The MXT (In Depth)

[davent]

great info here, thanks for sharing.
Is the DD coil you refer to, the DD1400?
Im looking at buying a Whites MXT very soon. Hope it dosnt take me forever to learn how to use it, as it is my 1st detector.
Im pretty patient, 47 yo.

 

[Guest]

Are you getting the MXT Pro?

 

[davent]

No, its just a plain old MXT, im a newbie at this, and not sure of the MXT models. The one im looking at is on e bay, 4hrs or so to go, so I might not get it yet!

 

[grubstake]

No, its just a plain old MXT, im a newbie at this, and not sure of the MXT models. The one im looking at is on e bay, 4hrs or so to go, so I might not get it yet!

Looks like you got it OK - congratulations!

 

[davent]

lol, thanks mate, exchange rate could have been better, but its not too bad considering it comes with the pinpointer, 2 coils....couldnt quite afford a brand spanker......now its time to learn how to use it.....

were you one of the other bidders?

 

[Guest]

Is this coming from the US?

 

[davent]

yep, US, so all up with postage, around $900, includes 2 coils, a bullseye 2 and a few bits and pieces.

 

[Guest]

When you get the unit you'll find the batter charger can't be used because of the different plug/voltage set-up. Go to Dick Smiths and get a PowerTech Plus Multi-Voltage AC adaptor. $35.

Then you have to cut both wires and solder the PowerTech unit plug to the White's charger.

 

[grubstake]

lol, thanks mate, exchange rate could have been better, but its not too bad considering it comes with the pinpointer, 2 coils....couldnt quite afford a brand spanker......now its time to learn how to use it.....
were you one of the other bidders?

No, just an interested bystander. I've already got an MXT Pro - essentially the same as your MXT.

Whites make a good, solid detector and the MXT is highly adaptable to various uses, plus there's heaps of different coils available for it too. If this is your first detector, the MXT should serve you well for many years - good luck with it!

 

[davent]

thanks mate, the area i will be working is pretty hot ground, lots of iron, and lots of rubbish left from the old days. read up a bit and the whites mxt range seem popular with diggers working those sort of areas.

 

[davent]

When you get the unit you'll find the batter charger can't be used because of the different plug/voltage set-up. Go to Dick Smiths and get a PowerTech Plus Multi-Voltage AC adaptor. $35.

Then you have to cut both wires and solder the PowerTech unit plug to the White's charger.

Thanks for that mate.

 

[Guest]

Since you mention Bruce Candy, John, it's worth noting a couple of relevant comments in his recent Minelab Knowledge Base Article (KBA 24-1), Basics of the GPZ 7000 Technology: Zero Voltage Transmission (ZVT):

In the context of comparing the issues of ground balancing with VLF, PI and ZVT technologies, he notes, A disadvantage of PI is its lesser ability to detect very small nuggets compared to VLF detectors. And also, Another disadvantage of PI is its capability at detecting very large nuggets compared to CW metal detectors, such as ZVT. CW means Continuous Wave and includes all technologies that do not have zero transmit periods (almost all technologies other than PI). [ie. VLF].

The successes of the SDC and the GPZ show just how much gold has been overlooked with the supposedly all-conquering PI's and like Gold Diver above, I believe that some of that gold is readily findable with modern VLF detectors.

Wow, That's Impressive Stuff,

I see why the ZED is having a Big Impact on finding Gold, The ZED is often referred as A Hybrid (crossed between A PI and A VLF) But it seem to work like a VLF but with the power of A PI, Where as PI's have not much to Offer in Normal Ground I am wondering How the ZED would do because of how it behaves like a VLF but it can do it in Hot Ground.

With VLFs I have Dug Some Monstrous Big Holes and in one Area where the soil went from Black as I dug down it went to a greenish sandy colour with Tiny Ruby Coloured Grains in it, But the depth was Huge with most holes being over 17 to 19 inches for coins and small bits of Lead Using a 10" coil.

If ZED Type Technology was Actually put into A Real VLF then I think the Company that Builds it will put every other company out of Business within A Year,

Going back to the Third Tone Issue, We all crave more depth from our Machines and we Change brands In Search for the All Seeing Eye, Yet We have the Tools built into these machines yet so many people never give it a second thought and we trade in our machines to gain another Inch or So yet this third tone will add many inches NOT one or two. I don't think the VLF story is Over yet, But maybe in the next year or So we will see if any of the Rumours Are True,

Thanks Grubstake for the Great Info.

John

Nokta might just be around the corner on that score.

 

[dirtdiggin]

https://www.prospectingaustralia.com/forum/img/member-images/3502/1437279425_image.jpg

Me Looking for new ground, where to start????

A very interesting discussion.

If the Gpz7000 is a super VLF, do you think that is why it's having a few teething problems RE ground balance??
And how long before Whites released thier PI VLF combo, or other company's relize this will be the way forward in the future? Exciting times ahead.
And hats off to Minelab for pushing the boundreys of what can be achieved.

i strongly believe as said previously that too much enfisis is on finding a small gold, and not enough on discrimination, and good target separation. You have to work hard in areas that were picked over by the old timers with their tin cans everywhere, but that's where the gold is and you will be rewarded.
Plus I have found lots of old coins which makes the day really enjoyable.
That's why I own the MXT, and also like using DD coils with a GP3000. But ground mineralization makes it almost impossible for me to deal with most of the time with a VLF, so here is hoping for improvements.

Just one last thing on the SDC2300, and I'm not saying its a bad detector, because it's a great unit but really, if that was designed with the public in mind you have got to be kidding me.
It looks like it has been designed for military and then sold to the public as an afterthought.
Brand new until and I had to wrap tape around the batteries after a phone call to Reeds Prospecting because it was shutting down on me, and that arm rest should be sold with a warning sticker.
Just sell me a detector, water proof box, comfortable and reasonably priced.
90% of us don't care it folds up like a Transformer. I'm in the 10% that did care, but now figuring a way to pack the GPX series into my backpack.

Sometimes simple is best

GD

Hi Gold diver

Just wondering if you have Any more info on the Whites PI/VLF combo machine you spoke about above any updates on how far away it might be? Sounds very interesting!!. Thanks

 

[davent]

Coils.
Gday, am expecting delivery of my whites machine very soon. Its coming with a 9.5" eclipse, and a 14" coil.
have found an old chinese aluvial digging, 200m by 150m, by 2m deep, on and beside an old dry creek.
Any suggestions as to which coil I should use, I have heard that the 1400DD is very heavy.
Also, don,t know wether to expect nuggets, or wether the dirt just has flakes and flour, might have to dig a few tests, and put the detector over the samples?
All suggestions are welcome!

 

[Ridge Runner]

Coils.
Gday, am expecting delivery of my whites machine very soon. Its coming with a 9.5" eclipse, and a 14" coil.
have found an old chinese aluvial digging, 200m by 150m, by 2m deep, on and beside an old dry creek.
Any suggestions as to which coil I should use, I have heard that the 1400DD is very heavy.
Also, don,t know wether to expect nuggets, or wether the dirt just has flakes and flour, might have to dig a few tests, and put the detector over the samples?
All suggestions are welcome!

If the ground reading is not too high (in the prospecting mode) try and use the 950 coil because that 1400 does not see tiny items as well as the other coil or try and get the 10" D2 coil, they are very hot coils and can see bits down below 0.03 grams if the ground is not too hot or the 5x10 DD eclipse coil is the best all rounder but not as hot as the D2 coil, If the ground reads in the high 60s the 12"/300 coil will be fine and in tailing piles it will go deep,

hope this helps,

john

 

[davent]

Thanks John.

 

[davent]

Ok, so my mxt arrived yesterday, in great nick, looks brand new.
Set it upmand had a play. The manuelmcame with it, so had ambit of a read, and threw a lead sinker in the back yard.
Watched it land and bounce....thennwent to about 3m from it and started from there.
Had it set on relic mode, edge of sound, and disc set about half way (12 oclock).
Was using the 14" dd, and predictably, had no problems. Next throw, it bounced near my shed....ok this one was a lot harder, but then, when I was mucking around, I was in the middle of my yard, when I got a zing, read 45 on the meter andnthe word bullet came up, with a bar mid way on the consol.
Thought to myself, might practice pin pointing, so held the trigger in and quickly worked how this worked.
It read 4 inches deep, so I thought id dig a neat little hole, and find out wether the last occupents used landmfill fromma gold mine lol.
Well, little hole, got ambit bigger, thenna bit more, little bit bigger, mand I found a ....really old clothes peg....with an alloy spring no doubt.Problemmwas, I keep getting zings in the same place.....reckon Imwill try and findmsome sterile ground, andmget my daughter to hide some stuff for me!
Cant seem to work out how to pin point on prospecting mode though....

 

[Ridge Runner]

To pin point in any mode sweep the coil over the target and scrap a mark (Line) on the ground with your boot, then turn 90* to the target and do the same again and where the centre of the X is is where the target Is, ok.

 

[silver]

To pin point in any mode sweep the coil over the target and scrap a mark (Line) on the ground with your boot, then turn 90* to the target and do the same again and where the centre of the X is is where the target Is, ok.

Old school.

 

[Ridge Runner]

To pin point in any mode sweep the coil over the target and scrap a mark (Line) on the ground with your boot, then turn 90* to the target and do the same again and where the centre of the X is is where the target Is, ok.

Old school.

Yeah that's right, lol

That 14" coil he has got is a 8x14 and it's like a boat, in fact if he had 2 of em they could double up as Snow shoes, I got one of the Older 8x14 concentrics for the GMT but it is the only Whites coil that looses sensitivity on small targets because of its size. his 950 coil is way better for pin pointing,