Modifying your Detector

If the serious professionals don't use modded detectors, and the dealers refuse to trade in them, and the manufacturer refuse to service them... then you should learn something from this hint and hang onto your money. Save up for a detector that actually does what the manufacturer claims it will. .

Not having a go at you Nero you are a respected poster on this forum but are you sure that the serious professionals are not using them I have heard different maybe the owner ( Woody) can tell all of us if he Mods these detectors for the professional prospector. And buy the way everyone I have a fully modded GP Extreme that was prepared by Link and the owner has been nothing but a gentlemen to deal with and my initial test with this machine is it is very quiet and stable once set up I will start field testing it shortly once everything dries up here in Queensland its still raining on and of.

hi all , reading on this forum about modding, its up to you , i did have my 2200d modded by woody and what can i say ,its a big diffrence between the old 22 and the modded 22 ,for 1 calls are clearer , but i suppose it comes down to how much money you have to spend ,do i buy a new machine or just improve my old machine, looks like it all depends on who dose the work (mod) on your machine ,i look at it like this, if your car needs a tune or want it to run better, and there are better parts out there to make it run better then why not, cheers red

Just sent my Extreme off to Ismael for mods and also because of the difference between some of the extremes I want him to check if it is a good one or not. When I spoke to him he did not promise me the world and was quite honest on what to expect. I had searched a few forums on modding and his name was very well respected and that is why I chose him.
Paul

that's it goldbait you have hit the nail on the head....
cheers
stoppsy

I'll just say this, how can anyone mod a detector when they don't have a schematic for them? Changing components when you don't know whats going on in software is very risky especially with all the new timings of the GPX detectors. And to put clarification on some of the comments above, I know of no professional prospectors who have had their detectors modded who are using them seriously.

JP

Good day All.
When I bought my GP ExtremeI was told by the dealer (Goanna Gold) not to modify as it was a very quiet mechine which I found to be true, so I take the dealers word as they should know what they are talking about, Also I was told if I got it modded I could not trade up at a later date.
Cheers Greg

One of these modders are advertising on ebay at the moment on the GPX 5000 I don't understand why you would pay $6500 on a new detector and then pay some a $1000 to F@#$ your machine up and void the warranty on your detector, I can do the same for free, its easy just back the 4x4 over it.

regards Johnny

It is interesting to note that two of our respected contributors who are linked with Minelab, have both advised against modifications, for they are both excellent users of their detectors and from their point of view see no reason for modifications.

This is fair enough for you should only contemplate modifications when you have learned all you can about your machine which, in their original state, found plenty of gold.

However when you buy a car in its original state, there is no reason why you can modify it, so why not a detector. It is up to the owner. There is ample proof that on many occasions, modifications work, but be aware there have been times when they don't.

Hopefully we will get quite a few comments on them here, then you can make an informed decision

Jeff

yes i have a modded GP extreme, thats how i bought it.

i can't compare it to a non modified GP extreme.

in saying this. my machine runs extremely smooth with mono coils over highly mineralised ground and perfers running mono coils.

i see my posts earlier got deleted which i didn't think were defamatory as i tried to keep my opinion neutral.

all i will say on this matter is if minelab no longer have parts for their older machines, SD and the like, then whats the problem with sending it to someone else.

a machine that is 10 years old getting sent in for reparis or upgrades is probably being replaced with higher quality components being they are not 10 years old.

Again, I agree with you Jeff and I alter my own detectors considerably on the external side though not internally/electronically. I wouldn't call that a mod but even the use of an S-Bend shaft with a relocated GB button is considered to be a type of Mod. People can do whatever they want with their detectors and there's nothing to prevent them from doing so. The internal electronic mods used to be a few hundred dollars to implement although recently they've climbed to over a thousand dollars so it's gone from being a 'tweak' to an 'irreversible operation'. Most would be advised to wait until the warranty has expired for obvious reasons. And recently, a member of this forum (Ismael) who was one of the first Modders to do it commercially, stated that he would never consider modding a GPX because he didn't feel it was possible to do anything to improve these machines. Some users seem to enjoy using their modded detectors and I know a chap in my local club with an SD2000 that was modded (he bought it from a previous owner who neglected to tell him what the new switches are supposed to do). I couldn't figure it out when I tried it but I suspect the earlier models might benefit from a parts refit.

A car that is modified still gets tested for roadworthiness every year. I just wish there was some way to do the same for metal detectors because that would assure everyone that their new machine is working as it should. Even testing two new machine side-by-side is a very difficult thing to do at the best of times.

I guess I would be classed as professional, seeing how I have owned every Minelab from a GT 16000 up, and made a living from it as well as discovering enough new deposits to float a company on. I have also owned Garrets, Whites and Fisher detectors and they have all served their purpose.
I had my 2100 modded which I used for a while but much preferred it unmodded.
The main consensus seems to be that the detector runs so much quieter when modded, which may be true, but I am interested in the mineralised ground, even slightly mineralised is a good lead in to a potential gold deposit. So with a detector that doesn't get a bit noisy when in mineralisation how do you know what is under the coil.
I only use Mono coils as well , for the same reason, and where I detect is loaded with BIF and Manganese so a lot of concentration is required to pick the signals.
I can understand why people would like the modds because of the quietness, same goes for DD coils, but really the sensitivity of the Mono's and being alerted to mineralisation has resulted in a lot of new areas being found, for me anyway.
Sorry an edit to add this bit. Would I ever use a modded detector again. Answer NO.

A very good friend of my had he,s 4000 modified because he did not have the cash at the time to buy a 4500
when they came out, on the claims that it would be better then the 4500 and go deeper. very false claims now. and when he went to upgrade the dealer would not take it for resale.thank god for e.bay he said. i have done test with this machine and it did not go deeper then the 4500 which i still use today as a back up with my 5000.
way to go peter eg woody take peoples money with claims of finding more gold with a super detector mod,s minelab can not make , maybe i might have my garrett infinium modified to find gold rings at 4ft or point out white pointers swimming around
thanks goldminner997

Another reason I went with Ismael Jones mods is that he fits a switch so that you can run the machine in standard or modded. I may be incorrect but I don't think LINK does this.
Anyway if I can run it in standard or modded it should be good to do some sensitivity and depth test in both modes and to work out how good the mods work and when it is best to use them.
Paul

Hi Horseshoe,

Exactly, the trouble with detecting mineralised ground is the signals sound exactly like a signal from gold, but modded even with just the ferrites changed and a couple of other tweeks and there they are, mind you there still is a few wonky sounds coming thru but the gold signals are less interfered with, so imho i prefer mine modded.

The patch we were on, on the salt lake we compared the 4500 with the unmodded and modded 4000, the 4000m was better and quieter, plus the 4500 was noisy on cloudy days which again camo'd the signals.

Imagine how good the mods would be if minelab opened up and gave more info on their machines and maybe even accredited modders to there standards, but no, what do we get, denials and denegration of all things not minelab.

Horseshoe, the machine you had modded sounds like it would have been one of the earlier mods and the modding has come a long, long way since then, i would regret selling my 4000m

Ron

PS:Goldminer, did the machine improve when it was modded because there is lemons out there that modding won't help and that goes back to what Nero has said, that there is no standard by which we can test our machines, and i could say a lot more on that subject...

To my ears no mineralisation sounds like gold. I have no problem detecting around large magnetized BIFs and picking out the metal signals. Mind you I do dig or move anything that makes a noise, but as people that have detected with me know, I will call out when I think the signal is metal.
I used to dig huge holes on ground noises in the early days but now I will mark the target and come back later so I can concentrate on what I consider to be metal targets. You can cover a lot more ground that way.
You were doing well right up to the Minelab bashing but I guess you can't help yourself.

Jefgold wrote:It is interesting to note that two of our respected contributors who are linked with Minelab, have both advised against modifications,

Jeff

I advise against mods due to my involvement with the Product Development arm of Minelab, my comments are not a point of view but an active statement about modifications, no one but Minelab have the schematic for their detectors and no one but Minelab know exactly what the interaction of the various components have with each other and the application of the software contained with in, to adjust one you risk throwing the rest out of kilter as they are all tied in together. Last year I had an experienced prospector ring me after he had his 4500 modified (good prospector but very inexperienced electronically), according to him it was running quieter but had zero depth when using the Enhance timings, whatever the mods were they threw the detector completely out of whack, he ended up buying another brand new 4500 and I assume tried to flog his modified one off, hopefully with full disclosure to the purchaser.

I make no bones about my association with Minelab but readers need to realise my work with them is in the development of new detectors, in other words I spend a lot of my time and effort working on improvements that Minelab are performing on their own technology, accordingly my involvement in this thread should be seen in the same vein.

Regards

Jonathan

From a dealers point of view, modded machines are worthless as a trade in. They cannot be sent to Minelab for repairs so I doubt you'll find any dealer who'll trade one in, which leaves Ebay or a sale to someone wanting a modded machine.

As Jonathan says, no-one has the schematic for the later detectors nor the programming, so I fail to see how blindly changing some parts will have a good result without impairing other functions. I would also think that Jonathan would have seen and used more detectors of differing electronics than most people in the country.

The ultimate choice is with the owner, and provided he is aware of the consequences, then it is his choice whether he mods or not. Cheers.

(Note for members; Some of the content in this post was removed by a moderator.)

Commonsense tells me that if these modifications were of any benefit them Minelab would incorporate them in their detectors.
Having your detector modded or buying one modded does not make you a better operator.

Robert

authere wrote:PS:Goldminer, did the machine improve when it was modded because there is lemons out there that modding won't help and that goes back to what Nero has said, that there is no standard by which we can test our machines, and i could say a lot more on that subject...

Exactly why I sent my extreme to Ismael as he told me when I spoke to him he will check it first to see if it is a good one or not before going ahead. I have being using this extreme for a short time and the biggest problem with an extreme, to me, if it is a lemon compared to others and I know if I send it back to Minelab for a check they are only going to tell me it works, not if it is a good one or not. Again, least Ismael will fit a switch so I can leave it in standard or modded but I will know after he has looked at the machine whether to keep it or not. ps, if it was a 3000 or 3500 I would not think about modding but the budget allowed for this machine at the time.
Paul

Gday

I have had earlier model modded detectors like the sd2000 and found the mods to be useful on them, but I would not have bothered to mod anything that I have owned in the later model machines, purely because when I have asked the same questions in relation to the outcome of the mods on a particular model I have also recieved many varied and conflicting replies making it impossible to make an informed decision either way.

Most of us will modify our machines in one way or another, adding anything to it that was not stock standard is a form of modification, ie a regulated battery system, a signal booster/enhancer, any coil other than the minelab standard issue coil, these are all add ons designed to increase performance and operation, all tried and true methods, with the added bonus of simply taking it back off if it does not fulfill your expectations.

Having your machine altered internally could give you an outcome that is either better or worse, you will not know which one it will be until you get it on the ground and try it out, the other downsides are in some cases the mods are not easily switched off and it has to be sent back to the modder and to be rectified or put back to original, and I would guess that you would also have to pay again to get this done, other issues like minelab not wanting to service or repair it, and also I believe its true that modded machines are less likely to be traded by dealers who have been caught out with them before, would have to be considered before you went ahead with it.

Ultimatley it is your decision what you do with your machine, but my advice is simple, add a good quality booster/enhancer, put it on a regulated battery system and experiment with some different coils and you may find that the improvements will make you happy with its new performance, if this does not work for you then it is easy to take them back off and re consider other options, or whether you have to bite the bullet and upgrade to a later model.


cheers

stayyerAU

Having been detecting since 1979 (32 years) and never had a detector modified in all that time I don't think I'll start now, especially having seen what can happen to a GP when it is modified. And I like to be able to trade my old model in on a new one. I like my machines straight-up as I reckon those scores of people who design the darn things know more than me or any single person playing around alone in a workshop. If it ain't broke - don't try and fix it. Just my opinion.

Cheers, Jim

JP You keep saying that I do not have Schematics. Oh yes I do, ask any member of the seekers club as they all had a look at them. Now , I have been repairing Minelab detectors for the last five years, yes I do repair them and have a large spare parts inventory. All mods have a 5 year warranty. Do professional full time prospectors use modded detectors? You bet they do! It is not intelligent to say that Minelab are the only ones that can make the detectors work optimum in all conditions. I replace 2nd generation components with 3rd generation, anyone with an ounce of technological knowledge would understand the increased performance that these changes make to the circuitry. I could post lists of components that are used currently and what i replace them with but that will cause ill feeling. Minelab and myself are getting on quite well, I do speak with people in Minelab from time to time and they do not have an issue with me modding the detectors. Have a talk to Andrew Grech who does the Minelab training courses in central vic, he was testing out a fully modded GPX-5000. He had some interesting things to say about it.

stoppsy wrote:hey guys take it to the PM box and not make it public... i don't know use from a bar off soap and i just don't wont to see this forum going down the tubes because off 2 people have a problem with each other... we are all growen people here not kids people will make there on minds up about if to trust someone or not...
cheers
stoppsy

How then Stoppsy is anyone able to inform you of the issues if you request people to take the conversation to PM's? The subject of this thread is Detector MODS and the question was

Red Devil wrote:HAS ANY ONE HAD MODS DONE BY LINK TECHNOLOGY IF SO WAS IT WORTHWHILE

. I have supplied opinion on the subject of mods and so have others along with the modder in question. I have some reservations about his claims RE

woody wrote:JP You keep saying that I do not have Schematics. Oh yes I do, ask any member of the seekers club as they all had a look at them. Now , I have been repairing Minelab detectors for the last five years, yes I do repair them and have a large spare parts inventory. All mods have a 5 year warranty. Do professional full time prospectors use modded detectors? You bet they do! It is not intelligent to say that Minelab are the only ones that can make the detectors work optimum in all conditions. I replace 2nd generation components with 3rd generation, anyone with an ounce of technological knowledge would understand the increased performance that these changes make to the circuitry. I could post lists of components that are used currently and what i replace them with but that will cause ill feeling. Minelab and myself are getting on quite well, I do speak with people in Minelab from time to time and they do not have an issue with me modding the detectors. Have a talk to Andrew Grech who does the Minelab training courses in central vic, he was testing out a fully modded GPX-5000. He had some interesting things to say about it.

I seriously doubt if Minelab do not have an issue with anyone modding their detectors with a blindfold on which is essentially what they are doing if they do not have the full details of what makes them tick. I go back a long way in this industry and I can assure you apart from crystal changes to the original SD 2000's and maybe a higher set voltage for the SD series, mods are nothing but a can of worms well left alone.

JP

I would get anything modded from the SD series to the GP series.

But the GPX series i would not recommend modding. I would send the older GPX series machines back to Minelab for the latest software changes.

An if you get them modded only deal with Ismael and woody. An a fair price would be about 600 buck range and shipping costs etc. ( WHETHER THEY ARE CHARGING THAT IS ANOTHER STORY IN ITSELF)
Minelab does not touch modded equipment but Ismael and Woody and a few others do.

Once again the extreme series and SD series and GP series i would modd if i seriously wanted it and could get it done at a reasonable price.

GPX series i would not recommend.

OR BASICALLY JUST BE HAPPY WITH THE EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE AND GET OUT THERE SWINGING.



BOYS AND GIRLS THE NUGGETS ARE EVERYWHERE OUT THERE AND ALL U HAVE TO DO IS FIND THEM.

WHAT A LUCKY COUNTRY WE LIVE IN.!!!!!

JP keeps saying I do not have schematics....would someone like to come around and have a look at the schematics that I do not have?

The signal train....2 X AD797 4053 TLE2142 TLE2074 4 X 4053 4 X TLE2072 4 X LT1050 How could I know that if i did not have Schematics? How about you ring Phil Beck and ask him...lol

JP you dig holes that you cannot escape from.

Nowhere in Woody's Ebay ad for the $1000 GPX5000 mod is it disclosed that the mod will void the warranty.
This should start the alarm bells ringing immediately.

Why would it void the warranty? We need a test case, what I do to a detector cannot make Minelab components fail, thus Minelab by law (ask the ACCC) have to repair the device. If it is my parts that fail then I repair the failed components.

Electronics can be (for the laymen) compared to a car, if the man who works on the engine makes a mistake, he is not liable for the transmission and the exhaust system if it failed. New car dealers were attempting to void warranty if a non car dealer serviced the vehicle, this was deemed "illegal" and restriction of trade and competition by the ACCC. The same would apply to metal detectors.

I will contact the ACCC for a ruling and post it on my website.

But if you modify a new Holden and Ford in some way u also have the same problem????
Still there is that niche market for people that want it done!!!!

Yes woody that was a service issue not a Modification issue????

woody wrote:Why would it void the warranty? We need a test case, what I do to a detector cannot make Minelab components fail, thus Minelab by law (ask the ACCC) have to repair the device. If it is my parts that fail then I repair the failed components.

Electronics can be (for the laymen) compared to a car, if the man who works on the engine makes a mistake, he is not liable for the transmission and the exhaust system if it failed. New car dealers were attempting to void warranty if a non car dealer serviced the vehicle, this was deemed "illegal" and restriction of trade and competition by the ACCC. The same would apply to metal detectors.

I will contact the ACCC for a ruling and post it on my website.

So while you and Minelab are arguing about who's fault it is if the detector fails (this could take months) the prospector doesn't have a detector.