While my first Minelab Equinox book “…From Beginner to Advanced” suggests that you use a couple of tester to get the hang of looking for solid middle range signals, this same kind of testing is also valuable to teach “hand to eye to ear.” By this I mean the ability to be able to hear a response and have a pretty good idea of its size, solidity and distance from the coil. With the Equinox’s high frequencies in the “mix” this becomes even more important. This kind of testing should not be done on a bench but involve free swinging the coil–to make it as “hands on” as possible–replicating field conditions. Tests should include:
1/ Very small target: (foil or weak other conductor) close medium range and edge of detection range.
2/ Medium sized target: (quarter) close, medium range and edge of detection field.
3/ Large target: (vertically crushed can sized), close, medium range, and edge of detection field.
This is some of the most important skill building you can do to improve your accuracy with this detector.
If there’s one bit of advice I would give to intermediate Equinox hunters–it would be that this detector has gold field quality target acquisition. You don’t have to become frustrated by opening the machine up to every “flyspeck” in the ground just because “Joe” in the Internet found a micro gold earring that hit at “1.” Running lowered “Sensitivity” or some “Discriminate” lets you cover more ground and dig more solid, quality signals. It’s also less frustrating. Walk first. Don’t get bogged down by foils. At the same time–there is small gold around to be found–and the key is to base your settings and digs upon where you are. Running right down to zero–or alternating between “All Metal” is a good way to increase your chances of finding these small targets–if the “odds” are with you.
From: “The Minelab Equinox: From Beginner to Advanced.”
Ordering and Reviews: https://clivesgoldpage.com/
