More than you ever wanted to know about the modes from a guide I created to teach myself the Equinox. The Equinox User Guide itself is a really good read and summarizes it well too. You should read the user guide if you haven't done so - one of the best I have ever seen and has information about detecting basics that apply regardless of what detector you use. You can download a copy here:
https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/414877/4901-0249-6 Inst. Manual, EQUINOX 600 800 EN WEB.pdf
Anyway, here is my Doctoral Thesis on Equinox Search Profiles or Modes:
Detailed Search Profiles Rundown:
If you make any changes to the search profiles settings, they stick. You can individually reset
the search profiles or reset the entire detector to get back to factory defaults. Check the manual
Each search profile is set up with a frequency spectrum (Multi IQ) that favors certain types of
conductors and has software algorithms and user settings that enhance the resulting signal you
hear assuming certain environmental conditions. The Multi IQ frequency spectrum is comprised
of a combination of all 5 frequencies but the processing for each search profile "favors" or
weighted towards either the high or low frequency signals, even though it "listens" to all the
frequencies. It works out like so (forget about what Minelab called the search profiles because I
think that just confuses things).
Park 1 is weighted towards the lower frequencies in the spectrum and therefore favors high
conductors like pure copper, silver, and clad coins which tend to be detected better/deeper at
low frequencies like 5 and 10 khz. Regardless, multiple frequencies across the spectrum are
used so you are also still going to hit on mid conductors like nickels, brass, aluminum and even gold.
This is probably the best "all around" search profile to use and to learn the machine with.
Probably best for coin shooting in parks and athletic fields.
Park 2 is weighted towards the higher frequencies and will hit harder on the mid-conductors
(nickels, gold) and small targets (earrings, pendants) than Park 1 but will still hit on the high
conductors too, perhaps not to the same depth as Park 1, though. Good search profile if you
want to zero in on jewelry, especially gold jewelry. But will hit small silver and copper jewelry
and also coins as well. Some like to use this search profile for relic hunting, too.
Field 1 is similar to Park 1 in that it is biased towards high conductors, but is a two tone search
profile. Have not used this search profile at all.
Field 2 is similar to Park 2 in that it is biased towards mid-conductors. It has slight differences in
ferrous/non-ferrous tone break and recovery speed vs. Park 2. This search profile is my favorite
relic hunting search profile and the search profile I have found the most old silver with (because
that silver was in the same fields as the relics I was hunting).
Beach 1 is biased to high conductors and is for dry and wet sand salt beaches. Great search
profile for beach hunting. Don't be fooled by the fact that it biased to high conductors, it will find
gold, too.
Beach 2 is able to deal with the ground phase effects of changing salinity better than Beach 1
and is suited for salt surf and underwater detecting. Same targets as Beach 1 but under water.
[Gold search profile is 800 ONLY]
The Gold search profiles are very different than the other search profiles in that they use VCO
audio which varies pitch and volume based on proximity to the target (similar to pinpoint mode).
Gold 1 is suited to milder ground and Gold 2 is suited to more mineralized ground. The both are
optimized for gold so, again, even though they are multi-frequency, they favor the high
frequencies (mid-conductors).
Each of the search profiles are very different in how they sound and behave. Therefore, I
would stick with a single search profile (Park 1 if land hunting or Beach 1 if beach
hunting) to learn the machine before search profile hopping. Because the machine uses
multi-frequencies, it is unlikely that you will actually be missing out much despite the fact that
the search profile may "favor" certain types of conductors. It still sees practically everything.
Single Frequency Settings:
Single frequencies are there for backup purposes or to help with interrogating certain targets.
Examples, sometimes strong EMI situations will interfere with the MultIQ
so you may find that going to a specific single frequency knocks down the EMI. In that case you
can still detect, but you are limited by the single frequency you have chosen and some MultiIQ
features will not be available like Iron Bias which can help reducing falsing by small iron (bent
nails, round iron). Therefore, I would never use single frequency extensively unless I was forced
into that situation since you lose the true benefit of the Equinox, Multi IQ and what that brings to
the table. Some folks also use the single frequencies to to interrogate targets. By seeing how
the VDI changes when you switch from Multi IQ to single frequency, you can ferret out junk
targets like bottle caps. I don't bother with this cumbersome method, but use the ALL METAL
push-button instead to see if I can hear an iron grunt along with the bottlecap high tone, that is a
giveaway that it is not a coin, as coin audio is pure.
Default Settings (by Search Profile)
Be sure to check out page 62 of the online manual to see a table of the default settings for each
search profile. Sometimes you just need to get back to factory defaults quickly because you
have gotten mixed up on the local settings, the detector is working erratically, or you are just
lost. You can individually reset each detect search profile to default settings by navigating to
that search profile with the detect button and holding the detect search profile button in for 5
seconds until you see SP displayed. Similarly, you can reset all the search profiles and settings
to factory defaults by first turning off the detector and then holding the power on pushbutton for
8 seconds until you see FP displayed. If the detector is just acting up, you just can’t quiet it
down, if you are noticing issues with pinpoint or search profile settings, or are having trouble
connecting your wireless audio hardware, it is a good idea to do a factory reset. Of course you
have to re-do all your Search Profile customization and note that resetting factory defaults
means you have to also re-pair your wireless audio accessories as described in a later section.
