G'day Tucky1981, could you give a bit more info. about your style of detecting (you after big/deep or shallow/smaller gold? etc) and where in particular you looked?
I ask the last only in the hope of someone with regional experience might help you find color where you have been unsuccessful, (if it's there to be had in the first place...it's a biggish area to cover).
The machine is capable if you walk over gold within it's range to detect, it may only be your methods?
As is, the post poses as many questions as there may be responses....hope this helps. :8
Gypsy