What I think we will see is an upper-level SMF entry from Nokta / Makro. Most likely with a Simplex + sort of appearance, waterproof and with the built-in battery. Not a lot of excess over whats's out there now, just a quality-built and solid-performing detector. I would certainly hope it also offers SSF capability.

Things have been quiet from the FTP community but I thought we would have seen a new product in the SMF role from them. I am a bit tired of the model-swapping and decal label-changing between their three brands, especially since the Bounty Hunter line was simply the industry lower-end mass-market product before, and now with the BH Time Ranger Pro it sort of reflects backwards on the Fisher F19 and Teknetics G2+. Kind of muddies the waters of what's low-end, budget mass-market or what's serious hobby quality?

XP might be working on something to compete with SMF that are out there, but more than likely it will be a higher-cost model, and maybe continue their approach of using a multi-component charging system. Anything from them or Minelab will likely be more expensive newer models, especially if Minelab tries to incorporate more of the FBS design in a lighter and better-configured package.

Actually, since I know the market, as a whole, is just fine with a land-based model that doesn't need to be waterproof or use a built-in battery, what I'd like to see from them is a Vanquish 640. Same red housing design, same search coils, but up the 540's design with Ground Balance and SSF, or Selectable Single-Frequency choices. Not a lot of extra stuff, just those two things that could make it much better and eliminate some issues it has.

And then the more obvious at this point would be a move from Garrett to enhance their Apex with an Apex 'series' with an up-line model that might have Recovery Speed adjustment and be in a waterproof package. Plus, with all the paperwork smarts they got from White's, they should be working on a premier SMF entry as well.

As for search coils, I would like to see a smaller-size 5" DD from Garrett, Minelab and Nokta / Makro for the Apex, Vanquish and Simplex + and not rely on an after-market search coil company to do so. With the newer trend of digital circuitry design, be it a SF or SMF concept, you can have chips / circuitry in the search coils that a detector maker uses to design their coils to work on their detectors. Some of that technology they don't or won't share so that can make it difficult to get an accessory coil size or type from the outer-world beyond the detector manufacturers. If they don't share the knowledge, it limits what we can choose from.

Just what I think we might see in the coming months.

Monte

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Metal Detector Evaluations and Product Reviews monte@ahrps.org ... or ... monte@stinkwaterwells.com 503-481-8147Detector Outfit: A selection of my favorite makes and models, with the best coils mounted, for the tasks I'll take on.Pinpointers: Pulse-Dive & ProPointer AT .. Headphones: 'Hornet' & 'Wasp' .. MS-3 Z-Lynk .. ML-80 .. N/M Green edition*** All working well today to make memories for tomorrow. ***