Why isn't GPS offered in new machines?

[robby4570]

I've been familiar with GPS in the CTX 3030 and GPZ 7000 for over a decade. It's phenomenal in my CTX 3030, a very useful tool indeed. With the advance in technology in the past decade, it should be a no brainer to incorporate a very good GPS into higher end detectors. Is it cost to engineer and incorporate it? Is it the belief that there would be no or not enough demand from detectorists worldwide? I've been using an app on my phone that is no longer available and not being supported by the developer (who has vanished) prior to getting my CTX 3030 and still use it when swinging one of my other detectors. Logging hunts is a critical tool to me. As it stands now, I will not buy a new detector from any company until GPS is incorporated. So, I guess I'll stick with my CTX 3030 and the detector manufacturers lose out on my money (and I buy expensive high end gear, so...). My money is on Minelab or Nokta to be the first to incorporate GPS in a NEW line of detectors.

C'mon all you Detector Manufacturers, get with the program and give us what we need!

​

 

[vmc1161]

I like the idea. Just have a few thoughts. One being how many people would want it to make it worth their while. How many people would want something that tracks where they are metal detecting, especially if they’re finding juicy stuff. And other people somewhat like me, where technology becomes a burden and sometimes gets in the way.

 

[KOB]

It would be great. Then I could hire a 14 yr old hacker to get into every ML within a 50 mile radius of all my beaches. I would know where everyone is at and when.....Oh wait !!! I basically got that already on YouTube and they show me their finds.

 

[robby4570]

I like the idea. Just have a few thoughts. One being how many people would want it to make it worth their while. How many people would want something that tracks where they are metal detecting, especially if they’re finding juicy stuff. And other people somewhat like me, where technology becomes a burden and sometimes gets in the way.

You'd think that but whenever I post my pictures of the hunt tracks and finds (and this is totally private unless you do post it, I don't care so I do post it) on FakeBook, I get swamped with requests to know what I'm using to track my hunts... and they all think it's an App. $3500 for a detector was out of my reach back in 2013, now I paid $2300 (all from detecting, not a penny out of pocket) for the machine AND a 6 inch and 17 inch coil. Between Minelab's price reduction and my Military discount, it was doable. Do I think EVERY detectorist will want to lay out that much cash? NO, but if the companies all offer it in their top tier machines then I think the competition will help. I still believe that somewhere between 15% and 20% of the detectorists worldwide would be interested in this. As for the tech being burdensome, it's 2 button pushes to start recording a GeoHunt, 1 button push to see your track in the field and using the Xchange2 program to plan the hunt you can avoid previously hunted spots. To log a find takes 2 button pushes... it's simpler than using the app on my phone. But I've always been a "techie" guy...

 

[robby4570]

It would be great. Then I could hire a 14 yr old hacker to get into every ML within a 50 mile radius of all my beaches. I would know where everyone is at and when.....Oh wait !!! I basically got that already on YouTube and they show me their finds.

Keep dreamin'... you watch too much TV

 

[KOB]

Keep dreamin'... you watch too much TV

Not really. Hackers get into government , banking systems , retail , medical facilities , you name it. Minelab should be a cakewalk for these guys. Then the kid could sell me his hack to my specific requested location and wallah ! I pull it up on my computer and watch the livestream. Even follow them home if I wanted.

As far as the Youtube thing , if you know and have been to 95% of your beaches within a large geographical area , all you have to see is a few seconds of video to know where they are at. Used to be in the beginning of all this , guys would do their best to hide as much as possible. Now they don't even care. Going so much as telling you exactly their location and even showing street signs. Total fools...lol

 

[Xxray]

Probably because not many people would want to fork over the extra $$ to have the feature, couldn't you use some stand alone unit or phone even to do the same thing better ?

 

[TheFrood]

Or you could just use your phone... I'm sure an app already exists that would do this... Maybe one of the
hiking or orienteering apps (assuming there isn't an MDer specific app already).

 

[itsaring!]

Never learned how to cut it on, on my CTX. Somewhat worthless beach detecting. Wish back then they had a CTX without GPS for $400 less. It's like the front light on the Manticore. The Manticore already burns enough battery. Do you want to use more?

 

[StanTheManStan]

Raspberry Pi Detector. Then you can do whatever you want.

 

[StanTheManStan]

Raspberry Pi Detector?
Full OS. Gigabyte of storage if you want.
Want a bigger display? Plug it in.
Bigger speaker, no problem.
Stream display to file.
Connect to whatever you want.
Cheaper detector, just needs a place to plug coil in.
Different kind of coil, add another plug.
PI? Change coil and app.

Might take me a few days to get this worked out.
I’ll be putting them up on eBay.

Might be ridiculous, then again, a Raspberry Pi went to Mars.

 

[UT_Dave]

I would have absolutely no use for it. If I had the option to get the exact same model detector for $10 less without GPS, I'd save the ten bucks.

I do use GPS. A ton. Just have no reason to want it on a detector.

- Dave

 

[rogueaviation]

I thought the GPS would be cool, too. I bought the Tect-o-trac app on Android/Google. I think I've used it like twice now. I also didn't subscribe to the XP app for the Deus detectors. I just didn't find the value in it, I guess.

 

[Liminga]

Ugh, to me. I can see a use, so I understand. But I don't want it on my machines. I'd rather use my phone, or even a dedicated unit. Otherwise it would feel like paying for yet another marketing 'upgrade' I didn't ask for.

 

[BeardedRelicHunter]

bag it tag it he's a bloody archie ...wasted time is all that would be . I wouldn't need all that gps extras I like going back over the same areas multiple times throughput the year cause as ground conditions change I've found stuff that was missed due to drier ground , swing missing ,etc.... plus price wise I couldn't justify spending that much , 1000.00 max is my limit on a detector .

 

[Dave_e]

We've all gone over places 10, 11 times and still found targets. The physical overlap of swings and swing angle are so important.
I'm not sure a GPS is accurate enough.
If there was an extremely hi-res GPS mounted on the coil itself that could show how thoroughly your coil covered an area....
Similar to, but more detailed than, the tech in all of the robot vacuums.
No need to report and data back to manufacturer. All self contained with ability for user to offload to a computer for analysis if needed.
I think Nokta is already close with the way Invenio calculates ground coverage.

**cough** Dilek, you can make this happen on other machines!!! **cough**

 

[Flipperfla]

A stand alone GPS would do the same functions with a lot more applications than installed in a detector. You can mark a spot where you got a hit, it leaves a track or “Breadcrumb” trail you can color code mark spots, and pix for research later. Price point add another $grand for one w with a GPS.
The biggest plus would be the mapping. I use my phone with GAIA mapping software, Premium which is about $50/ yr. It gives me over 50-75 maps, new topos, old topos, USFS, NAV Charts, mineral veins, mine sites, Gaia Overland, and many many more to fit any need. The phone is linked via Bluetooth to a Garmin GLO ll GPS, so I don’t need cell svc. If I am in cell svc I even have Google Earth real time, so I can literally watch myself walking thru the woods on the screen. Then I can overlay a 100 year old Topo over the Google earth and off I go. Its like walking back in time.
Before I go on a hunt I will do hrs and hrs of research looking at old topos, maps, whatever. Figure out the lon and lat then load the locations into the Phone/GPS. During the hunt I will mark points of interest, and load a pix later for research. 90% success rate. GPS is my main tool in the arsenal. Don’t leave home without it!
I used to sell GPS units and do seminars where I used to work so if anyone have any questions give me a shout.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I adhere to the KISS method of metal detecting. Keep it simple, stupid. You guys try so hard to use technology to get an edge. Save your money, buy a $300 detector and pay your dues. There are no shortcuts in this hobby.

 

[Diga]

I adhere to the KISS method of metal detecting. Keep it simple, stupid. You guys try so hard to use technology to get an edge. Save your money, buy a $300 detector and pay your dues. There are no shortcuts in this hobby.

Agreed.

A smart hunter with a cheap detector will find a lot more treasure than a dumb hunter with an expensive detector. I mean "smart" as in really learning the detector you have, putting smart thought into potential sites, and quit chasing the latest and greatest technology that isn't much better than the alternatives.

Hmm. Instead of KISS. How about KISASS lol. Keep It Simple And Smart Stupid

 

[Cherry Picker]

I like it and use it on my Deus. It is just a matter of time before detector manufactures, and users, get up to speed on GPS tech and ability.