Lynn from Detector Depot was kind enough to give our readers a little “Detector 101″ advice. Are you looking into buying your first detector?

Read on!

“I would like to buy a metal detector and I’m not really sure what to get.”

This is a very common call we receive at Detector Depot. There seems to be quiet a few “greenhorns” entering the detecting world lately. Most callers do have some idea about the basics of a machine. What we like to do is to take them through a four step process to find out exactly what machine is best for them. We also inform them that cost does not always correlate to a great metal detector.

First we find out just exactly what it is they plan to do with their new machine. Is it coins and jewelry, beach hunting, gold prospecting, relics or a combination of some or all?

Second, after we ascertain the type of hunting they plan to do we then obviously look at what they are budgeting for in their new investment.

When a price range is secured we like to give the upside and downside of the machines that would “fit” their specifications. Defining ground balance, sensitivity, threshold and explaining the difference between a DD coil vs. a concentric coil, the benefits of using an elliptical coil vs. a round coil are some of the areas we discuss.

After giving the customer two to three machines to ponder we then discuss accessories and what they would need as beginners.

At Detector Depot we never and I say never recommend one machine over another when we have narrowed the choices to two or three. We feel that it is very important for the customer to “pull the trigger” on the final decision.

For most beginners there are several affordable machines that will give good depth, discrimination and very little frustration. This is the key for new enthusiasts……very little frustration.

We do have $600 machines that will actually find targets deeper than some $1000 machines. Buying a higher priced machine is very similar to purchasing an automobile. The more “bells and whistles” you have the higher the cost. However, the more expensive machines as a whole do find targets deeper and in worse soil conditions.

For the beginner, however, “bells and whistles” can frustrate and be a bit overwhelming. We have seen many customers who purchase a very expensive “bells and whistles” machine become very frustrated after they alter some of the factory settings to their personalized settings. There can be a lot of misinformation on the web about making these so called adjustments.

Taking a “turn on and go” machine out of the box and heading to your first hunting spot is where you can have the most fun and sometimes luck. There have been many a newcomer to find that extremely rare coin, CSA belt buckle or ring the first time out with a very moderate priced machine with the factory settings.

Bottom line, utilize a good and reputable dealer to walk you through the process. Also don’t feel as though you are being short changed if you don’t purchase the $1000 plus machine. Some of the best metal detectorists hunt with a moderate to low priced machine and do extremely well. A lot has to do with research and being patient. “Patience” is a great topic for someone else to address.

Good Hunting,
Lynn
Detector Depot

You can contact Detector Depot at www.detectordepot.com. Tell them iDetectorist sent ya!