AlgoForce E1500 - NEW PI DETECTOR FROM EX MINELAB ENGINEER

Nice idea too Leroy

Leroy said:

Good one Ozzie I’ve used these little rubber feet nice tight fit avail.any hardware or Lyal Eales.

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Picture wasn’t real good, just tap on it for full image

Dean Mortimer said:

Will there ever be an audio target/response adjustment tone pitch? Separate enity from the audio threshold tone pitch.

I really hate how factories assume the best audio target response based on the preset tone of threshold im using for my hearing. Be nice to have it separated for full user customisation.

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There is a very good reason why it is like it is. If you wanted to change the tonal response of the signal, to be independent to the threshold tone, then this would have to be artificial, and won't be a real time audio response. Part of why a lot of pulse induction machines sound similar is the way the audio is produced.

The pitch or tone of the threshold serves as the “baseline” for the target signal’s pitch. The signal pitch will fluctuate around this threshold pitch, making the audio more sensitive to small signals.

As with any gold detector with an adjustable tone, I have always recommended that the threshold tone should be adjusted to provide the best signal response to suit your hearing, and this is best achieved while sweeping over a very faint signal. The threshold is there as a reference, but what we are most interested in is those repeatable variations.

XLOOX said:

if you are in Ultra Fine Gold then try Fine Gold mode.

on my 12 Evo it makes a WORLD of difference. Far steadier threshold, almost zero bump sensitivity and greatly reduces hot rocks. depth on anything more than 0.3g is same or better.

It is like a completely different detector.

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Is the 12 Evo that you mentioned the ‘round’ 12” Evo??
That would be a good one and it seems the ‘other’ best coils for the AlgoForce are the ‘round’ Coiltek 9” Elite and 14x9” Evo.
(But do ‘not’ use the 12x8” Evo because people are having problems with it.) For narrow tight spots on shallow bedrock then use the Sadie ‘or’ the older series ‘white coloured’ Nugget Finder & Coiltek Joey 10x5” monos.

Deano said:

Is the 12 Evo that you mentioned the ‘round’ 12” Evo??
That would be a good one and it seems the ‘other’ best coils for the AlgoForce are the ‘round’ Coiltek 9” Elite and 14x9” Evo.
(But do ‘not’ use the 12x8” Evo because people are having problems with it.) For narrow tight spots on shallow bedrock then use the Sadie ‘or’ the older series ‘white coloured’ Nugget Finder & Coiltek Joey 10x5” monos.

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Yes NF Evo 12 round.
It is great on the E1500! I prefer it to the Sadie , which is also good.

Here's a link to the cover set. https://phasetechnical.com.au/algoforce-e1500-canvas-cover-set/

OzzieAu said:

Yes Pete, I thought the same about the handle issue... This is how I fixed mine. A thick silicon ring over wrapped with a tennis racquet grip. No more hand slipping up the handle
View attachment 14004

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Would be nice to see the results finding gold in those hard to get gold areas we get too often these days.

The Algoforce is still evolving and becoming better and better, a new firmware version has just been released, in mild soils this new ZeroGB mild soil mode significantly increases target depth, the soil has to be very mild though, I can use it around my area perfectly fine in parks and fields, and it adds very good depth on targets including in pinpoint mode. The beach feature is awesome too for adding depth on beaches. You can see the information about the update below. There is now also a version 2 of the Algoforce Basic Package with an enhanced shaft system, I didn't find anything wrong with the original but the second edition does improve upon some things over the initial package.

Our team has been continuously working on improving the AlgoForce E1500. We have been developing new software with enhanced features to unlock its potential, and simultaneously designing a new shaft to further enhance its overall convenience and usability.

We are excited to announce that the AlgoForce E1500 Basic Package has evolved from version 1 to version 2. Equipped with the new shaft, the E1500 Basic Package version 2 includes several improvements: a fixed coil yoke, a stable middle shaft, a protected USB cable with a right-angle connector, lighter weight, increased full extension length, and the same compact length as version 1. These enhancements boost both convenience and performance. For further details about the differences between version 1 and version 2, please refer to the product page and page 7 of the user manual.

Additionally, we are releasing version 1.1.1 of our AlgoForce E1500 software. This update introduces the highly anticipated Soil Type Setting, allowing users to select between Mineralised, Mild, and Beach options to optimise detector performance in various environments. Other enhancements include increased backlight brightness, an optimised pinpoint user interface, and adjusted target ID mapping for greater consistency.

What's New in V1.1.1?

1. Introduction of Soil Type Setting

1.1 What is the Soil Type Setting?

The Soil Type Setting allows users to select the appropriate soil type for their detecting environment, optimising the detector's performance. The available soil types are Mineralised, Mild, and Beach.

1.2 Soil Type Options:

Mineralised: This option maintains the performance of previous software versions, suitable for mineralised soils.

Mild: This option utilises AlgoForce's ZeroGB technology, which disables ground balance to enhance sensitivity for nuggets, coins, and treasures of all sizes in extremely mild gold fields, parks, and fields. Users do not need to perform ground balance when using the Mild option. If the soil mineralisation indicator reads 00 or 01 when you pump the coil up and down, you can try the Mild option. However, if selecting the Mild option reduces sensitivity by 4 or more compared to the Mineralised soil type with proper ground balance, it is not suitable for the soil. In that case, please select the Mineralised soil type.

Beach: This option also uses AlgoForce's ZeroGB technology, yet aggressively rejects seawater signals and provides smooth operation on dry sand, wet sand, and even with the coil submerged in seawater. This option offers high sensitivity to coins and treasures commonly found on beaches without the need for the user to perform ground balance.

2. Additional Updates in V1.1.1

2.1 Increased Backlight Brightness: Enhanced visibility with a brighter backlight.

2.2 Optimised Pinpoint User Interface: The target ID is now displayed in a larger font for better clarity and positioned separately from the mineralisation ID to avoid confusion.

2.3 Adjusted Target ID Mapping: Improved consistency of target IDs across different detection modes, regardless of which soil type is selected.

Please follow the Software Upgrade Instructions on page 16 of the user manual to upgrade the software. You can also watch Simon's demonstration on YouTube.

IMPORTANT: After the software upgrade, it is crucial to perform a factory reset.

A basic video showing the depth difference of a $1 coin that is buried at about 25cm in my front yard where there is very high EMI, you'll note at 16 sensitivity which I'm running in due to the EMI the coin is on the edge of detection with ground balance enabled, and pinpoint mode is unable to identify the coin, as I'm in very mild soils I can use the new ZeroGB feature which adds significant depth in mild soils, I can now raise the coil up in the air well off the ground and still detect the coin, the signal brightens up a lot and the Target ID of the coin is now there and accurate to give a good identification of the coin.

Thanks for that update Simon. You’re turning out to be AlgoForce’s media liaison spokesperson atm. A bit like Dilek from Nokta...
I know you have been advising them of possible future improvements to the E1500, but your efforts to promote them via forums like this, makes me think you’re maybe acting in more of an official capacity. Just speculating mind you.
Anyway I’m glad I belong to PA as otherwise how would I learn of these detector updates, so I much appreciate your detailed information.
As AlgoForce the company develops and grows I’m sure they will need their own in-house PR spokesperson to promote their products and inform their customers.
I think you fit the bill.....

No, I'm not associated with them in any official way, not even in the same country, just a guy that likes their product, I bought my detector the second I found out about it and was one of the first to get one, I think. I also have the privilege of receiving the beta firmware updates prior to release as I've been regularly requesting things I think would improve the detector, albeit selfishly as a bulk of them have been to suit my needs, although they will likely help many others too. The great attribute about Algoforce as a business is if you contact them if you have an idea for an update that firstly, is possible and is something that would actually benefit the detector they will certainly investigate it and if it's viable it will appear in a firmware update, you can also communicate directly with the engineers behind the detector, this is a very refreshing approach.

I just post about the updates as soon as I find out they've gone live as I'm excited about them, and happy the rest of the owners of the detector can now use them.

I took the AF E1500 with me on my 3m detecting trip. TBH I used the 6000 90% of the time but in 3 different +50 piece patches I gave the AF E1500 +12Evo a run for a part or full day, sometimes over ground already done with the 6000 and sometimes on fresh adjacent ground as patch extension.

I also carried both detectors around for a full day and found all targets with the 6000 and then tested all in situ with the AF E1500 +Sadie before digging. That day was 10 bits of gold and 50 bits of trash.

All up ~100 pieces of gold and ++100 bits of trash were IDed either in situ or after digging.

My conclusion is that the AF E1500 isnt a silver bullet against trash, but used judiciously looking for specific targets amongst certain types of trash it will be a very useful tool.


Gold overall ID range was ID 00-70:

ID 00 for very small gold bits 0.05g-0.2g. Signal is softer than on 6000 but for this size gold only maybe 15% werent seen at all by the AE1500. These were invariably deeper pieces.

ID 16-24 for very reefy bits. 0.3g, 0.6g, 1.5g, 2.6g 4.5g,15g.

ID 30-35 solid waterworn bits 0.3g-2.7g

ID 50- 55 solid bits 4g,4.5g,6g &10g

ID62 0.5g 24k coin
ID70 1/2oz 24k coin

Iron : overall ID range 00-70

ID 00 dozer chips <10mm

ID12-20 large dozer chips, tinplate to 25mm. most smaller bits of solid iron.

ID50- 70 large iron nails and heavy wire

Lead
ID 00-01 shot pellets #4 to AAA. very loud as generally close to surface

I will post more trash IDs when I can find my notes

Intended Use:

1) Ignoring shot pellets whilst finding tiny gold: Not very appropriate as a lot of gold <0.2g has same ID as most pellets but if you dug the softer ID 00 signals you would get at least some of that gold.

2) Ignoring shot pellets whilst finding gold over 0.3g: Very appropriate as wide ID seperation.

3)Looking for reefy gold in iron trashy areas eg shaft mullock heaps: Not appropriate as both ID 12-25

4) Looking for >0.3g solid waterworn bits in iron trashy areas eg creek beds. Very appropriate as wide enough ID seperation between "normal" nuggets and "normal" trash. If lots of both heavier/wiry iron and larger nuggets occur then not so appropriate.

5) Looking for gold coins amongst old townships. not appropriate. ID for nails and wire too similar to coin sized gold.

6) Crumbing in scrapes: a bit better than normal PI as can at least ignore the larger dozer chips. Will still dig all the smaller ones so overall might reduce holes dug by 10%-30% depending on ground hardness and dozer driver skill.

7) High EMI Area: Very appropriate as way better than SDC or 6000.

8) Ignoring Hot rocks: Appropriate. Better than 6000. 12" Evo in Fine sees far less hot rocks than Sadie in Ultra Fine.

Hope that lot helps some folk with their decision.

Thank you for your time and effort in providing such an outstanding detailed report.

davent said:

Well at the price point, it should be a great starter for someone who wants or needs a P.i machine due to ground that can sniff out little stuff. Be good to hear how it goes.

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Seeing as it it's a PhaseTech machine I'd say it would be pretty good. Last I saw Nenad owned Phasetech and he is very good at everything he does in the detector field.

Nenad is a distributor here in Adelaide for the AlgoForce and has had some input into it’s development. The actual designer was a former MineLab computer engineer .

Having just returned from a detecting trip to Tibooburra with the E1500 , I can fully endorse the above observations by XLOOX.
I particularly found the detector’s ability to ID small lead shot as 00 on the “Common” at Tib to be invaluable, as it saved me getting down to recover 95% of target signals. That is how much lead there is distributed up there.... it drives you nuts.
Some very small gold also has a 00 ID, but after hearing so many lead shot signals, the small gold stands out as a more mellow sound than the zippier sounding shallow pellets.
Overall, this feature of the Algo is a invaluable tool in places like this.... it saves a LOT of time.

My detecting buddy had the find of his life in a very trashy area on the common. Rather than use a PI machine, he opted for his 3030 for this spot and got this booming signal with an ID that told him to investigate. To his astonishment, out popped this glorious slug from a mere 5 inches!
At 61.4 grams or almost 2 ounces it’s one of those miracle finds up in Tib, and from the common.....

Needless to say, there were drinks all round at the pub that night.

Thanks Ozzie and XLOOX for sharing your findings. Yes, have to pick your application to use the discrimination, and as always, it will never be fool proof.

Cracker find there, and just goes to prove what might be sitting in amongst those trashy spots that are literally everywhere in the goldfields!

XLOOX said:

1) Ignoring shot pellets whilst finding tiny gold: Not very appropriate as a lot of gold <0.2g has same ID as most pellets but if you dug the softer ID 00 signals you would get at least some of that gold.

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The tiny gold and pellets merging closer together into the 00 ID was something introduced with normalizing the ID's in version 1.1.1+ in some soil conditions, prior firmware versions they were often further apart with the tiny gold often moving above 00, if you were using 1.1.1 or higher at the time this merging of the ID's of those two target types could be explained by that, a new firmware is coming out very soon that will resolve that for you so you'll have to do that particular test again. An outstanding report though, took you a lot of valuable prospecting time to do all of that testing, certainly valuable information so thanks for taking the time to do that, great for everyone to have that level of information available.

NOTICE - Announcing AlgoForce E1500 Software Update V1.1.2

Software Version 1.1.2 was released on 23/08/2024. The v1.1.2 software update introduces Pulse Delay Options for Large Detection Mode, allowing users to optimise detection for various object sizes and reduce mineralisation noise. It includes three Pulse Delay settings: Pulse Delay 1 (maintains previous performance), Pulse Delay 2 (filters very small objects), and Pulse Delay 3 (focuses on larger items).


Additional updates feature a new settings menu access method, an independent pinpoint sensitivity setting, an optimised pinpoint user interface, and adjusted target ID mapping. These enhancements improve detection accuracy, stability, and user experience.


What's New in v1.1.2?


1. Introduction of Pulse Delay Options for Large Detection Mode


1.1 What is Pulse Delay?


The Pulse Delay Options allow users to select the time delay between the transmitted pulse and the reception of the return signal. After the primary pulse is transmitted, the detector waits for a short period before it starts to listen for the secondary pulse generated by the metal object. This waiting period is known as the pulse delay.


Shorter Delay: Detects weaker signals from smaller objects.


Longer Delay: Filters out signals from small, less conductive objects, focusing on larger items. Reduces mineralisation noise in high mineralisation areas for more stable and accurate detection.


1.2 Pulse Delay Options:


Large (Pulse Delay 1): Maintains the performance of the Large Detection Mode in previous software versions.


Large (Pulse Delay 2): Filters out signals from very small objects, focusing on larger items. Audio response is rounded and elongated.


Large (Pulse Delay 3): Filters out signals from small objects, focusing on larger items. Audio response is rounded and elongated.


Note: Large (Pulse Delay 2) and Large (Pulse Delay 3) can be used to ignore small lead pellets for nugget detecting or small foils for beach detecting.


2. Additional Updates in v1.1.2


2.1 Settings Menu Access


To access the settings menu, briefly press the Return/Auto Frequency Scan Button in the Main Detection UI instead of the Right/Auto Ground Balance Button used in previous versions. To exit the settings menu, press the Return/Auto Frequency Scan Button again. This change prevents users from accidentally entering the settings menu when attempting to perform Auto Ground Balance.


2.2 Independent Pinpoint Sensitivity Setting


An independent pinpoint sensitivity setting enables precise tuning specifically for pinpointing metal objects without affecting the main detection sensitivity. This separation ensures that while the main detection sensitivity is set for general detection, the pinpoint sensitivity can be finely adjusted for the accurate location of metal targets.


2.3 Optimised Pinpoint User Interface


In Pinpoint mode, the detector now tracks the target signal peak. When the target signal reaches 90% of this peak, the pinpoint icon on the top centre of the LCD screen will flash, helping users centre on targets more efficiently. If the coil is moved off the target and the signal volume decreases, the flashing stops. Moving back over the target resumes the flashing. As in previous software releases, pressing the Left/Pinpoint Button retunes the detection threshold due to ground variation or temperature drift. In v1.1.2, pressing this button also resets the target signal peak to zero.


2.4 Adjusted Target ID Mapping


Software version v1.1.2 restores the high target ID resolution for small targets that was slightly reduced in v1.1.1 compared to v1.1.0 and earlier versions. With target ID mapping based on the Ultra-Fine detection mode in v1.1.0, it delivers high resolution for small targets, helping users distinguish between lead pellets and small gold nuggets. Additionally, v1.1.2 ensures consistent target IDs across various soil types, detection modes, and pulse delay options.

Please follow the Software Upgrade Instructions on page 16 of the user manual to upgrade the software. You can also watch Simon's demonstration on YouTube.

IMPORTANT: After the software upgrade, it is crucial to perform a factory reset.

You can download it, along with the new manual to suit here

Have to admit it has taken me some time to adjust to pressing the Return/Freq button to access the menu. But now that I'm used to it, it makes perfect sense. Basically, press the button to go into the menu, press it again to jump out of the menu.
A new user will not have any issues, as they will just learn the way it is straight off the bat.

With a trip to the GT coming up soon, I thought I’d see if I could make the balance of the AlgoForce less nose heavy with the heavier 14x9 Evo bolted on.
I came up with this solution. A removable extension behind the battery holder which just bolts onto the shaft using the existing hole for the battery holder which along with the control pod had to be moved forwards a few inches.
The tubular extension can be further weighted by just adding some lead sinkers.
The balance point of the detector is now dead centre along its length and is no longer nose heavy. It looks pretty basic, but it’s not obtrusive in any way.
Can’t wait to try it out in Vic.