I notice in Gold, Gem& Treasure magazine, and on the net, ads for upgrading/updating Minelab detectors. I would like to shout an upgrade for my old mans detector for his birthday. Can anyone recommend specific questions i need to ask, and mods that should be done? While I'm asking the world anyone got any recommendations in regard to the people who do this sort of work in Australia? Max
Some people reckon modifications and upgrades are a good thing. Personally I reckon you are better off trading up to a later model. What model is your old man's?
Thanks for that Eureka I'm really not sure of the model, I'll have to sneak a quiet look, he used to do a lot of prospecting , now he's pushing 70 he doesn't like being out in the bundu too much. I've been buying him the Gold, Gem and Treasure mags for a while, and he's mentioned a few sites he'd like to hunt for coins and artifacts that are fairly close handy. I might seriously look into a new "coin hunting" model for him. is there anything i should be looking for specifically? thanks for taking the time to answer my question BTW Max
Modifications are done to the Minelab "Pulse Induction" type machines. These are the ones used to hunt for Gold Nuggets in mineralised ground. They are not really suited to finding coins and relics due to poor target identification and discrimination. For hunting mainly coins and relics a VLF (very low frequency) detector is better suited. As far as I know nobody does mods on VLF machines. For $850 you could get your old man a brand new Minelab X-terra 705. Good for coins and relics and fairly easy to use. Top of the range is the CTX3030 ($2500 approx) with some top features, but things like a GPS and uploadable info on your searches may be more than he needs. Garrett, Whites and Bounty Hunter all make good VLF detectors and are worth considering. Most newer machines are fairly lightweight so will be easier for the old fellow to swing.
Also a website worth a look with info about various models etc.... http://www.prospectingaustralia.com.au/forum/
Instead of a modification so to speak you could look at getting him something like these - http://www.reedsprospecting.com.au/shop/detail/b-z-booster/ I see a few people using these, gives a nice clean signal supposedly. Could be good if the old mans hearing is going a bit ? On the same tac the newer VLF that EM talks about also have a LCD screen so you get a visual as well as a Sound signal. He may find this easier. Find out what he has first. But Booster would be an idea
Thanks heaps for all the info everyone, i really appreciate all your efforts. I'll pick his brains a bit and see if i can't get him something decent, keep him out in the bush a bit longer, the old girl will probably be happy with that as well
You can also find amplifiers commonly known as boosters and cables and other stuff at vkteksolutions dot com .. hope this helps some here
