ever hunted out. But I sure do try to make them that way! LOL! That's part of the challenge, isn't it? Finding the last few detectable goodies, forcing yourself to become better than you were before so as to achieve those "little victories" every once in awhile? Keeps us young!

Steve

 

[steveg]

Detector to be a very good seller doesn't have to replace Deus or CTX.

This detector may replace CTX though in beach hunting for gold, smaller.

All the detector has to do is get some of the market share from,,,White's, Makro/Nokta, Fisher, Garret, XP, etc

The weight factor will be huge.

Think about this.
Wonder is ace 250 would have weighed 2.5 pounds and been waterproof?
Reckon more units would have sold than have?

Some folks may elect to pony up bucks for Equinox but not Deus, not Etrac, not CTX, Not V3i, etc.

Seems will be classified as versatile.
Could be Jack of all trades, master of none. But a better Jack than some models costing slightly less $$ wise.
This is not so bad either.

Remember not much company in the entire industry as far as waterproof Vlf detectors with meters.

Minelab has chose the route to allow this detector to be built up in time before release.

Will it pay off?

We'll see.

Bottom line.
Minelab has spent it seems loads of $$$.
Moving their repair facilities.
Making 3 new detector releases ( and the R&D loot)
Creating a parts website.

Minelab is taking US/Canadian customers business serious it seems.

Don't forget Dr Tones was chosen.
He was on stage at Detectival.
He is an American.
Minelab didn't have to choose him.
This was intentional in my opinion.
Make Americans take notice.
And guess what?
Seems they did!!

Something else here.
I'd I didn't know better, I would say someone from Minelab has been reading my post on various forums.

Too many coincidences have happene as of late,,as far as topics I have talked about in the past.
Just a hunch.

Maybe the moral of the story here is:
Be careful what you wish for!!!

Very good points, tn. Good post...

Steve

 

[tnsharpshooter]

We all should be talking about the good and bad of detectors we use.

Manufacturers now are paying attention.

You want a better detector- don't always talk about the good parts.

And guess what.
Manufacturers don't give a rats azz I don't think about just how much in years detecting experience one has.

As long as what a person says makes sense.
And they have physically compared to other units using, testing,etc.

Don't have to be an electronics engineer or 30 plus years detectorist to offer up suggestions.

And you can bet your sweet behind,,Minelab will be watching for feedback results of the Equinox when it gets into the public's hands.

Btw, if we knew the age of the engineer(s) who has developed this Equinox multi freq tech,,,we might be surprised.
Might be younger engineer(s).

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Something I have been thinking about.
And this here not meant to be a hit job on any engineer, especially older, more experienced.

I wonder sometimes, could an older detector/electronics engineer takes things for granted?
What am I referring to here?

Could some engineers be taking for granted certain aspects of engineering, where they seem to always start from point X and work forward.

But the whole time, something that was in the area before this point X was never considered (taken for granted- thinking no way, no how to improve).

And along comes little Johnny or Mary the younger engineer(s) and they discover that yes,,in this area once thought to be dead for improvements,,,something even if extremely small can de done.

 

[steveg]

We all should be talking about the good and bad of detectors we use.

Manufacturers now are paying attention.

You want a better detector- don't always talk about the good parts.

And guess what.
Manufacturers don't give a rats azz I don't think about just how much in years detecting experience one has.

As long as what a person says makes sense.
And they have physically compared to other units using, testing,etc.

Don't have to be an electronics engineer or 30 plus years detectorist to offer up suggestions.

And you can bet your sweet behind,,Minelab will be watching for feedback results of the Equinox when it gets into the public's hands.

Btw, if we knew the age of the engineer(s) who has developed this Equinox multi freq tech,,,we might be surprised.
Might be younger engineer(s).

Apparently, he is, indeed, tn. Name apparently is Mark Lawrie, and he was in at least one of those videos from Detectival, young-looking, guy, the one with dark hair describing the machine and its features, as I understand it.

EDIT -- this guy...

Steve

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Minelab I think has done the Math.

Wonder which country's folks will buy the most Equinox units.

USA pop est 320 million
U.K. pop est 60 million
And the other European countries.

Folks in USA they like to detect gold!!!
Look at how the USA's pop sets up around the ocean.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/population.html

We may see some really older folks get into detecting due to Equinox,,both men and women.

 

[metaladdict]

Apparently, he is, indeed, tn. Name apparently is Mark Lawrie, and he was in at least one of those videos from Detectival, young-looking, guy, the one with dark hair describing the machine and its features, as I understand it.

EDIT -- this guy...

Steve

I figure a younger engineer helped make the Equinox because of the internal battery feature.

 

[steveg]

Something I have been thinking about.
And this here not meant to be a hit job on any engineer, especially older, more experienced.

I wonder sometimes, could an older detector/electronics engineer takes things for granted?
What am I referring to here?

Could some engineers be taking for granted certain aspects of engineering, where they seem to always start from point X and work forward.

But the whole time, something that was in the area before this point X was never considered (taken for granted- thinking no way, no how to improve).

And along comes little Johnny or Mary the younger engineer(s) and they discover that yes,,in this area once thought to be dead for improvements,,,something even if extremely small can de done.

Funny you say that, tn, for two reasons.

ONE, we were just talking about this today at work, how younger guys often bring in "new ideas" or "fresh approaches" that can really be a great thing.

TWO, I heard, somewhere, forget where, that part of the breakthrough that became a part of Multi-IQ was at least, in part, apparently something technically/mathematically/engineering-wise, that was "right there in plain sight," "right under their noses," so to speak, but something no one had ever quite seen/figured out before up until that point, and this "concept" or "idea" was incorporated into the Equinox...

Wish I could recall where it was that I read/heard that little tidbit...

Steve

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Funny you say that, tn, for two reasons.

ONE, we were just talking about this today at work, how younger guys often bring in "new ideas" or "fresh approaches" that can really be a great thing.

TWO, I heard, somewhere, forget where, that part of the breakthrough that became a part of Multi-IQ was at least, in part, apparently something technically/mathematically/engineering-wise, that was "right there in plain sight," "right under their noses," so to speak, but something no one had ever quite seen/figured out before up until that point, and this "concept" or "idea" was incorporated into the Equinox...

Wish I could recall where it was that I read/heard that little tidbit...

Steve

Personally,
I think one of the biggest mistakes an engineer/ detecting manufacturer can do some times is try to work off of a previous model to make better.
This IMO breeds this taking things for granted.

Key words "sometimes".
I think it is safe to say, this is done sometimes to save time and yes $$$.

Btw, I wished Minelab would have incorporated a run time meter on Equinox line.
This is some thing I have mentioned before too.

Would help users monitor/ gauge actual use time of detector.
Would help manufacturers,,in actually seeing just how dependable their units are.
Would help with selling used units(would reflect how unit has been taken care of vs time used,,and give buyers more info)

I would almost bet if Minelab would have done.
Other manufacturers would have followed suit.

It pays most times to be industry leader with some thing.

Needed both a total run time clock, and a resettable timer clock.
Rather have these than a real clock that tells time.
Then I have an for wife why I am loathe coming back from detecting.
Deus has a clock, btw.

 

[MrNovice]

Personally,
I think one of the biggest mistakes an engineer/ detecting manufacturer can do some times is try to work off of a previous model to make better.
This IMO breeds this taking things for granted.

Key words "sometimes".
I think it is safe to say, this is done sometimes to save time and yes $$$.

Btw, I wished Minelab would have incorporated a run time meter on Equinox line.
This is some thing I have mentioned vefore too.

Would help users.
Would help manufacturers,,in actually seeing just how deniable their units are.
Would help with selling used units(would reflect how unit has been taken care of vs time used,,and give buyers more info)

One little tweak in technology can change things instantly. Look at Kodak who, for SO long, tried to hold on as cameras increasingly went digital and then tried to jump aboard but WAY too late. And then the way people "shopped" as Netflix and Redbox finally collapsed Blockbuster, and again they tried to jump on at the very end to door movie delivery.

I'm waiting till we have metal detector online services, where I can pay $10 and tell someone to grid and dig "this area" x to y and bring me all the goodies. Then I can sit around like Mud stuffing my face with Cheetoes, while someone else does all the work.

 

[tnsharpshooter]

One little tweak in technology can change things instantly. Look at Kodak who, for SO long, tried to hold on as cameras increasingly went digital and then tried to jump aboard but WAY too late. And then the way people "shopped" as Netflix and Redbox finally collapsed Blockbuster, and again they tried to jump on at the very end to door movie delivery.

You are correct.

What about the following.
Reckon this would get other manufacturer's attention?
Sell Equinox a water proof unit.
Give 3 year transferrable warranty.
But also give a 5 year warranty to original purchaser, or even 6 year.

I guarantee this would roll some heads.

Or offer an extended warranty for electronics part for a flat rate fee,,can be bought up front, or during the 3 years say warranty.

Sounds dumb, to some right.
Don't to me.

I'll bet folks would buy in a heartbeat.
As long as it is reasonable.

You could literallly have folks giving Minelab money for extended warranty at the say 2.5 year mark,,instead of a person spending money buying another detector from another manufacturer.

Seems to me, the more folks wearing Minelab hats the merrier, right?

I have talked about this before on another forum.
They thought it was silly sounding.
Let's see what happens.
Someone will do.

Already happened in auto industry.
Why not detectors?

 

[metaladdict]

Don't all you guys work? Or are you retired? So many people online.
I'm just on vacation.

 

[metaladdict]

Anyone betting Minelab stocks will go uuuuuuup?

 

[tnsharpshooter]

Don't all you guys work? Or are you retired? So many people online.
I'm just on vacation.

I works my chops.lol
And retired at the same time.

 

[MrNovice]

Anyone betting Minelab stocks will go uuuuuuup?

If so, you're already late on that bus. Most of the gains would have been made right before the announcement.

https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/CDA:AU

There should be another bump on the date the Equinox and Pro Find pinpointers are actually released, and if on the same date - it should be significant (excitement from future speculation), but these bumps are usually short lived. UNLESS, it truly lives up to ALL the spectacular finds and claims and no one could compete with it...well, that would be another thing...

 

[ohiochris]

Seems like minelab is taking a new direction in technology and strategy. With all the comparisons between the EQ and the CTX , wouldnt it take everyone by surprise if after the EQ has proven itself , assuming it does , .....if the CTX was discontinued in favor of the new direction Come on guys , I cant have been the only one who thought this was a possibility..........

The CTX is expensive , for the consumer and apparently minelab too. If the new direction proves successful and not only more cost effective but a better seller while still dominating the competition you could be looking at a very different lineup within a couple years.

 

[MrNovice]

Seems like minelab is taking a new direction in technology and strategy. With all the comparisons between the EQ and the CTX , wouldnt it take everyone by surprise if after the EQ has proven itself , assuming it does , .....if the CTX was discontinued in favor of the new direction Come on guys , I cant have been the only one who thought this was a possibility..........

The CTX is expensive , for the consumer and apparently minelab too. If the new direction proves successful and not only more cost effective but a better seller while still dominating the competition you could be looking at a very different lineup within a couple years.

They have the patent on this "new" technology, if it was that great and such a new breakthrough that it just dominates the CTX, they would never slit thier own throat. Nobody else could come close nor would they be able to with the patent in place. It would cost more than the CTX and people would pay it if it was that good.

It could very well start a new lineup of detectors like you say, but it would never begin at this price point. Out of all the doubts and speculation going around, Minelab knows for sure what they have and how much that is worth. At best, let's just hope this isn't a $400 piece of junk that is trying to sell for $800 because it has a Minelab logo on the side of it. I doubt they would do that, but they certainly wouldn't be the first...