couple questions.

[vferrari]

Programs !!!
been hearing and reading a bunch about different programs.
can all programs be added in the field? is there anything besides updates that you need a computer for?

Cletus -

The Deus comes pre-loaded with about 10 different programs which are just variations with different settings on the key parameters for different types of hunting and hunting conditions (e.g., basic, dry beach, wet beach, relic, gold field/all metal, etc). The pre-loaded Deus Fast (program #3) is a great all around starter program (will get you up and running right out of the box) that doesn't compromise depth/recovery speed as much as the basic 1 and 2 programs, based on the way they are set up. There are other basic programs loaded as well. You have memory slots for 8 custom programs. All my custom programs are variations and optimizations of Deus Fast or the Gold Field (All Metal) pre-loaded programs. You can simply call up Deus Fast (or an existing custom program you have created) make the parameter adjustments desired (e.g., sensitivity, discrimination, frequency, reactivity [recovery speed], tones desired, notches desired, etc.) and then just save the modified program in once of the 8 custom memory slots. It's that simple, can easily be done on-the-fly in the field, and no computer required. The computer is only used to upload new firmware. The programs are easily selected just by hitting the +/- button on the controller until you come to the desired program. I have about 3 or 4 "go to" programs that I regularly use and like to switch between them when I happen on a target to get a better idea of the target id (mostly by sound vs. visual display) before I dig. You will find that the pre-loaded programs are sufficient to start out with but they are not optimized in several respects especially for your local conditions and preferred hunting objective (e.g., coins and jewelry vs. relics, sandy soil vs. hot soil, trashy area vs. deep targets, etc.) That's where the customization comes in. After awhile you can quickly program the thing in your sleep. You can also make parameter variations on the fly without having to save those changes if you are just experimenting or come across unusual conditions that you need to adjust to but don't want to take up a custom memory slot by saving them for posterity. The unsaved tweaks will remain as long as you stay in the selected program, if you switch programs without saving, the on-the-fly modifications will disappear. While you can call up the pre-loaded programs and make modifications on the fly, you can only save the modifications in a custom memory slot, The first 10 pre-loaded programs are static and just reside there for posterity so those first ten slots cannot be modified. Once again, really recommend the Deus Handbook as an essential reference guide because these details are lacking in the included instructional manual. Of course the ultimate reference are the folks on the forums who have gained a lot of knowledge through practical experience. Some great custom program settings are provided in the sticky thread at the top of the Deus forum. Hope this helps.

 

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[Cletus]

Thank you vferrari, I'm pretty much a basic relic hunter. if I dig up a coin it is a bonus.
I hunt land that has been pounded for years. I need a machine that will go deep and be accurate.
From what I have been reading the Deus is super fast and will out perform most including the ATP
in depth. this will be a Big investment for me. I have never put this kind of money down on a metal detector.
but if I want to dig relics I feel that I need a machine that will compete with the best out there.

 

[vferrari]

Cletus -

Noticed from your info you are located near Winchester, VA.

I relic detect central VA and just a word of warning. Depending on where you plan to hunt, if it is anywhere in the vicinity of Culpeper and the surrounding region and farmland, the Deus may not be the best machine you can invest in due to the nasty hot soil conditions (high mineralization) and depth of targets (due to heavy surface relic hunting). Do not get me wrong. I am a HUGE Deus fan, but when it comes to relic hunting in the highly mineralized "Wed Dut" of central VA (particuilary Culpeper), you really need to consider investing in a PI machine for depth under those conditions. Bullets tend to disappear from the Deus at about 4 to 5 inches in that stuff. Now I am not saying that you can't get it done with the Deus, I have been semi-successful on relatively shallow large lead and brass targets in that stuff with the Deus, but the PI machines (Garrett ATX/Minelab GPX/Whites TDI) are much better suited those soil conditions for the deep relic targets that are left to get. If you are mainly hitting wooded areas or hunt further away from the Culpeper area or want to scan dirt removed from a trash pit or hut, that should be ok with the Deus. But surface hunting farmland with hot soil with the Deus and you may not do much better than your AT Pro. Before you plop down more than $1.5K for a new machine just want you to know what the limitations may be for your particular type of hunting and soil conditions. The PI machines are pretty expensive (about the same as or up to twice the cost of the Deus). So make sure you really consider your primary hunting objective and the soil conditions of your primary hunting sites and decide where you want to invest your hard earned cash. I consider the Deus to be the best all around machine out there, but just like many VLF machines, it has its limitations in hot soil. If you don't want to drop big bucks on a PI machine, a Whites MXT Pro/All Pro might be a better value upgrade to your AT Pro for hot soil relic hunting than the Deus, for one reason, because you can get a variety of larger accessory coils for the MXT suited to the task. Just my opinion based on experience. If you are not hunting hot soil primarily, then by all means get the Deus. I am not located too far from Winchester so PM me if you want to meet up and try out my Deus under your natural conditions and sites.

vf

 

[Cletus]

I do appreciate all the great advice. Thankfully Winchester and the surrounding areas that I hunt do not share the Culpeper soil. mostly shale, some clay but not a over abundance.
To be honest. if I could get a few more inches of depth out of the ATP I would not bother with another machine. I have added a NEL Tornado which helped. but it still does not get as deep
as I would like.
thank you for the honest opinion!!!

 

[Calabash Digger]

I have a general relic program I will give you to start with I use it 95% of the time and if I tweak it and run it hot I can make it hit a 15 inch silver half dollar, ( in my soil ) your soil might have different results. If you know what kind of hunting your going to be doing you can get 2 or 3 custom programs and it basically becomes a turn on and go detector with the ocassional tweaks for each site as it dictates. for me I relic hunt and I run a very simple setup BUT highly effective. let me know if I can help you.

 

[Cletus]

Thank you calabash. I enjoy watching your videos and have heard nothing but good things about your programs.
you can bet that you will be one of the first I contact. Thanks again!!

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

you will not regret getting the Deus, Cletus. The difference in weight between the AT Pro and the Deus means you are a lot less tired at the end of a hunt. The only drawbacks that I see, and this was noted below by Deft Tones, is that the charging clip for the coil just seems like an accident waiting to happen. Also, the bolt that holds the coil is really cheap. they sent two (for a that reason I assume) with the Deus. I agree, I want an extra charging clip and a few more bolt mechanisms, just in case. I got the 11' coil and have no regrets about it.

 

[vferrari]

I do appreciate all the great advice. Thankfully Winchester and the surrounding areas that I hunt do not share the Culpeper soil. mostly shale, some clay but not a over abundance.
To be honest. if I could get a few more inches of depth out of the ATP I would not bother with another machine. I have added a NEL Tornado which helped. but it still does not get as deep
as I would like.
thank you for the honest opinion!!!

Yeah. It's amazing how variable the soil conditions can be in that area, even within a few hundred yards. If you are not consistently dealing with hot soil then by all means the Deus should be your weapon of choice. No doubt.

 

[Cletus]

had a guy send me this after I said I was going to buy the Deus. can someone that knows this machine tell me if it is a accurate video.

 

[Calabash Digger]

a couple of things dont know how he had the deus setup because it should be thumping on a 5 inch coin and its not without the nail. also notice the coils very close and watch how he keeps the mackro coil back off the nail just a little and swings the deus coil over the nail just a tiny bit more im gonna watch that part again and make sure im correct. Its funny you posted this video because I just shot one this morning of the same thing with 2 nails of the deus and ctx with the 11 inch coils. A nail on top of the ground will null out with any detector on the market if the coil goes over the nail , and the other target is below the nail by a few inches. take a coin bury it in the ground at 5 inchs and take 2 staples and place them on top of the ground and see what happens. Thats just how it is in the detector world at this point. notice the mackro nulls too when the coil passes over the nail at about 4.59 in the video. I just trade my 30 /30 for another deus and a fors cor which is about the same as the mackro will test it when it gets here. I noticed a problem in the video too with the racer it overloaded on that small piece of iron hmm that could be problomatic in iron infested areas which I heard it had overload problems.

 

[Calabash Digger]

there is one more thing to say about that video its hitting on a weak spot that ALL detectors have EVERY brand will fail that test. A good freind of mine showed me the same thing a short while ago in my test garden hes had all brands of detectors and they all fall short on that test.Whoever is reading this and no matter what brand you use go out in your yard bury a 5 inch quarter and get you a nail and lay it on top the ground the quarter will dissappear everytime.

 

[vferrari]

Ok my $0.02:

When using the Makro with the nail offset, the guy generally made sure the Makro coil did not pass over the nail. Not so with the AT Gold and Deus. Duh.

The Devil in the Details. On the first nail test he had the Deus set up in Gold Maxx at 18kHz (!) (not sure why he did not have it at 8 or 12 which is sweet spot for silver). Gold Maxx has reactivity set a 1 which is very slow for iron trash area, also default silencer is set at 3 under that program which really kills depth and target separation.

Later on he goes to Deus Fast - good! But once again, need to know what silencer is set on (default is -1, but if he changes the reactivity setting then is will switch to the default for that reactivity setting which is 2 for Rx 3 and 1 for Rx 4. Neither of those default silencer settings is preferred. You want silencer on -1 or 0 to not lose depth. Only increase silencer to 1 if EMI is unbearable and you have tried everthing else such as proper Ground Balance, reducing sensitivity, reducing Tx power. Also, if he is using the default sensitivity setting of 90, you can typically bump that up to around 96 or 97 for max depth. I also have no idea if he was using default 3 tones. Full tones gives you the richest soundscape and enables you to pick out that keeper squeaker through the trash tones.

Overall, I did not think the video was giving a true apples-to-apples comparison. I believe the Makro Racer is a quality detector, but I found the guy's video be just kinda dumb, actually as it didn't really have a point (or at least he didn't prove anything). Of course a nail on top of the ground just mm away from the coil is going to null a detector out vs. a target 5" deep. He just proved the obvious as CD said.

If you really want to see some bake off videos with the Deus vs. AT Pro, CTX 3030, etc. With real relics masked with nails at various depths and angles, check out Calabash's test garden videos. They really objectively show you how the Deus performs against some quality detectors with details on how the Deus and competition are programmed to give you the best apples-to-apples comparison possible and under real world conditions.

Cheers,
vf

 

[Cletus]

yea I kinda thought it was a bias video to start with. Thanks guys

 

[Rogue Relic Hunter]

i am very new to the deus. besides reading and watching videos, the best way to learn is to bury some targets and experiment with the detector. yes, the soil conditions will not change (unless you vary this somehow), but changing programs and settings will let you see, first hand, the effects thereof. this has been a great forum with calabash and vferrari weighing in with very helpful information.

 

[Calabash Digger]

Good point vferrari I see people doing it all the time with the deus they have it set up in some off the wall way. I will have some head to head videos of the ctx and deus up today or tommorrow .

 

[Cletus]

I do have a test garden. just about every type of metal from 4" to 10".

 

[Calabash Digger]

have you tried the nail test with pro?

 

[Calabash Digger]

I just went out and shot a video of the deus with the nail and a 5 inch coin it does alot better than what that guy in the video showed will have it up tommorrow i hope.

 

[Calabash Digger]

I posted a video that shows the same test with way different results go check it out

had a guy send me this after I said I was going to buy the Deus. can someone that knows this machine tell me if it is a accurate video.

 

[Cletus]

have you tried the nail test with pro?

I did not run this same test. but I do have a quarter with a square nail on top of it at 10".
when the coil passes over it running the length of the nail it gives a iron signal. the other direction
give both tones showing there is something good there besides the iron.