I have spent some time looking at different models,ie schematics and features. One thing stands out; essentially they are all the same.
Okay, a Lada engine is basically the same as a Ferrari engine, in principle.
If we consider VLF for the sake of discussion, coil design and circuity will be very similar because that is how it is done.
A TV can only receive a digital signal if it has been designed to do that. So why are some models less than £100 and some over £1000.
Who is fooling who ? At the high end you can expect better quality components, better build, signal to noise, filtering and gizmos - for sure.
A low cost model can work just as well, particularly if it is fettled a little. You won't get a pretty display and multiple tones etc but they won't
make you any better at working your instrument. It so happens that I am into cars and I choose to drive mine because of build, gizmos etc, and,
sorry to admit, its badge. If I were a bit obsessed with my detector I might well buy the most expensive - because it is. I wanted the challenge of
building my own (or rather a copy of the umaxII) , now I plan to add a display and a micro -for fun and because I can - but neither will make much difference
to what was a good design to start with.
The coil has to be good and I can understand spending a bit there - a cheap badly made coil is useless, but why is a decent coil £100, £200? Its a few turns of
wire in a round box. Likewise the electronics, thirty quids worth tops on average. There is a lot of money to be made from our hobby.
As with all things, the price is what the customers will pay and it is unfortunate that we will pay a lot.
Okay, a Lada engine is basically the same as a Ferrari engine, in principle.
If we consider VLF for the sake of discussion, coil design and circuity will be very similar because that is how it is done.
A TV can only receive a digital signal if it has been designed to do that. So why are some models less than £100 and some over £1000.
Who is fooling who ? At the high end you can expect better quality components, better build, signal to noise, filtering and gizmos - for sure.
A low cost model can work just as well, particularly if it is fettled a little. You won't get a pretty display and multiple tones etc but they won't
make you any better at working your instrument. It so happens that I am into cars and I choose to drive mine because of build, gizmos etc, and,
sorry to admit, its badge. If I were a bit obsessed with my detector I might well buy the most expensive - because it is. I wanted the challenge of
building my own (or rather a copy of the umaxII) , now I plan to add a display and a micro -for fun and because I can - but neither will make much difference
to what was a good design to start with.
The coil has to be good and I can understand spending a bit there - a cheap badly made coil is useless, but why is a decent coil £100, £200? Its a few turns of
wire in a round box. Likewise the electronics, thirty quids worth tops on average. There is a lot of money to be made from our hobby.
As with all things, the price is what the customers will pay and it is unfortunate that we will pay a lot.

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