Minelab pinpointer rumor

[randy]

Rumor has it that Minelab will be releasing a pinpointer this spring. If anyone has any hard info, please post (there is an annoying UT vid that I did not feel was worthy of posting; feel free to search it out)

[jkress]

:thinkingabout: ... :drool:
It would be nice to see this be true. :->

[Ill Digger]

Garretts running away with the hand held PP market with their Pro Pointer.
It only makes sense that Minelab would try and retaliate :yes: :beatdown:
I checked out the YouTube vid......aaaah yeah :rolleyes:......kinda annoying lol
Thanks for the heads-up Randy. |:confused:)

[MartinL]

I have never unterstood why another company hasn't competed with the Pro Pointer. There's just way too much business out there.

[Fire Fighter 43]

I've wondered the same thing, why Minelab had not come out with decent pinpointer. I hope it is as good as the Propointer.

[midas]

IMO handheld pinpointers are really cumbersome and don't get much depth. Minelab should make an inline pinpointer for all their models.
It might be ok if it detects upwards of 5 inches in depth. That's the downfall of the White's and Vibraprobe. About an inch. Pretty much useless.
Hope Minelab carries their quality over to the pinpointer.

[CyberSage]

IMO handheld pinpointers are really cumbersome and don't get much depth. Minelab should make an inline pinpointer for all their models.


Have you ever used a Garrett Pro-Pointer? Plenty deep. I used a inline for years, and will never go back. By using the Garrett I can keep my detectors as light, and balanced as possible. I do see the advantages of the inline, but not worth the weight, and de-tunning issues to me. I am looking forward to the Minelab version, if it's for real. Rumors are starting up about Whites having a new probe as well. Just rumors as far as I can tell. Carl seems to be hinting, or may be he is just having some fun with his customers.

[midas]

From what I've read on the Garrett Propointer is 1 to 2 inches. Or you can jerry rig it with a coin for an extra inch. :cheesysmile: I use the DX1 on my V3i and it gets 4 - 5 inches no problem. That depth is what I need to determine if there is still something there. I was looking at the Detector Pro Pistol Probe. But I like an in line probe better because it takes on the personality of the machine you're using. (disc, sensitivity, etc.)

[CyberSage]

So you have never used one? :cheesysmile:

[Ill Digger]

From what I've read on the Garrett Propointer is 1 to 2 inches. Or you can jerry rig it with a coin for an extra inch. :cheesysmile:
:confused: I'm getting 4 inches easily with my Pro Pointers. :yes: I'd say I've picked up targets even farther away than that if they're big enough. I know you can detune them to lesson the response. And I've heard of how people claim to get an extra inch with sliding a coin on it's side or something like that. :dontknow: But never could get it to work with mine. :dontknow: I'd like to get my hands on one of these Minelab PPers if they are a reality. I'm with Jack. I wanna keep my rig as lite as possible. Although I was tinkering with the idea of strapping my Pro Pointer to my upper shaft for easier access thumbsup01 I like the idea of being able to use the machines discrimination but it ain't worth the extra weight.
JM2C :grin:

[MartinL]

If you are getting 4 without sliding the nickel trick,,,on say a nickel target,,,you have a really special Pro Pointer. I doubt most anybody gets more than 2-2.5 open air even on a quarter at best. Yea, the Pro Pointer hits deeper on bigger things, like on my septic tank buried at 18. I would love it if my Pro Pointer would hit 4 on general coins all the time. My hunt for another PP would be totally over when I find one of those.

Just maybe the Minelab is that animal. Time will tell. The Garretts PP is still the king today! A tad more depth above 2-2.5 would sway me away though, but the proximity mode has to be there. martin

[midas]

I don't know why people are talking about extra weight of an inline probe as if it weighs 10 pounds. When you're swinging a 5 pound Minelab or Whites, 6 oz. doesn't really matter. An inline signals thru your headphones. A handheld signals externally as an attention getter for everyone to hear.

[CyberSage]

The weight of the inline probe is about 11 or 12 ounces, depending on revision used. While not enough to really effect overall weight it does noticeably effect balance of the detector. I have used the inline on the DFX, MXT, and V3 detectors extensively. It really shines on the DFX in pinpoint mode, and on the MXT in motion mode. On the V3/V3i with two different units it was prone to de-tunning, and GB shifting in pin point mode. The final issue that made me start looking for a hand held solution was discovering that the the inline probe actually caused the D2 coil on the V3 to fall out of spec and loose sensitivity in testing. In some cases the coil would even overload.(AC at higher settings) After going to the manufacture web site, I discovered that it was the switch that caused this issue. It is in fact listed on the manufacture web site as a known compatibility issue. I really did not want to add problems to an already delicate and sensitive D2 coil. After trying the Garrett and getting a solid 3 inch range with proximity alert ability, it quickly became my probe of choice. The additional range gained by using the Nickel trick is just icing on the cake. As far as the external noise, it is really quite minimal compared to the hooping and hollering I do on a regular basis when digging a keeper. lol
I am hoping that if Minelab releases a probe that it will in fact adhere to the high standards of the rest of their equipment. The sensitivity setting is what is interesting as they may have integrated the Nickel trick right into the probe itself. I hope it is more than a rumor.

Jack

[Cheap Thrills]

I will stick with the Garrett's hand held propointer until another hand held pinpointer comes out that has multiple tones and is as durably made as the Garrett's . I will continue to let myself be fooled by the ocassional piece of iron I have to dig up with my good targets .There are not that many targets where I hunt to warrant the weight and the expense of a Sunray inline if there were I would buy one in a minute ( and I have had Sunray inlines before ) . I would rather have seen Minelab put their time and energy and some of their profits into making a lighter more ergonomic FBS machine

[Merc]

Doesn't look like much, Looks like a modified bullseye. I used the Bullseye for 6 years and i never had a problem with it. I now own a Garret and I love it. Why do you want depth with a pinpointer? 2 or 3 inches is all you need to PINPOINT. If my Machine says something is 6 inches I dig 3 inches then bring out the pinpointer for the last 3. lol Good luck to anyone that buys one, I heard there 169.00. I also try to buy American when possible.

[CyberSage]

It looking pretty good from the details on this advertisement...


[attachimg=1]

[Ill Digger]

It looking pretty good from the details on this advertisement...
:yes: Yeah ! That should squash any doubt lol

[MartinL]

Doesn't look like much, Looks like a modified bullseye. I used the Bullseye for 6 years and i never had a problem with it. I now own a Garret and I love it. Why do you want depth with a pinpointer? 2 or 3 inches is all you need to PINPOINT. If my Machine says something is 6 inches I dig 3 inches then bring out the pinpointer for the last 3. lol Good luck to anyone that buys one, I heard there 169.00. I also try to buy American when possible.


Neither of my Pro Pointers are reliable for 3 inches for small coins like pennies, dimes and other treasures below those sizes. Yes, more depth to me is a very good thing. Gimme 3-4 depth on my Pro Pointers and I would ask the same question of why we need more. Garretts dependable 1-2 on small targets would be great if is was 2-4. JMPO. martin

[Ill Digger]

Neither of my Pro Pointers are reliable for 3 inches for small coins.... Gimme 3-4 depth on my Pro Pointers.
I know air testing is around 2+ with my Pro Pointer too . But I know it has detected a dime over 3 inches pretty easy. A dime at 4+ it's just a tic or so(with fresh batteries). But it's still letting you know dig this way.

**** I know this is bigger than a dime. With a smaller coin the resualts might not be the same. This is just to show the PP does reach farther than 2 inches without any nickle trick.****
Here are the 2 films of me finding a half dollar at 7 deep that I mis-pinpointed with my detector (I'm thinking the coin was on edge) But I easily mis-pinpointed by 5 to 6+ inches and the Pro Pointer still sniffed it out.

In Fire Fighter43 (Jeff's) video I get my first tic at 4:09 in that general direction. Then again at 5:00, in the same general direction, more beeps. Then at 5:49 one more beep on that same side of the hole. Then as he come s back at 6:05 you can see the hole is much wider (about 3+) to the cameras left/ my right. What you don't get to see after Jeff stopped filming is me widening my hole by about 3 inches and continuing to tunnel in another 2+.
Jeff's view:
Metal Detecting Wisconsin with the Minelab Etrac Season 2 E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0i6DIwbAd5E&annotation_id=annotation_30397 2&src_vid=6ZS-5oj9PEg&feature=iv#ws)


Here's my video after I found it. At :55 seconds hit pause. You can see about the original outline of my hole . And also see how the hole was widened from the 3 o'clock to 6 o'clock positions. Then I show the couple of inches I still had to tunnel in to get at this coin.

My view:
Back to Wisconsin with Fire Fighter 43= Semi-Key Barber Half (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZS-5oj9PEg&feature=channel_video_title#)

But I'm still very anxious to see and hear the reveiws, about the Pro-Find 25, that are sure to start pouring in after it's release! :drool: :->

[CyberSage]

Tim,
My experience with the Pro Pointer is very reminiscent of what you describe about 2 inches air testing, 3 inches when recovering a coin. The pro Pointer runs in the 12kHz range so a nickel will give you a response at a greater distance than even a Quarter will. The Nickel trick extends the range out about double the distance in the air and ground. It is important to use a low conductive target as a slide adjustment to get the range. I actually use a a gold ring on my finger inside my glove of course. lol This adjustment would appear to by built into the new Minelab Pro-Find. I have heard April is the release date.

[Epi-hunter]

This is an interesting discussion.

I have always wondered why people make a big deal about the weight of the SunRay. I swing an E-Trac (heavy machine) with a Sun-Ray probe and even when I have gone for several weeks without detecting I can still swing the machine for 8+ hours without feeling a thing. And I am not a man; I am a woman weighing at (as of this morning) 129 pounds and 5'7.... I do work out with light weights 3x a week and cardiovascular 5x a week. Although I weighed more a couple of years ago and was not in as great of shape, I still didn't have problem with the weight or balance. I'm 47 years old.

I think it is apples and oranges. Some people just simply prefer a handheld. I used one for two years before trying the Sun Ray and then never looked back. When I dig a 10 hole I would never be without the Sun Ray.

As for depth with a handheld, I think 1 is probably enough because it's really about pushing it around in the dirt you have excavated or else the dirt in the hole. With a Sun Ray, I use it to decide (as midas stated) whether what I am looking for is still in the hole, and if so, where. Given that, the 3-4 inches the Sun Ray gives is needed. :yes:

Just my two cents.

[Bell-Two]

I think much too much is made of the weight of the E-Trac, mine has the Sunray on it and I can swing it for quite awhile without noticing it's weight I do have some arthritis issues and am not a youngster but I find you get a rest because you are digging more good targets lol. The only time I notice the difference in weight is when I pick up my wife's E-Trac that does not have the Sunray and I can tell a difference. I use both the Pro Pointer and Sunray when I open the hole the first thing I grab is the Pro Pointer and try to quickly locate the target and then I use the Sunray if there seem to be more than one target in the hole.

[Ytcoinshooter]

I'll probably get one of the Minelabs if the reports are good and it is more sensitive than the Garrett.
I own a DX-1, XL-1, vibra probe 460, classic target probe (oldie but goodie), Garrett Pro Pointer and Detector Pro Pistol Probe.
For the Pro Pointer I often do the same trick as Jack, though the ring on my index finger is a sterling band. It nearly doubles the distance it picks up a coin. The Pistol Probe is hands down the deepest, more than double the Garrett. I dressed it up with reflecting & blaze orange tape so it's not mistaken for a gun. The momentary button that you depress could have been made larger. All this said my DX-1 is gathering dust for the reasons Jack stated. I usually use the Garrett with my V3i because I can pinpoint well with the V. I prefer the Pistol Probe if I'm using my Sovereign GT on land because I'm not bad but not as precise in pinpointing with the Minelab. Often I use the Pistol Probe before I make a cut or plug. Just by placing the tip on the ground to get an idea if the target is <5 inches and exactly where the target is...or to tell if more than one target is close by.
Ever since I scratched my first Barber half with a brass probe over 20 years ago I started relying on electronic probes. I should mention I tested a bullseye 2 and was underwhelmed, just disappointing. The best choice IMO is getting the Garrett at discount, under $120. I paid far less for a new one but it was part of a larger purchase.
Well that's my 2 coppers plus piece of eight worth of input.

[TC-NM]

Great discussion! It seems that (newer) pinpointers are getting some good depth. . . WOW! I might just to use my Garrett Pro Pointer as a back up detector by tying it to a stick just to get surface clad, what do you think? :thinkingabout:

TC-NM

[CyberSage]

I am Starting to see adds at various online Metal Detecting stores. Looks like the going price is going to be $169.00. Should be a great pin pointer, but that high price will kill it's sales. It needs to be about $30.00 less to compete with the Pro-Pointer. Let's hope that this is an unrealistic retail price, and Dealers will sell it for less.

[del]

i was told (by a reliable source ) that the Minelab pinpointer is basically the exact same as a Garret pro pointer in almost every way and it will be very hard to compete with Garret when their charging about $25 to $35 more dollars for the same thing. for the extra price it should be water proof and not water resistant .

Dan

[CyberSage]

Not the exact same thing...


Adjustable sensitivity (no more nickle trick)
Two mode operation-audio and vibrate or vibrate only
Auto power off


Definitely needs to be priced the same to make it worth the investment though.

[earthmansurfer]

Well, it's April and it should be coming out in the next few weeks.

My Pro Pointer is on the outs so I'm excited to see how the Minelab pinpointer turns out (before purchasing one).

[Merc]

I just checked ebay they have them and they ship out on July 30. The price is 169.00. To rich for my blood ,I'd rather get a new coil for that price. Good luck to anyone that gets one .