Advice please - Nokta, Eureka Gold or SD2200

[rusting]

Hi there, have been saving for a Nokta but have just been offered two other detectors, one is a near new Minelab euraka gold, couple of spare battey and looks new. The other is a well used sd2200, does come with one small mono and a huge coil of unknown make. Both same price to me. Need advice on which would the better machine, mostly coins, have aspiration of looking for some WA gold one day soon -)

 

[AtomRat]

Eureka gold is for gold only. I think 2200 is gold as well ( but not positive ). The Nokta choice is still best for coins. Gold detectors have very little discrimination settings which to need for coin and relic hunting

 

[greencheeks77]

I used to own an sd2200 and sold it to buy birds now I run a whites tdi pro and I kick myself everyday for selling it or for not buying another 2200 so I would say you cant go past the minelabs especially nowadays with people converting the batteries so you don't have the extra weight and so forth and attach enhancers and the like ...

 

[old hand]

If it was me the 2200 would be my choice excellent gold detector and can be used we a DD coil for coin hunting ,as far as depth it will leave the Eureka regards john

 

[ronniecruisin]

Get the minelab. Had a 2200D. Very good machine.

 

[Havinago]

Depends entirly on what its main use is going to be, if your coin shooting you will be far better off with a dedicated coin/relic machine otherwise you will dig more trash than you bargained for

 

[nesral]

Hi there, have been saving for a Nokta but have just been offered two other detectors, one is a near new Minelab euraka gold, couple of spare battey and looks new. The other is a well used sd2200, does come with one small mono and a huge coil of unknown make. Both same price to me. Need advice on which would the better machine, mostly coins, have aspiration of looking for some WA gold one day soon -)

You didn't mention what model of Nokta you are saving for, if it's he Nokta Impact then keep saving.

Why buy old and outdated without warranty when one can get new technology.

 

[silver]

I'd get a cheap second hand coin detector just for the coins and treasures,... so it won't impact too much on the saving for the gold machine,... that way you could get into a bit of coin and treasure in the meantime and hone your detecting skills ready for the pursuit of gold. :/

 

[PhaseTech]

If it's primarily for coins, then get a unit with a good discrimination circuit. I've been using the Fors CoRe over the last couple months and really like it. If you're not going to do much wet sand hunting go for the Fors Gold because it's the same as the CoRe but without the saltmode but on special at the moment including a Nokta pinpointer.

You can use the Eureka for relics, but you'll tear your hair out trying to pull coins out of a trashy park.

Nenad

 

[rusting]

I have a bountyhunter 3300. which has proved very good for coins, i was after an upgrade. Out of the blue was offered both. Would the eureka not also find metal targets and coins?

 

[PhaseTech]

Yes the Eureka will detect coins as well as any coin machine, but you have three things to hamper your success:

1. Single tone
2. No target ID
3. Iron reject circuit. There is no way to reject aluminium foil, or pulltabs if you wish. Also the iron reject is only triggered by a fairly loud response - i.e. small or deeply buried iron that is giving you a faint signal will not trigger a rejection. This can work well in a lightly trashy goldfield scenario, but in a park loaded with all sorts of junk at all sorts of depth, you will be digging 3 - 4 holes on every sweep.

If someone has a Eureka Gold and wants to find coins, then the ideal place is dry sand at the beach. Main reason, easy digging and you'll hit jewellery better than a lot of coin machines.

 

[Goldpick]

The Eureka will find coins, though would probably be a bit frustrating to use with limited discrimination in junky areas, no target ID's, high sensitivity to very small targets, and single tone all-metal operation. If coin outings will cover a majority of your detecting, better off with a detector specific to that purpose, and save up $$$ for a PI detector to use in WA. Any of the current crop of vlf detectors should satisfy your requirements.

If you would like to get some practice and experience in looking for gold, and still have good coin detecting capability, there's nothing wrong with owning a Minelab 705, Nokta Fors Core/Gold, Whites MXT Pro, Goldbug Pro/Teknetics G2 etc. Though they will not handle mineralised ground as well as nor have the depth capability of a PI detector, and in some areas they will not usable at all. They can also have a fair old learning curve when searching for gold, hence why many give up using them for such purposes.

A PI detector would be last on my list if even thinking about looking for coins, unless you have some discriminating ability as on the Whites SPP, SL or TDI (switchable conductivity for high/low conductors - SPP requires switch to be retro-fitted).

Here's a list of gold detectors on Detectorprospector that may help you out in your decision:

http://www.detectorprospector.com/gold-prospecting-guides/steve-guide-gold-nugget-detectors.htm

 

[rusting]

Thanks all. Having a think about about both still. The minelab eureka is most likely be the one I buy, the sale is tied in with a motorcycle he is also offering and a compressor I am selling so barter/buy. Will wait till till the cooler months head to Ora banda north of Kalgoorlie for the old spoilheaps