BH IB200

[Ed in SoDak]

Hi all,

I see the IB200 mentioned here. I'm getting one soon, and wondering how it might perform. It's a minty unit with factory shine on the coil and factory soft case. Is it worth taking it out to get it a little dirty or is it more of a collector-value-only machine?

I'm getting the impression it should be a good relic hunter, just doing some research before it arrives. If it's a honker, I could still pass on the deal before I send payment.

A picture of it is here: http://members.aol.com/wriverprep/1006.jpg

Thanks!
-Ed

[cyclops]

BH IB200

Hi Ed,
I cannot view the picture, but all I can say is that the IB200, as well as the IB300 from BH (PNI) are for me best detectors for relic hunting in heavily mineralized soils (real bad soils).
Once well tuned, with a slight humming in the background, they shall be sharp for anything, even smallest items down to 3-4 mm in diameter, if that are not ferrous. Most nails are just blended out and eventual non-ferrous items under a nail will be detected (nail test).
The only thing I cannot pretend to have found is gold, in the sense of small gold items like nuggets (they don't exist here). A golden ring, bracellet or chain will be found, I tested it.
If you become used to the IB's from BH, you can hear on the sound (I recommend headphones) what metal you have under the coil.
I own an Sierra Spectrum from Whites, which is a wonderful detector, but for real relic hunting, I prefer the old IB200 or IB300 (they have the same electronics).
If the IB200/300 does not work anymore, you can replace, as a basic electronician, by simplest means the transitors or even the IC's. When you first open the box, inside is a trimpot, I suggest that you make a mark on it, for finding back the original setting and then try to find an eventual better setting. The trimpot is for balancing T and R coils.
By the way, if you change cables and wires, be careful!!! Changing the original cables and wires, I mean replacing and/or shortening, will affect the way it works. Try to replace with wires of same diameter and specs!!! You will have to retune it completely and eventually change the values of some resistors or caps on the PCB. That can be complicated. My advice: Continue using the original wires!!! Do not shorten them. If you shorten the coil cable, for resoldering it to the connector in case of a broken contact, just clip as less as possible. You will have to retune it.
Hope this helps,
HH
cyclops