White's Surfmaster PI vs Surf PI Pro

[Rollin_sb]

What are the difference between the Surfmaster and the Surf Pi Pro? Are there differences in sensitivity or depth? Any idea of what years they were produced? Which is the better beach detector?

Thanks

[GeoMax]

Hi,

both are the same. Just a different naming. The sensitivity and depth are the same. Actually, it depends how your search coil is constructed. An alternative to the Surf PI Pro / Whites Surfmaster PI is the Geotech Barracuda or the Geotech MiniPulse PI. However, from the technical aspect (circuity) is the Geotech MiniPulse PI the best choices for a good beach detector. You can find very good construction documentation on Geotech forum and videos on YouTube.

GeoMax

[Carl-NC]

The origiinal Surfmaster PI had threshold & pulse delay controls. The SMPI Pro replaced the pulse delay with a gain control. I believe the last version of the SMPI had all 3 controls. All the circuitry was the same. Also, there was a "Surfmaster II" which was a VLF design.

[Rollin_sb]

Thanks for the help. Where is the best place to buy components, Amazon, Digikey, Ebay or where?

[Emersonpaz]

LCSC you can find original ci's and they ship worldwide, follow the link https://lcsc.com

[surfdetector]

Thanks for the help. Where is the best place to buy components, Amazon, Digikey, Ebay or where?

You can buy the complete kit here: Silverdog is a Geotech member.
https://diydetector.co.uk/store/inde...roller=product

[Rollin_sb]

Awesome, Thanks.

[waltr]

Thanks for the help. Where is the best place to buy components, Amazon, Digikey, Ebay or where?

I avoid Amazon & Ebay for electronic parts. Too many sell counterfeit parts.
I use Digikey or Mouser to ensure getting genuine parts.

[Rollin_sb]

Ill check them out. Thanks.

[Rollin_sb]

Thanks for the help. Parts are on order. I'm sure I'll have many questions during the build.

[dbanner]

The origiinal Surfmaster PI had threshold & pulse delay controls. The SMPI Pro replaced the pulse delay with a gain control. I believe the last version of the SMPI had all 3 controls. All the circuitry was the same. Also, there was a "Surfmaster II" which was a VLF design.

Wasn't there a Garrett xl500 vlf/ib fresh water detector? I know they made an xl500 pulse detector.

[dbanner]

Actually, the feedback resistors were a different value, as I recall. The circuit was essentially the same, with a couple of tweaks, here and there.

[AK48]

garrett VLF-TR XS-500 https://detecteurmetaux2.blogspot.co...r-garrett.html