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Minelab GP 3500 gold metal detector
The Minelab GP 3500
MORE POWER AND VERSATILITY WITH THESE NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE FEATURES:
NEW “Quick-Trak” remote Ground Balance “Tracking “ and “Fixed” mode!
NEW Manual Frequency Band Adjustment!
NEW 3 Speed Tracking- FAST, MEDIUM and SLOW Modes!
NEW Lighter weight, improved performance 11” DD Search Coil!
NEW Optimized PRE-SET level adjust in each tracking speed!
NEW Quick Adjust hand strap! NEW Quick Adjust Bow Knuckle
Simply the WORLD’s MOST ADVANCED and POWERFUL Gold Detector- EVER.
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The GP 3500 – THE detector for the serious prospector
Building on the solid platform of the GP3000, the GP3500 is Minelab’s latest Gold Detector to utilize DVT, or Dual Voltage Technology. At first glance the differences between the GP3500 and the GP3000 may seem minor but there are several new benefits, which should result in more gold in your pouch at the end of your trip.
Here is a list of new features for the GP3500:
Quick-Trak Ground Balance reset/fix button on handle
3 Tracking Speeds – Fast, Medium, Slow
Optimized pre-set Tracking sensitivity level
Improved Discrimination
Reduced coil weight with improved ground handling ability
Manual & automatic Frequency Band adjust
Quick adjust hand strap
Quick adjust bow knuckle
Improved control panel layout
At first glance, the advantages of these features may not be evident, and most operators will ask, "So how will they help me find more gold?" The benefits of each new feature are explained below.
Quick-Trak button
The first feature is the all-new Quick-Trak button. It is no secret that a Mono-loop coil is the preferred choice in terms of depth and sensitivity, and the DVT technology on the GP series have opened up a lot of areas that were previously strictly Double-D territory! As a result, some operators will stick to their beloved Mono-loop coils in the most variable ground, where even whilst searching in Tracking, they have to occasionally reset the ground balance by flicking to Fixed then back to Tracking to engage the 5sec fast-track. However, if I am having to re-ground balance too often, the first thing I used to do is switch to a Double-D coil. I know of ground where a Mono coil needs to be rebalanced every 2 - 4 meters, but if I put on a Double-D, I can run in fixed for most of the day, simply ignoring the occasional false signal. The only problem is that the spot is a proven nugget producer, and like many others around the country has been well worked by detector operators. The trick to pulling more gold out of these areas is to successfully use a Mono coil to ensure maximum depth and sensitivity.
It is in this kind of ground that with the GP3500, an operator will be able to stick to their preferred Mono coil, as the control is right at your fingertips and re-ground balancing is now so simple. Because of the simplicity of it, even when using a Double-D coil, you will re-ground balance more often ensuring maximum stability/sensitivity at all times. Another great feature is that whilst in Tracking (on the control panel switch) if you push down the button, it pauses the ground balance function (places it into Fixed), which can be used to pinpoint a target, or when investigating faint signals. When releasing the button it will engage a short 2-3 sec fast track. The beauty of this is that you can search in a slower track speed (see below) to ensure a better target response, and use the button as a GB reset if you go through a rapid mineralization change, or if the GB has been upset in the process of recovering a target. This is also handy for when detecting very cluttered areas, where you are constantly required to raise the coil over obstacles such as logs and rocks. Just press the button before raising the coil, and then release it when the coil is on the ground again and your detector will remain perfectly ground balanced.
3-Speed Tracking
Even though the Quick-Trak button makes running in Fixed a lot easier, there will still be situations where running in Tracking will be more efficient. To give the operator more flexibility to suit different coils and soil conditions, the GP3500 has 3 Tracking speeds to choose from.
If you are detecting in fairly consistent mineralization or "homogeneous ground" then you can run in the Slow track speed where the detector is a little more cautious, and will stop a lot more on signals it thinks may be a target. This is important when patch finding, as a rapid change in mineralization can alert you to a productive area. Then after a nugget is located you can flick to Fixed, slow down your sweep speed, and start listening to those faint gold nugget signals.
Medium Tracking will effectively handle most mineralization changes, and will require repeated sweeps over faint signals in order to track them out. In variable ground Medium has a good compromise between effective ground balance, and signal response, and will become the preferred setting for most operators, particularly Mono users, or operators who like swinging the 18" Double -D looking for virgin patches.
Fast is a specialty setting for handling heavy variable mineralization, and should only be used if Medium Tracking is not sufficient. In a lot of variable ground it may be better to search in Medium, and use the Quick-Trak button to re-set the ground balance as required, before deciding to search in Fast track. If operating in Fast track, then it is important to Fix the Tracking by pushing the Quick-Trak button when investigation a faint signal, or when pinpointing.
Simplified Level Adjust
On previous models, the Level Adjust controlled the Discrimination level, and also set the Tracking sensitivity. This had its limitations if you wished to use Discrimination and Tracking simultaneously, and there was a chance that the operator had the Tracking incorrectly set. The addition of the three track speeds on the GP3500 gave Minelab the opportunity to simplify this by presetting the Tracking sensitivity to its optimum level, allowing the Level Adjust to control the discrimination level only.
This has take the confusion and guess work away, allowing a quick and accurate set-up of your detector.
Improved Discrimination
The simplification of the Level Adjust as explained above, meant that Minelab’s team of engineers could refine the computer software that governs the discrimination function. You will find that the iron ID on the GP 3500 is more accurate, and able to identify on smaller target signals than was possible on previous models. This means more gold from those very trashy sites!
Improved Coil
The Minelab standard issue 11" DD coil is one of the most reliable and versatile coils ever made and although this new coil may look the same externally, a lot of work went into making it even better. The coil features a new lightweight core, improved shielding and a Minelab specified grade of Litz wire, for a highly efficient coil for its size. The internal windings have also been modified to ensure perfect ground balance to maximize depth, which has also resulted in an increase in signal response to small nuggets closer to the surface.
Manual Frequency Adjust
Due to the power and broad operating frequency range of the SD and GP range of detectors, the influence of external electrical interference is a problem that is a nuisance in many areas. In most situations the Auto Tune function selects a quite band, and the operator doesn’t need to change this unless moving to a new location. However, in some areas, particularly those goldfields close to suburbia, or for operators wishing to use their gold detector for other applications such as Relic Hunting or Beach Hunting, the source of interference can change often requiring periodic changes to the Frequency Band.
The GP3500 can handle these changes with ease due to the addition of a Manual frequency band adjust, in addition to the Auto tune function. After the initial band is selected using the Auto tune, if the threshold becomes unstable during searching, all it normally takes is a slight turn of the Manual Adjust knob, and the threshold returns to a smooth tone, so you can get on with your detecting.
For operators detecting in areas with very little electrical activity, you may find that a particular frequency band works better on a specific target size, or in a specific soil type. There are no hard and fast rules here, so when you receive a faint signal, before recovering it, it may pay to experiment with the Manual adjust control to see if a different frequency provides you with a better signal response.
Quick Adjust Bow Knuckle & Hand Strap
I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again, a comfortable prospector is a successful prospector. And by comfortable I’m talking about a whole range of things like: ensuring you’ve had enough sleep; that you are appropriately dressed; you have enough drinking water; you are wearing inset repellent; you have comfortable footwear; you’re not swinging a coil that is too heavy or unbalanced; and ensuring your harness is properly set up. These are all important aspects to staying focused and concentrating at listening to what the detector is telling you.
The new Quick Adjust features fall into this "comfort" category, and have been incorporated into the new GP3500 to make life that little bit easier. The old metal bolt in the bow knuckle has been replaced by a plastic bolt and wing nut, so that you can change the position of your bow knuckle in seconds. This is usually necessary when swapping coils. The quick adjust hand strap is also handy if you are wearing gloves whilst detecting on a chilly morning, and then need to re-adjust the strain of the strap after you no longer need them.
Re-positioned controls
The changes and new features have allowed us to redesign the control panel to make the set-up procedure more logical and practical for the operator. The power switch has moved to be on the threshold control pot. Just turn the detector on and select the threshold level at the same time. The All Metal / Discrimination switch has now been incorporated in with the discrimination level knob. The Soil & Boost switches are now next to each other, as these two settings tend to be used in various combinations, it is more convenient to have them located together.
The GP3500 Advantage
The increased versatility of the GP3500 allows it to be optimized to suit any detecting conditions you encounter, and to suit your personal detecting style. The new time saving features, and the ability to control what the detector does, when YOU want, will result in more gold at the end of the day.
Nenad Lonic
Minelab Customer & Technical Support
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