Vallon VMH3CS Mine Detector

[Carolina]

I have the firmware 1.14 & 1.19 manuals which are available for download. Apparently, there is also a firmware 2 UK MOD version which would explain why the British Vallons operate somewhat differently from as described in the 1.14 manual. The firmware 1.19 differences are quite extensive to discuss in their entirety. I suggest you obtain a 1.19 manual so you can evaluate them for yourself. I am not positive that the 3.16 will get me all of them, (I was only told that the manual version would be 1.19) but I will let everyone know when I get my two detectors back.

TH'r

Let me weigh in on this topic as I understand it. The 1.14 and 1.19 are not firmware revisions but are manual revisions. The firmware 2.xx MoD ( Ministry of Defense ) is the firmware that most of all the older UK VALLONS have which requires the confidence click. My two detectors (2009 & 2010) came from the UK loaded with the 2.xx firmware. There is a 3.00 and a 3.16/3.18 firmware revision as well. My VALLONS first had the 3.00 firmware revision loaded and this removed the confidence click and added auto channel search and the six filters. Then firmware 3.16/3.18 was loaded which added easier soil compensation mode and I believe the surf mode at that time. The surf mode may have come in revision 3.00 but I think it was added in 3.16/3.18 firmware update.

The difference in manual 1.14 ( 2.xx firmware ) and manual 1.19 ( 3.00 & 3.16/3.18 firmware ) is as follows

1. Removal of the confidence click
2. Auto channel search mode
3. Six filter mode
4. Easier soil compensation mode
5. Surf mode

This is the best I can describe what was done to my VALLON's. Hope this sheds some light on this topic.
Good luck to everybody

Carolina

[Andi68]

Vallon - that is German technology at its finest

[TH'r]

Thanks for the clarification. In a previous E-mail to Vallon I had specifically asked if the 3.16 would get me the differences you note, with the exception of the confidence click (which is admittedly annoying). They responded that the manual reprint I would get was 1.19 leading me to believe - everything. However, the only items they actually mentioned were the G.B. and auto channel selection.

TH'r

Let me weigh in on this topic as I understand it. The 1.14 and 1.19 are not firmware revisions but are manual revisions. The firmware 2.xx MoD ( Ministry of Defense ) is the firmware that most of all the older UK VALLONS have which requires the confidence click. My two detectors (2009 & 2010) came from the UK loaded with the 2.xx firmware. There is a 3.00 and a 3.16/3.18 firmware revision as well. My VALLONS first had the 3.00 firmware revision loaded and this removed the confidence click and added auto channel search and the six filters. Then firmware 3.16/3.18 was loaded which added easier soil compensation mode and I believe the surf mode at that time. The surf mode may have come in revision 3.00 but I think it was added in 3.16/3.18 firmware update.

The difference in manual 1.14 ( 2.xx firmware ) and manual 1.19 ( 3.00 & 3.16/3.18 firmware ) is as follows

1. Removal of the confidence click
2. Auto channel search mode
3. Six filter mode
4. Easier soil compensation mode
5. Surf mode

This is the best I can describe what was done to my VALLON's. Hope this sheds some light on this topic.
Good luck to everybody

Carolina

[ionut_mtb]

If confidence click can be removed i would like to see audio vco like gpx on it.

[Andi68]

Anyway, I do not understand why the device has to be tinkered with

[Ferric Toes]

Anyway, I do not understand why the device has to be tinkered with

The VMH3CS is a very good PI mine detector and features such as the confidence tick are almost essential when hunting for mines. At least the British MOD thought so, and most of the ones on the surplus market are ex MOD. For coin, ring, and jewellry hunting, this repeated tick is a bit of an annoyance, so it would be good to remove it. One of the Vallon firmware programs has this tick removed and adds other features which are better suited to the hobby market, so why not incorporate them if it is possible?

The headphone output is high impedance piezo only, so I added a a step down transformer so that I can run ordinary low impedance phones. I have also added Garrett's Z-Link wireless system (won't work on a hiZ output), so now I have no phone cable. Also a ground stand has been added so that the detector stays upright when you put it down. Those are my reasons for tinkering. For non-military use it makes a good innovative PI machine better.

If a modification could give a low threshold tone with a sweeter sound, and hear those faint whisper signals, many would find that an improvement. I expect that is why ionut_mtb made the point.

Eric.

[Andi68]

I understand.
Unfortunately you get here in Germany such a device used almost not at all.
I would just go to Vallon with it, a friend of mine works there, I live a few miles away

[KingJL]

Predator II

Finished up the re-case of the Vallon electronics that I used as a test envirionment. Power is supplied by a RAVPOWER usb power pack (16000 maH) mounted in a Pelican case that mounts on the rear of the shaft. The total weight of the pelican case and the power pack is about the same as 3 "D" cells and pretty much balances the the weight of the detector fore and aft of the grip. The pelican case also functions as an effective "stand" when laying the detector on the ground. Made a 1500 uH probe with a snap-in clip that is mounted on the underside of the Hammond case. Mounted a switch to switch between the search coil and the probe. Not the ultimate, but a "predator" just the same!

[qute1]

Nice job!

[Ferric Toes]

Great job, KIngJL.

Does your detector behave itself when switched from coil to probe? My rebuild sometimes locks up and I have to switch the detector off, switch to probe into circuit, and then power up again.

Eric.

[KingJL]

Does your detector behave itself when switched from coil to probe? My rebuild sometimes locks up and I have to switch the detector off, switch to probe into circuit, and then power up again.

Eric.

So far it behaves itself... but I have only switched it a couple of times. If it does start acting up, I may try a On/Off/On switch and let it register "open coil" between the probe and coil switch.

[KingJL]

So far it behaves itself... but I have only switched it a couple of times. If it does start acting up, I may try a On/Off/On switch and let it register "open coil" between the probe and coil switch.

Locked up one time out of 20. It was switching from probe to search coil. I don't know yet if it means anything but at switch time the probe was providing a "substantial" target signal for the detector. When it switched to search coil, it was still indicating the "substantial" target signal.

[Ferric Toes]

Locked up one time out of 20. It was switching from probe to search coil. I don't know yet if it means anything but at switch time the probe was providing a "substantial" target signal for the detector. When it switched to search coil, it was still indicating the "substantial" target signal.

Yes, that is exactly what happened with me, except it was more frequent. The on/off/on switch is a idea worth trying.

Eric.

[KingJL]

Yes, that is exactly what happened with me, except it was more frequent.

I found ( I think ) that if I minimize the probe response (hold it so that the probe end is away from the unit) when switching, I avoid the lockup.

[phamanphu]

hi. kingjl.I'm from vietnam. I have followed your forum for a long time. I have knowledge of electronics. Can you help me build? I do not for commercial purpose