But, as hard as it was, we were willing to do it to get the depth that the Nauty gave us. I still have my Aquasound unit I bought several years ago which was build on a Nautilus technology (and logic board?), and primarily designed for beach use. I dont use it much anymore, but when I did you still had to balance the ground very meticulously to get the best depth.
All I can say is the Nautilus metal detector was way behind the times because in 1978 You could buy a Whites. 6000-D and it was 100 times easier to set up than that and they produce that machine for 15 years and it was considered one of the best metal detectors you could buy for many many years.
Here is a video demonstrating the coin master 6000D. My father bought this machine back in 1978 and when he died I took over this machine. It used to run on nickel, cadium batteries but I have now converted it to lithium ion batteries works just as good as the day it was bought. ua-cam.com/video/Ratn3QHuC9k/v-deo.html
This video was so cool man haha! I consider myself very tech savvy with using DJI Matrice 300 with LiDAR, GPR, multiple detectors blah blah blah but I just got put in my place :). First off there is almost a full alphabet of nodes and buttons. Then the lecture starts lol. “Here’s a little tip too on a cold day repeat the procedure every 15 minutes for the first hour or so when you first get out into the field!” Then proceeds to go to the SECOND part of the setup hahaha. I swear I’m buying one of these just so I don’t feel like such a wanna be.
I read you loud and clear bro, no notching notches, just the beef notches, in other words, don't fully rely on the settings on the select panel of the Metal Detector, got ya'! The aluminum test was a great idea. I liked that! indicating that the thicker the object, the higher numbered reading that you get, now that makes a world of since. The test difference between that of a Morgan silver dollar and a silver change was an awesome tip! Also, you are right as rain about the earlier metal detectors, a little too much involvement, YIKES! JUNK! JUNK!! JUNK!!! Thank you Merrill, the simplicity of it all, Merrill, you are a God sent to all Metal Detectorist!!! Thank you Merrill for sharing your thoughts on what really counts about the facts of Metal Detecting! Beep onward wayward son, thanks for the laughs too! God bless ya!, Greg the Egg.
Man, that was so bang on. First, thank you for all the time and effort you put into this great hobby. What I got from this, and you are so right. Don't over think it and have fun. Thats it.
Great Video! Merrill, I bought on these beasts a couple years ago. It is absolutely awesome. It is a keeper now that I understand it. I had exactly the same reaction that you did but setting it up really isn't that bad after a number of tries and practice. This is one machine that will teach you a lot about metal detecting through necessity. The written instructions were absolutely horrible although I found an extensive paper written by a user on setting it up and interpreting the sounds. Thanks for what you do with all the educational videos..
Watching you try and comprehend the directions was hilarious! 😂 To this day, if the soil is right the nautilus is still my favorite machine. Used one for nearly 30 years now. I will say, understanding a nautilus will give you a much better understanding of how metal detectors actually work. The nautilus dmcii-ba will auto ground balance by the way. I dig way more relics when using the nautilus hands down… at the end of the day our brain is the best discriminator and the nautilus actual gave more instant feedback than modern detectors. All metal in one ear, discrimination in the other.. Truly the relic king when used properly and in good soil. It also will dig just as deep if not deeper than modern machines all day. Knowing your machine and what it is telling you is the key to squeezing that extra depth when all you have is tones to work with. I’d have to say that carries over on modern metal detectors, slight chirps, warbles etc. your machine is telling you a lot, wether you listen or not is on how good you know your machine. Those slight warbles on the all metal side with a nautilus have very often been buttons/bullets 20+ inches deep. Once you have it figured, set up is not as bad as it seems. But yeah, I have to laugh sometimes when I see folks complain about modern detectors. I’ve got a few extra nautiluses if you ever want to try the King Merrill! Bonus feature: you can pack a lunch in the control box, you will need your strength.
The people who know about tuning the old analog detectors will find the 2023 detectors a piece of cake, but I think they will also be more likely to master the newer units to a higher level of skill than those who never had to struggle with these older analog units, as they have a better idea of what is happening in the relationship between the operator, the detector, the ground, and targets.
I laughed so much, love your videos! I don’t notch out anything, and dig practically everything. When I’m tired I use the tone & sound the target makes to decide if I’m gonna dig.
Hi Merrill! Interesting blast from the past! Maybe you point this out later in the video, but 1 reason the Nautilus seems so complicated is that its a PI (pulse induction) detector, not a VLF detector which most of us used / still use. He says its an induction detor at 15:10. PI machines were known to require a lot of fiddling cuz as he says, you need to get the bix & the coil tuned together. more work to balance. I agree that its easier to turn on & go with todays macines & it still comes down to understanding your machine & the controls of any detector. There's nothing that can replace experience! Ive been detecting since 1982 and I'm still learning ☺️
Great job Merril! Verry interesting & funny. This brings me back. In 1965 my first metal detector was a Relco which had to be used in conjunction with a transistor radio to distinguish ferrous from nonferrous by tuning the radio to the left or right of a central point of frequency. The shaft and coil were made out of wood. It produced good results, but it didn't last long. Since then, I've owned White, Garret, Bounty Hunter, Compass and Equinox. I love this hobby. Please bring on some more vintage metal detector videos. Thanks & good luck.
1965! What year would you say in your opinion detectors got to the point that they could find what they find today? Of course I’m talking about after doing whatever was needed to not only start the machine but keep it running optimally. Has the improvement been in ease of use and improved finding ability or did the old machines in essence still do the job of todays for the most part but just took much more to setup and continue to use?
I had a "whites coin master" back in the late 70s. Everything was manual, ground balance, threshold etc. it taught me how to use a detector properly and more importantly how to listen. I found just as much as I found in later years with a more modern machine.
Dang Merrill, that was as informative as it was funny! I've definitely noticed that my buddy finds less treasure after he gets 'used' to his 'latest' machine, in other words; after he feels more comfortable pushing buttons thereby screwing up the factory settings that the engineers worked so hard to come up with!
Casper Metal Detecting here - Amen, Merrill has seen the light I have found over 1000 pieces of gold jewelry in my over 40 yrs of detecting I hunt 99% of the time in all metal - I try to dig it all ...at places you hit often - it only makes sense to take out all the trash so you dont hit over and over every time you go there . When your on vacation or far from home and your time is limited then you may want to move faster and "cherry pick" for the better signals. I live 1 1/2 to 2hrs away from salt water beaches in Ma., R.I. and Ct. = I follow a lot of hunters that live real close to the spots i hit - I find deep gold and silver at many New England spots that others miss - either cause they go too fast or because they crank discrim. and either cancel the small gold or lose depth
Great video . The same silver coin can have a different vdi reading depending on how long it was in the soil , if it was corroded thin by the waves or how crusty it was. Clay soil in a park versus beach black sand. Not to mention other big iron objects or coins in the vicinity that can change your vdi readout.
I have a degree in electronics and was a ham radio operator in the 70’s-80’s with tube gear. That reminded me of firing up a tube transceiver adjusting power and also adjusting for the lowest SWR readings. Also looked to be as stable as the early electronic synthesizers. I now love my Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, Garrett ACE 400 and especially Nokta Simplex even more. Thank You Merrill for this look back at how it used to be.
I have two hacks for just about any detector that no one is mentioning... works great on my xterra pro. 1. When pinpointing I first get it close to the target then I engage pinpoint a second time so as to decrease its sensitivity. Also, you can tilt the coil slight in a circular motion to further locate the direction of your target...I've gotten pretty proficient at this so my holes are now smaller and more centered to the target :)
What I've learned from you over the years is, if it SOUNDS good, dig it. I generally don't change the settings much unless there's a lot of emf in the area. So I've found gold at 20 on the equinox which is usually pennies and I've found platinum at 14 which is almost ALWAYS pull tabs. Sound to me has become more important then the #'s. I am glad however, that minelab has taken the complications out of running these machines. Thanks for all your lessons and observations, it really has made me a better detectorist !!
You are giving me invaluable information, thank you, I’m a beginner who has been going around beaches with a pointer (minlab) because I’m trying to figure out what detector to get. You are clarifying things for me.
If it's a good signal or in two directions, it's a dig for sure. Years ago there was no UA-cam or any introduction in metal detecting. If you didn't know how to use or know one to teach you holly crap I was that kid. A fisher 1225x had no idea and knobs. I quit gave up but never lost the desire to detect. After many models and ended up with equinox 800 and its been great! Because of this channel
The detectorists that come from this era have a lot valuable insight into today's machines. For instance, in trying to understand threshold on my Legend, I came across information that described the threshold as true (found on the gold setting) and reference (found on the other settings, field, park) threshold. The Nokta manual says that increased threshold means increased depth. The experts advice that I got says that threshold will eliminate the ability of the detector to find smaller targets. They say to run the threshold so that you can just hear it in the background. I think the Legend is getting back to depending on user knowledge more with so many settings that you can adjust.
24 yrs ago when I started this hobby an old Gandalf told me the only way to find everything valuable is to dig everything. That same principle still applies today and will continue to be so until they bring out a detector that can give you an absolute detailed picture on screen period.
My first detector was some cheap thing my dad picked up and Gave to me and my brother for Christmas. That was in 1978. I have no idea whatever happened to it but my next was the AT PRO back in 2011. Now I happily own the ledgen i bought 3 weeks ago. Funny how i forgot that gift from long ago, it must have been the seed that got me going 😂
Holy wow Merrill, I'm glad I watched this one. Why I saw that ungodly mess of mangled wires and rods dangling from that Osage Tree, now makes alot of sense after watching that nautilus dude confuse everybody. That's why we pay big money for those beep and find machines. Another hundred yards down the trail, I came up on a similar thing. There was another one like that Nautilus dude had, wrapped all around a monkeyfruit tree like a pretzel. About this time I got the willies, like sasquach the biggin was giving me the eye from the shadows. Needless to say, I'd seen enough. That's all I got to say about that.
I’ll say it again…identifying and gaining access to promising sites (and putting in the time of course) is BY FAR the greatest determinant in finding good stuff.
I have the Eqauinox 800 - once while in the ocean, I accidentally switched it to gold mode, & it started screaming for help. After watching that old VHS - I'm happy to just turn Iron on & off while in Beach 2. Thanks for sharing this.
Repeat every 15 minutes? Dude it would take me 15 minutes to do it once! Love the foil demo. I have noticed this phenomena in tot lots that tend to have a lot of foil wrappers. Sometimes they sound so good! Great stuff!
I was raised on the Nautilus metal detectors, and I still hunt with guys who use nothing else. It was and I suppose still a killer machine for civil war relics. But I like to evolve. Still have my Nautilus, but I prefer my Deus 2 and Equinox, so much simpler...tks for taking us down memory lane...
What a great video. I'm so glad these new detectors are more plug and play. because the setup that guy had to do just to go out in the field seems overkill.If they were like that today i'm not sure if i would want one. I like my nox 600 lol Thank you metal man for another educational video!
"Lower the coal to the ground slowly. If it gets quieter, increase the venereal doll. Everyone still with me?" :D The complexity of that machine, combined with that man's accent, I think is how we lost two space shuttles.
TID isn't a matter of target density exactly, but rather the size / momentum of the eddy current flow. You are correct though that a small silver chain produces a series of smaller eddy current flow paths (across each individual loop), where as a silver coin makes a larger eddy current flow with more 'momentum'. As the time alternating magnetic field of the detector changes direction, the eddy current flow changes direction too, and the change in flow causes a resistive loss of energy. The harder it is for that eddy current flow to changes directions (can be thought of as having more momentum), the greater the resistive loss.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Your reaction was classic, Merrill. 😂🤣 By the time you get that detector ground balanced, the sun will have set or the batteries will have died out. 😂 I have the Nox 600 and the Legend detector, but I also have a Garrett ADS VLF/TR Groundhog Deepseeker that I plan to try at my local hard hunted park. I bought it at a pawn shop for $40 and it looks like it was used a few times and stored in a closet, up until I bought it. I have the instruction manual on pdf and it’s nowhere as complicated as that Nautilus detector, but it’s got a few steps to it.
I used to have a 1970's Whites Coinmaster a bit like that. Now I have a cheap and cheerful Minelab Vanquish 540. In the quickstart guide it says, turn on, wait 5 seconds, go detecting!
I had a Gold Monster, Minelab 1000. On it was a led meter that would light up tp the right for "gold", left for ferrous. Many times with me and many other prospectors around the world, we/they have learned to dig all targets. So i went and got me a $119.00 detector and have been using that and my gold has increased. I mean, i'm digging all targets anyway. Might as well save money doing it. The cool thing about this one is you know it's a big iron object when you swing over it. Goes back to that saying:K.I.S.S.🙂
PS I’ve had small silver rings from the 1840-50 period read just like small pieces of aluminum can slaw or lower. Folks have no idea what they’re throwing away. Also-nautilus machines were the Linux OS of metal detectors. LOL
Great video Merrill!!! I actually still have a Nautilus and man this video wasn't a lie, lol, it took a while to figure it out. Is a really good machine tho. I'm in CT and I did fine with it around cellar holes. I can't wait until you do a video on the Nexus, that's in my top 3 when I get a new machine. Still rocking the Nox 800...lol
Dang you will have to start up that machine before daylight if you want to hunt that day. Lol I agree today we want someone’s program just plug and play. Great video. Where do you find the old videos like this?
That was hilarious. And to repeat the setting process every 15 minutes initially, I don’t think I would finish the first one before it was time to adjust it again. 😂
Love the video, thanks, Merrill. When do you think we'll see A.I. being incorporated into metal detectors? That is to say, software that can sense ground conditions, and you pick what type of hunting your plan to do, and the detector reads the environment and sets for maximum potential?
I could see someone trying to turn on and go. Think about all the questions on FB. Someone would send out a hit squad for that person. I can't wait to see your video on the Nexus. I was contemplating the MPv3 after seeing your video several months back but honestly thought Merrill will probably get one soon. If it is as good as the videos show it will be interesting to say the least. Thanks Merrill.
I entered the metal detecting hobby during that time. The old gold machines required tedious ground balancing because of the hot ground associated with the gold fields. And if I recall correctly, the Nautilus was favored by Civil War relic hunters in the red, highly mineralized ground in Northern Virginia. I had a Whites TM-800 two box machine that required me to regularly press a button on the handle to keep the threshold from drifting. I never could get the most from that machine that I knew it was capable of. And yes, I’d say the Nautilus would be to me like that notorious caliometric problem in my physics class that took a half page to do and I never had enough time on an exam to get it right!
And on the TM-800 the manual required you to have no metal like belt buckles on you during operation so I just about had to hold up my pants with one hand while swinging with the other! Lol All machines evolve similarly. Ever watched a video on how to start and operate Model T? Most people would not be able to get it out of the driveway!
Wowsers! I thought the early 80s whites machines were a pain. That thing looks like I'd just go fishing instead. Love these new machines. Always great content Merrill.👍
I have one if these here in thr Uk Merrel. the DMC 2BA model as new condition kept wrapped clean and in A1 condition with the upgraded xkt type shaft with a push button ground grab :) still one of my deepest seeking detectors and fun to use. Point to note the DMC2BA dine away with that long set up lol thats why this detector was actually the most sought after in past and current years.
In 1994 I purchased a Garrett GTA 500,it had auto GB and was turn on and detect.....it lasted me 18 years till I replaced it with the ATPRO which I still use 11 years later
I’ve known this simply by my very limited experience. I started finding good things in places that other people have hunted many times, within my first day of starting. I’ve found some cool stuff since I started in feb this year (2023) absolutely haven’t messed with my detector settings at all. I just think differently than other people I guess. For example, there is a very old river crossing with the oldest still standing house in my county. I know for a fact it’s been hunted many many times. There is really nothing on the main property. So I walked the long trails done by the river. Low and behold o dig up a dime from 1897. One of my friends even told me, don’t go there man, There’s nothing left. I proved him wrong. Why no one thought to do that before I don’t know. Cheers 😎
I've had two Nautilus detectors and still have an old LF. One of my hunting buddies will use nothing but a Nautilus and is deadly with it. They are still made in Coats NC by Wayne Lee!!
Modern detector technology has come a long way since the Nautilus, but the main difference is that most of the setup one had to do with the Nautilus is now done in the background by the detector itself. This doesn't mean those old settings are obsolete, it just means the tiny computer chips inside our modern machines are doing it for us. Without this technology, we'd still be twisting dials! All that said, we can improve our modern machines by tweaking them. This is why we have periodic updates and menus, all of which help us to tailor our detectors for the ground we are searching.
Ya, I know Garrett detectors are frowned upon a lot for not being as sophisticated as or being a worse value compared to other more modern designs ... someday there will probably be a Manticore with my name on it. But when people in Garrett forums ask what the best setting is for their AT or Ace detector ... I can just tell them ON. Sure, put it in pro zero mode or whatever, and ground balance. But you're not constantly messing around digging through deeply nested menus to tweak some setting or another a couple notches up or down for what you might think are very specific conditions, because the soil is red and solar activity is high, and Park 1, Park 2, Park 3, Beach 5 or whatever don't feel right. Instead it's pretty much turn them on and go. In the 90's I picked up a used Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger. It's nowhere near as complicated as that Nautilus, but it did take some fiddling and i don't think I ever really had it working right.
I have an ACE 400, Nokta Simplex and started with a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV. There are times I still like the Tracker IV. So simple I liken it to Go / No Go. No VDI. Just Low & Hi tones to go by.
9 months later ... I just got that Manticore, there was a big sale, 30% off. The settings aren't as daunting as I expected, I can more or less turn it on and go, and I'll play with the settings as I learn more. It's actually been a much bigger challenge for me to rewire my brain to understand what the Manticore is saying to me, compared to my AT Max. Canadian clad coins are trash. I dont have enough hours on it yet, but so far its been really hard to pick out our trashy coins from the actual trash, except for pennies. So many pennies. Pennies everywhere in parks that I had cleaned out hundreds of pennies with the AT Max, where I'd only find a couple pennies today with the Max. In fact Garrett sells different AT's in Canada than in the US ... the "international' version, where the tone mapping is shifted, giving higher tones at slightly lower VDI's ... specifically to distinguish our coins from the trash.
The first detector I ever used was in the mid 70's. I don't even remember the name of it. I think it was used for finding buried pipes and such. After a few outings, I put it in the closet and only returned to it when I was throwing out all the junk I had gathered over the years. I bought a GTI2500 and Whites Spectrum and finally enjoyed detecting. (I like the idiot version) My newest is the Nox 900 and it is a spak-tak-u-lar detector. Thanks for the video and reminding why I gave up metal detecting until the 90's! Lol
Now Most to all Hobby detectors are set to turn on and go. With friendlier options to fine tune yourself if you feel the need. I like that option. That Detector you showed us would take the fun out of the hunt. Spend hour setting it up 2 mins hunting. retune. Time to go home.. Good info in this Video.. Thanks Man.. Peace
Thanks, this is why you dig everything, there is no way of knowing what's under the ground. Only the ability to get a rough size of the item. Even iron can read up the VDI and end up being a nail. It's just not possible to know.
My best tip or hack buddy is to get a TRF rod and locate the silver and gold targets with it accurately then use your not so reliable detector with a large coil to confirm the target is where the TFR says it is. Then dig. My TFR Pro 1 is my main detector and my 12 other metal detectors I just use or collect for my man cave lol
Hi i did not understand what Grizzly Adams said about the Nautilus but when i saw him ground balancing it made me love my nokta makro simplex even more 😂 Another thing i did not understand was how your slippers had a like two inches in the back and your toes were touching the groung 😅😂 🤣😂 Thanks for the video we do have it easier 🙂
I have tesoro lobo 15 years....still this detector exciting me...especially at the wet sand....automatically ground balance i don't change it for nothing....real coin killer
The Nautilus DMC2B Still today in Good Soil Can Stand up todays Modeen. More Relics have Been Dug Relic Hunters here in N.C. V.A. Than any Brand. You always Dig Deeper Targets By Tones Then today Meters . VID Number. Many feature on today market dont improve depth in fact like miss deep targets. Sadly Jerry Tyndall fonder Nautilus passed in few 10 years ago. Jerry Tyndall was first have High Transmit Power To Coil, In fact no other brands today you balance Coil to Transmit Power and Out Side Temp . DMC2B even today still only has highest Transmit Useable Power and modern machine
Jerry Tyndall was a genius, his coil is/was the only coil with a receiver built into the coil, picked up faint signals, amplified them and sent them to the main board for processing.. dig dimes at 12-14 inches BACK in the 80's, 20 years before minegarbage. Best water machine ever made.. with circuitry in coil it produced a halo effect off the sides of the coil. I'll outhunt ANY Minelab for gold weight in same amount of time.
@@MetalDetectingNYC Yes saw those other videos you made , unfortunately discovered your channel after the purchase, but luckily under the return period. Will be doing mainly beaches out here in San Diego.
I should have put understandings. 1. ) All metal mode for the win 2.) Detectors of this generation do most of the calibration for you. Dont overthink it. Put your energy in to getting on good ground.
Quiz time! Each question is worth 25 points you need a 75 to pass! No going back to the video! 1. What is the label of item "H"? 2. When do you use the red button? 3. During ground balancing, if you move the coil to the ground and the tone gets higher, what do you need to do? 4. What is the correct procedure for adjusting the SLB?
My parents bought me a metal detector back in the late 80s I think it cost about $190 it had a needle gauge and three dials. I don't think I ever did figure out how to use it but my first find was probably my best find. And my pinpointer was a screwdriver. Uff
What do you think? Does "KNOW YOUR DETECTOR" apply as much in 2023?
But, as hard as it was, we were willing to do it to get the depth that the Nauty gave us. I still have my Aquasound unit I bought several years ago which was build on a Nautilus technology (and logic board?), and primarily designed for beach use. I dont use it much anymore, but when I did you still had to balance the ground very meticulously to get the best depth.
@@Gary_Daytona It must have been an incredible learning machine.
All I can say is the Nautilus metal detector was way behind the times because in 1978 You could buy a Whites. 6000-D and it was 100 times easier to set up than that and they produce that machine for 15 years and it was considered one of the best metal detectors you could buy for many many years.
@@ke4uyp I wish I owned more Whites detectors! I loved my Beach Hunter 300.
Here is a video demonstrating the coin master 6000D. My father bought this machine back in 1978 and when he died I took over this machine. It used to run on nickel, cadium batteries but I have now converted it to lithium ion batteries works just as good as the day it was bought.
ua-cam.com/video/Ratn3QHuC9k/v-deo.html
Legend has it he’s still out in those woods trying to set his ground balance…
When people were able to stay focused longer than 6 seconds
Yeah that's true I remember w.... 🤷🏿♂️
We need a new button, then we can take into super market to find actual real food.
This video was so cool man haha! I consider myself very tech savvy with using DJI Matrice 300 with LiDAR, GPR, multiple detectors blah blah blah but I just got put in my place :). First off there is almost a full alphabet of nodes and buttons. Then the lecture starts lol. “Here’s a little tip too on a cold day repeat the procedure every 15 minutes for the first hour or so when you first get out into the field!” Then proceeds to go to the SECOND part of the setup hahaha. I swear I’m buying one of these just so I don’t feel like such a wanna be.
I read you loud and clear bro, no notching notches, just the beef notches, in other words, don't fully rely on the settings on the select panel of the Metal Detector, got ya'! The aluminum test was a great idea. I liked that! indicating that the thicker the object, the higher numbered reading that you get, now that makes a world of since. The test difference between that of a Morgan silver dollar and a silver change was an awesome tip! Also, you are right as rain about the earlier metal detectors, a little too much involvement, YIKES! JUNK! JUNK!! JUNK!!! Thank you Merrill, the simplicity of it all, Merrill, you are a God sent to all Metal Detectorist!!! Thank you Merrill for sharing your thoughts on what really counts about the facts of Metal Detecting! Beep onward wayward son, thanks for the laughs too! God bless ya!, Greg the Egg.
Man, that was so bang on. First, thank you for all the time and effort you put into this great hobby. What I got from this, and you are so right. Don't over think it and have fun. Thats it.
The “experts” that I have met sharing magic program combinations will not get you as far as a generation ago.
Great Video! Merrill, I bought on these beasts a couple years ago. It is absolutely awesome. It is a keeper now that I understand it. I had exactly the same reaction that you did but setting it up really isn't that bad after a number of tries and practice. This is one machine that will teach you a lot about metal detecting through necessity. The written instructions were absolutely horrible although I found an extensive paper written by a user on setting it up and interpreting the sounds. Thanks for what you do with all the educational videos..
Watching you try and comprehend the directions was hilarious! 😂 To this day, if the soil is right the nautilus is still my favorite machine. Used one for nearly 30 years now. I will say, understanding a nautilus will give you a much better understanding of how metal detectors actually work. The nautilus dmcii-ba will auto ground balance by the way. I dig way more relics when using the nautilus hands down… at the end of the day our brain is the best discriminator and the nautilus actual gave more instant feedback than modern detectors. All metal in one ear, discrimination in the other.. Truly the relic king when used properly and in good soil. It also will dig just as deep if not deeper than modern machines all day. Knowing your machine and what it is telling you is the key to squeezing that extra depth when all you have is tones to work with. I’d have to say that carries over on modern metal detectors, slight chirps, warbles etc. your machine is telling you a lot, wether you listen or not is on how good you know your machine. Those slight warbles on the all metal side with a nautilus have very often been buttons/bullets 20+ inches deep. Once you have it figured, set up is not as bad as it seems. But yeah, I have to laugh sometimes when I see folks complain about modern detectors. I’ve got a few extra nautiluses if you ever want to try the King Merrill! Bonus feature: you can pack a lunch in the control box, you will need your strength.
I do!!!! I do!!!!!I have a Nexus coming in and im going to have to learn that. You are right. knowing all of this will widen your worldview!
Funny video, I started detecting back in the early 70’s and am familiar with some of these older detectors. I really appreciate the newer technology
Me too!
The people who know about tuning the old analog detectors will find the 2023 detectors a piece of cake, but I think they will also be more likely to master the newer units to a higher level of skill than those who never had to struggle with these older analog units, as they have a better idea of what is happening in the relationship between the operator, the detector, the ground, and targets.
I agree! I think it also depends on their comfort level with a digital interface.
I laughed so much, love your videos! I don’t notch out anything, and dig practically everything. When I’m tired I use the tone & sound the target makes to decide if I’m gonna dig.
Thank you GariAnne!
Hi Merrill!
Interesting blast from the past!
Maybe you point this out later in the video, but 1 reason the Nautilus seems so complicated is that its a PI (pulse induction) detector, not a VLF detector which most of us used / still use.
He says its an induction detor at 15:10.
PI machines were known to require a lot of fiddling cuz as he says, you need to get the bix & the coil tuned together. more work to balance.
I agree that its easier to turn on & go with todays macines & it still comes down to understanding your machine & the controls of any detector. There's nothing that can replace experience!
Ive been detecting since 1982 and I'm still learning ☺️
My dmc2b is a VLF.
Great job Merril! Verry interesting & funny. This brings me back. In 1965 my first metal detector was a Relco which had to be used in conjunction with a transistor radio to distinguish ferrous from nonferrous by tuning the radio to the left or right of a central point of frequency. The shaft and coil were made out of wood. It produced good results, but it didn't last long. Since then, I've owned White, Garret, Bounty Hunter, Compass and Equinox. I love this hobby. Please bring on some more vintage metal detector videos. Thanks & good luck.
Thank you so much! Wow! 1965! You need a channel Dan!
1965! What year would you say in your opinion detectors got to the point that they could find what they find today? Of course I’m talking about after doing whatever was needed to not only start the machine but keep it running optimally. Has the improvement been in ease of use and improved finding ability or did the old machines in essence still do the job of todays for the most part but just took much more to setup and continue to use?
@@legacyXplore I think I’m going to make a video with a response to this great question.
I had a "whites coin master" back in the late 70s. Everything was manual, ground balance, threshold etc. it taught me how to use a detector properly and more importantly how to listen. I found just as much as I found in later years with a more modern machine.
Dang Merrill, that was as informative as it was funny! I've definitely noticed that my buddy finds less treasure after he gets 'used' to his 'latest' machine, in other words; after he feels more comfortable pushing buttons thereby screwing up the factory settings that the engineers worked so hard to come up with!
Casper Metal Detecting here - Amen, Merrill has seen the light
I have found over 1000 pieces of gold jewelry in my over 40 yrs of detecting
I hunt 99% of the time in all metal - I try to dig it all ...at places you hit often - it only makes sense to take out all the trash so you dont hit over and over every time you go there . When your on vacation or far from home and your time is limited then you may want to move faster and "cherry pick" for the better signals. I live 1 1/2 to 2hrs away from salt water beaches in Ma., R.I. and Ct. = I follow a lot of hunters
that live real close to the spots i hit - I find deep gold and silver at many New England spots that others miss - either cause they go too fast or because they crank discrim. and either cancel the small gold or lose depth
Great video . The same silver coin can have a different vdi reading depending on how long it was in the soil , if it was corroded thin by the waves or how crusty it was. Clay soil in a park versus beach black sand. Not to mention other big iron objects or coins in the vicinity that can change your vdi readout.
Thanks for filming Gabby!
I have a degree in electronics and was a ham radio operator in the 70’s-80’s with tube gear. That reminded me of firing up a tube transceiver adjusting power and also adjusting for the lowest SWR readings. Also looked to be as stable as the early electronic synthesizers. I now love my Bounty Hunter Tracker IV, Garrett ACE 400 and especially Nokta Simplex even more. Thank You Merrill for this look back at how it used to be.
Thank you!
I have two hacks for just about any detector that no one is mentioning... works great on my xterra pro.
1. When pinpointing I first get it close to the target then I engage pinpoint a second time so as to decrease its sensitivity. Also, you can tilt the coil slight in a circular motion to further locate the direction of your target...I've gotten pretty proficient at this so my holes are now smaller and more centered to the target :)
What I've learned from you over the years is, if it SOUNDS good, dig it. I generally don't change the settings much unless there's a lot of emf in the area. So I've found gold at 20 on the equinox which is usually pennies and I've found platinum at 14 which is almost ALWAYS pull tabs. Sound to me has become more important then the #'s. I am glad however, that minelab has taken the complications out of running these machines. Thanks for all your lessons and observations, it really has made me a better detectorist !!
Thank you for the kind words! Yes! You nailed it!
You are giving me invaluable information, thank you, I’m a beginner who has been going around beaches with a pointer (minlab) because I’m trying to figure out what detector to get. You are clarifying things for me.
Glad it was helpful!
If it's a good signal or in two directions, it's a dig for sure. Years ago there was no UA-cam or any introduction in metal detecting. If you didn't know how to use or know one to teach you holly crap I was that kid. A fisher 1225x had no idea and knobs. I quit gave up but never lost the desire to detect. After many models and ended up with equinox 800 and its been great! Because of this channel
The detectorists that come from this era have a lot valuable insight into today's machines. For instance, in trying to understand threshold on my Legend, I came across information that described the threshold as true (found on the gold setting) and reference (found on the other settings, field, park) threshold. The Nokta manual says that increased threshold means increased depth. The experts advice that I got says that threshold will eliminate the ability of the detector to find smaller targets. They say to run the threshold so that you can just hear it in the background. I think the Legend is getting back to depending on user knowledge more with so many settings that you can adjust.
The only way that it increases depth is the threshold skip for when a target is on the border of out of range.
24 yrs ago when I started this hobby an old Gandalf told me the only way to find everything valuable is to dig everything. That same principle still applies today and will continue to be so until they bring out a detector that can give you an absolute detailed picture on screen period.
My first real unit was a Whites Coinmaster, no buttons, all knobs. And I LOVED IT!
I have to say I prefer knobs to buttons. Some of the digital interfaces are tricky!
My first detector was some cheap thing my dad picked up and Gave to me and my brother for Christmas.
That was in 1978.
I have no idea whatever happened to it but my next was the AT PRO back in 2011.
Now I happily own the ledgen i bought 3 weeks ago.
Funny how i forgot that gift from long ago, it must have been the seed that got me going 😂
Holy wow Merrill, I'm glad I watched this one. Why I saw that ungodly mess of mangled wires and rods dangling from that Osage Tree, now makes alot of sense after watching that nautilus dude confuse everybody. That's why we pay big money for those beep and find machines. Another hundred yards down the trail, I came up on a similar thing. There was another one like that Nautilus dude had, wrapped all around a monkeyfruit tree like a pretzel. About this time I got the willies, like sasquach the biggin was giving me the eye from the shadows. Needless to say, I'd seen enough. That's all I got to say about that.
I’ll say it again…identifying and gaining access to promising sites (and putting in the time of course) is BY FAR the greatest determinant in finding good stuff.
Yes!
Awesome video man!
I have the Eqauinox 800 - once while in the ocean, I accidentally switched it to gold mode, & it started screaming for help. After watching that old VHS - I'm happy to just turn Iron on & off while in Beach 2. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank YOU!
Repeat every 15 minutes? Dude it would take me 15 minutes to do it once! Love the foil demo. I have noticed this phenomena in tot lots that tend to have a lot of foil wrappers. Sometimes they sound so good! Great stuff!
My patience level evaporated somewhere around step 1.5… Thank you Merrill, I will never complain about my machine again! Lol…
Good one 😁used a Nautilus once back in the day and it was good
I know of people that still swear by it. As much as I gave it a hard time for that impossible setup I know it was highly capable.
I was raised on the Nautilus metal detectors, and I still hunt with guys who use nothing else. It was and I suppose still a killer machine for civil war relics. But I like to evolve. Still have my Nautilus, but I prefer my Deus 2 and Equinox, so much simpler...tks for taking us down memory lane...
I think physics would probably be a lot easier than the Nautilus !!! 😂😂😂
Ive never metal deteced but your channel really does inspire me and i appreciate your work funny guy
I appreciate that!
Great testing i learn so much before i go go go so i should b able to determine my targets.
I think the best way to determine the targets is with your ears and with headphones on.
What a great video. I'm so glad these new detectors are more plug and play. because the setup that guy had to do just to go out in the field seems overkill.If they were like that today i'm not sure if i would want one. I like my nox 600 lol Thank you metal man for another educational video!
"Lower the coal to the ground slowly. If it gets quieter, increase the venereal doll. Everyone still with me?" :D The complexity of that machine, combined with that man's accent, I think is how we lost two space shuttles.
😂
Thank you Merrill for sharing another awesome video
Thank you!!!!
@@MetalDetectingNYC you’re welcome 😇
TID isn't a matter of target density exactly, but rather the size / momentum of the eddy current flow. You are correct though that a small silver chain produces a series of smaller eddy current flow paths (across each individual loop), where as a silver coin makes a larger eddy current flow with more 'momentum'. As the time alternating magnetic field of the detector changes direction, the eddy current flow changes direction too, and the change in flow causes a resistive loss of energy. The harder it is for that eddy current flow to changes directions (can be thought of as having more momentum), the greater the resistive loss.
We gotta talk!
Very funny video Merrill and yeah all metal and don’t over think. It was nice meeting you today at Jones Beach! Hope to run into you again
Hi Claire! Yes, nice to meet you too!
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Your reaction was classic, Merrill. 😂🤣 By the time you get that detector ground balanced, the sun will have set or the batteries will have died out. 😂 I have the Nox 600 and the Legend detector, but I also have a Garrett ADS VLF/TR Groundhog Deepseeker that I plan to try at my local hard hunted park. I bought it at a pawn shop for $40 and it looks like it was used a few times and stored in a closet, up until I bought it. I have the instruction manual on pdf and it’s nowhere as complicated as that Nautilus detector, but it’s got a few steps to it.
Merrill I laughed my ass off at this, I thought I was back in science class again Whew good thing the new detectors are plug and play lol.
Great info summary!
Glad it was helpful!
I used to have a 1970's Whites Coinmaster a bit like that. Now I have a cheap and cheerful Minelab Vanquish 540. In the quickstart guide it says, turn on, wait 5 seconds, go detecting!
I had a Gold Monster, Minelab 1000. On it was a led meter that would light up tp the right for "gold", left for ferrous. Many times with me and many other prospectors around the world, we/they have learned to dig all targets. So i went and got me a $119.00 detector and have been using that and my gold has increased. I mean, i'm digging all targets anyway. Might as well save money doing it. The cool thing about this one is you know it's a big iron object when you swing over it. Goes back to that saying:K.I.S.S.🙂
Did they offer nautilus electronic courses in community college?
I'm crying so funny merely. U make my night, bro. 5 minutes of hunting after you set it up 😅😅😅😅 gpx eat your heart our lol
Glad they were so difficult to use back in the day. Kept more stuff in the ground for us modern detectorists
PS I’ve had small silver rings from the 1840-50 period read just like small pieces of aluminum can slaw or lower. Folks have no idea what they’re throwing away. Also-nautilus machines were the Linux OS of metal detectors. LOL
Great video Merrill!!! I actually still have a Nautilus and man this video wasn't a lie, lol, it took a while to figure it out. Is a really good machine tho. I'm in CT and I did fine with it around cellar holes. I can't wait until you do a video on the Nexus, that's in my top 3 when I get a new machine. Still rocking the Nox 800...lol
Dang you will have to start up that machine before daylight if you want to hunt that day. Lol
I agree today we want someone’s program just plug and play.
Great video. Where do you find the old videos like this?
Always an education... thank you
That was hilarious. And to repeat the setting process every 15 minutes initially, I don’t think I would finish the first one before it was time to adjust it again. 😂
Some people prefer a stick shift to an automatic transmission! They like to know their car. I guess.....
Love the video, thanks, Merrill. When do you think we'll see A.I. being incorporated into metal detectors? That is to say, software that can sense ground conditions, and you pick what type of hunting your plan to do, and the detector reads the environment and sets for maximum potential?
I think we’re there. The Deus 2 has a ground grab feature (in addition to ground balancing) that does just that.
I could see someone trying to turn on and go. Think about all the questions on FB. Someone would send out a hit squad for that person. I can't wait to see your video on the Nexus. I was contemplating the MPv3 after seeing your video several months back but honestly thought Merrill will probably get one soon. If it is as good as the videos show it will be interesting to say the least. Thanks Merrill.
The bottom of his shaft where it attaches to the coil,, disappears on the video,,, lol,, very entertaining...😂
I entered the metal detecting hobby during that time. The old gold machines required tedious ground balancing because of the hot ground associated with the gold fields. And if I recall correctly, the Nautilus was favored by Civil War relic hunters in the red, highly mineralized ground in Northern Virginia. I had a Whites TM-800 two box machine that required me to regularly press a button on the handle to keep the threshold from drifting. I never could get the most from that machine that I knew it was capable of.
And yes, I’d say the Nautilus would be to me like that notorious caliometric problem in my physics class that took a half page to do and I never had enough time on an exam to get it right!
And on the TM-800 the manual required you to have no metal like belt buckles on you during operation so I just about had to hold up my pants with one hand while swinging with the other! Lol
All machines evolve similarly. Ever watched a video on how to start and operate Model T? Most people would not be able to get it out of the driveway!
Epic comedy fit for Latenight TV, haha! About like aliging a turntable stylus needle and cartrige?
Old but it work. Thank you showing the video!!!
Check out my books: www.iratemetaldetectors.com/shop
Wowsers! I thought the early 80s whites machines were a pain. That thing looks like I'd just go fishing instead. Love these new machines. Always great content Merrill.👍
Wow that was very very informative
I have one if these here in thr Uk Merrel. the DMC 2BA model as new condition kept wrapped clean and in A1 condition with the upgraded xkt type shaft with a push button ground grab :) still one of my deepest seeking detectors and fun to use. Point to note the DMC2BA dine away with that long set up lol thats why this detector was actually the most sought after in past and current years.
In 1994 I purchased a Garrett GTA 500,it had auto GB and was turn on and detect.....it lasted me 18 years till I replaced it with the ATPRO which I still use 11 years later
That wasn’t so bad! Nope about the same as getting a root canal! Lol I’m so glad my entry into the Metal Detecting world was in 2022! Thanks Merrill!
Thank you!
I’ve known this simply by my very limited experience. I started finding good things in places that other people have hunted many times, within my first day of starting. I’ve found some cool stuff since I started in feb this year (2023) absolutely haven’t messed with my detector settings at all. I just think differently than other people I guess. For example, there is a very old river crossing with the oldest still standing house in my county. I know for a fact it’s been hunted many many times. There is really nothing on the main property. So I walked the long trails done by the river. Low and behold o dig up a dime from 1897. One of my friends even told me, don’t go there man, There’s nothing left. I proved him wrong. Why no one thought to do that before I don’t know. Cheers 😎
I've had two Nautilus detectors and still have an old LF. One of my hunting buddies will use nothing but a Nautilus and is deadly with it. They are still made in Coats NC by Wayne Lee!!
Modern detector technology has come a long way since the Nautilus, but the main difference is that most of the setup one had to do with the Nautilus is now done in the background by the detector itself. This doesn't mean those old settings are obsolete, it just means the tiny computer chips inside our modern machines are doing it for us. Without this technology, we'd still be twisting dials! All that said, we can improve our modern machines by tweaking them. This is why we have periodic updates and menus, all of which help us to tailor our detectors for the ground we are searching.
My first Detector was a Compass 50 years ago they have come a long way
This video slays me!!😂😂 big up from Minnesota Merrill ✌️💰💰
Ya, I know Garrett detectors are frowned upon a lot for not being as sophisticated as or being a worse value compared to other more modern designs ... someday there will probably be a Manticore with my name on it. But when people in Garrett forums ask what the best setting is for their AT or Ace detector ... I can just tell them ON.
Sure, put it in pro zero mode or whatever, and ground balance. But you're not constantly messing around digging through deeply nested menus to tweak some setting or another a couple notches up or down for what you might think are very specific conditions, because the soil is red and solar activity is high, and Park 1, Park 2, Park 3, Beach 5 or whatever don't feel right. Instead it's pretty much turn them on and go.
In the 90's I picked up a used Garrett Scorpion Gold Stinger. It's nowhere near as complicated as that Nautilus, but it did take some fiddling and i don't think I ever really had it working right.
I have an ACE 400, Nokta Simplex and started with a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV. There are times I still like the Tracker IV. So simple I liken it to Go / No Go. No VDI. Just Low & Hi tones to go by.
9 months later ... I just got that Manticore, there was a big sale, 30% off. The settings aren't as daunting as I expected, I can more or less turn it on and go, and I'll play with the settings as I learn more. It's actually been a much bigger challenge for me to rewire my brain to understand what the Manticore is saying to me, compared to my AT Max. Canadian clad coins are trash. I dont have enough hours on it yet, but so far its been really hard to pick out our trashy coins from the actual trash, except for pennies. So many pennies. Pennies everywhere in parks that I had cleaned out hundreds of pennies with the AT Max, where I'd only find a couple pennies today with the Max.
In fact Garrett sells different AT's in Canada than in the US ... the "international' version, where the tone mapping is shifted, giving higher tones at slightly lower VDI's ... specifically to distinguish our coins from the trash.
The first detector I ever used was in the mid 70's. I don't even remember the name of it. I think it was used for finding buried pipes and such. After a few outings, I put it in the closet and only returned to it when I was throwing out all the junk I had gathered over the years. I bought a GTI2500 and Whites Spectrum and finally enjoyed detecting. (I like the idiot version) My newest is the Nox 900 and it is a spak-tak-u-lar detector. Thanks for the video and reminding why I gave up metal detecting until the 90's! Lol
Awesome video bro .that old machine wil make me tired before i start .wish i could travel back in time and give the man my simplex for a while😎
Killer video and spot on. Btw I gave you a shout out in episode 151 :)
Thank you!!! I will check it out!
Just checked I see you are up to episode 148 on UA-cam.
Thanks i Learn a lot
Thank YOU!
Now Most to all Hobby detectors are set to turn on and go. With friendlier options to fine tune yourself if you feel the need. I like that option. That Detector you showed us would take the fun out of the hunt. Spend hour setting it up 2 mins hunting. retune. Time to go home.. Good info in this Video.. Thanks Man.. Peace
Thank YOU!
Doe it matter which way you wrap your coil cable around the shaft? His was wrapped different than my Nox800!!
as long as it is fixed to the shaft. The wire is copper and will interfere if left dangling.
Hey what are your thoughts about the simplex ultra? Should I get it over my simplex +
No major changes other than the change of frequency.
Thanks, this is why you dig everything, there is no way of knowing what's under the ground.
Only the ability to get a rough size of the item. Even iron can read up the VDI and end up being a nail.
It's just not possible to know.
My best tip or hack buddy is to get a TRF rod and locate the silver and gold targets with it accurately then use your not so reliable detector with a large coil to confirm the target is where the TFR says it is. Then dig. My TFR Pro 1 is my main detector and my 12 other metal detectors I just use or collect for my man cave lol
I will never allow myself to get frustrated learning a new detector again!
we need a target ID bible for the new equinoxes. Do you own them?
I borrowed my friends and I’m working on them this week. So far they are identical to the manticore’s target ID.
Hi i did not understand what Grizzly Adams said about the Nautilus but when i saw him ground balancing it made me love my nokta makro simplex even more 😂
Another thing i did not understand was how your slippers had a like two inches in the back and your toes were touching the groung 😅😂
🤣😂
Thanks for the video we do have it easier 🙂
One of your best videos. Hilarious
Thank you!
I have the Manticore and use it in All Terrain General and all metal all the time. 383 silver coins later :) That's not a typo!
Lol I love your videos always makes me laugh 😂
Brilliant advice
I have tesoro lobo 15 years....still this detector exciting me...especially at the wet sand....automatically ground balance i don't change it for nothing....real coin killer
Cool vid. It's like owning a tube amplifier. You need a level of electrical engineering to maintain and get the best out of it :)
Yes!
LEGEND IS KING!
The Nautilus DMC2B Still today in Good Soil Can Stand up todays Modeen. More Relics have Been Dug Relic Hunters here in N.C. V.A. Than any Brand. You always Dig Deeper Targets By Tones Then today Meters . VID Number. Many feature on today market dont improve depth in fact like miss deep targets. Sadly Jerry Tyndall fonder Nautilus passed in few 10 years ago. Jerry Tyndall was first have High Transmit Power To Coil, In fact no other brands today you balance Coil to Transmit Power and Out Side Temp . DMC2B even today still only has highest Transmit Useable Power and modern machine
Jerry Tyndall was a genius, his coil is/was the only coil with a receiver built into the coil, picked up faint signals, amplified them and sent them to the main board for processing.. dig dimes at 12-14 inches BACK in the 80's, 20 years before minegarbage. Best water machine ever made.. with circuitry in coil it produced a halo effect off the sides of the coil. I'll outhunt ANY Minelab for gold weight in same amount of time.
Forget about tictok I fast forwarded every time that old guy talked 😂😂
😂
Hello, You said that the Nexus is ordered!:) When it will arrive?
This month
Gordon Harbor Freight Special ❤❤❤ thoughts ….?
No way!!!! Its a toy. Go Vanquish 340 for 50 dollars more. Or go Simplex for 100 dollars more or XTerra Pro for 100 dollars more.
@@MetalDetectingNYC Yes saw those other videos you made , unfortunately discovered your channel after the purchase, but luckily under the return period. Will be doing mainly beaches out here in San Diego.
@@dronesinconstruction Im doing a best saltwater beach metal detector video as I type this. In that price range go Vanquish 340.
@@MetalDetectingNYC where’s the affiliate link sir detect a lot
@@MetalDetectingNYC 100 more is doable , will wait for your Amazon affiliate link lol
Thanks
Great video but a tad painful. LOL. I thought my old DFX was difficult. I missed it Merrill, what were the 2 hacks? 😎
I should have put understandings. 1. ) All metal mode for the win 2.) Detectors of this generation do most of the calibration for you. Dont overthink it. Put your energy in to getting on good ground.
Quiz time! Each question is worth 25 points you need a 75 to pass! No going back to the video!
1. What is the label of item "H"?
2. When do you use the red button?
3. During ground balancing, if you move the coil to the ground and the tone gets higher, what do you need to do?
4. What is the correct procedure for adjusting the SLB?
OK Merril very interesting, now tell us in case I missed it what are the 2 hacks???
My parents bought me a metal detector back in the late 80s I think it cost about $190 it had a needle gauge and three dials. I don't think I ever did figure out how to use it but my first find was probably my best find. And my pinpointer was a screwdriver. Uff