Steve Hershbach
New Member
Hi,
I have been detecting since 1972, and since 1976 was a multi-line detector dealer. My partner and I sold the store three years ago, and I am now full time gold prospecting, metal detecting, and writing. I coin and jewelry detect but prospecting for gold is my main focus. My detecting leans towards powerful all metal VLF detectors and pulse induction detectors. In particular, I am interested in ground balancing pulse induction (GBPI) detectors. I have used every one released by a major manufacturer, and currently have a White's TDI, Minelab GPX 5000, and the just released Garrett ATX.
I have used the ATX on land and in water, hunting for coins, jewelry, and gold nuggets. I started this thread to answer questions about the detector. Please, if you see posts elsewhere on the Friendly Forums asking about the ATX direct them here. I will check here daily as long as is warranted. I want to make clear I am not a Garrett dealer and I could not care less if anyone buys an ATX. I simply like the machine and like discussing new detectors so there you go. All I can say is if you are interested in buying one check with your local Garrett dealer - and that is not me.
VLF detectors are common because they are effective. They can be very inexpensive, easy to operate, and offer varying degrees of discrimination capability. However, the method employed to discriminate limits the depth achieved, especially in mineralized ground and salt water environments.
PI (pulse induction) detectors operate on a different principal that tends to ignore the effects of mineralized ground and salt water. They are commonly sold as waterproof beach detectors because of this. However, the common PI is not immune from the effects of mineralization and so-called hot rocks. Most units intended for salt water use still have problems with hot rocks and severe ground mineralization. Ground balancing pulse induction (GBPI) detectors were developed to deal with intense ground mineralization issues. They were first employed on a widespread basis in Australia and later the western US. In recent years their use has exploded worldwide due to the on-going Gold Rush. Minelab got an early lead in developing this technology and by way of key patents has maintained a solid performance lead versus the competition. Garrett and later White's came so late to the game that the battle honestly has been over who holds second place. Minelab stopped making less expensive models leaving an opening for the competition. The Garrett Infinium and White's TDI have been the main alternatives.
There is some debate over the efficiency and usefulness of GBPI detectors for prospecting in the United States as a good VLF can work well in areas with moderate mineralization and small gold. Interestingly, in my opinion a more useful proving ground has developed around relic detecting in the eastern United States. In particular, an event called Diggin In Virginia (DIV) has seen increasing use of GBPI detectors. The Infinium made early inroads, with the White's TDI supplanting it as a favorite recently. Increasing numbers of the top-end Minelab prospecting detectors are also being seen. The reason once again is good targets in highly mineralized ground beyond the reach of normal VLF detectors. If good potential exists, people will eventually move to whatever technology allows it to be recovered, even if that means paying a price both in the cost of the detector but also in the amount of junk dug. Eventually VLF finds simply peter out, and you have to go to a different level if ground is to continue to produce. GBPI detectors offer that next level of performance in highly mineralized ground. Long story short watch what the relic hunters out east are using to get the inside track on how the various models really stack up.
I want to repeat and emphasize though that it is all about the mineralization levels. There is no great advantage in going GBPI in low mineral ground. The more intense the mineralization, the greater the benefits. That is why you see people complain about how a GBPI does no better than their VLF. They got one based on incomplete information or glowing reviews only to find that in their low mineral ground a VLF is the way to go.
This long introduction is meant to highlight the fact that GBPI (ground balancing pulse induction) detectors are not for everyone. Moreover, I consider the this versus that detector battles often seen on the Internet to be pure nonsense and marketing hype. They are simply tools with varying levels of performance and capability at differencing price points. They all work and in capable hands will produce good finds. My approach has always been to just try and figure out what any detector is good at and use it for that. If a detector truly is not useful to anybody it does not survive on the market. The Infinium is a classic example of a this versus that product rollout full of hype, bluster, and blowback with many Minelab owners decrying it as useless. Yet over ten years later it continues to sell as people have figured out what it does well and apply it to those uses. It is a decent waterproof GBPI for a steal of a price and the market recognizes that.
The ATX is unique in that the housing was developed for military demining applications, specifically for the Garrett Recon AML-1000. The coil cables are fully enclosed in a telescoping rod assembly. The three piece rod not only extends to longer than most detectors for very tall people but collapses to extremely short lengths perfect for diving applications. It folds to a compact 20" for stowing in a backpack. The unit including it's built in speaker is waterproof to 10 feet. The detector runs off eight standard or rechargeable AA batteries for 10-12 hours. In short, the Garrett ATX is a unique offering with many interesting design ideas. If it intrigues you as it does me, fire away with any question you may have and I will answer in the most direct and no BS fashion possible. If I do not have the answer I will find it for you post haste. By asking good questions you will also help me learn, and I love learning about detectors!
Steve Herschbach
I have been detecting since 1972, and since 1976 was a multi-line detector dealer. My partner and I sold the store three years ago, and I am now full time gold prospecting, metal detecting, and writing. I coin and jewelry detect but prospecting for gold is my main focus. My detecting leans towards powerful all metal VLF detectors and pulse induction detectors. In particular, I am interested in ground balancing pulse induction (GBPI) detectors. I have used every one released by a major manufacturer, and currently have a White's TDI, Minelab GPX 5000, and the just released Garrett ATX.
I have used the ATX on land and in water, hunting for coins, jewelry, and gold nuggets. I started this thread to answer questions about the detector. Please, if you see posts elsewhere on the Friendly Forums asking about the ATX direct them here. I will check here daily as long as is warranted. I want to make clear I am not a Garrett dealer and I could not care less if anyone buys an ATX. I simply like the machine and like discussing new detectors so there you go. All I can say is if you are interested in buying one check with your local Garrett dealer - and that is not me.
VLF detectors are common because they are effective. They can be very inexpensive, easy to operate, and offer varying degrees of discrimination capability. However, the method employed to discriminate limits the depth achieved, especially in mineralized ground and salt water environments.
PI (pulse induction) detectors operate on a different principal that tends to ignore the effects of mineralized ground and salt water. They are commonly sold as waterproof beach detectors because of this. However, the common PI is not immune from the effects of mineralization and so-called hot rocks. Most units intended for salt water use still have problems with hot rocks and severe ground mineralization. Ground balancing pulse induction (GBPI) detectors were developed to deal with intense ground mineralization issues. They were first employed on a widespread basis in Australia and later the western US. In recent years their use has exploded worldwide due to the on-going Gold Rush. Minelab got an early lead in developing this technology and by way of key patents has maintained a solid performance lead versus the competition. Garrett and later White's came so late to the game that the battle honestly has been over who holds second place. Minelab stopped making less expensive models leaving an opening for the competition. The Garrett Infinium and White's TDI have been the main alternatives.
There is some debate over the efficiency and usefulness of GBPI detectors for prospecting in the United States as a good VLF can work well in areas with moderate mineralization and small gold. Interestingly, in my opinion a more useful proving ground has developed around relic detecting in the eastern United States. In particular, an event called Diggin In Virginia (DIV) has seen increasing use of GBPI detectors. The Infinium made early inroads, with the White's TDI supplanting it as a favorite recently. Increasing numbers of the top-end Minelab prospecting detectors are also being seen. The reason once again is good targets in highly mineralized ground beyond the reach of normal VLF detectors. If good potential exists, people will eventually move to whatever technology allows it to be recovered, even if that means paying a price both in the cost of the detector but also in the amount of junk dug. Eventually VLF finds simply peter out, and you have to go to a different level if ground is to continue to produce. GBPI detectors offer that next level of performance in highly mineralized ground. Long story short watch what the relic hunters out east are using to get the inside track on how the various models really stack up.
I want to repeat and emphasize though that it is all about the mineralization levels. There is no great advantage in going GBPI in low mineral ground. The more intense the mineralization, the greater the benefits. That is why you see people complain about how a GBPI does no better than their VLF. They got one based on incomplete information or glowing reviews only to find that in their low mineral ground a VLF is the way to go.
This long introduction is meant to highlight the fact that GBPI (ground balancing pulse induction) detectors are not for everyone. Moreover, I consider the this versus that detector battles often seen on the Internet to be pure nonsense and marketing hype. They are simply tools with varying levels of performance and capability at differencing price points. They all work and in capable hands will produce good finds. My approach has always been to just try and figure out what any detector is good at and use it for that. If a detector truly is not useful to anybody it does not survive on the market. The Infinium is a classic example of a this versus that product rollout full of hype, bluster, and blowback with many Minelab owners decrying it as useless. Yet over ten years later it continues to sell as people have figured out what it does well and apply it to those uses. It is a decent waterproof GBPI for a steal of a price and the market recognizes that.
The ATX is unique in that the housing was developed for military demining applications, specifically for the Garrett Recon AML-1000. The coil cables are fully enclosed in a telescoping rod assembly. The three piece rod not only extends to longer than most detectors for very tall people but collapses to extremely short lengths perfect for diving applications. It folds to a compact 20" for stowing in a backpack. The unit including it's built in speaker is waterproof to 10 feet. The detector runs off eight standard or rechargeable AA batteries for 10-12 hours. In short, the Garrett ATX is a unique offering with many interesting design ideas. If it intrigues you as it does me, fire away with any question you may have and I will answer in the most direct and no BS fashion possible. If I do not have the answer I will find it for you post haste. By asking good questions you will also help me learn, and I love learning about detectors!
Steve Herschbach
