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White's Spectra V3 (Previously Vision)
Images and more notes coming soon! I just purchased White's latest and have been learning the machine as time permits. My first time out at the beach I stumbled upon a coin
pile, mostly pennies but there was one wheatie...
I have been out a few times now with the V3, and I really like the machine. I am still using the stock 10"DD coil but plan on trying the concentric 9.5 and 5.3 coils from my MXT, which are supposed to work well with the V3.
Update 05/14/10: My V3 is on its way to White's of the SouthEast to get the V3i upgrade. I was on the fence about getting the upgrade but since I have not had the time to get out with it lately anyways I figured it was a good time.
Got my machine back in record time, incredibly fast turn around from White's of the SouthEast. I love the V3i upgrade for several reasons, but mainly because the machine is noticeably more stable, but I love the polar plot analyze feature to check targets.
After several beach hunting trips with the V3, I have decided to stick to my BHID and Sovereign for beach detecting. For my style of hunting, which is to dig almost everything, the raw power and coverage of the Sovereign/Wot combo is hard to beat. I used the V3 in the wet salt, it was stable and seemed to perform well, I just was not comfortable getting too close to the waves with such a top dollar machine, that is where my BHID comes into play. I am looking forward to trying the V3 at an old school yard where I have pulled old coins from 8+ inches.
Minelab Sovereign Elite
I bought the Elite a few years ago. I bought this detector really for just one reason, getting maximum depth for detecting wet salt. I also purchased a 15" WOT coil for this machine. Click here to see my first finds with the WOT coil.I purchased the following accessories for use with the Elite.
- I bought the Sovereign 180 Scale Meter
Conversion Kit and did the conversion, it works great (more stable) and I haven't had any problems with the meter at all.
- I purchased a 8" coil from Sunray for detecting more trashy areas, I have noticed a reduction in depth compared to the standard 10.5"
coil, but not much.
- Finally, I also purchased a Baker Straight Shaft for use with the 15" WOT coil, it works great but I am not sure if he is still producing them. I don't think so.
White's MXT
The MXT has proven to me that it is an outstanding coinshooting detector. I mainly use the MXT with the 3x6 DD coil
in very trashy parks and schoolyards. It is great on nickels and small gold items. I like to set the machine to Relic mode,
crank up the sensitivity and listen for the "high" tones that indicate possible good targets.
Click here to read the MXT review at Lost Treasure Magazine!
Fisher CZ-70 Pro
I purchased a CZ-70 for it's depth and ability to handle wet salt sand. I love this machine but with the 10.5 coil it
gets a bit heavy. I purchased a chest mount rig so I can detect longer without my "detectorist elbow" flaring up, the 10.5
coil still gets a bit much after several hours of detecting though. This is one of my favorite detectors, maybe because it
has really been a workhorse for me. Very easy to use, very deep seeking, four tone audio id makes it easy to quickly make a
decision to dig. When coinshooting, my usual practice is to notch out iron, go slow and listen for "small" good sounding targets,
I then check depth and dig anything deep.
Click here to read the CZ-70 review at Lost Treasure Magazine!
White's Spectrum XLT
I use my Spectrum XLT in dry sand searches, fresh water beaches, parks, schoolyards, etc. It
has now been moved to "backup" detector status but I still really enjoy using the machine. I bought me the 5.3 inch
coil one year and it really works well picking out good targets from the trash - I highly recommend XLT users to get the
small coil as an accessory. I typically use a modified relic program, I turn off the icons and just go by the VDI numbers. **Update: I
gave this detector to my nephew in 2008 he has been having a lot of fun with it.
Click here to read the Spectrum XLT review at Lost Treasure Magazine!
White's Beachhunter ID
When I needed a water detector that could cancel out all those pesky bobby pins and
bottle caps I decided on a Beachhunter ID. I have found more gold with this detector than all my other ones combined (up to
now anyway). This is a great machine, although it probably won't go as deep as some other brands top of the line models it
is has done great by me. It uses three tones to distinguish between iron, gold and silver. Along with the tones there is a
visual ID system (three colored LED's) that allows you to still get an ID on item even when searching in all metal mode - this
is a powerful feature. I use this detector primarily for water hunting.
The more I used my Beachhunter ID for regular beach hunting the more I was impressed by it. I use this machine along
with my Elite and CZ-70 for beach hunting on a pretty regular basis and I can't say I make more or better finds with either
the Elite or the CZ. I know that comment may ruffle some feathers out there but it's the truth. The Beachhunter has a couple
unadvertised (or at least under-advertised) pluses that I think attribute to this. First, a lot of people have complained that
the coil isn't weighted so the coil floats when water detecting - this is true, but, when you are beach hunting out of the water
the lightness of the rod and coil when hip mounted is a huge plus that shouldn't be discounted. A light coil means hunting longer
with less fatigue with better coil control. Second, the LED ID's work even when in All-Metal mode so you get the best of both
worlds, the extra depth from All-Metal, with the built in VCO (tone's change with conductivity of the metal), plus a quick glance
at the LED will give you a dig/no dig answer. Finally, I get really good depth with the beachhunter on the beaches I hunt here in
Southwest Florida, with the sensitivity set right.
As a side note, White's Electronics is an inspiring company when it comes to customer service. I left the battery pack in this machine for too
long in the garage and the batteries leaked and corroded the inside of the lower control box (thank you Florida heat and humidity). When I contacted Whites to buy a replacement they
sent me one for FREE. Awesome, Awesome, Awesome....
Click here to read the Beachhunter ID review at Lost Treasure Magazine.
White's Surfmaster P.I. (Pulse Induction) - Sold
I used my White's PI for water hunting and diving. I also used it when I wanted to get
extra depth in the wet salt sand. **Note: I sold my SurfMaster to a hunting partner of mine, he will be putting it
to good use.
Click here to read the Surfmaster PI review at Lost Treasure Magazine.
Tesoro Cutlass uMax - Sold
I originally purchased this Tesoro Cutlass as a backup detector to keep in my truck at all times.
I wanted a low cost yet powerful detector and that is exactly what I got, extremely easy to use and great
discrimination. Although a great little detector I sold this one a few years ago.
Click here to read the Tesoro Cutlass review at Lost Treasure Magazine.
Fisher 1220-X - Gave away as gift
I bought this detector in 1987 while I was still serving in the US Army. For the money ($225 at the time) it was an excellent machine, I found my first silver with it. **Note: I gave this machine to my brother, he loves it! In my humble opinion this an excellent choice for the beginning treasure hunter. The equivalent machine today is the Fisher 1225-X.
White's Coinmaster TR
My first detector - photo from early 80's.
This machine was my first real detector, it was a good little machine that started me down the
path. I found a lot of coins and some jewelry, in fact I still have a couple of the rings that I found with it. Unfortunately I no longer have the detector.
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