Geotech Baracuda compared to Minelab Excalibur?

[mcshaner2k]

Hello,

I'm relatively new to metal detecting but not new to building electronics. I was going to order a new Minelab Excalibur but have been hesitant for almost a year now because of the cost. I have done a lot of research on the excal and was curtain that this was the best unit for what I was after. Recently I've been looking for an alternative and found this forum.

I'm intrigued by this Baracuda unit and there seems to be some good info on building it. I'm really curious as to how well it will perform on ocean beaches compared to the Minelab Excal.

I'm hoping someone can provide some insight on performance compared to some off the shelf models. I've searched around but haven't found much.

Thanks!

[homefire]

For less then say $50.00 PCB and Parts you can have a pretty dang good PI detector. MineLab is way above my pay scale. I'm in the process of building one right now. PCB Complete just waiting to come up with a nice Enclosure.

[mcshaner2k]

For less then say $50.00 PCB and Parts you can have a pretty dang good PI detector. MineLab is way above my pay scale. I'm in the process of building one right now. PCB Complete just waiting to come up with a nice Enclosure.

Thanks for the response. That's about what I'm thinking, cheap enough to build regardless. I'm just wondering how it stands up to production units.

[Qiaozhi]

Thanks for the response. That's about what I'm thinking, cheap enough to build regardless. I'm just wondering how it stands up to production units.

The original Baracuda was designed by John Pugh (lead designer and owner of Anchor Electronics) in the early 1980s. The Geotech Baracuda is an updated version.
There is also the Minipulse, which was originally designed by Eric Foster for Pulse Technology. The Minipulse Plus is an updated and improved version.
Kits for both of these are available from www.silverdog.co.uk

[mcshaner2k]

The original Baracuda was designed by John Pugh (lead designer and owner of Anchor Electronics) in the early 1980s. The Geotech Baracuda is an updated version.
There is also the Minipulse, which was originally designed by Eric Foster for Pulse Technology. The Minipulse Plus is an updated and improved version.
Kits for both of these are available from www.silverdog.co.uk

I've been eyeing up both those kits on silverdog. For beach hunting which would be a better choice?

[homefire]

The Mini Pulse has the VCO Threshold I wish the Barracuda had. Barracuda is set up for Mono coil only but the Mini has provisions for Mono or DD. Both pretty much comparable machines other then that. Nether have Ground Exclusion circuitry.

[jladre]

Mini pulse is greater than barracuda but the cuda is easier to make at home ..also it is cheaper to build compare to mini pulse.

[kt315]

do bara and buy what you want. bara is minimalistic PI device noneeding in a tuning. like 'turn on and go' one.
perfect DIY project for any kitchen wife with nuling base in electronics.
i began upload pics and there will be yet http://www.geotech1.com/forums/album.php?albumid=66

[mcshaner2k]

Thanks for the responses! Looks like silverdog is out of the mini pulse. I think I'll give the barracuda a shot.

[Koala]

Pretty much every PI preforms the same when hunting for coins on the beach here in the UK.

Things are probably different if hunting for gold flakes in mineralised ground.

[ionut_mtb]

The Mini Pulse has the VCO Threshold I wish the Barracuda had. Barracuda is set up for Mono coil only but the Mini has provisions for Mono or DD. Both pretty much comparable machines other then that. Nether have Ground Exclusion circuitry.

so baracuda is motion detector only? (same like surf pi?) does anyone mod vco for bara? is possible to take the HH vco to implement in bara?

[kt315]

real (true) non-motion, static, mode has ONLY DP. while you can add pseudo-non-motion mode if change R26 on pot like you see the mod for HH.

THE mod is SAME for surf, bara and HH. ONEWAY ticket.