Monte,

I am fairly new to the Deus and I also have an Equinox. The Deus is now my favorite detector. My answers are:

1. I have 3 custom programs set up on my Deus that seem to be working well for me. Two are based on the GM Power program (2) and one is based on the Deus Fast program (3). On the X35 coil they run at 18 kHz. When I use the 5x9” Hf coil I set it to run as close to 18 as I can, which is about 16 kHz.

2. No

3. I am very pleased with the performance of the Deus. To me it seems to be equal to the Equinox. I am very impressed with how well it handles EMI. Where I hunt there are usually a lot of power lines and other electrical interference. In places where the Equinox would be sounding off so much from EMI it is hard to tell when you go over a target, the Deus runs nice and quiet. And I am usually running the Deus at 95 or 96 sensitivity. So I don’t miss the Multi Frequency at all on the Deus.

4. Although you didn’t mention it, I added some other reasons why I prefer the Deus over the Equinox that have nothing to do with performance. It is much easier on my old body. A while back I posted on the AHRPS Minelab forum about hand pain that I was having from the Equinox’s grip. Well, since I have been using the Deus, my hand problem has gotten a lot better, and is almost gone now. And my back feels a lot better too. I also like the sound a lot better on the Deus. They are a lot sharper and crisper on the Deus, which I hear better with my bad hearing.

Detectors:
Tesoro Bandido II Umax (2)
Whites MXT Pro
Minelab Equinox 800
XP Deus
Whites Beach Hunter ID