How about an honest answer...F-75 and Explorer users..

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Not confident after air-tests... that doesn't sound good at all.

What were your findings, as I just did some airtests with my Wedding band,
and I get a "super" good signal at 15"

Im in the middle of coin air tests between stock and Super 12, and will post it
when all is done and recorded.

What kind of findings did you get? - sounds like disappointment, in which case,
maybe something "is" wrong with the equip. Let us know ! DFX should air test
pretty impressively from what Ive seen and read about as well.

My air tests seem to be only 5-6 inches with solid responses at most...

 

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[RaptorSE]

Ya that sounds like something could be wrong somewhere. I know you've been trying lots of
settings etc.. and hearing a gigantic earful from everyone but....

The next time you have your detector in hand outside, try finding a complete target/trash free
piece of ground,(use DC mode to make sure) , ground balance, then lay a quarter flat. Put in 3khz and AC to max with PreAmp 4 , and see how far you can detect it with good sound. I know it may
be unstable, but just for a test of how far it can reach it. That should tell the tale.

Today I detected in my own yard for the first time with it REALLY cranked. AC 85 ,PreAmp 4, VDI 88
and it was surprisingly ok. When the coil is up off the ground, its gets unstable, but while detecting,
it was smooth. I located and pinpointed several targets that said 11 to 13 inches, but it was about
dark and starting to rain. Ill check those out tomorrow I am fairly certain my stock coil was very erratic at waay lower settings, so it may be more sensitive to EMI...

I think you found your own problem though, if you can only air test at 6 inches or so. Heck I think some peoples pinpointers can almost do that. Keep us posted !! And dont get frustrated, we will figure this out ! Im glad you started this discussion, it is really beneficial for everyone to see why many forums and websites all have such different results , opinions and finds from person to person, machine to machine etc. Nobody with a new machine, has any way to know if what they are experiencing is right or wrong, or good or bad. Sharing information is the only way to help.

Not really sure why all this information seems so secret. Easier book sales when nobody knows WTF is going on rotfl

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Ya that sounds like something could be wrong somewhere. I know you've been trying lots of
settings etc.. and hearing a gigantic earful from everyone but....

The next time you have your detector in hand outside, try finding a complete target/trash free
piece of ground,(use DC mode to make sure) , ground balance, then lay a quarter flat. Put in 3khz and AC to max with PreAmp 4 , and see how far you can detect it with good sound. I know it may
be unstable, but just for a test of how far it can reach it. That should tell the tale.

Today I detected in my own yard for the first time with it REALLY cranked. AC 85 ,PreAmp 4, VDI 88
and it was surprisingly ok. When the coil is up off the ground, its gets unstable, but while detecting,
it was smooth. I located and pinpointed several targets that said 11 to 13 inches, but it was about
dark and starting to rain. Ill check those out tomorrow I am fairly certain my stock coil was very erratic at waay lower settings, so it may be more sensitive to EMI...

I think you found your own problem though, if you can only air test at 6 inches or so. Heck I think some peoples pinpointers can almost do that. Keep us posted !! And dont get frustrated, we will figure this out ! Im glad you started this discussion, it is really beneficial for everyone to see why many forums and websites all have such different results , opinions and finds from person to person, machine to machine etc. Nobody with a new machine, has any way to know if what they are experiencing is right or wrong, or good or bad. Sharing information is the only way to help.

Not really sure why all this information seems so secret. Easier book sales when nobody knows WTF is going on rotfl

Thanks...within 6 inches my dfx seems to clean up. You are right I have been getting out quite a bit more than I expected for this time of year testing different programs. Some are just a little to chatty... But I am putting all the programs side by side to see how they compare on a spread sheet...should be interesting... Yesterday I had a great hunt using the hi-pro program cranked up....but still nothing really deep...over $9 in clad with 5-6 coin spills that were good ones... I think I am going to have a dealer test it.

 

[Colonial KirkPA]

Verdict in yet?

BDD...Kirk

 

[Mike Silver -gold]

Greg ,before you get a Explorer,check out Mich. Badger,s post. He was not happy with his new Explorer. No depth at all. He had a problem geting 5" on a quater. What the ,that sucks. This guys has a lot of experince to. My hunting buddy has one and I,m not empresed with it at all. For one thing his holes are scarry wide. I,m always worred about us geting the boot out of a good spot because of his monster holes. On the other hand my Late uncle Sam had a lite [Gta 1000] Garratte. Great depth. This guy was in his 70,s and he was pulling all kinds of seated coins at 8"plus. I saw him dig 2 seated half dollars. One of the last times we were out together,he got a 1870 something trade dollar with it. I have never owned one,and I thought his looked small and silly,but he did great with it. Good luck. Mike.

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Greg ,before you get a Explorer,check out Mich. Badger,s post. He was not happy with his new Explorer. No depth at all. He had a problem geting 5" on a quater. What the ,that sucks. This guys has a lot of experince to. My hunting buddy has one and I,m not empresed with it at all. For one thing his holes are scarry wide. I,m always worred about us geting the boot out of a good spot because of his monster holes. On the other hand my Late uncle Sam had a lite [Gta 1000] Garratte. Great depth. This guy was in his 70,s and he was pulling all kinds of seated coins at 8"plus. I saw him dig 2 seated half dollars. One of the last times we were out together,he got a 1870 something trade dollar with it. I have never owned one,and I thought his looked small and silly,but he did great with it. Good luck. Mike.

Mike as always you come back with a positive inspiring story... thanks... After running tests on my stock coil...I now believe it is defective....it is one year old...does anyone know if it is still covered under the factory warranty? I did send White's a letter today... Air tests...ground tests...I have tried them...real hunts...nothing reading past 4.5 ....

Also I did read Michigan Badgers post and how quickly he decided to sell.... Hopefully I can get this problem cleared up and get that extra inch or two I need...but would still like to have asecond detector if the right deal comes along! Thanks Mike enjoyed hearing about your late Uncle Sam's finds...

 

[RaptorSE]

Hey, if it isnt going to hurt your lifestyle or budget, and you are able and want to.. I
say go for it ! Since you said you were keeping the DFX, that will let you compare
what most of us would love to !! Side by side on targets.

Personally, Id love to hear "your" opinion anyway, since it sounds like you present your
facts straightforward and no BS. Thats a good thing. Everyone gets the "man, Im
missing out " feeling. I have many times.

Id say wait for a good deal, see how it goes, and by all means, POST for us. I could have
gotten either machine when I bought my DFX. I ended up choosing the Whites because
I love hunting in a plethora of different enviroments, and for different targets or reasons.
All around, the DFX is a great machine for about "absolutely anything".

However, I would buy a Minelab too, if I knew for sure it would perform better where "I" hunt.
So good luck, and I'll be waiting to hear your final judgements for sure !

(just read Badgers posts.. ya, sounds exactly like what you just said in this post LOL) Im starting
to think either alot of what you read is way off, or there are alot of faulty machines and coils out
there. Either way... it sucks.

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Hey, if it isnt going to hurt your lifestyle or budget, and you are able and want to.. I
say go for it ! Since you said you were keeping the DFX, that will let you compare
what most of us would love to !! Side by side on targets.

Personally, Id love to hear "your" opinion anyway, since it sounds like you present your
facts straightforward and no BS. Thats a good thing. Everyone gets the "man, Im
missing out " feeling. I have many times.

Id say wait for a good deal, see how it goes, and by all means, POST for us. I could have
gotten either machine when I bought my DFX. I ended up choosing the Whites because
I love hunting in a plethora of different enviroments, and for different targets or reasons.
All around, the DFX is a great machine for about "absolutely anything".

However, I would buy a Minelab too, if I knew for sure it would perform better where "I" hunt.
So good luck, and I'll be waiting to hear your final judgements for sure !

(just read Badgers posts.. ya, sounds exactly like what you just said in this post LOL) Im starting
to think either alot of what you read is way off, or there are alot of faulty machines and coils out
there. Either way... it sucks.

Exactly...makes you scared to buy a used machine...but you are right... I would give an honest opinion...and would definitely give the detector enough time to prove or disprove itself...sometimes just changing the dfx to something you are not used to can make you switch back to a program you are using...very fast....so I think we have felt that same lost feeling Nichigan badger felt..when you are not used to the sounds coming at you... Hopefully in the end it all works out for him..

 

[vpone]

hey greg,

if you remember i switched from the DFX to the SE and posted the comparison here :

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,88277.0.html

as far as depth though, i never had a problem with the DFX depth - it would get 6+ inches depending on the variables (soil, dampness, coin position etc) the stock coil worked fine for this and if the area wasn't trashy then i pulled out the Hot Shot 12" and could get deeper

after using the SE this year, i do think it does go deeper and is more accurate on the deep targets, if you learn it, go slow and listen carefully it will pull coins 10+ inches - how much of that has to do with the DD coils vs. the DFX concentric coil - i don't know, for added depth i now use 16.5" DD excellerator coil which i can't say enough about - again only when the area is not trashy though

one other thing - and i'm sure you already know this, the areas you hunt are definately a factor when it comes to silver coins, detectors have been around for a while now and areas that use to produce silver just don't anymore because the hobby is maturing

your clad numbers are very impressive and i congratulate you on a great year - whatever way you decide to go, good luck to you !

vp
Bone Dry Detecting

 

[Willy]

Just an idea.. is there a way to reset your detector to the factory defaults? This way, if there's something that you changed, which compromised depth, you'll be starting with a clean slate and can tell the factory, if you're still getting lousy air-tests and ground penetration, then it's the detector and not the operator. ..Willy.

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

hey greg,

if you remember i switched from the DFX to the SE and posted the comparison here :

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,88277.0.html

as far as depth though, i never had a problem with the DFX depth - it would get 6+ inches depending on the variables (soil, dampness, coin position etc) the stock coil worked fine for this and if the area wasn't trashy then i pulled out the Hot Shot 12" and could get deeper

after using the SE this year, i do think it does go deeper and is more accurate on the deep targets, if you learn it, go slow and listen carefully it will pull coins 10+ inches - how much of that has to do with the DD coils vs. the DFX concentric coil - i don't know, for added depth i now use 16.5" DD excellerator coil which i can't say enough about - again only when the area is not trashy though

one other thing - and i'm sure you already know this, the areas you hunt are definately a factor when it comes to silver coins, detectors have been around for a while now and areas that use to produce silver just don't anymore because the hobby is maturing

your clad numbers are very impressive and i congratulate you on a great year - whatever way you decide to go, good luck to you !

vp
Bone Dry Detecting

Thanks I am trying everything before I get another detector...people have sent programs, ideas...all kinds of info...been great... I am now also using dc phase on...and notice everywhere I hunt....the ground conditions are -88 to -94.... but reading some of Jeff Foster's responses in old posts...it seems even the high reading just shows there is a level of iron mineralization and that it is not necessarily an area loaded with iron...and readings could also be affected by outside sources...such as weather/rain...

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Just an idea.. is there a way to reset your detector to the factory defaults? This way, if there's something that you changed, which compromised depth, you'll be starting with a clean slate and can tell the factory, if you're still getting lousy air-tests and ground penetration, that it's the detector and not the operator. ..Willy.

Willy there is no doubt the dfx is an amazing machine... It actually comes with the factory programs which automatically restore each time... there are also eraseable programs which seem to be the ones to work off of and modify....I have been finding more with the eeprom programs and only have saved my programs on spreadsheets...you can replace the eeprom programs with your own... The factory pre set programs get you going but modifications get you a little further. The problem I am having is strictly with depth and hopefully it is just the stock coil which I sent bacl last Saturday...have not heard anything yet...pinpointing...id...depth readings great...dealing with white's has been nothing but a pleasure...hard to move on from that....but I do want a little more...

 

[Copperhead]

Gregg...10,000+ coins....do you think it's possible the thing is just dying of old age?..

 

[DFX-SE Gregg]

Gregg...10,000+ coins....do you think it's possible the thing is just dying of old age?..

I will tell you...having two rechargable battery packs...which I always need to switch and charge once a week...seems the detector is a workhorse....it has to be...but should get a nice rest the next few months...except those days when it is warm enough to get out of course!