Wireless Coil

[Skippy]

I've not seen anyone say how much Regton charge for cell replacement, and a quick check of their website didn't show anything. But anything Deus-related is usually pricey....
http://regton.com/

[sinclairuser]

to be honest the battery in the coil seems to be a deal breaker for our pals across the pond.
threads and posts on thunting and others allways come back to that, they wont hear how good it operates, how robust and well designed it is, they just say daft comments like "if it was wired i might give it a shot"

THE TRUTH IS THEY JUST DONT GET THE DEUS, sad but true.

[Skippy]

The cordless-coil dislikers do have some points.
It's one more battery to charge up, or forget to charge up.
The battery charging clip is poorly designed and very fragile, letting you down at inappropriate times.
There's no possibility of sticking in a set of fresh batteries when it does go flat.
All cell chemistries have reliability issues, but Li cells have a reputation for poor reliability and being a bit fragile, over-charge/over-discharge/leaving flat/ a long list of things they don't care for.
And many customers think the Deus is expensive, and one of the reasons is because it has a cordless coil, take a look at the cost of the coils alone, eye-watering. It's easy to think that if it used more conventional coils, it would still be a great detector, but it would cost a significant amount less, as would extra coils. (and you would be able to buy a 5 inch coil for it, too)

One potential good feature of a cordless coil would be the possibilities of using it underwater: snorkelling, scuba-diving, river-bed searching. Except the 2.4GHz radio link ruins all those ideas.

And re. the US customers, they don't care for any foreign models, they are concerned about reliability, having to send a machine back to France/Turkey/ etc is inconvenient.

One thing a cordless coil does have in it's favour is the fact that nearly every corded coil on the market is unreliable. They all use garbage connectors like CB radio mic plugs/sockets, with hardly any strain relief. Poor, cheap design. My own machine is a high-end one, but the coil connector is utter rubbish, it needs annual fixing. But this could be resolved.

[Carl-NC]

My question is, what problem is solved using a wireless coil design? Other than aesthetics, I don't see the benefits. It seems to only create more problems.

[Skippy]

Those who use it like the quick-assembly/disassembly. You don't have issues with the cable moving and causing false signals (eg. crop stubble work). You don't have cable issues like 'wish-it-was-longer/shorter', and you don't have crappy connectors, fractured cable wires. And if you have two coils, you've technically got two detectors (one on headphones, one on the control box).

My guess as to why cordless was used is more to do with the cordless headphones. I'll explain:
The GoldMaxxPower and GMAXX2 are basically the same machine, just different coil windings, small tuning changes in the control box. XP wanted to make a 'two-in-one', so they needed to make a switchable coil, so they need relay(s) and some electronics in the coil. You might as well stick a pre-amp in there if you've got other electronics.
And the GMP cordless headphones were popular with customers (I think they're a good idea) but the 433MHz FM link is simple (only 2 freqs, one-way), and it can't be sold outside of Europe, ( the USA, especially), the obvious solution is to go to the 2.4GHz band. From there, it's not a big step to make the coil part of the link, too. So the only thing the coil cable is really doing is providing power. If there's already micro's, analogue front-end, two-way radio, relays etc. in the coil, why not do away with the cable, put a battery/cell in there, seal it up and do everything through the 2.4GHz digital link.

[Funfinder]

As long as the coil-cable has real good connectors and was made of good and flexible quality
materials so it doesn't wear and tear or breaks there is no real need to exchange it to wireless
because the coil still is attached with the person over the stem, which also directly could have
shielded connection-wires melted inside of the plastic or otherwise attached.

The only question - how to connect a stem with such features on coils side most stable.


But a real "free" coil would be something as a RF controllable drone or even better:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lawn+mowing+robots

Like a RC-car someone can drive or fly the coil over the floor!

Sounds futuristic but it isn't. Especially for underwater it would be perfect,
with a little waterproof camera inbuilt to see where the wireless diving-robot-coil
"sweeps" at the moment.

The easy solution would be:
Mount a small metal-detector onto an RC-device and hear it beep or blink
from a distance if the coil moves with it over something.
Some wireless headphone can be attached on the detectors audio-output
so the signals can be heard much better.

The coil has to be placed somewhere in front or back of the RC vehicle
and evtl. stabilized with 1 or 2 additional plastic or gum rolls.


With such a thing someone even could check out very dangerous areas
like mine-fields or he can detect radioactive stuff from a large distance.
I guess for minefields already a heavy enough usual RC-car would work -
better said: 100s of them!

Extreme narrow holes or openings like inside of bunkers or pyramids
would be the next application-possibility - driving the wireless coil or
MD-vehicle into narrow spaces, cavities and canals.


And in 50 years we do have not just lawn-mowing-robots
but also full-automatic metal-detection-search-and-dig-machines!

The treasure-hunter sits relaxed on the couch, in one hand the beer
and in the other the wireless mouse to control his little "find and recover-buddy" over the TV-screen
incl. live-images from the real world outside.

btw. this is no new invention - the Lunokhod and the Mars vehicle are similar:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Exploration_Rover

[eclipse]

My question is, what problem is solved using a wireless coil design? Other than aesthetics, I don't see the benefits. It seems to only create more problems.

If it was PI design probably 100pf capacitance because of the cable but for Pi the battery must be too big.

[Koala]

I have never thought I wish I did not have a cable between the coil and control box


on the other hand I often wish the headphone cable was not in the way

[Funfinder]

Wireless headphone-dongles or plug-sticks should be no problem as long as they
are not too heavy and the used frequency doesn't distorts those of the coil.

http://www.toptenreviews.com/headpho...e-for-you.html


Some wireless detector would be not that bad but a wireless coil only is a pretty crazy idea.

Much better for weight and energy-life, changing batteries and enough power would it be
leaving the coil with cable and attaching the wireless adapter etc. below the arm-rest !!!

This way someone can have his lightweight MD-controller like a smartphone in his jacket-pocket, too,
or using wireless headphones with it. But then it's much easier to handle, different coils are
connectable as usual and they are not that heavy for sweeping and also not extreme expensive!

And not to forget this way the coil is much better secured from water and even full waterproofed.


Simple said:
Batteries and wireless module should be below the arm-rest and not unreachable inside of the coil!

[CDI]

What about Arduino, Raspberry PI and other microcontroller solutions? Maybe is possible to add brain somehow to coil...

[Qiaozhi]

What about Arduino, Raspberry PI and other microcontroller solutions? Maybe is possible to add brain somehow to coil...

It wouldn't be practical to use an R-PI in a metal detector, as the current draw is way too high.
Of course, it does depend on which version of R-PI you have. The lowest current consumption is from the A model with 100mA (idle) to 230mA. The highest consumption is from the B model with 360mA (idle) to 480mA.

[Davor]

There are a few Arduino variants that draw little current, also with wireless, but they all suck at ADC department.

[Qiaozhi]

There are a few Arduino variants that draw little current, also with wireless, but they all suck at ADC department.

Of course there are other possibilities, such as this one which uses an Arduino -> www.tctec.net/spimx
But I think an R-PI would not be a good solution for two reasons:
1) It has a high current draw, even when idling.
2) You would need to wait while the Linux OS boots up, before starting the metal detector software.

[ivconic]

My question is, what problem is solved using a wireless coil design? Other than aesthetics, I don't see the benefits. It seems to only create more problems.

I am impressed with fact that this question came exactly from you!
I expected such and similar questions rather from some unexperienced and not conversant person.
Really this is impressive! I don't believe you asking this!?
Wireless Deus coil design is REVOLUTIONARY in all the aspects you may think on.
All the advantages - none the disadvantages from it.
But than again, are you the one who spent 28 years with more than 90 models on the fields so far?
In all possible and imaginable cases and situations?
I doubt that. Therefore here you are; asking such question.
Ok, i have Deus now for 3 maybe 4 years. Frequent use, 3-4 days per week.
Both batteries are still in good shape. No need to replace them yet.
And coil battery replacement; 10-15 minutes! You don't even need to be experienced diy'er to do that.
Original XP battery replacement kit is expensive? Ok, nobody is pushing you to buy exactly that one; any other 3.7v battery will do just fine. Plenty room inside even for a bit larger ones.
As i stated; my own batteries are fine by now, but i already replaced not less than 10 batteries on others people coils so far. Piece of cake. 10-15 minutes in worst case.
Next 4 - 5 years they don't need to worry and after that batteries will be replaced again... and again... and again... 1000 times if you like. Again each time; piece of cake.
Fully submersible and waterproof ; yes! After 100-th battery replacement still are? Yes!
Fully charged battery will provide ALWAYS WHOLE day and few hours more on the field, outdoor.
Anybody here to work with md in continuity for over the 15-20 hours? None, of course.
So i don't see reason on complaining and winning about that? Why spiting constantly on something which is so perfect? Without even minor drawback?
So, battery life and battery replacement is not an issue at all, what's next?
As full time md servicer and already known enthusiast i have "career" long more than 20 years in dealing with tech stuff related to md's. Mostly servicing.
Wired coils are the ones with tons of flaws and drawbacks! All the pain in the arse coming mostly from them!
90% of problems are in WIRED coils! Not to mention extra DISCOMFORT in working with them on most of the terrains (except maybe in flat deserts).
Not to mention all the troubles in bended cables, broken wires, broken cable shields, twisted and often shorted leads, short lasting connectors, moisture related malfunctioning etc... etc... etc...
Each manufacturer is reinventing the wheel again and again with implementing some strange, hard to obtain, hard to assemble (easy to destroy) cable and housings connectors. Makes me sick from time to time to see some of those.
Even XP f.cked up with their extra stupid cable connectors for GMP and other "wired" models.
I could write here mile of text with more unbeatable arguments, pros and contras, but i will not, so far i said enough.
Wireless coil design is REVOLUTION! Makes life much more easier to all of us, users and servicers, the same.
Wireless coil design is ULTIMATE historical step forward in MD evolution.
Bravo XP!

P.S.
On the other side, not that i don't understand winnings, complains and public spitting from some people with different interests which are heavily threatened by XP Deus supremacy in most of the aspects we can think on now.
As been said; sour grapes! Usually that's what is all about.

[ivconic]

I did this probably more than 10 times so far.
Easy and sweet.
Easier than to replace any conventional and "modern" coil connector.
You need sharp blade and silicone. Of course new battery too.
10-15 minutes in 4 to 5 years, that's what it takes from you.