Field Testing The Sun Ray FZ-1 Probe
by Bill Ladd
(Reprinted with permission from Western & Eastern Treasures magazine February 2005 issue)
Bill Ladd uses the new Sun Ray FZ-1 probe to pinpoint a target during a recent relic hunt at a New England cornfield.
In the world of metal detecting, the use of a pocket pinpointing probe seems to be a topic of hot debate between those who swear by them, and others that feel it's, "just another toy to carry around." Many detectorists say, "I know how to pinpoint well enough already," and refuse even to try one. But are probes only made for those who have trouble pinpointing? The folks who love to use probes swear that it saves them time, while those opposed claim it just slows them down.
Well, I have to admit that I was one of those treasure hunters pretty much "on the fence" concerning the use of probes. I had owned a couple (which will remain nameless), and both conked out for various reasons; so until recently, I made do without one. One model I tried was very hard to "tune" each time, and often got switched on accidentally, thus draining the battery. Plus, both probes were black in color, making it easy to lose one in the forest. As a result, I'd have to go back detecting for it later on. Also, I could never seem to find a pocket that it fit in well, or space in my pouch. I even attempted to put one of my probes on a string so I wouldn't lose it again.
Nevertheless, when my pocket probes functioned properly, they were helpful in certain instances - for example, on a trip to the muddy fields of England. They also proved helpful for relic hunting, where one encounters tiny bits of camp lead, cuff buttons, buckshot, etc. And without a probe? Being the type of treasure hunter who likes to dig out a large-sized plug to be certain that I don't damage something is a double-edged sword. True, nothing ever gets scratched, but larger plugs leave lots of dark soil to pick through. I found myself picking up handfuls of dirt to run under the coil, breaking the plug into separate piles, and constantly feeling around in the dirt for something solid. Wheat cents were another find example that blended right in and often left me looking and looking for several minutes. In such situations, a reliable probe would definitely come in handy.
When Sun Ray Detector Electronics contacted me to test their new on-board FZ-1 probe for the Fisher CZ line, I jumped at the chance! These probes, previously unique on Minelab and White's units, eliminate many of the complaints listed earlier. They are waterproof, and you can't lose this probe as it clamps right onto the rod of the detector itself. But, here's the best part: it works with all the electronics of the detector. With the simple flick of a switch, the probe now becomes a 1" version of your detector's searchcoil, complete with tone ID and discrimination!
With the basic pocket probes I'd once fiddled with, I had to remove my headphones and literally rake and poke through all the dug dirt, and hope that I would come in direct contact with the object. With the Sunray probe, I was very impressed that one could use the excellent VCO pinpoint feature that CZ's offer to hone into small targets nearly 3" away - all this, with four tones clearly coming into your headphones. Plus, thanks to the CZ's discrimination, small bits of iron that would trigger a signal from an ordinary probe can be eliminated as well.
In The Field
After a very simple do-it-yourself, clamp-on install, my new FZ-1 probe was ready to be put through its paces. The first Fisher CZ I tried it on was the digital CZ-7A Pro. I was curious to see if having the probe attached below the arm cup would get in the way, or throw off the unit's balance. However, I was pleasantly surprised: everything felt pretty much normal, and the small switchbox on the middle rod felt weightless. I chose a challenge right off the bat - a Colonial site that I planned on hunting in all-metal mode. I'd opted for all-metal because the spot was heavily hunted, and I knew that Revolutionary War goodies remained. I planned to dig it all. With many of the targets being small Colonial cut nails and melted lead, I found the new probe very helpful. My plan worked well, as some small caliber musketballs began to show up amid the iron bits. Cut straw on the field often hid small targets, and I used the probe to zero in on the relics quickly, simply by holding the pinpoint button. I was really enjoying this setup already.
For my next outing, I brought the Sun Ray FZ-1 probe with me on a weekend beach-hunting trip to Cape Cod. This time I put the probe on Fisher's newest model, the CZ-3D. For CZ buffs, it's quite simple to put the probe on different CZ units with some extra Velcro strips. Again, it felt well balanced, and I really saw its advantage on the beach. Seeking jewelry, I was concentrating on any medium tones in the wet sand. The CZ, known for its depth on beaches, was finding deep tinfoil and tabs, consistently at the 8" and over mark. To get to these tiny targets, I was digging out a lot of heavy, wet sand; and because I was working at low tide, the holes quickly filled up with water. The probe really helped locate everything very well, and quite often objects were still down in the hole when the water filled back in.
This particular beach was loaded with tiny, troublesome bits of aluminum. Without a probe it would have been a nightmare, and a less rugged, pocket-type probe would have had a hard time raking or poking through a heavy wet sand pile. When a target was still in the hole, I enjoyed taking the probe and 'spiraling" it around to locate the item often in the sidewall. I now knew quickly in what side the item lay, or if it was still at the bottom of the hole, as was the case with a deep dime. Later, while searching the dry sand, I often just stuck the probe right into the powdery sand to find clad coins without having to scoop. It was definitely a useful asset to beach hunting.
Finally, I thought it was important to test the FZ-1 probe in my stomping grounds...in the woods, relic hunting. Using the CZ-7A again, I chose a Colonial cellar hole. These places are loaded with iron trash, mainly square nails, but the probe proved its worth once again. It was especially useful in locating small, dug items beneath the leaf litter, and doing so with surgical precision. Often sticks, pine needles, and leaves camouflage tiny green items like oxidized brass and copper buttons, and I've spent several minutes looking and wasting hunting time that way. The probe eliminated the fuss. "So much for a probe slowing things down," I thought.
Getting proficient with a Sun Ray onboard probe should definitely speed up recovery. The powerful CZ-7A hit on a tiny bit of copper wire that I might have spent 15 minutes feeling around for otherwise. For sites like this, I found I only turned on the probe for help in locating those small, hard-to-find objects. Other folks may choose to use it on every target. In short, it's always there if and when you need it.
All in all, I really enjoyed the many benefits that the FZ-1 probe offered during my lengthy tests, and I quickly found out why users of the probes for Minelab and White's detectors say they can no longer hunt without one. This new probe seems a natural fit for the Fisher CZ series, as its deep seeking power loves to hit on tiny objects such as BB's, gold and the copper wire bit that I found. All of these miniscule items would be a challenge for even the most expert pinpointer. I really give my Fisher detectors heavy workouts, and I used the FZ-1 probe rigorously for over two months. I found it very rugged and built to last. The Fisher CZ series will always be a part of my metal detector arsenal, and the new Sun Ray FZ-1 probe will be coming right along for the ride.
For further details on the FZ-1 probe and other detector hobby accessories offered by Sun Ray, be sure to visit their website at www.sunraydetector.com or the Sun Ray forum located at Findmall.com. Also, feel free to contact Ralph at Sun Ray at (319) 636-2244.