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ACCESSORIES
I'll start with the accessories that I feel are necessary when you go metal detecting. You will need something to dig a hole in the ground. I have used the small "garden shovel" variety of digger. It has a stainless steel blade that is about 6 inches long and a rubber coated handle. It is nice to have a sharp edge on one side to aide in the cutting of small tree roots. In the end of the rubber handle is a hole big enough to put my probe into when carrying to the field. It keeps everything together and in one place so I don't forget where one of them is located.
The probe is something that I use occasionally when I know there will be a lot of shallow targets to recover or if I'm working in a well kept yard. Mine is made of a 1/8 inch diameter brass rod that is about 8 inches long and has a porcelain knob for a handle. The handle is necessary to prevent the shaft from irritating the palm of your hand as you search for the buried target. The tip of the rod that is inserted into the ground, should be rounded smooth so you won't scratch the surface of your treasure.
You should also consider the use of a coil cover for your machine. These are just plastic covers that fit snugly over the coil bottom to prevent unnecessary wear of the coil itself. They come in different sizes to fit the size coil on your machine. If you use your machine on sandy beaches, on gravel or in rocky terrain you should invest the few dollars needed to purchase one.
Always carry an extra set of batteries. There is nothing more frustrating than to be on an outing where there are some great targets coming out of the ground, and then run out of juice for your machine. I actually have two nicad packs and an extra pack for batteries. The extra pack for batteries has not been used yet because of the nicad packs that I keep fully charged. When I get them home, I immediately plug in the charger on the battery that I've used for that day. At times I have to charge both nicads if it was a long day of detecting. Some day I will forget to charge them and the extra pack for the regular batteries will be usefull.
An apron of some sort is needed to carry your trash and the "good stuff" home with you. I use 2 different ones. The "good stuff" apron or pouch has a zippered bottom which allows easy removal of the valuables recovered. It also serves as a carrying case for the digger and probe. The other apron is a larger pocket style similar to the ones found in hardware stores for the handyman. This one has larger pockets to keep the trash in that I've dug up. Not all the signals you get on your machine will be good keepers!! I even pick up the discarded paper, plastic cups, aluminum cans, etc. that are lying about on top of the ground, simply to keep things neat.
I also carry a rag or drop cloth with me to use for sorting out the dirt removed from the holes that I've dug. This prevents the loose dirt from being scattered about while searching for that Indian Head cent I've just uncovered. Just lay it down next to the "excavation" and whatever you need to break up while searching for the target, will remain on the cloth to be deposited back into the hole.
Different sized coils are an option. They aren't needed but can come in handy at times. My White's Eagle Spectrum is capable of using a 4, 6, 8, 9.5 inch (standard), and larger sized coils. I have the 4, 6, 8 inch and standard. To be truthfull, I rarely use anything other than the standard size. I have used the smaller coils in areas that are loaded with trash objects or where there is a lot of brushy, tight spots that restrict mobility with a large coil. The smaller coils have a little less depth capability, but will distinguish targets that are close together. Remember, the smaller the coil, the less depth you will have. In local parks I've used the smaller coils to help sort out those targets in close proximity of each other, doing this has helped recover a few rings for a reward. Some detectorists use nothing but 4 inch coils and have great success in the hobby. Your machine comes with a standard coil and it makes sense to use what is recommended for it.
An electronic probe is something that I've lived without for a few years, but once I received one as a Christmas gift, I don't know what I would do without one. These are like "mini-metal detectors" that will sound off when within an inch or so of the metal target. They work great for finding those darkened Indian Head cents that seem to blend in with the surrounding soil. Also if you have trouble locating a target in the hole, simply run the end of the electronic probe up and down the walls of the hole and if you are close to the target, you will know it. They work great around those troublesome tree roots that happen to be in your way when searching. They are powered by one small square 9 volt transistor battery and are worth their weight in gold.