Minelab Equinox tips and questions

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hAyyoUinAU said:
https://www.minelab.com/anz/customer-care/product-notices?article=316550

:D
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all that means is that instead of producing etracs in ireland, the us and australia, they are only going to be produced in one, international version,just a cost saving, economic decision, they have had on the table for a few years,there is no word when the etrac will be discontinued..and the etrac IS NOT in the equinox's price range, it will be 4-500 dollars more going on the current known pricing for the eqinox 800.
 
Heatho said:
I'd like to see Minelab expand on the CTX platform and make something even better. If the Equinox is better then I'll buy one without doubt, really looking forward to the release date and start seeing some reports from people who own both detectors.
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Same here, Mate :Y:
 
Heatho said:
As a CTX user I can see where Anton is coming from, I was hoping that the Equinox would be the CTX killer but I really don't think it will be either.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Equinox is going to be a great detector in that price range but I don't think it's going to be as sophisticated as the CTX, hopefully I'm proven wrong but I'd say Minelab will have another high end treasure detector in the future to replace the CTX. I'm hoping they will anyway.

The Gold Monster wasn't released as an upgrade from the GPX range, it's a budget entry level gold detector. The Zed was the upgrade from the GPX series. I only see the Equinox as a replacement and upgrade from the XTerra range, to be honest I don't think it will even match the Etrac in junk infested ground, I could be wrong though. Hopefully there will be a new treasure detector upgrade from the CTX, the only area I can see the Equinox being better is it is a lot lighter and maybe has a faster recovery speed.

I'd like to see Minelab expand on the CTX platform and make something even better.
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I shortened your quotes Heatho, all points well made.
Until the Equinox hits the ground it's hard to tell just how capable it will be, I think though the Equinox might be more complimentary to the Ctx. Those 3030s are Heavy with a capital H, probably the heaviest coin machine on the market, with Equinox down the other end of the scale. So pull out the Equinox for the quick park hunt and gather the intel, then comb with the ctx. The weight is going to be the ace up the sleeve here, if it was heavy I think unit turnover would be significantly reduced. Waterproofing expands it's range and times of year it can be used, and that's a huge plus over competition machines. With multi frequency I think it suits both experienced and beginner users, each frequency has its specialist target profile, and newer users will appreciate the versatility packed in a single unit.

I doubt anything but the dues is a ctx match up, and anything built off the ctx platform will become a want for a serious shooter. I think the Equinox is a step in that direction if not at first appearance, lightweight, programmable, update capable, smartphone link will surely be seen in the ctx successor. What else Minelab might have up their sleeve remains to be seen....However it's really simple maths how do you add more to the platform and take away the weaknesse's? What we are seeing is that step toward eliminating the weaknesses.

If I were to take a stab I'd say with confidence the equinox will look and feel more like the ctx successor than the ctx.

Let's see what the early adopters have to say,
I am however confident the Equinox will find its share of coin and treasure, not least because it will be easy to handle all day, be used just about anywhere at anytime.

To be fair to Anton, any machine that has unreliable ID or EMI issues will not be popular, but if minelab do release the Equinox with reasonable solid ID and minimal EMI issues then I think it's future looks bright. I don't think it's unfair for someone to highlight potential issues in prototype test runs, the comments are based on what is now, not what might be. Being an Equinox fan boy though I'm confident they'll sort things out prior to release. Hard to know if these "testers" have a biased interest in saying it will be their new go to detector based on performance....time will tell
 
anton said:
Coinballs said:
anton said:
Coinballs said:
anton said:
yeah , and i suppose they said they going to fix their obvious suseceptibility to emi at the same time,eh bud?:) look man, i prefer to deal in fact not rumour or wishful thinking :rolleyes: youve blatently announced minelab have PUBLICLY said they going to fix a jumpy id (yeah, right, a huge company like minelab admitting to a problem with a product they are just about to unleash, lol :rolleyes: ) now!! you link to so called admission of this on either the minelab australia, uk or us site, comeon man! put your money where your mouth is and prove me wrong, im a big boy and can take it, but remember, link to minelab themselves admitting to fixing a problem,not some third party :Y: i mean really, do you think minelab are going to give the obvious xterra replacement rock solid id at depth like their own 1800 or 2600 dollar etrac or ctx ? it just aint gonna happen my friend :)
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Well here's a tip old mate, don't buy one. Plenty of others will though :p
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if you actually read entire posts in the conversation,without just jumping in with comments without getting the context, you would have read that im actually going to buy one, im just saying in my conversations with an obvious fanboy, that from my perspective as an etrac/ctx user it may not be the minelab myself and other users of their highend coin and relic machines were hoping for...im hoping their next release will be stellar,when they upgrade thier top end units :Y:
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I'll jump in with whatever I like pal, I run a ctx myself
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well at least you got some good taste... ;) keeping it on topic, are you gonna buy an equinox? thats why i commented in this thread, i want to hear from guys running etrac/ctx and if the equinox could be a good addition or whatever, rather than speculate on a machine thats probably 2 or more months away, at least :p
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Indeed I am, I'll be getting an 800
 
This today from a field tester of the Equinox here in OZ!

M.Williams......Can't comment much but will say although the CTX is a great machine and will still have its place re deep silvers big silvers etc the equinox is going to find heaps of coins previously missed on hunted sites. Many people will be extremely happy with its capabilities. It is truly a great detector and as far as I'm concerned way underpriced for what it can do. Must have machine in your line up. Can't wait to see how many small gold coins start to surface after its release.
 
Sounds interesting Art, farout I probably will have to buy one to run over my already detected honey holes, if it starts finding more stuff I'll be happy. Though that little gold ring I found yesterday was tiny, 0.7g and the CTX got at around 15cm, maybe deeper.

You know what I reckon, it will be the small gold chains that the Equinox will really excell on as the CTX is not very good at all on those types of targets. The 20khz and 40khz will be excellent for stuff like that. I borrowed a mates 22k chain and the CTX could only pick it up from about about 4cm.

If the equinox can beat the CTX for depth on the beaches then I'll be happy but very surprised.

Anyway c'mon minelab I want one for christmas. :D
 
Heatho said:
Sounds interesting Art, farout I probably will have to buy one to run over my already detected honey holes, if it starts finding more stuff I'll be happy. Though that little gold ring I found yesterday was tiny, 0.7g and the CTX got at around 15cm, maybe deeper.

You know what I reckon, it will be the small gold chains that the Equinox will really excell on as the CTX is not very good at all on those types of targets. The 20khz and 40khz will be excellent for stuff like that. I borrowed a mates 22k chain and the CTX could only pick it up from about about 4cm.

If the equinox can beat the CTX for depth on the beaches then I'll be happy but very surprised.

Anyway c'mon minelab I want one for christmas. :D
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Yeah and hollow gold earings too. Got one the other day with the Deus that the CTX does not see at all no matter what settings and it weighs 1.5 grams. I have one on order now cant help myself, because 5 detectors isnt enough.
 
Has any of the testers tested the prospecting mode in a gold bearing area,Just interested if it handles it with the standard size coil it comes with or will you need to swap to the smaller coil.I know my makro gold racer i have to use the smaller coil in really hot areas or of course drop the sense down.
 
Itd be great if we could see it in action getting some nuggets!!.
And youd think that Minelab would want some videos out there also as thatd be fantastic for there sales as well.
And lets face it we certainly want to see some nuggets and if its pulling out nuggets that small there will be a lot of interest Id imagine.
 
bhogg said:
Itd be great if we could see it in action getting some nuggets!!.
And youd think that Minelab would want some videos out there also as thatd be fantastic for there sales as well.
And lets face it we certainly want to see some nuggets and if its pulling out nuggets that small there will be a lot of interest Id imagine.
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I agree but I think that thread on DP can pretty much sum it up without so many words, I reckon JP is probably going to tell it pretty much how it is and the pictures he posted tells a pretty exciting story, hopefully he's got some vids ready to go when it's released publicly.
 
Hi all, first time poster here with zero metal detecting experience. Kids were bugging me to buy one and the $350 one at BCF seems like a toy. Looked online and came across the Equinox. We'll just be using it around our camp sites and the beach. Not heading out to look for gold and the kids will be happy to find a nail. At first I thought the Equinox will be over the top for us but then I saw some of the prices out there! Do you think this will be good for a beginner and good for kids (aged 6 and 7)???
 

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