AlgoForce E1500 - NEW PI DETECTOR FROM EX MINELAB ENGINEER

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A note about the new pulse delay options.

Using a 14x9" Advantage coil I have found that Pulse Delay 2 reduces the signal from small lead pellets by a lot. Difficult to measure, but I'd say it's about half. In Pulse Delay 3, the signal is gone entirely or almost gone (depending on size of course). With a smaller and/or flat wind coil you may still get some response, but you won't get them at any depth. So if you are investigating a likely looking area, but it appears as if someone has fired off a few too many shells, then you can ignore them with Pulse Delay 3. This will allow you to cover a lot more ground and dig the larger targets, and hopefully a nugget or two, and then decide your next move.

You could always achieve this by lowering your sensitivity, but then you are also reducing your depth on all targets. Mind you, the Sensitivity adjustment is quite forgiving, and you don't lose much until you turn it down really low.

Also, I had a little reminder on setting the threshold correctly. Last time I was out, I was in some medium mineralised ground, and this spot has produced some quite prickly gold in the past. So to squeak any targets out I really wanted to max my sensitivity (not just sensitivity control), so I chose a combination of Ultra Fine mode, low threshold, high volume, sensitivity 21, and a 9" Elite mono. This was handling the ground conditions ok, but was quite reactive to some of the hot rocks in the area. But, the main problem with my chosen settings was that the threshold was chattering due to having quite a stormy night and lots of fast moving cloud activity meaning EMI levels were quite high. Repeated Noise Cancels didn't reduce it, and lowering the sensitivity to 19 helped, but the chatter wasn't completely gone.

It then occurred to me I'd overlooked a basic tuning step - I'd simply turned my threshold down too low. I clicked it up two numbers and then so that it wasn't too loud, I reduced the volume by one, and the detector was humming again. A perfect example why if I no longer have analogue pots to adjust my settings, then I want many steps of digital adjustment to allow for such subtle changes.

Targets finds were quite slim with only 5 x junk targets found, but got one little bit of gold hiding under a charcoal layer.
 
Hi Nenad, thanks for that overview of adjusting your settings to suit the conditions. The Ultra fine setting is the one you want for those prickly bits for sure, but it also is more sensitive to the emi and hot rocks, so there is the Fine gold and even Normal to fall back to if all else fails to settle things down.
There has been some huge geomagnetic storms blasting off on the sun towards earth this month, so if you’re out there detecting and the emi is off the chart, you’ll know why.
 
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
Hi Simon.
It has been some time since you gave details of this new Algo-Force Timings upgrade. Have you seen any feed back about these new timings using larger coils? Has anyone posted how they go in field testing etc? Very interested to know Thank-you.
Cheers ozziegold.
 
I have tried my machine on the beach with the new timings using a 17x11 NF Advantage. It runs smoothly if there’s no emi nearby and does punch pretty deep on coin sized targets. Small low conductive jewellery can be missed at the same time though.
It certainly ignores foil.
 
I have tried my machine on the beach with the new timings using a 17x11 NF Advantage. It runs smoothly if there’s no emi nearby and does punch pretty deep on coin sized targets. Small low conductive jewellery can be missed at the same time though.
It certainly ignores foil.
Hello OzzieAu.

Thank you for your test results, it is interesting that these new timings bring new smoothness and less EMI, that is similar in other detectors using bigger coils.

I was hoping Simon may have heard more news, being a tester and advisor for AlgoForce manufacturing??

Cheers ozziegold
 

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