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From: parnass@ihuxz.ATT.COM (Bob Parnass, AJ9S)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.misc
Subject: Metal locators/treasure hunting - information wanted
Message-ID: <3099@ihuxz.ATT.COM>
Date: 19 Jul 88 03:31:39 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 51


x
   I'm in danger of being hooked into another all  consuming
   hobby - treasure hunting.

   After using our cheap Radio Shack metal locator to find a
   buried septic tank, I began to wonder if there were other
   companies making metal locators and  what  features  were
   important.

   A trip to the  bookstore  netted  two  magazines  devoted
   entirely  to  treasure  hunting,  and  from  the looks of
   things, this is  a  hobby  enjoyed  by  several  thousand
   enthusiasts.  The advertisements hawk metal locators cos-
   ting upwards of $800, complete with  microprocessor  con-
   trol, digital readout, and keypad.

   I'm interested in hearing from people experienced in this
   captivating hobby, who can tell me:

      - What metal locator features  are  important?   Is  a
        meter a necessity?

      - What make/model of locator have you used, and do you
        recommend it?

      - Does a $700 locator work that  much  better  than  a
        $200 model?

      - What items  of  interest  have  you  found?   Rings?
        Coins?  Pop tops and bottle caps?

      - In what kinds of places do you hunt?

      - What do you use to dig up your  "treasures"  without
        destroying the property?

   My wife found our present  metal  locator  for  $5  at  a
   garage  sale.  It's the Radio Shack model on sale curren-
   tly for $29.  The controls are touchy, and the  construc-
   tion is not very rugged, but it works!

   Tonight, I found a few nails in my yard, buried up  to  5
   inches  in  the damp soil.  Because I live in an agricul-
   tural area, I don't expect to find  many  gold  coins  or
   diamond  rings  on  my  property.   Local rental agencies
   charge $10/day for metal locators, and renting one sounds
   like a good way to sample some better equipment and a new
   hobby.
-- 
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Bob Parnass AJ9S,  AT&T Bell Laboratories  -  att!ihuxz!parnass - (312)979-5414