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SELECTING THE RIGHT MACHINE
Finding the right machine for you to use is not an easy task. Ask yourself a couple of questions:
What will I be searching for?
Coins, relics, jewelry, caches (hidden treasure), prospecting for gold or all of the above. Each category has a particular type of detecting method and machine. Some machines are capable of each type of detecting you wish to do, but for beginning purposes, I'll tell you where I started. I just wanted to go to a few parks or some old homesites to find a few coins. I expected to find some older coins and relics but didn't have the expense account to get the zippity-do-da machine that could do everything. I chose the basic unit that was recommended by the dealer. After detecting for a few years and gaining some knowledge in the hobby, I can suggest that you get a machine with:
"Adjustable discrimination" will allow the operator to set the machine so that it will not OR will react differently to certain types of metals in the ground, such as nails, pull tabs, bottle caps, etc.. This will tell the operator that there is possibly some unwanted piece of metal under the search coil.
"Pinpoint" will allow the operator to locate the target in the ground to within a few inches. This is usually done by flipping a switch on the machine and "X"ing the area over the target. The center of the "X" being the target beneath the search coil.
Factory settings are just that, settings that permit the operator to use the machine as the manufacturer suggests. Each manufacturer will set a machine in a mode that is easy for the operator to use and will allow the least amount of trash to be dug.
If you will be on dry land with sand, clay, black loam, on fresh water beaches, salt water beaches or under water you may need a special type of machine that was designed for that purpose. These must also be taken into consideration when purchasing your machine. Most machines have search coils that are waterproof but the control boxes are not. For this reason, you will be able to do a minimal amount of water detecting, but caution must be taken to not get water into the control box. Even raising the search coil above the height of the box will cause water to follow the cord to the control box and short circuit you machine.
The two questions listed above are the most important ones for you to answer. As stated earlier, some machines are capable of preforming in almost all of the situations listed, but are rather costly. Remember you can always advance to a top-of-the-line machine later if you decide to upgrade. The "basic" machine that I started with did an excellant job and I still use it occasionally. I upgraded because I wanted to have a machine that is "programable" to allow me to control the machine for the type of detecting I want to do. Use your own judgement on the manufacturer of machine that you wish to use. If you were to ask a detectorist which machine is the best, each person will tell you that the brand they use is better. Write to the manufacturers and contact some of the dealers in your area, when you receive some of the literature sent by them, study the different types of machines available. After looking at the information sent, make the decision on which machine you can afford and that will suit your style of detecting.
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