maxxkatt
Forum Supporter
Comparing detectors observations:
Air test are the first thing someone often does (and of course post a youtube video of the test) when they get a new detector. But we hunt in the ground not the air, so these air test prove nothing.
going over old so called pounded sites is fun and can reveal new targets but not very accurate as a test because of too many variables that are different in the two searches...
a) ground conditions change with moisture content
b) hunter can use different settings on each hunt
c) unless both hunts were carefully criss/crossed previous targets could be missed by inches on the first hunt and square under the coil on second hunt.
d) time spent on each hunt can vary
So any claims that Brand A and Model A is better than Brand B and model B is misleading on searching a previously pounded site with a different detector.
The best test in my opinion is two hunters with two different models hunting the same ground and both swing over a target before it is dug and see which detectorist calls the right signal. Calabash proved this on a recent plantation hunt and his buddy swung over a old large silver 50 cent coin and called it junk and Calabash swung over it and called it right and dug it. (even this is a human variable because each detectorist has different abilities.) The best test would be the same detectorist using different models and calling a dig or no dig in each machine based on his knowledge.
Guess what we all miss good targets from time to time. Very good hunters have hundreds of hours on their detector and develop a sub-conscious level of listening to tones and making the best judgement on whether to did a target or not. Even those guys don't often bat over .500, but still do better than the rest of us who have fewer hours on our detectors.
The purpose of this post was NOT to be critical of tests comparing different detectors but rather to point out the fact that they are interesting to follow and do provide some anecdotal information. Just keep in mind that these test have their flaws and when stating model A detector is better or worse than model B detector based on these test can be incorrect.
For the record, Calabash Digger does the best comparisons of model A detector vs Model B detector.
Air test are the first thing someone often does (and of course post a youtube video of the test) when they get a new detector. But we hunt in the ground not the air, so these air test prove nothing.
going over old so called pounded sites is fun and can reveal new targets but not very accurate as a test because of too many variables that are different in the two searches...
a) ground conditions change with moisture content
b) hunter can use different settings on each hunt
c) unless both hunts were carefully criss/crossed previous targets could be missed by inches on the first hunt and square under the coil on second hunt.
d) time spent on each hunt can vary
So any claims that Brand A and Model A is better than Brand B and model B is misleading on searching a previously pounded site with a different detector.
The best test in my opinion is two hunters with two different models hunting the same ground and both swing over a target before it is dug and see which detectorist calls the right signal. Calabash proved this on a recent plantation hunt and his buddy swung over a old large silver 50 cent coin and called it junk and Calabash swung over it and called it right and dug it. (even this is a human variable because each detectorist has different abilities.) The best test would be the same detectorist using different models and calling a dig or no dig in each machine based on his knowledge.
Guess what we all miss good targets from time to time. Very good hunters have hundreds of hours on their detector and develop a sub-conscious level of listening to tones and making the best judgement on whether to did a target or not. Even those guys don't often bat over .500, but still do better than the rest of us who have fewer hours on our detectors.
The purpose of this post was NOT to be critical of tests comparing different detectors but rather to point out the fact that they are interesting to follow and do provide some anecdotal information. Just keep in mind that these test have their flaws and when stating model A detector is better or worse than model B detector based on these test can be incorrect.
For the record, Calabash Digger does the best comparisons of model A detector vs Model B detector.
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