Mean machine

[ivconic]

Once again i got Minelab Musketeer Colt. Previous one i sold (how stupid was i ???) few years ago. After that stupid move i realised what mistake i done. It was to late. Now i got second chance. Am so happy!
But this time i also got more coils for it; 36cm, 39cm and 45cm ..Excellerator....and 18cm (TS800) which came with machine...what to say?
These are photos...

[ivconic]

But...curious as i am ...i couldn't resist to open it and add more controls on front panel.
Musketeer Colt, XS and Advantage are actually same machine. Same pcb, same controls...same coils...same everything.
Guys from Minelab probably made strategic marketing move and predicted newer models (only guessing) so they left everything inside same and changed only outlook of models. What was the reason? I really don't know.
It is shame to have Colt model and not to have all the controls available. So i did it. I had no problems to drill holes and mount potentiometer for manual Ground balance and switch for changing modes. Of course i had to remove 2 wire jumpers from pcb at front panel.
What new i got with those presets? Wow!
First of all i got few inches more on depths. Manually adjusting GEB offers operater to adapt machine to current ground conditions , so on most of soils later i got more depth! Proved already with many nice finds so far.
Second...i got splendid pinpoint mode! But SPLENDID!
And as experienced prospector i got complete control over machine..so now is easy to put it on endest limits of performances and have excellent results on the fields.

So...these are photos of how it looked before and now.

[ivconic]

Before.....

[ivconic]

Now...

[ivconic]

Inside...before applying changes...

[ivconic]

Let's focus on manuall GEB for now. My usuall "parameter" when nulling coils for TGSL is moment when ferrite rod is rejected. Usually i turn GEB trimmer on TGSL to position when ferrite rod (swinging on 5cm over coil surface) is almost completelly rejected. Ok...i leave it at position where rod still can produce ocassionall mum "cracks". So...adjusted like that TGSL later acts excellent on real soil.
With same logic i made approach to Minelab Musketeer Colt. I "upgraded" it with mode switch and manual GEB potentiometer.
So...just for testing and comparing i took same ferrite rod and by swinging it on 5cm over coil surface i adjusted GEB potentiometer to position where ferrite was totally rejected. Not even a mum "crack". Wow!! Situation was much more different than before, when there was not potentiometer but only wire jumper on the front panel pcb!!!!
Potentiometer is than on position "4" clockwise!!! Huge difference!
So...conclusion is that Colt was really "choked" previously...."choked" too much! To much for my taste!
It obviously rejected many of good items in the ground! Prooven already on real soil! I founded several extra small and tiny silver coins at places where was no any detection before applying these changes!!
GEB preset is CRUCIAL! Good detector MUST have GEB preset available to operaters hands! Must!

[Qiaozhi]

Let's focus on manuall GEB for now. My usuall "parameter" when nulling coils for TGSL is moment when ferrite rod is rejected. Usually i turn GEB trimmer on TGSL to position when ferrite rod (swinging on 5cm over coil surface) is almost completelly rejected. Ok...i leave it at position where rod still can produce ocassionall mum "cracks". So...adjusted like that TGSL later acts excellent on real soil.
With same logic i made approach to Minelab Musketeer Colt. I "upgraded" it with mode switch and manual GEB potentiometer.
So...just for testing and comparing i took same ferrite rod and by swinging it on 5cm over coil surface i adjusted GEB potentiometer to position where ferrite was totally rejected. Not even a mum "crack". Wow!! Situation was much more different than before, when there was not potentiometer but only wire jumper on the front panel pcb!!!!
Potentiometer is than on position "4" clockwise!!! Huge difference!
So...conclusion is that Colt was really "choked" previously...."choked" too much! To much for my taste!
It obviously rejected many of good items in the ground! Prooven already on real soil! I founded several extra small and tiny silver coins at places where was no any detection before applying these changes!!
GEB preset is CRUCIAL! Good detector MUST have GEB preset available to operaters hands! Must!

Good work!

You are obviously correct about the marketing of this product. From your photos it is clear that the PCB is already designed to have these controls on the front panel.

It's likely that the GEB control was adjusted in the factory for Australian soil.

[hobbes_lives]

Nice work ivconic. It's nice when they make the modifications so straightforward, huh?

[ivconic]

Good work!

You are obviously correct about the marketing of this product. From your photos it is clear that the PCB is already designed to have these controls on the front panel.

It's likely that the GEB control was adjusted in the factory for Australian soil.

Yes, now knowing how much Colt was "choked" i can only imagine how hard is Australian soil!!!
Aint no wonder why guys from Australia are making such good detectors - they had lot of troubles with soil there!
And i thought our soils here were mineralised....!?!?!

[ivconic]

Nice work ivconic. It's nice when they make the modifications so straightforward, huh?

Yes...piece of cake. 2 steps from Colt to Advantage!

[ivconic]

And...why i named this thread "Mean machine" but not "Minelab Musketeer.." or simillar?
There is more...
This Minelab Musketeer (Colt,XS and Advantage) and Minelab Relic Hawk are sharing exactly the same platform. Exactly the same. With additon on Relic Hawk as S M L modes followed by proper electronics.
So...this machine is really mean!
Right now it is much occupied - i am going almost every day on various terrains...prospecting and coinshooting. But when winter comes i am planning to reassemble it and retrace whole schematic. Than we will have complete datas for our new handmades!
Also, than we wil have chance to suggest some more serious modifications and improvements.
Come to think...actually this machine has no drawbacks at all. Very hard to improve.
Only thing i would like to improve ....could be to achieve multitone audio.

[Fred]

This Minelab Musketeer (Colt,XS and Advantage) and Minelab Relic Hawk are sharing exactly the same platform. Exactly the same. With additon on Relic Hawk as S M L modes followed by proper electronics.
So...this machine is really mean!

Hi Ivconic,
I like to see this kind of mods, where a not-very-nice marketing option is bypassed
Something intersting here to learn about the RH famous oscillator transistor ?

[ivconic]

It is here, smt, no label. I guess; i would have to desolder it and than put it "under preassure" !
But not now....right now i am in a middle of prospecting fever!!!

[Fred]

It is here, smt, no label. I guess; i would have to desolder it and than put it "under preassure" !
But not now....right now i am in a middle of prospecting fever!!!

Ok,tnx,
I wonder if they order those transistors asking them specially unlabeled

Good luck prospecting!
Fred.

[nakky]

Hi Ivconic, nice work I like it. Grt nakky.