About Sergei UpstateNY

Brief Info About Sergei Upstateny: Metal Detecting Activities and Achievements since 1993

Sergei UpstateNY is the founder, designer, content writer, photographer and editor of MetalDetectingWorld.com. He has been an avid metaldetectorist since 1993, and a tester of metal detectors and accessories since 1998. His articles, tutorials and guides on metal detecting contain original content because the information in them is based on his own experience in metal detecting and treasure hunting, as well as his considerable experience in field-testing various mid-range and high-end metal detectors.

His main expertise is coin shooting, coin cluster hunting, relic hunting, coin cache hunting and artifact cache hunting, as well as field-testing advanced metal detectors and accessories followed by writing reports for manufacturers. Any feedback is welcome!

• Nick name:
• Sergei UpstateNY
• Country of birth:
• U.S.S.R.
• Years of metal detecting:
• since 1993
• Metal detecting activities:
• Coin Cache Hunting, Coin Cluster Hunting, Relic Hunting, and Coin Shooting

• Countries and Regions Visited with Metal Detectors:
  • in USA: New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, Indiana, North Carolina
  • in UK: Wyltshire
  • in Chile (South America): El Quisco on the Pacific Ocean coast line
  • in Russia: St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Region, Pskov Region, The Ural Mountains Region, Irkutsk Region in South-Eastern Siberia
  • in Estonia: North-Eastern Region
  • in Ukraine: Kievan Region, Chernigov Region

• Field-Testing of Metal Detectors and Accessories:

  

  • Where I Test Metal Detectors:

    • In Natural Conditions: I use an extensive search area the size of two football fields in a vast abandoned farm field that was deeply plowed in the distant past.

      This site was hammered by local coin shooters who depleted it of all good shallow signals in the early 2000s and therefore has been forgotten by all detectorists since then. However, various non-ferrous, coin-sized targets still lie throughout a plow layer of 20" (50 cm) thick, and larger objects are buried at greater depths.

      The vast search area also contains several super trashy spots and spots with man-made sporadic mineralization.

      Plus, on one side, the entire search ground is bordered by a large river which was one of the main trade routes in the region during the Medieval times.

      Also, at some point on the river bank within the search area, there used to be a ferry landing in the 1930s. Thus, this place offers great opportunities for testing any advanced metal detector both on land and underwater.

  

  • In Controlled Conditions:
    • 1) 100-target Test Garden - I only use it for a quick familiarization with the audio, features, functions and search modes of any metal detector that I have not used before.
    • 2) Experimental Plot with 8 dug pits, each measuring 27" x 27" x 27" (70 cm x 70 cm x 70 cm). I use this test plot to thoroughly test any advanced metal detector, and to benchmark two or more competing detectors.

  

  • Each pit features several reinforced depth slots in one wall for inserting plastic slats with sample targets attached. This allows me to simulate any positioning situation of one or more targets in the ground, which can usually occur in real search conditions.

  

  • The key factor here is the presence of ground mineralization between the coil and the target(s). Of course, the absence of long-established "halos" around sample targets eliminates halo effects from the process; thus, only bringing the test conditions closer to the real conditions normally encountered during the search.

    Nevertheless, the advantage of using such a test plot configuration is that not only I can control the environment various detectors will be tested in, but also quickly see which detectors will or will not penetrate the ground and at what depths.

    At least, besides ground minerals - the main obstacle to detecting metal, the following other variables that affect depth penetration and target separation are involved in the process: target surface area, target angle, proximity of iron trash, moisture content, target defects, and target surface textures. And I can easily manipulate them to determine the strengths and weaknesses of any metal detector being tested.

  • Manufacturers Who Provided Me with Free Metal Detectors and Accessories to Test and Review:
    • White's (4 detectors)
    • Fisher (1 detector + pinpointer)
    • Teknetics (2 detectors + pinpointer)
    • Minelab (2 detectors)
    • XP (2 detectors + pinpointer)
    • Makro (1 detector)
    • Detech (1 detector)
    • Gold Fish (1 detector)
    • Mars MD (6 search coils for 3 different detectors)
• METAL DETECTORS I Used Before and Use Now:

  • XP Deus v2.0-v5.2 (2012 - present) - This two-page article/review covers the advantages and disadvantages of the XP Deus fully wireless metal detector which appeared on the market in 2009.

    

    XP Metal Detectors provided me with two Deus metal detectors (one in 2012 and one in 2014) for free in exchange for their field trials and reviews. From 2012 to 2014, my girlfriend (also my detecting partner since 2009) and I used the Deus v2.0 (later updated to v3.2). We "duplicated" it, i.e. we made two Deus detectors from one, so that each of us had a detector with the same capabilities (see details on how to do it HERE).

    Since 2014 when XP gave me the second Deus, my girlfriend has been using her Deus v3.2, and I have been using the Deus v4.1 wich I eventually settled on after terrible mishaps with v4.0 and some other versions. My second detailed review covering some aspects of the v4.0 and v4.1 versions is posted on my 'XP Deus Reviews' Page.

    After trying different versions of the Deus firmware under various challenging conditions, I came to the conclusion that the two versions, v3.2 and v4.1, are the most effective and suitable for the ground and trash conditions that prevail at hunt sites in our locality.

    Eight years ago, I modified the Deus battery charging system to exclude the easily breakable charging clip from it. Since then, charging the batteries has been simple, convenient and trouble-free. I also modified and reinforced the WS4 headphones to fix the inevitable problem of signal disappearance in one phone, and to make the headset last forever. These modifications allowed my girlfriend and I to use both old Deuses for so long without running into two common annoying issues from time to time.

    Despite a few disadvantages of the Deus and critical flaws of its interface and key accessories such as the battery charging clip system and ear-clip wireless headphones (WS4), the Deus v3.2 and v4.1 metal detectors still remain the most capable among the high-end metal detectors on the market today. One might ask, "Isn't the new multi-frequency Deus II superior to the Deus 1?"

    Well... Since the Deus II entered the market in early 2022, there has been both positive and negative user feedback. For novices, the Deus II seems too complicated. For some experienced Deus users, the Deus II seems to be hyped up and, under certain challenging conditions, does not perform as well as the manufacturer claims.

    I wish I had my own opinion on the Deus II based on my own hands-on experience, but I do not have this detector and therefore cannot field-test it thoroughly to confirm or refute what the Deus II users say or what the manufacturer claims. If I get my hands on the Deus II, I will definitely put it through tough tests to see if the multi-frequency Deus II is superior or inferior to the single-frequency Deus. All test results will be posted here.

    For now, I can say that the single-frequency Deus can be configured to suit any conditions of searching for coins and relics, but only if the user knows all the ins and outs of this super-complex device. After field-testing, experimenting and treasure hunting with the Deus almost daily for 10 years, I have accumulated enough hands-on knowledge of this detector to write 16+ articles, including tutorials and guides, that have helped many Deus users around the world learn and understand the Deus. If you are a beginner Deus user, you can quickly learn a lot from my write-ups on the Deus all compiled in this directory: Articles on XP Deus and Accessories

  • Teknetics T2+ (2019 - present)

    Teknetics (owned by First Texas Products) provided me with this detector for free in exchange for thorough field-testing and reviewing. And I am glad they did because I would not know about this fantastic detector otherwise (FTP does not run large-scale marketing campaigns unlike other big brands on the market).

    After experimenting with and testing the T2+ for two seasons, I can state with full responsibility that this is the most capable and versatile metal detector among all single-frequency medium-range metal detectors on the market today. The fantastic combination of algorithms in the T2+ platform, the super-fast interface allowing fast switching between modes, the relatively fast, deep seeking 'bP' ('Boost Process') mode, and the reactive 'All-Metal' mode allows the user to easily implement many detecting tricks used by professionals. Some of these tricks cannot be implemented even with high-end detectors.

    If this metal detector was as ultra-light as the XP Deus, it would be my girlfriend's "workhorse". For its amazing capabilities and some unrivaled advantages, the T2+ was adopted into our arsenal as a primary backup for those cases when the long-expired batteries of any of our old Deuses suddenly die during a hunt. By the way, the battery life of the four AA batteries that power the T2+ is over 40 hours when using the headphones - which is rare in modern metal detectors.

    I should mention that I did a little modification to the T2+'s upper shaft in order to affix a dust- and moisture-proof case for the wireless transmitter. This modification enabled me to make the headphones operation wireless (see detailes in my tutorial - The Best Way to Mount a Wireless Headphone Transmitter onto Your Land Metal Detector). After years of being spoiled by the fully wireless Deus, I could not go back to wired headphones limiting my maneuverability.

    As of 2022, the latest Teknetics flagship is the Teknetics T2 Ltd (it also goes by the name T2 SE). It is essentially the same T2+, except for the color (black) and the addition of the Digital Shield Technology (DST) function and a few advanced search modes. My upcoming detailed review will describe all pros and cons of the T2+. Currently, the above-linked review page only includes the Teknetics T2+ specifications, picture, price, and reviews from other users.

  • Teknetics G2+ (2019 - present)

    Teknetics also provided me with this detector free of charge in exchange for extensive field testing and validation.

    This machine joined my arsenal of metal detectors as a second reliable back-up. I also use this relic/gold hunting detector to detect "difficult" targets such as small, low-conductive coins and non-ferrous relics at trashy sites. Although the manufacturer claims G2+ to be a gold-nugget-hunting detector, its operating frequency of 19 kHz is only appropriate for detecting gold nuggets larger than a bird shot.

    However, when used for coin shooting and relic hunting, the G2+ is the right machine for 'cleaning out' any previously pounded site, especially the one littered with iron debris. This is because of the G2+'s relatively fast 'All-Metal' mode (same as that of the T2+) used in conjunction with a 6 x 10" DD 'sniper' searchcoil.

    For fast and comfortable operation of the G2+, I modified its upper shaft to attach an enclosed wireless transmission module for wireless headphones (see details HERE).

    Now, the above-linked review page only includes the Teknetics G2+ specifications, picture, price, and reviews from other users. My detailed review with pictures of finds will be published later.

  • Fisher F75+ (2019-2021)

    Fisher (also owned by First Texas Products) gave me this detector free of charge for field testing and review. The F75+ is a current flagship of Fisher and a "cousin" of the above listed Teknetics T2+.

    The F75+ and T2+ differ only in color, operating platforms (algorithms) and the number of featured search modes. The F75+ is more advanced than the T2+, as it has additional 'FA' (the fastest 'speed of response' but shallow detection depth; designed for super trashy areas only) and 'CL' ('Cache Locating') search modes, several more audio modes, 'Static All-Metal' operating mode, and Digital Shielding Technology (DST). The latter allows for the quiet operation even when the sensitivity level is set at maximum (99).

    To make the maneuverability of the F75+ equally fast to that of the T2+, I modified its upper shaft to mount an enclosed wireless transmission module for wireless headphones, as I did with the T2+ and G2+ (see details HERE). But this modification did not help me increase my time efficiency in the field due to other factors (will be covered in my detailed review).

    The F75+ proved to be efficient only at super trashy sites where it was possible to separate good and bad signals only in the “FA” mode, and at hunt sites with zero to moderate iron junk content where it was possible to detect "fringe" coin-sized and larger targets in the 'bP' or 'CL' mode . Those were search situations when I enjoyed using this detector regarding the results.

    In regard to ergonomics of the F75+, its body is so well balanced that I did not get any arm or shoulder fatigue after six hours of swinging it even with a large 13" search coil attached. Not to mention the long battery life of 40 hours with four AA batteries powering this metal detector!

    The unexpected happened at the end of the second season of field testing. The rotary knob of the F75+ interface started to malfunction, i.e. did not change the parameters of the selected functions or modes during infinite rotation. Fast switching between modes ended up being a time-consuming and annoying attempt to get the knob to work. Because it was impossible for me to find a replacement for the broken mechanical potentiometer, I eventually retired the F75+, the end of story.

    Currently, the above-linked review page only includes the Fisher F75+ specifications, picture, price, and reviews from other users. In the near future, I will post a review describing the hidden capabilities of the F75+.

  • Pulse Star II Pro (2006-present)
    This PI deep seeker is my current tool for specific projects such as locating deep, large "items" (you know what I mean :).
  • Minelab E-Trac (2009-2012)
    Although this detector brought me lots of metal detecting fun and great finds, I could not swing a 2-kg unit on a regular basis for longer than 12 years (total time I spent with E-Trac, Explorer II, Explorer II Pro and Explorer XS detectors). If it was not for its heavy weight and cumbersome design, I would probably continue using it.
  • Minelab Explorer XS (2000-2006; see Minelab Explorer II below)
    This was the first model in the Explorer series. When it came along with Y2K, it changed the game in the fields forever even though it was the heaviest machine of all. For a few years of using the XS, I kept turning a blind eye to the heavy-weight issue because it was well compensated by many great finds.
  • Minelab Explorer II (2006-2009)
    As the second model in the Explorer series, the Explorer II had a better balanced body than that of the XS, but did not perform as well as the XS. And its weight of 4.8 lbs was killing my arm.
  • Garrett Ace 250 (one-day successful usage)
    This unit is not for serious detecting but one can have some fun with it under favorable conditions!
  • XP GoldMaxx Power (2009-2012)
    This machine made my girlfriend a star among local treasure hunters in the early 2010s. With the GMP, she would beat everybody in the number of finds on every hunt!
  • White's Spectrum XLT (1995-2002)
    I can not believe that this "hit of the 1990s" is still one of the most effective machines today! With the XLT, I learnt a lot about metal detecting back in the day.
  • Tesoro Cortes (2001-2015)
    This was my trophy at a competition hunt and, for many years afterwards, it served me well as a backup. And my friends and relatives coming along to my hunts enjoyed using the Cortes for its reliability and simplicity. One guy who got this detector from me in the mid 2010s recently told me that, since then, his wife has been so in love with this detector that she does not want to use anything else! Tesoro always meant quality, and no other md manufacturer could beat the Tesoro's lifetime warranty!.. Too bad that Tesoro went extinct. :(
  • White's Goldmaster GMT
    I tried this gold detector unsuccessfully at the gold-bearing banks of Santiago River in Chile, South America. But once I found gold nuggets using the old-timer's method of gold panning, I completely given up on electronic gold prospecting on the banks of the Santiago River due to my overwhelming "gold-rush" excitement.
  • White's Treasure Master TM-808 (I put it back into the box after field-testing)
    This 2-coil, deep seeking VLF detector found metal objects the size of an ax head, buried only at the relatively shallow depth of 20 inches (50 cm) for such objects. The reason for such a poor performance was the strong influence of ground mineralization on the detector's depth penetration range. This is also why it is hard to fine-tune this detector in search areas with variable ground mineralization. In moderately mineralized soils, this detector will detect ax heads at greater depths, but do not expect the same incredible depths as with Pulse Induction (PI) deep seekers.
  • Fisher Gemini II
    I borrowed this machine to test it for a week from a WW2 military relic hunter. This 2-box, deep seeking VLF detector did a better job than the White's Treasure Master TM-808 due to the Fisher's more efficient 2-box design. This detector was capable of finding steel helmets, rifle and machine gun barrels, metal ammunition boxes, small field artillery pieces, and large pieces of armor up to 5 feet (1.5 m) deep. Such impressive performance is the reason why this detector has been very popular among the WWII relic hunters for years. But it is not efficient for coin cache hunting due to being susceptible to effects of ground mineralization.
  • Detech EDS Plus II (I put it back into the box after field-testing)
    This Bulgarian-made detector did a good job at hunt sites with little or no junk. On sites littered with iron trash, this detector was useless.
  • Barracuda PI (I used it a few times in surf off the Atlantic Ocean shore)
    This is one of those great early Pulse Induction machines used for surf and underwater treasure hunting. Too bad these machines are no longer made.
  • Gold Fish 2 Pro (was abandoned after field-testing)
    This is a poor imitation of the Pulse Star II Pro deep seeker (see above). You could still detect some deep targets with the Gold Fish 2 Pro, but without the luxury of using some advanced key-features that make a big difference.
  • Makro JeoHunter (was abandoned after field-testing)
    This apparatus was simply a joke. Makro sent it to me as a compensation for the unlawful use of my content. I tried to use the JeoHunter as long as I could tolerate a ton of inconveniences caused by flaws of this outdated VLF detector. As my tolerance quickly disappeared, I gave this troublesome device away to searchers for wartime relics. These detectorists usually hunt in teams, and it would not be a problem for two enthusiasts to manually ground balance such a cumbersome device equipped with a super heavy, large search coil, and then carry it around.
  • Garrett Grand Master Hunter CX-II (1993-1996)
    This was my first metal detector in the early 1990s. It is hard to imagine using it now, but it got me addicted to the hobby.
• If you would like to read other users' reviews on metal detectors listed above, please visit my Metal Detector Reviews page.
• ELECTRONIC PINPOINTERS I Used Before and Use Now:
  • Teknetics Tek-Point (my current "workhorse")
    This cutting-edge device made me put all my other electronic pinpointers on the shelf in 2019. I have used it intensively since then. I also field-tested it against several competitive units present on the today's market, and, in terms of efficiency and functionality, this PI pinpointer of the conventional type outperformed all the VLF and other PI models tested.
    The only pinpointer that matches the Tek-Point in performance is its "twin brother" - Fisher F-Pulse, listed below. These two devices differ only in name and color. I do not know why, but I prefer the Tek-Point. Maybe because of its 'electric green' color that keeps me calm when I spot a silver coin in a pile of dug dirt. :)
    For now, the linked page includes only the Teknetics Tek-Point's specifications, image, price and reviews from other users.
  • Fisher F-Pulse (my girlfriend's "workhorse")
    This is another cutting-edge pinpointer in my arsenal, that, just like the Teknetics Tek-Point model, surprised me during field-testing not only as a target-locating tool, but also as a mini-detector.
    For now, the linked review page includes only the Fisher F-Pulse's specifications, image, price and reviews from other users.
  • Garrett Pro-Point (retired after 900k years of intensive usage)
    This was certainly the most ergonomic and practical pinpointer of its time (late 2000s). I used it for many years until the best representatives (two units listed above) of a new, 'breaking new ground' class of Conventional PI pinpointers appeared on the market in 2018/2019.
  • XP Mi-6 (retired right after several field-testing outings)
    Using this pinpointer was probllematic for me because the On/OFF button is too small to feel and press with gloved finger. Not to mention that this button is on the wrong side of the device!
  • PRO-Point II (the second generation)
    This was my first pinpointer in the early 1990s (and I still have it!), but using it in deep woods was impractical for me because, like all electronic pinpointers of that time, this one was not designed to increase one's time efficiency in the field (or in the woods). The early pinpointers and probes like this one were specifically designed to be used only on manicured loans to avoid damage to the grass during very careful target extraction.
• Articles Published in Paper Magazines:
  • "From Russia... With Relics", "American Digger" magazine, Vol. 3, Issue 4, July - August 2007, pages 27-30
  • "Searching The Obvious" in "Lost Treasure" magazine, page 26, December 1998 issue
  • "Exploring 'White Spots' In Winter" in "Western and Eastern Treasures" magazine, May 1998 issue
  • "The Art Of Treasure Hunting", "Western and Eastern Treasures" magazine, "The Best Finds of 1997" issue, January 1998 issue
  • "New York Cache Uncovered", "Treasure!" - White's Electronics gazette, Christmas 1997 Edition
• Photos Published:
  • Cover photos in "Western and Eastern Treasures" issues of March and December of 1998
  • Cover photo in "Lost Treasure" issues of January and December of 1998
  • Photo of Silver Coins Cache (recovered in Upstate New York) in the White's Electronics gazette, Christmas 1997 Edition
  • Inclusion of my photographs of finds in some popular books on metal detecting.
• Participation in Competition Hunts:
  • C.A.S.H. BASH Competition Hunt, Connecticut, October 2005
  • C.A.S.H. BASH Competition Hunt, Connecticut, October 2003
  • Empire State Metal Detectors Association Club Hunt, New York, September 2003
  • South Jersey Club Hunt, , New Jersey, September 2003
  • C.A.S.H. BASH Competition Hunt, Connecticut, October 2002
  • Empire State Metal Detectors Association Club Hunt, New York, September 2002
  • Mid-Atlantic Chapter Competition Hunt, New Jersey, September 2002
  • Ulster County Metal Detecting Club Hunt, New York, September 1996
• Activities Related to Treasure Hunting:
  • Presentation on Metal Detecting Hammered Silver Coins and Medieval Relics in Western Russia at the club meeting of the Empire State Metal Detector Association in Latham, New York, July 2014.
  • Presentation on my Treasure Hunting trip to Russia at the Nursing Home of St. Joseph Church in Latham, New York, 2002.
  • Gold panning in South America, 1998
  • Technical consulting during the production of a documentary "Looking for Dutch", a movie about a legendary treasure hidden by a renowned New York City gangster Dutch Schultz in Upstate New York, 1997.
• Official Achievements:
• Placement into the Guinness Book Of Records (since 2002) for earning the title of the world's fastest metal detectorist in the US for finding 20 pre-buried tokens within a 30 minute time limit during "Jeremiah Burr`s - Cash Bash 2002" organized by the National Metal Detecting Leagues (NMDL). I am still holding that record (page 83 of the 2008 edition of the Guinness World Records Book).

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