Do you have a case of “Yellow Fever”?  With gold prices consistently high, more and more people are out searching for that wondrous yellow metal.  Gold has always captured the imagination of mankind.  Read more about gold and its history HERE (link to wikipedia).  Fisher (of metal detecting fame) recently released several gold prospecting/panning kits.  Now, I’m first to admit it, I’m a TOTAL NOVICE when it comes to gold panning!  However, like most who first venture into prospecting, I’ve done a ton of research about how to “get started”.  Youtube can be a wonderful thing for learning panning techniques!  Below, you will find my review of Fisher’s new Gold Prospecting Kits and my experiences as a new guy trying to learn a new art… (Click “read more” to…well, read more!)

Read the rest of this entry »

FTP Head Engineer Dave Johnson

*Posted with permission of Metal Detector Engineer Dave Johnson*

First Texas Head Engineer Dave Johnson has always done an awesome job “educating” the metal detecting masses.  Thanks again for sharing your knowledge Mr. J.!

Time of day influences the amount and type of electrical interference, not just local sources but also longwave radio communications (mostly military) from thousands of miles away.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fisher and Teknetics Chief Designer Dave Johnson has written an AWESOME book on gold prospecting with a VLF metal detector!  Tons of great information for prospectors and potential prospectors…as well as folks who just want to “learn more” about metal detectors!   Special thanks to Dave Johnson and Mike Scott for allowing me to reprint the book in it’s entirety here on www.detectorstuff.com !

VISIT the brand new Teknetics website HERE!  http://www.tekneticst2.com/

*reprinted with permission of First Texas Products*
www.fisherlab.com

Gold Prospecting
with a
VLF Metal Detector

Dave Johnson, Chief Designer
First Texas Products & Fisher Research Labs

This book explains how to use a VLF induction balance metal detector for gold prospecting. The author has nearly 30 years’ metal detector design engineering experience and has designed machines in every major metal detection technology category.

Read the rest of this entry »

With Fisher releasing the F75, CZ21, F70, F5, F4 and F2 in the period of around 2 years, it is evident they are NOT afraid of change!  The “F series” of detectors has quickly developed a loyal following due to their combination of performance and price.

The “old” Fisher website looked nice, but lacked the things folks look for these days.  I, personally, like to be able to dig around a site and find all sorts of content…the new Fisher site offers TONS of content!  You’ll even see contributions from several Detectorstuff regulars.

Check it out !  www.fisherlab.com

New Fisher Website

First Texas Products is letting us give away some goodies in contests over the next few weeks!  Click on the Forum tab at the top of the page and go to “Contests” or click here

I just got my hands on a sales flyer for a new Gold Bug gold hunting metal detector from Fisher Labs.  Very, very interesting set of specs.!  One thing that definitely has my attention… 19 kHz frequency and the mention of relic hunting possibilities!  (think lead and brass!)…also check out the last item under “Controls and Features”…an optional 11″ DD coil!  Could this be an awesome nugget buster and a monster relic machine?  Can’t wait to start hearing field reports!  Discuss in our FORUMS HERE

-Mark

Gold Bug

Visit our Forums HERE to download the owners manual for the new F75 LTD!

First Texas Products is launching 2 hot new versions of their flagships…the T2 ltd and the F75 ltd…limited edition versions with additional modes… Cache and Boost! Read the rest of the story for the full flyer…

Read the rest of this entry »

Electrical Interference

First Texas Products & Fisher Labs August 2009

Dave Johnson, Chief Designer @ FTP & Fisher

Because of the high sensitivity of modern metal detectors coupled with the proliferation of sources of electromagnetic interference, you are likely to encounter electrical interference at times during the use of your metal detector. It is important that you recognize electrical interference when present, and take appropriate measures to deal with it. This will prevent you from giving up on a worthwhile site unnecessarily, or from sending in for a repair a machine which is working properly.

Symptoms of electrical interference

Electrical interference can cause a metal detector to “chatter” spontaneously, to lose sensitivity for no apparent reason, or to cause periodic audio “wobble” or slow waves of spontaneous sound. What you’ll hear will depend on what model of metal detector you’re using, what operating mode you’re using it in, how you have the adjustments set, and what the source of the electrical interference is. The most common manifestation is spontaneous chatter.

All metal detectors are susceptible to electrical interference, but they vary in what kinds of electrical interference affect them. In a given environment some metal detectors may be affected by electrical interference whereas others may not.

Two metal detectors of the same model in the same environment may be affected differently, because of minor differences in operating frequency or because the controls have been adjusted differently.

Common sources of electrical interference

Common sources of electrical interference include: overhead electric power lines, underground power lines, other metal detectors, telephone lines carrying electronic data, computer systems, electric fences, old CRT-based televisions, cell phones, thunderstorms, fluorescent lights, metal vapor lamps, military aircraft with electronic warfare countermeasures turned on, electric motors, VLF military communications systems, and automobile ignition systems. It will sometimes be the case at home, in the showroom, or in an urban environment that there are several different sources of electrical interference present simultaneously.

Read the rest of this entry »

I knew that Engineers at First Texas Products have been working on several new accessory coils for their Fisher and Teknetics line.  Here’s the list of either what’s “out” or soon will be…