Wish I could afford

[Mike(Mont)]

This looks nice. The “Light” version is still expensive $10,000 but it looks impressive. Unlike other bionic detectors this one is for gold only.

https://youtube.com/shorts/y5_mw391L4s?si=anGCC8Myj9tbxfm2

https://youtube.com/shorts/zWGRMgQSKeM?si=oA5FehdnwfC0yTpy

[Mike(Mont)]

There are other locators for much less money. The advantage of OKM is they have been working on these bionic devices for many years. But the cost is very high.

Geoground sells the Gold Legend for one-third the cost $3300, still expensive. Their bionic allows you to tune to various metal samples, not just gold. That’s a big plus. The ionic mode detects various metals including iron. To me, that is not good. But I don’t know how much it matters—ionic mode is for buried metals that have been in the ground for decades. Some say 500 to thousands of years. There is no metals around here except raw gold veins that have been buried that long. But maybe that is really good for gold prospecting—nothing else will be detected except old gold. But then again, I am not near any gold fields.

The main reason I am even dreaming about these locators is I have been frustrated with windy weather trying to use the Vertex Adroit. I know if I get out early enough the wind will be better but I’ve got other stuff going on and it just isn’t happening for me. But I do like the Adroit, just haven’t got to the right place yet with low wind. I’ve had so many health issues it’s been non-stop with no end in sight right now. I’m hoping this Summer things will improve and I’ll get some time to get out hunting, but you never know what the future holds. My hunting partner is just beyond help, heart problems, strokes and other problems. That could be me, I hope not. I never got the Covid vax so maybe I’ll be lucky.

The locators that have bionic mode like the Gold Legend or the Delta Ranger are not affected by wind. Of course the long range modes are affected. I don’t have a whole lot of faith in the Gold Legend. They talk about the bionic mode for nearby targets. The OKM says detects targets from miles away. If you watched those videos it hit on on small gold all the way across that yard. That looks good to me.

[Mike(Mont)]

Oh yeah, beware of counterfeit locators. Only buy from an authorized dealer. I saw a video it was not German engineering. Now I will say this guy doesn’t seem to know what he is doing. You have to calibrate it before searching, but still be careful who you buy from. You might save a hundred dollars, it’s not worth it. I think he said he only paid a thousand dollars for the counterfeits.

https://youtu.be/vfbHfb-sWQw?si=PvTnZGQsJL6SW3F0

[Mike(Mont)]

I just saw something a guy said most of these locators do not pinpoint well in many areas. I guess the signal from the target bleeds out over a larger area. So if I ever get the money I think I will go with OKM for the best technology—they have been at it for many years. If you read the instructions some of those other lower cost detectors say you have to go back and calibrate it again, so that makes me nervous it might not work all that well. Even if I ever get the money my wife will scream bloody murder. I’m at the age I don’t care anymore. I don’t have much time left.

[Mike(Mont)]

So I guess that’s why the higher priced ones have a 3d scanner to help you find the target. OKM has a magnetometer they say you can dig up the iron first and you’ll get a better 3d scan. The BR 100 Pro has a magneto scan, I guess that is the same thing.

[Mike(Mont)]

I don’t know if you have watched any of the videos on the bionic mode. There is no swinging rod—you aim it and watch for a response like using a torchlight/flashlight

https://youtube.com/shorts/bPrX7JHjviM?si=rHeuOYLg9umjgb60

[Mike(Mont)]

Reality has set in and I don’t think I can ever afford one of those expensive locators. I really not even sure I like their 3d scanner. They only show a rectangular block where a target is—they don’t show the shape and it’s only an average of that spot.

So I was looking at Tim Williams LRLMAN.com he had some scanners for a lot less money. I mean thousands less even with a Vertex Adroit. I can’t even afford one of those, but maybe some day. The one I like is st the bottom of the page you have to scroll down. I saw some YouTube videos.

https://lrlman.com/gradiometer.htm

[Mike(Mont)]

The OKM Bionic x4 is no longer being produced but an old info said it can detect 2kg of gold from 1km distance in a natural setting. Pretty sure that means out away from anything electrical.

[Mike(Mont)]

Just watching the videos and reading the info I see a lot that says the ionic and bionic and even the LRL modes do not give all that good of a pinpoint. That’s why many of the unit come with ground scanners or magnetometers to help find the target. And if you get in a trashy area it not going to be easy. OKM says to use the magnetometer and clear out the area before running the ground scan.

Like I said I think I have an excess of wishful thinking about finding easy gold jewelry. One thing I am going to do is use the phone app for magnetometer to find the magnetic field strength instead of relying on government estimates. AndI don’t even know how this will work with the Adroit but I think I can adjust the frequency up or down according to the field strength of the search area. Just trying to guess at it is not a good plan. I suspect that is why my pinpoints were off and why the manufacturers talk about it. BTW if you use a phone magnetometer app be sure to calibrate your phone by moving it around in a figure “8” pattern in all three axis.

[Mike(Mont)]

An older OKM video says their Bionic 4X in the ionic mode can detect targets that have been buried over one year. That leads me to believe their system is more advanced than other brands of locators—some say buried for 500 years, others say 15 years, others say hundreds of years. OKM has contact plates on the handle for your hand connection. I haven’t seen these on any other locator.

[Mike(Mont)]

Someone told me the Geo Ground Gold Legend picks up mineralization. I was looking through some information and I saw BR 100 Pro and the Vertex Adroit both say they work in mineralized ground.

The Adroit says “High stability in mineralized and complex soils”. And engineered to operate in mineral-rich soils.

[Mike(Mont)]

I don’t know anything much about BR Systems but they say you can use their locators from a moving vehicle. This is in the ionic mode. They say it’s not affected by electromagnetic energy. But the Long Range mode they say to stay 200 yards away from cars, electrical wires, power lines, etc.

[Mike(Mont)]

From all I can gather the BR 100 Pro is a nice detector but the deal killer for me is there is no bionic mode for nearly $4,000. For somebody near gold fields it’s probably something to look at but around here there was nobody here 150 years ago and even then not much money, mostly poor farmers and ranchers. Nowadays they have more money but back then it was mostly subsistence, just barely scraping by. I could see places like Europe where civilization had been around for thousands of years you would have better chance of finding something old especially after so many wars and conflicts people would hide their valuables and many did not make it back. Even the eastern United States has people from hundreds of years ago. So for me it’s bionic mode or nothing. I still need to get out more with the Adroit and see if I can ever get the ionic mode working. At one time I thought I got a signal in a city park but I went back at a later date and could not find the signal. But I will keep at it.