Testing a new probe for the Minelab GPX Detech Ultimate Spiral Coil series

So here is the first small testing of this year's new revolutionary coils for PI detectors GPX series with patented spiral technology. The manufacturer Detech promised that nobody makes a better coil for GPX, so we went with Dan and Peter to our test polygon to verify this almost classic claim.

To begin with, it is probably a good idea to describe the coil. The probe has a diameter of 38 cm and is a bit thicker than one would expect. This allowed Peter and I to argue about what position the individual windings are in, but that would be for an X-ray, which hasn't happened yet (not that we don't do that already). The weight of the coil is 1.4 kg, which is not the least, but if it performs as it should, it is bearable. The colour of the probe is white, as everyone is used to from the original GPX probes. Strangely enough, nobody minds the white colour of the PIs, providing more temperature stability.

It's probably also fair to say that I went into the testing with some assumptions already made by several Australianwho were involved in the final pre-production testing and presented the probe to me in the best possible light. The probe was compared to a large 2D Detech 45x38 cm.

First impression after switching it on? Compared to the larger probe, the detector is quieter, the settings have remained the same, that is, very sharp, as guys normally go. All tested targets were seen by the probe, but for the AG coin of PG size at 48 cm depth, which has been on the polygon for about a year, the difference was evident. Here was Ultimate SC noticeably sharper and in Sharp mode you could walk at a decent speed without missing the target. My guess, which we agreed on, is that compared to the 45x38 cm coil there is about a 10% increase in range for most targets. However, if we take into account that the Ultimate SC doesn't lose sensitivity to even the tiniest objects weighing 0.1g and is still noticeably smaller, it's already worth considering. Even the ground penetration is completely different with a 38 cm coil than with a 45 cm probe.

So the probe can certainly be recommended in all respects. Detech has secured its intellectual property with patents and it is safe to assume that this will not be the last coil with this technology. In addition, we can reveal that Detech will be coming out with a new smaller Ultimate of 23 cm in the next few days. We don't know yet for which all detectors it will be produced. The only blemish on the beauty of the otherwise quite hellish coil is the price of 8.900 CZK incl. VAT. After all, a coil worth the price of a good beginner detector is not exactly a bargain, but given the relatively small number of coils sold, this is normal for these types.

New 23 cm Ultimate probe for classic VLF detectors