I've been swinging a Nokta NGR in the field for 4 days. I bought it knowing it was NOT a GPR, but I figured that the 12.5kHz frequency has been good to me over the years (with 2 box detectors), so...what the heck! Here's my findings:
Bad Points1) It is a back-breakingly heavy piece of gear and will give you much arm and back pains. I have ordered a harness, hipstick and bungee cord to help me use it.
2) A spare battery will cost USD395
plus courier fee and tax. 3rd party batteries are not recommended. A full charge will last between 3 and 4 hours. There is NO WAY i can swing it for more than 30 minutes without taking a rest due to the weight.
3) There is a slight lag in the machine when accessing the functions and menu. It is a tolerable lag though.
4) In bright sunlight, a screen hood is required. I rigged a temporary one from some cardboard.
Good points1) Operating the machine is very easy thanks to the user interface and on-screen guides.
2) I can honestly say that it detects voids and metals up to the 2 meter mark. I have not detected objects deeper than that so far. The NGR's analysis of the metals is mostly very accurate. It was only thrown off-course in one instance (a target of 1 old sardine can, 1 unidentifable can and lid and some foil all clumped together registered as gold!)
For years each time I dig, it is with some degree of nervousness due to the possibility of unexploded WW2 ordnance. If I was a cat, I'd only have 2 lives left. Now I can see on the screen how the target lays, so I can dig down to it at the proper angle or from the side, to gingerly discover what the target really is. This is the only reason I am bothering to write all this: because this machine can help others who explore similar places where such dangers are present. After the first 2 days of using the NGR, I have become confident in its abilities, and can trust it to a great degree; this does not mean I will dig without exercising the usual due caution.
Am I happy with the machine, overall? YES, I am very happy despite its huge weight. I guess I better add a disclaimer that I am not selling any metal detectors nor am I attempting to promote the machine. Please do not ask me if I have found anything valuable with the NGR because I will never answer that. I will venture to say that the Nokta Golden King is a partial scam, because of it's claim to be a GPR. I do not know if the general search head will really detect down to 15 feet. Other than that (and the heavy weight) I find it to be a worthwhile investment.
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"Gold rides an iron horse." (Old prospector Homefire)
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