White's Spectra V3

[rjm]

Anyone using one of these machines?

White's is one of the foremost detector manufacturers so you'd have thought they'd be more common.

[Terra (Mike)]

I like the look of these , but the price seems a bit steep just for a colour screen upgrade? thats what yor paying £1200 for

[rjm]

You can pick one up + cordless headphones ,on interest free with all covers and bag, for WELL under £1100!!

When you compare it to other detectors on the market is it that bad for a top end marque/model?

[150aceboy]

Have read the write up for the Spectra V3, and it sounds a fantastic detector, a bit out of my price range though  

[rjm]

On the never never it's about £45 month over 2 years.

Should pay for itself !

[jaseboy]

Sounds good abit steep on the money side !

[Terra (Mike)]

I DON'T BUY ON THE NEVER NEVER, CASH OR NOTHING

[rjm]

Fair enough!

I could pay cash but what's the point if it's the same price spread over two years?

I'd rather keep my hard earned money earning 0.1% interest  
(That's what we get under Brown's Broken Britain)

[Terra (Mike)]

When i buy something , a better deal aways seems to come along a month or so later,,, am i the only one

[Salty (Karl) Cardiff Scan Club]

Nope Mike, trust me on this, i defiantly keep you company on that.
when it comes to buying stuff, i never seam to have much luck, someones either just sold one for half the price or i should have waited a week for the new model!!

[Richy]

I asked the same question on here a couple of months ago, I've still not seen anyone using a V3.

[rjm]

I think it was a case of no one wanting to pay £1400 for one when they first came to UK.

Now the price has come down they're starting to appear a bit more. Reading the detecting sites, mostly USA
they say it's better than DFX and on this machine White's have set the performance at the edge of its sensitivity (Jimmy Sierra's quote (Worldwide authority on White's machines)) so if anything they may need to be tuned back.
Apparently the XLT and DFX were factory set for stability in all grounds and thus needed fine stuning to get best depth.

Supposed to be excellent amongst iron.

Nice colour screen with lots of info. Fast alterations. Nicely balanced machine. Cordless headphones.

Users in UK, mostly, seemed to rate the DFX so the V3 promises to be a good performer.

I had an XLT for 7 years and it was a nice machine. Since I sold it as I fancied a different machine I've been
a detecting gypsy (oops traveller) with one machine after another. I regret selling the XLT. Hopefully it'll be
a long term machine. We'll see!

[rjm]

*** V3 after 4 months !! ***
« on: 07 December 2009, 23:22:14 »
   
Well folks I thought it was about time to write down in words my own personal overview of the V3 having now had four good months of practice with it. Firstly I am not gonna get wrapped up in hyping the V3 I am going to give as best an unbiased opinion on how this detector has stacked up thus far.
My first day out was less than momentous with all sorts of problems. Some of these were just down to not understanding how hot out of the box the V3 was and the other problems were soon solved by replacing the D2 coil and also dumping the wireless headphones. The headphones seemed to be the cause of all EMI problems when near powerlines etc with no further problems occurring after using conventional headphones.
I have been using and XLT for many years and for me the V3 was the next logical progression with all those new features fixing many of the gripes I had with the XLT (having to remember to save everything all the time being one of them)
There has been much discussion about how complicated the V3 is but in truth if you read the manual and can operate a computer the V3 is a breeze. The Menu system is the best out there in my opinion with the ability to completely customise the menu system to your own personal preferences. The on the fly controls are superb and  with a little careful thought they can be set so all of the main features can be accessed in seconds.
In the field it did not take long to realize the Hi Pro Program was the best place to start for UK programs. The first thing I did when I found I had a good usable program was to save it then dump the rest in the menu replacing them all with clones of the good program I had made so we had benchmark programs to work with.
I  tried all methods (discrim, all metal & Mixed mode) finding the discrim is by far the most friendly on the ears and also gave the best overall results. As for audio that is up to the individual and the V3 allows you to do just about anything you want audiowise from single tones to custom tone banks that you can have play you a different tone for each VDI if you so desire. As for Discrimination patterns I have pretty much settled on one now that seems to favour uk conditions which is as follows.
-20 to +93 accepted +94 & +95 rejected and -21 to -95 rejected.
This seems to give a nice wide spectrum to pickup all of the flotsam and jetsom that we find here in blighty. All my programs have the all metal set between 55 & 65 with the discrim set @80+ depending on conditions. RX value I set to the point where we get little or no falsing . As for filters I use the lower freqs like 5mhz high when hunting small stuff like hammies with a recovery between 80-100, this works especially well when using the22.5khz frequency and has yielded very small targets at suprising depths. The 2.5khz frequency  when used on its own has proved to be dynamite when coinshooting with old pennies and half pennies regulary found past 10” on pasture. I also have a general program that uses all three frequencies which I use for general search.
When searching I have found that the VDI register is very consistent and in most cases if you get a very solid VDI that does not deviate by + or – 2 or 3 then its generally a good target, the analyze screen is pretty spot on aswell once you get to grips with interpreting what its telling you !! (basically if its got a good tight clean hump then its probably a goodun)
Pinpointing is about a simple as it gets, just pull the trigger aim and dig LOL !! my only gripe here is she aint always that good at predicting depth !!!
On the depth subject ( I know your all dying to know LOL) well inconclusive really!!
Some days it amazes me with its abilites then the next day it seems pretty average in performance (what can I say !!) conditions do seem to play a big part though with wet soil conditions proving best with depth dropping off quite radically in very dry conditions (back in the summer before Armageddon arrived LOL).. I have used three of whites coils on the V3 (super 12” ,5’3 eclipse & the 9x5 DD) all have performed very well with the little 5’3 being nothing short of amazing with targets still being dug down to 10” or so on old pennies etc.
In conclusion I think the V3 is a very well rounded package that when mastered will perform well under all conditions. I don’t think it’s the be all and end all in detectors but is probably the best allrounder currently available. It will not replace specialist tectors like the GMP tejon or even my old favourite the sovereign but will perform at a high level under all conditions. Like all detectors it is subjective but in the right hands the V3 will stand up to the closest scrutiny and has proved beyond all doubt that its capable of finding the good stuff. Mine has yielded probably well over 500 coins so far with many Chinese takeaway boxes now full with buttons belt buckles etc. My only disappointment has been the lack of silver I have personally dug but that’s not to say the V3 don’t find it, its just my coil aint been on it !!!

Well folks there we have it !! well worth the £1100 price tag me thinks…

[rjm]

Correlate Uk program
« on: 19 October 2009, 21:34:25 »
   

modified for UK conditions

This is intended for a V rated Super 12 coil you may have to ajust rx gain for other coils

Work slowly when in the field

Choose the "Coin & Jewelry" from the presets and make the following changes

Discrimination
Accept (-95, -30 to +95)
Reject (-94 to -31)


Sensitivity
Rx Gain (10)
Discrimination (90)
All Metal (78)

Ground Tracking
Speed (20)

Frequency
Correlate (ON)
Span (20)
Wrap (-94)

Filter & Speed
Ground Filter (5Hz Band Pass)
Recovery Delay (95)

Audio
Tone ID (ON)

[rjm]

White’s New 2009 Spectra V3

Jimmy Sierra’s West Coast White’s Spectra V3 Project Team

West Coast Treasure’s Ray Romeo,

Trans Bay Metal Detector’s Greg Moscini,

White’s of California’s Jimmy ‘Sierra’ Normandi & Son Jim Normandi

At A Glance
• All New Spectra V3 Color LCD Screen; A WEALTH of Information
• All New Visual Signagraph Three Frequency Levels; 2.5 kHz, 7.5 kHz and 22.5 kHz
Enhanced
Response to Gold and Silver
• All New Wide View High Resolution Color Fully Adjustable Screen
• All New Visual Analyze Mode (Size, Shape)
• All New Micro-Processor Interface
• All New Wireless Headphone Interface-Channels
• All New NiMH Battery Cradle/Re-Charging System
• All New Ground Probe to Optimize Performance (Signal to Noise)
• All New Expert Menus, Puts YOU in Total Control to further customize and tweak to
optimize under various hunting conditions.
• All New Audio/Visual Circuits Enhances Target Depth and Discrimination Selectivity
• All New Live Controls Allow Direct Access/Adjustment along Spectra V3 Screen
JUST SOME of the Spectra V3 FEATURE Highlights
• Fully Adjustable Spectra V3 Target Detection Screen
• Selectable Single Frequency
• BEST Data Three Frequencies
• Enhanced Signal
• Dial In Precise AC and Preamp using Ground Probe Feature
• Illuminated Touch Pad
• 10.25 D2 Coil Standard
• SL Chassis Comfort Grip With Excellent Weight and Balance
• Easy To Use Turn on and Go Programs with Enhanced Performance
• Advanced Ground Auto-Tracking (Adjustable)
• Pin Point and Motion “on-the-fly Coin Depth
• Full Range Sensitivity & Pre-Amp Controls
• Full Range Visual and Audio Discrimination -95 to +95
• Large Target Number and Icons (Full Color)
• Direct Access ‘Dashboard’ Adjustments, with On The Fly Adjustments
• Standard Battery Back Up Pack
• Customized Programs for Advanced Users
• All New Big Ten Pro-Designed Programs include
1. Coin
2. Coin/Jewelry
3. Beach
4. Relic
5. Prospecting
6. All-Deep Silver
7. High Trash
8. High Pro
9. Mixed Mode Pro
10. Meteorite
INTRODUCTION
With over 5 years of research and development, White’s Electronics is proud to
introduce the All NEW Made in America, Spectra V3, and taking Technology a leap
head of anything else on the market today.
People are always concerned about the Depth and Discrimination characteristics of
their metal detectors. Discrimination is best described in three categories: Audio, Visual
(Screen) when the results are seen by the user, the 3rd category would be the users
interpretation of the information the end user receives to make a choice to investigate
and extract the target as a potential good-desirable target. The selectivity of the Spectra
V3 will enable the end user to avoid digging lots of trash by supplying the user with a
combination of Audio and Visual clues not seen in any other detector.
DEPTH: One of the first questions usually asked is how deep will go. We like to define
that Depth as BEST Signal (target audio response) to Noise (Ground Reactivity,
Electrical Interference etc). The Spectra V3 new Audio Performance takes Signal
Response on fringe targets to an all new level second to NONE. When this advanced
technology detector hits on a deep desirable target, it’s like the Liberty Bell going off
versus a tiny response. The Spectra V3 operates with a variety of features like Ground
Probe, Fully Adjustable and Independent Visual & Audio Sensitivity Controls. You may
operate in any of ten different well tested Factory Default Programs or create and save
your own program. One excellent feature is that any changes you might make to adjust
one of the preset programs will remain changed when you turn off your unit. Even if you
remove your battery, the changes will be there when you turn your unit back on. You
can easily restore any changes to the original factory settings at any time. This is a real
time saver. The Factory Default Programs have been carefully designed and tweaked to
provide outstanding discrimination while delivering maximum depth under most soil
conditions whether its Surf or Turf so those that want to merely turn it on and go are
going to achieve the performance they expect right out of the box.
You can customize Discrimination Levels, Target Tones even Icons to whatever your
heart desires. For example, you can change the Tone of a Silver Dime from a very low
tone to a high tone.
The Audio Output of the Spectra V3 is the SMOOTHEST yet in the White’s Line Up,
surpassing even the Prizm and E Pro Series. Around power lines and other
environmental noise, you can easily tune it out or shift frequencies. There’s just so
much one can do with this unit, and White’s has raised the bar of performance and fun
factor.
FIELD TEST
Jimmy Sierra, Jim Normandi and I meant several times in San Francisco’s Golden Gate
Park for developing and refining the circuit of the Spectra V3 in the beginning. East Bay
Whites Dealer, Ray Romeo was also brought in as part of our SF Bay Area Evaluation
Team to evaluate the Prizm Spectra V3 in the Bay Area’s East Bay Region.
I did most of my solo evaluation in Foster City Parks which also have some inland Salt
Beaches finding Coins, Jewelry, and some very fine gold jewelry thanks to the NEW 22
kHz frequency.
Observations: The NEW Spectra V3’s three frequency Signagraph will line up the
vertical bars according to the size, shape and conductivity of the target.
High Conductors: A quarter for instance will read out in the 80s on the numeric scale
with all three frequencies lining up close.
Middle Conductors: A Zinc Penny will read out in the high 50s to 60s with all three
frequencies lining up Staggered.
Low Conductors: Nickels, Rings, Fine Jewelry will line up with the 22.5 kHz the
strongest and most in agreement with the Numeric Readout of say 18 to 20 (Nickel)
Light Tin Foil will cause the 2.5 kHz to actually drift down into the Minus Scale with a
Red Vertical Signagraph Bar, while the 7.5 kHz and 22.5 kHz correctly identifying it as
NON-Ferrous.
NEW Target Analysis Mode- One of the features I’ve missed was the Quantum XT
sizing bars which were real time. This has returned in the All NEW Analyze Mode….
This takes it to several NEW levels in terms of Visual Identification-Discrimination.
In THREE Frequency (New BEST Data Mode) Top Line of Signagraph is 22.5 kHz.
Middle Line is 7.5 kHz and Bottom Line is 2.5 kHz. These line colors are displayed in a
Sine Wave Type Pattern with the Strongest Frequency at the Top and other Two
spaced below depending on the nature of the located Target.
HOW It Works- After locating a target in the ground, say a Quarter. After centering up
on the Target, TOGGLE FORWARD and make a Side to Side Sweep over the Target.
Round Coins, Rings will come up like an Electronic Scope’s sine wave but three lines,
one for each frequency. Typically, a Dime or Quarter will cause the 2.5 KHz Green Line
to be the Top Frequency indicating that the target in the ground is the strongest signal
at that frequency. A Nickel or Gold Jewelry will cause the 22.5 kHz Blue Line to position
at the Top with the 7.5 kHz Red Line in the Middle and 2.5 kHz Green Line at the
Bottom.
The Analysis Scale is defaulted to 2” on scale so you have a good indication in real time
sweeping of the size of the target. Zinc Pennies will generally peak the 7.5 kHz Red
Line at the Top followed closely by the 22.5 kHz and then 2.5 kHz frequency.
Nuisance Tin Foil will Peak the 22.5 kHz as Top Dog, 7.5 in the Middle and often 2.5
kHz flat lining or even going into a negative bias.
PROSPECTING:
On a weekend trip, went to a Northern California Destination joined by ‘Digger Bob’ Van
Camp (Paradise Detector sales) and Jimmy Sierra. They were both using TDIs. We
hunted about four hours and I was using the Pre-Production Spectra V3.
In the default Prospecting Mode, I was hunting at Selected Frequency of 22 kHz and
hammered a small sub-BB size birdshot at about 2”. I found shards of other NONFerrous
metals such as bullets, brass up to 10” with strong signals.
Like the DFX which uses two frequencies, you can switch to both or in the case of the
new Spectra V3, ALL THREE frequencies which does ensure a smooth threshold and
ignore any salty effects more common in the high desert area, thus avoiding false
targets from Alkali Mineralization Patches. I did compare the three frequencies over that
aforementioned bird shot and the target volume was still defined although not as strong
as the 22.5 kHz by itself.
One of the Bullets I found gave an unusual Spectra V3 Visual Response. The numbers
were LOW, between 3 and 6, but I expected 22.5 kHz to be the Strongest Frequency
but it was just the opposite… the 2.5 kHz was the strongest. The target turned out to be
a 50 cal steel jacketed bullet. I ran into four more of these with the same identical
Signagraph Fingerprint.
Any unwanted Iron or Ferrous I scanned over while searching was easily identified and
ignored in default 22.5 kHz mode with RED Bars. Interestingly enough, by changing to
Best Data Mode, Prospecting Program, when Iron or Ferrous was encountered, ALL
THREE Red Bars in the deep negative range -90s came up ALL LINED UP together
which I dug out and confirmed.
Deep Coin Advantage
Quite clearly the Spectra V3 as really improved identification of Deep Coins which will
fool all the other top detectors depending on soil conditions, depth etc. What happens
is, the deeper in the soil, and the more reactive the soil is, the PHASE or ID of the coin
drifts upward until it hits +95 (White’s Scale, Other Brands have Lower Visual
Resolution) and then will Wrap Around to the Ferrous or Minus Numbers like - 95 to -75
on a DFX. This is a common problem with the other brands getting fooled by Deep Iron.
Jimmy Sierra’s 3 Row Target Test Site: My White’s Distributor, White’s of California is
located in Marin County, Forrest Knolls. In back of the business, Jimmy and his son
constructed a challenging Test Site. Using three target samples: Quarter, Dime and
Nickel, buried and marked them with PVC Caps. First Row: 4”, Second Row 6”, Third
Row @ 9”.
The Pre-Production Spectra V3 using a Spectra D2 Coil hammered all three of the
Deep Coin Targets with excellent Identification and a VERY strong target signal on the
each of the 9” targets. Curiously, I took my personal Quantum XT (discontinued) which
I’ve always favored because of its sizing and excellent tell tale audio discrimination
circuit, and although I could hear the 9” Targets, the response was very soft and weak
with virtually no VDI under normal sweep speeds. Well, who was I trying to kid.
Deep Iron Advantage
The Spectra V3 has an uncanny ability to accurately identify deep Ferrous (Iron Targets
such as nails) visually and reject them audibly WITHOUT being fooled like with other
makes and models. I like to hunt with the Visual Discrimination OFF so I can see how
an audibly rejected target signal reacts, and this helps to identify good targets in close
proximity to bad ones (mixed up targets). This leads me to feedback by White’s
Professional Dealer and Master Detectorist, Ray Romeo, West Coast Treasure’s,
Richmond, CA (East Bay).
Ray Romeo’s Field Testing Summary Comments:
Ray has approximately 40+ hours of time on the Spectra V3. Ray told me that during his
field testing and evaluation, Ray chose ‘worked out’ sites he is very familiar with and
has hunted them on a regular basis with a variety of detectors from Whites and other
brands until the targets found were few and far between, yet there was a substantial
amount of ferrous and trash still in the ground to challenge the Spectra V3.
Ray’s enthusiasm for the Spectra V3 is unmatched and when Jimmy Sierra called in the
Prototypes from his Test Team, Ray didn’t want to give it back until the Production
Models were available.
Ray was reporting to Jimmy on a regular basis his success in finding large numbers of
coins he previously couldn’t hear from these hard hit areas. Much of the Spectra V3’s
success was due to its ability around trash-iron infested areas, to sniff out those ‘hidden
coins and rings.’
Ray reported to me that he has plugged out of the ground at least twelve silver coins,
average depth was 6”+ amongst the ferrous and trash. The Signals from the Spectra V3
were near impressive Full Volume response. The Spectra V3 Signagraph was very
accurate and the Analyze Mode easily identified the Coins v larger-deeper aluminum
cans that can fool even an experienced detectorist.
Ray told me Greg, I primarily the most impressive thing about this new Spectra V3 is it’s
dislike of Iron and ability to ignore it while finding coins normally hidden by other
detectors he’s used. Ray went on to say I never had to dig any iron unless the good
target was mixed in with a nail. I could tell by the combination of Audio Tone ID,
Signagraph and Analyze Mode resulting in various Audio-Visual Signature that would
lead me to believe that I might be over a good coin or ring mixed in with or very near a
piece of iron-trash.
Ray also has dug two silver rings, nickels including Buffalos, all deep from hunting
grounds he has previously considered worked out by him which is a tribute to this new
technology detector. Ray also felt the weight and balance of the Spectra V3 had an
excellent feel to it, with virtually no arm fatigue after hours of hunting.
Conclusion:
As of early March, White’s Electronics Engineering Team continues to enhance the
Spectra V3’s Digital Interface and it will be at least another week or so before I finally
receive he fully developed production model. The release date will be sometime
between March 21st and the beginning of April. There is so much to talk about; I haven’t
even scratched the surface. The ALL NEW Spectra V3 is listed at $1699.95 and comes
with a new technology Wireless Headphones controlled by the Spectra V3’s Software.
Call the White’s 800 # for your Local White’s Dealer.
Submitted,
Greg Moscini, ‘The Peninsula Treasure Hunter’
Tran Bay Metal Detectors,
Foster City, CA
Ray Romeo
West Coast Treasures
Richmond, CA
Jimmy Sierra & Jim Normandi
Jimmy Sierra Mining,
White’s of California
Forest Knolls, CA
Special Thanks to Jeff Foster, author of Digging Deeper With the DFX and MXT who
conferred with the White’s West Coast Test Team. Thanks also for input from Larry
Manger of Big Valley Detectors, Ca.