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Field
Test by Ty Brook
More years ago than I care to admit, I had the pleasure
of testing the first small box detector offered by Tesoro. I used the
adage, "good things come in small packages," to describe my
feelings about that detector. After using the Conquistador µMax
for a couple of weeks, I'll say with no reservation that "even better
things come in even smaller packages" from Tesoro.
The Conquistador µMax arrived via UPS late one afternoon about a
week after I was asked to do this field test. Since I am a Tesoro dealer,
I quickly assembled the detector and headed straight for my test garden
totally ignoring the operator's manual until later. Even though the area
was bone dry, the Conquistador µMax hit all the targets with ease.
Lightweight, very efficient and easy to use best describe this latest
detector from Tesoro.
Since I am now semi-retired, I can swing a detector pretty much when I
want to rather than when I could get some time off from the old 8 to 5
routine. With only an hour or so of daylight left, I took the unit to
an old house site on my country property. That site has been hunted with
several detectors over the past few years. I didn't expect to make any
earth shaking finds, and I didn't, but I did discover several brass and
copper targets that the previous hunts didn't reveal.
I began to wonder why the previous detectors missed those targets. I then
started checking the dig areas in All Metal Mode and sure enough, each
dig area contained a nail or similar rusted iron target that had masked
those targets from the other detectors. The 9x8 coil that is standard
for the Conquistador µMax has great target separation, which I find
to be a plus, as I don't like to hunt with small coils.
FEATURES
In addition to being microprocessor controlled, the features
of the Conquistador µMax are very similar to other Tesoro detectors
with a couple of exceptions. This model features a frequency change switch
that allows one to change the actual operating frequency of the detector.
This switch, in center position, is the normal operating mode. A flip
of this switch to either left or right will change the operating frequency
200 Hz above or below the frequency of the center position.
Some reasons that make an operating frequency change useful would be when
hunting close to another machine that was on or near the same frequency
causing interference or crosstalk with your detector. This could be another
Tesoro detector or even some other detector that utilized the same operating
frequency. A competition hunt with several Tesoro detectors nearby would
be a great place to have this feature.
With all the radio transmitters (including cell phones) in use today,
it is very common in urban areas to find that some unknown frequency will
make it difficult if not impossible to use a detector in these areas.
Moving the frequency switch to another position may make the offending
interference go away. Another quick fix to eliminate outside interference
in these areas can also be as simple as lowering the level of sensitivity.
A second feature, although standard on some Tesoro models, is a VCO All
Metal Mode. In this mode, when the coil nears a target both the pitch
and loudness of the audio increase. This makes for easy pinpointing, especially
if the target is deep.
A third feature is a manual battery test. The most accurate test of a
battery is after it has been used for 10 minutes or so. With this manual
test feature, just push the switch left and release. Several beeps indicate
a good battery. One or two beeps indicate you should soon replace the
battery.
In addition to the above, other controls are the on-off switch combined
with the sensitivity control, and a discriminate level control that ranges
from all metal detection to a maximum level that will reject some clad
coins. (For best results when hunting, remember to set the discriminate
to as low a level as practical in the area you are searching.)
The other control is a threshold control and its proper setting is for
a pleasing tone when the mode switch is in the All Metal position. This
allows you to hear any slight change in pitch or loudness when pinpointing
targets. After using your Conquistador µMax for a few hours, you
might wish to try setting the threshold to a louder hum in All Metal Mode
for making deep targets in the Discriminate Mode sound much louder as
compared to the normal setting of the threshold control. (Please note
that you must pinpoint in Discriminate Mode or reduce level of threshold
in All Metal Mode for accurate pinpointing if this method is used.)
For those familiar with other Tesoro µMax units another noticeable
change is the plastic faceplate with louvers instead of holes for the
speaker audio to be heard. These louvers will help prevent dirt or light
rain from entering the speaker area.
OK, I later took the time to really read the operator's manual to make
sure that no features that I hadn't noticed were present. I had pretty
much been accurate with my assessment of the features. On the rear cover
of the manual, the "new" limited lifetime warranty is spelled
out. Although this has been standard policy with the Tesoro warranty for
20+ years, it is now in writing. If, while the original purchaser owns
the detector, a malfunction occurs due to failure of parts or workmanship,
Tesoro will repair the detector at no charge. The warranty also explains
the exceptions to this.
FIELD TEST
Now, I was ready to take the Conquistador µMax
on a "real" outing. I like to hunt athletic fields, as there
is always a chance to find nice jewelry items. I made my trip with a hunting
buddy who uses a Tesoro Bandido µMax. After a couple of minutes
hunting there in bone dry soil, my first target was a clad quarter. Since
this area has only given up coins dating back to the late 30's and has
been hunted hard, clad and maybe a jewelry item were the expected finds.
After a couple of hours, with my digging hand blistered from digging that
concrete-like soil, I was just about ready to call it a day. On the way
back to the vehicles, I got a real soft sound and decided to dig. No gold
but a real nice silver ring with a heart-shaped design. Since I never
turn my detector off until I detect my vehicle, I came up with several
more coins.
Before my second outing, we received well over an inch of rain. This sure
made digging easier. This trip was to an older school with a lot of real
estate that has given up coins dating to the 1850's. On the same property
is a softball field that has been used for many years. Since the best
parking is near the softball field, I decided that since I was there,
I would once again hunt the area near the bleachers. Although I've swung
several detectors over this area in the last 35+ years, including Tesoro
for 20 years or so, maybe something neat was still left for this latest
Tesoro detector.
Well, there were a couple of surprises in store for me. After a few minutes
of swinging as close to the bleachers as possible, the first target was
a wheat cent about 3 inches deep. Gee, how in the world did all those
other detectors miss that one? A couple of swings later, I got another
very weak smooth signal. After digging about 6 inches, I found a 1941
Mercury dime. I even returned to the vehicle and retrieved a ruler to
measure. The imprint of the dime was very visible in the hole and was
a measured 6.5 inches from the surface.
A couple of wheat cents, a couple of toy cars and a hundred or more coins
were found during the balance of this outing. Another outing netted a
silver Washington quarter and many modern coins. I made about 6 trips
with a total hunting time of about 18 hours actually swinging the coil.
Over 500 coins, the one silver ring and several interesting trinkets were
found during that time.
I even thought about taking the Conquistador µMax relic hunting,
but then I thought about the snakes and those mean looking spiders and
decided that this trip would be best postponed until cold weather when
such critters are not present. I did visit a couple of house sites that
are reasonably clean and found the usual farm implements and other discarded
junk along with a few modern coins. The depth of detection on a couple
of targets was exceptional, and as already mentioned, the ability to pick
out a good target in trash was almost like using a small coil.
I also took the Conquistador µMax to a Gulf of Mexico beach and
found that to my surprise, it would work very well on the wet salt sand
at a higher sensitivity level than many detectors I've tried there. No
gold, but a few deep crummy coins convinced me that if you own the Conquistador
µMax, there will be little, if any, need for any other detector
to use on a salt-water beach. (Note: Most beaches on the gulf in Alabama,
Florida and Mississippi have low mineral content. Your results on other
beaches could differ due to a higher mineral content.)
SUMMARY
The Conquistador µMax is a turn-on-and-go detector
that doesn't require hours of reading and rereading the operator's manual.
It is lightweight and has one of the better discriminate circuits available
along with the best warranty that I know about. Depth of detection is
good, and it will only take a few hours in the field to become proficient
with this detector.
One observation I made during the tests is that even though some of the
areas I hunted are noted for having high mineral content, I was able to
use the detector with the sensitivity control set past 10 and at least
halfway into the "max boost" area. This will be a big plus for
finding the deeper targets while using the Conquistador µMax.
That first "small box" detector that I mentioned field testing
is still working and has never required any repairs. Occasional battery
replacement is the only cost since 1983. I'm convinced that this Conquistador
µMax has much better electronics, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend
it to any customer who wants a detector of this type and in this price
range.
When you get yours, please be sure to read the manual as it contains some
very good points in addition to the "how to use" the detector
section. The additional information includes how to properly retrieve
a target and the Metal Detectorist's Code of Ethics. With all the "watchdog
groups" now wanting to save the world, I feel that it is imperative
that we all try to leave each area we hunt in better condition than we
find it. This includes filling all holes, even those made by others, and
properly disposing of all trash, whether we dig it or someone just tossed
it up and walked out from under it.
(Tylon Brook is an authorized Tesoro dealer who operates Brook's Detectors
located in Ramer, AL. He will be glad to answer any questions concerning
the Conquistador µMax or other Tesoro detector. He can be reached
at 334-281-1806 or email kenoTy@att.net.)
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