Adventures with the Deep Tech Vista X

[sibbley]

I spent a little time out in the heat this afternoon comparing the Vista X to the Manticore. I have been using the Manticore with the M8 coil, so I put the 11" back on so it would be a fair comparison. The dog fences on either side of my property cause the Manticore to run really chatty above 15 sensitivity. I had both machines setup to hear both ferrous and non-ferrous. Manticore was all terrain general with all default factory settings. Vista X was setup with gain all the way up, threshold at 40, primary and secondary discrimination off.

So out I went with both machines and swung the Vista X, when I hit a tone, I checked with the Manticore. I did an area about 10 feet wide and 15 feet long which I call the dump. It's a spot in my side / back yard where the previous owners must have burned their trash. I have dug all the high tones from this area using the Manticore. I didn't dig anything today. The Manticore hit on every target the Vista X hit in that space. All the targets were 2-3 inches deep according to the Manticore. I had hits with both machines that had a high tone in one direction and low tone at 90 degrees.

I had hoped to get a bit deeper in my yard, but with those damn fences, I just don't think that'll happen. I'd need to open the threshold on the Vista X higher than 40, but it gets chatty that close to the fence above 40. I'm looking forward to getting to two other spots with little to no EMI to use the Vista X. I think factory default recovery speed is at 4 on the Manticore, the Vista X seemed faster.

All in all, I'm happy with the new machine. It definitely hits harder and deeper than the Manticore with the M8 coil. With the 11", they seem to be a good match. I'm going to keep posting here as my adventures with the Vista X continue.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A History of Mining on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska - Grab it through Amazon!

[Ed_DE]

When my Manticore gets chatty around high EMI I found it helps a lot by taking it out of multi frequency and running in a single frequency like 20 kHz. The Manticore will become less chatty and I'm able to take the sensitivity up.

 

[sibbley]

Nice, same thing I end up doing with the WS6 Master. I'll give that a try and see how it goes.

 

[sibbley]

Wish it would cool down. Too hot to go out! 106 heat index here now.

 

[sibbley]

Tried another location on Sunday (6-23-24). It was hot, so only spent an hour or so. I only had the Vista X, no other detector to compare signals. I've spent lots of time at this particular permission and I've hit the front and side yards pretty hard with every machine I've got. I normally find clad on every trip, however only two half zinclons today.

It seemed a bit more difficult Sunday to get the Vista X ground balanced. When I first turned it on, I had no iron tone. Not sure what I was doing wrong, but I eventually got the iron tone back. Once ground balance was completed, the front and side yards seemed to come alive with signals. Lots of iron and high tones swinging one way and iron tone turned 90 degrees. I found more small aluminum bits than ever before. The Vista X seems to like small targets.

Besides the two half zinclons, I also dug a Matchbox car. Never found any of those in the front yard before. I also dug a couple pieces of iron of decent size. I haven't had time to get pics of the finds yet, I'll try to do that in the next day or two. I must say, the recovery speed on this machine is amazing. I picked the half zinclons out of an iron patch around the campfire ring. Oh, I was able to run the threshold higher at this location.

Next to this particular property is another permission with a bit more than an acre open space. I haven't found much at all in that portion of the property and was hoping the Vista X would allow me to get slightly deeper in that area. As with the other machines, there were no signals. I assume there is just nothing there to find. I'll spend more time there on a cooler day.

All in all, it was productive time spent. I found some interesting items missed before and learned more about my new machine.

 

[oldkoot]

Tried another location on Sunday (6-23-24). It was hot, so only spent an hour or so. I only had the Vista X, no other detector to compare signals. I've spent lots of time at this particular permission and I've hit the front and side yards pretty hard with every machine I've got. I normally find clad on every trip, however only two half zinclons today.

It seemed a bit more difficult Sunday to get the Vista X ground balanced. When I first turned it on, I had no iron tone. Not sure what I was doing wrong, but I eventually got the iron tone back. Once ground balance was completed, the front and side yards seemed to come alive with signals. Lots of iron and high tones swinging one way and iron tone turned 90 degrees. I found more small aluminum bits than ever before. The Vista X seems to like small targets.

Besides the two half zinclons, I also dug a Matchbox car. Never found any of those in the front yard before. I also dug a couple pieces of iron of decent size. I haven't had time to get pics of the finds yet, I'll try to do that in the next day or two. I must say, the recovery speed on this machine is amazing. I picked the half zinclons out of an iron patch around the campfire ring. Oh, I was able to run the threshold higher at this location.

Next to this particular property is another permission with a bit more than an acre open space. I haven't found much at all in that portion of the property and was hoping the Vista X would allow me to get slightly deeper in that area. As with the other machines, there were no signals. I assume there is just nothing there to find. I'll spend more time there on a cooler day.

All in all, it was productive time spent. I found some interesting items missed before and learned more about my new machine.

View attachment 2156152View attachment 2156153View attachment 2156154View attachment 2156155View attachment 2156156View attachment 2156157View attachment 2156158View attachment 2156159View attachment 2156160View attachment 2156161

Do you have only one coil for your Vista X, or did my favorite coil on my Vista X is the 8 inch concentric coil, the 8 inch concentric gets good dept and works great in iron infested sites

 

[sibbley]

Do you have only one coil for your Vista X, or did my favorite coil on my Vista X is the 8 inch concentric coil, the 8 inch concentric gets good dept and works great in iron infested sites

Yeah, only stock coil right now.

 

[sibbley]

Yesterday I learned while in two tone mode if I turn the discrimination knob to the right, I can remove the high tone falsing while swinging over iron. Pretty sure there is only iron left in my yard. I had a couple signals that were high tones in two directions but scratchy. As I turned the discrimination knob to the right, a low tone started coming through. Upon digging, it sure was iron.

 

[sibbley]

Finds from yesterday. Just trash, but it was something to find.

 

[sibbley]

After about two weeks or so with the Vista X I've come to a conclusion. The Vista X is every bit as good as the Deus 2 and the Manticore. Spent a few hours in my yard on July 4, 2024, with all three machines, using the 11" coil on all. Attempting to find iron signals with one that I couldn't find with the others. Iron is about all that's left in my yard at this point. I went through the front yard (15ft x15ft area) with the Deus 2 and marked every signal. Then followed with the Manticore, then the Vista X. I was able to hit all the targets with each and was not able to find targets missed by the others. I didn't dig anything.

With the Vista X, I can all but cut out iron falsing with the discrimination knob in two tone mode. I might be able to do that with the Deus2 and Manticore too but haven't learned that yet if it exists. All three machines seem to be similar in weight. My arm didn't bother me at all after each run or all three runs. I don't like the "S" grip on the Vista X, I'm constantly trying to re-adjust my grip on the machine. The grip on the Deus and Manticore are much more comfortable.

I have dog fences on either side of my property. The Vista X doesn't seem to be affected by them. Chalk that up to single frequency, I guess. I used mono mode on the Deus 2, 24Khz and multi-frequency on the Manticore with sensitivity about 18. At that particular spot in my front yard, the Manticore is less affected by the fences than the Dues 2.

 

[oldkoot]

Finds from yesterday. Just trash, but it was something to find.

View attachment 2156702

Save those for test targets LOL

Try this with all three detectors you stated in your last post, take those two L shaped things and all the rusty Nails and rusty screw then take a Non Ferrous target like a coin lay it on the ground and pile all those rusty nails and two L shaped things in close proximity around that coin around that and then see if you can set the Disc on all the three detectors to knock out the rusty nails and screw and the two L shaped pieces and still hit the coin, I know what the Vista X will do but do not know what the Manticore or the Deus 2 will do, the Vista X will pull that coin out of all that rusty bits and pieces

I also have two other Analogs that will do the same thing as the Vista X not sure My Troy Shadow X5 will as I have not tried my X5 on that test also do not know what my Vaquero will do either the three detectors I do know will do what I am saying that I own are the Golden Mask 7, golden Mask 4WD and the Vista X, I do think my X5 will perform like the GM7, GM 4WD and the Vista X though

 

[sibbley]

Save those for test targets LOL

Try this with all three detectors you stated in your last post, take those two L shaped things and all the rusty Nails and rusty screw then take a Non Ferrous target like a coin lay it on the ground and pile all those rusty nails and two L shaped things in close proximity around that coin around that and then see if you can set the Disc on all the three detectors to knock out the rusty nails and screw and the two L shaped pieces and still hit the coin, I know what the Vista X will do but do not know what the Manticore or the Deus 2 will do, the Vista X will pull that coin out of all that rusty bits and pieces

I also have two other Analogs that will do the same thing as the Vista X not sure My Troy Shadow X5 will as I have not tried my X5 on that test also do not know what my Vaquero will do either the three detectors I do know will do what I am saying that I own are the Golden Mask 7, golden Mask 4WD and the Vista X, I do think my X5 will perform like the GM7, GM 4WD and the Vista X though

I put a dime in a plastic bowl with all the iron around and over it. I need to learn more about discrimination on the Deus 2. I couldn't get a high tone on the dime with discrimination set to 80. Just kept getting the iron tone. The Manticore hit the dime although the high tone was much lower in the upper 60's along with iron tone. I definitely would have dug that target. That was factory defaults, no discrimination adjustment. The Vista X hit the dime in two tone mode along with iron. I knew that would happen, same thing as the two zinclons dug around the fire ring iron patch a few posts ago.

I must say, I have the Manticore ready to go out today with the M8 coil. The Deus 2 is the 11 inch, only coil I have for that yet. So, between the Deus and Manticore it wasn't a fair test. The Manticore had the edge with the smaller coil. I'm sure the Deus can hit that dime; I just need learn more about settings. I haven't spent much time learning the Dues 2 settings. It's been pretty good at sniffing out targets with factory programs and Gary Blackwell's Tekkna program.

 

[sibbley]

I'm having a damn hard time trying to get the Deus 2 or the ORX to hit that dime surrounded by iron. Pic from post #12.

Discrimination set at 80, reactivity set at 5. I haven't tried notching yet. Could be the coil size @ 11"? The ORX is the 9x5 HF though and it still has trouble. Although with the ORX the higher I swing above the bowl I can sometimes get a high blip.

The Manticore has no problem with the M8, I'll have to try the 11". Vista X, no problem with the 11" coil. This afternoon I'm going to try the Legend with the LG24.

The Deus 2 was the clear winner over the weekend though. I found more non-ferrous with it than the Manticore or the Vista X. In fact, a couple signals the Vista X caught as ferrous, the Deus 2 caught as non-ferrous and it was the winner. Mostly foil, but clearly hit the targets right.

Vista X was running two tone mode and the Deus 2 running Relic program with IAR at 4.

The Manticore gets the credit for the only coins found over the weekend. A nickel and a zinclon. Pics of the finds to come. It was just too damn hot in the garage to sort them out and get pics.

 

[sibbley]

I can hit the dime with the Legend (LG24), Xterra Pro (V8X), and even the Impact (stock coil). I am left wondering what the secret is with the XP machines. I'm clearly missing something.

BTW, no adjustments made on those three machines. Just turn on and go. The Impact hit the dime in every program.

 

[sibbley]

Moved the bowl to a larger area, more swing room. I can get the ORX to hit the dime with the 9x5 HF coil swinging 360 degrees around the bowl. Manticore does hit the dime with 11" coil. Still nothing with the Deus 2. Going to chalk it up to the larger 11" coil being the issue.

 

[sibbley]

Damn, I knew it was me! I had the Deus 2 in the mono program. As soon as I switched to a multi-frequency program it hit the dime every time. All inland programs. As soon as I tried the older technology Impact and it hit the dime on all the programs, I was determined to figure out what the heck I was doing wrong with the Deus 2.

 

[robertk]

I had the Deus 2 in the mono program. As soon as I switched to a multi-frequency program it hit the dime every time.

Ah! That's still good info to know!

 

[sibbley]

July 6-7, 2024 finds.
Manticore: Permission 1: I used the Manticore next to the driveway, looks like I'm running out of targets in that area.

Vista X: Permission 2, The washer, pipe cap, and hose clamp gave a high tone no matter how far I turned the discrimination knob to the right.

Deus 2: Permission 2, The most mid and high tones of the weekend. Mostly foil.

+

 

[sibbley]

I spent about 45 minutes out with the Vista X today, it was about all I could stand of the heat and humidity. Again, I found mostly iron today. Nothing worth pics. My thoughts on the machine thus far:

While the Vista X is no better than the Manticore or Deus 2, it's no worse either. I actually would say the machine is as good as the other two. Depth is virtually the same as the others and it's also capable of finding tiny items. Recovery speed is incredibly fast.

It's very easy to use. Ground balancing is a snap. I like to stay in two tone mode as I like to hear the iron tone. When I'm not sure if the higher tone is non-ferrous, I can just turn the discrimination knob to the right and if the target is really ferrous the machine will let me know.

No screen, so no VDI. I thought this might be an issue, but I actually don't mind at all. Turning up the threshold past 40-45 while having the gain turned all the way up, will allow the machine to hear fringe targets better. Of course, an area with high EMI won't allow this to work. In high EMI the machine can be chatty, although not as much as the Manticore or Deus 2.

I will say this, I don't like the "S" grip. I find I'm constantly trying to re-adjust my grip. It can get annoying.

I can't wait till the heat and humidity goes away so I can give the Vista X a try at some other permissions I haven't hit very hard. I just don't want to dig at those spots while the temps are high. I'd hate to turn the grass brown at these permissions.

 

[oldkoot]

I spent about 45 minutes out with the Vista X today, it was about all I could stand of the heat and humidity. Again, I found mostly iron today. Nothing worth pics. My thoughts on the machine thus far:

While the Vista X is no better than the Manticore or Deus 2, it's no worse either. I actually would say the machine is as good as the other two. Depth is virtually the same as the others and it's also capable of finding tiny items. Recovery speed is incredibly fast.

It's very easy to use. Ground balancing is a snap. I like to stay in two tone mode as I like to hear the iron tone. When I'm not sure if the higher tone is non-ferrous, I can just turn the discrimination knob to the right and if the target is really ferrous the machine will let me know.

No screen, so no VDI. I thought this might be an issue, but I actually don't mind at all. Turning up the threshold past 40-45 while having the gain turned all the way up, will allow the machine to hear fringe targets better. Of course, an area with high EMI won't allow this to work. In high EMI the machine can be chatty, although not as much as the Manticore or Deus 2.

I will say this, I don't like the "S" grip. I find I'm constantly trying to re-adjust my grip. It can get annoying.

I can't wait till the heat and humidity goes away so I can give the Vista X a try at some other permissions I haven't hit very hard. I just don't want to dig at those spots while the temps are high. I'd hate to turn the grass brown at these permissions.

I can tell you I can set my Vista X up to where I dig no iron and still get the non ferrous targets, I dig very little iron with my Vista X, you just have to learn to trust the Vista X discrimination, trust me it works

Bottle Caps are a little tricky but having said that I can tell you when I have swung over a bottle cap, with a bottle cap when you swing over a bottle listen to the tone of the Vista X as the coil passes off of a bottle cap you will hear the tone change to this gnarly scratchy tone as the coil leaves off the bottle cap, it will do that off the toe of the coil or off the heal of the coil and even on the sides of the coil, those have almost 100% of the time been a bottle cap