Do Long Range Metal Detectors Really Work? Don’t Be Fooled!

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Cory Haasnoot

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If you are looking to find some treasure, a long-range metal detector may sound like the perfect tool. Online you’ll find dozens of products that purportedly detect gold and other metals that are too far away for a standard metal detector to pick up. You may wonder if any of the claims about these long-distance metal detectors hold water, especially if you are new to treasure hunting. 

Long-range metal detectors do not work. There has never been any compelling evidence put forward to back up the wild assertions made by the proponents of long-range metal detectors. Like other pseudoscientific technologies, manufacturers of these products exaggerate scientific concepts to make their claims sound legitimate. 

If you are curious about the “science â€or lack thereof behind long-range metal detectors and are considering what products you should buy to aid your next treasure hunt, this is the article for you. Below you will discover why long-range metal detectors don’t work, whether they can be used for anything and what kinds of technologies may be better suited for your next treasure hunt. 


IF YOU WANT A REAL METAL DETECTOR CHECK OUT THE GARRETT AT PRO

Garrett AT Pro Metal Detector

What Are the Claims Surrounding Long Range Metal Detectors?

Proponents of long-range metal detectors claim that the devices pick up the resonant frequency of metals including valuables such as gold. They assert that these devices can recognize metals that are too deep underground for an ordinary metal detector to find. Some even profess that their detectors can find metals from a distance just by pointing them in the right direction.

The long-range metal detectors will sometimes resemble a ray gun from a science fiction movie, while at other times, they simply look like an ordinary metal detector. There are even a few rod-like devices that probe into the ground. The variations in appearance usually correspond to the claims the manufacturer is making about the product. It’s important to note; Long-range metal detectors are just one of several pseudoscientific long-range locators. 

How Long Range Metal Detectors Are Supposed To Work

The following list includes a summary of each of the claims surrounding the science behind long range metal detectors

  • As mentioned above, the science behind long range metal detectors is hinged on them being able to pick up the resonant frequency of metals.
  • Using antenna-like devices, they claim that these detectors can emit electromagnetic pulses that will correspond with the exact frequency of the metal you are looking for. 
  • Sometimes instead of antennas, they use probes that go into the ground. The visual of something in the ground picking up tiny vibrations can make the con more convincing. 
  • Because the long-range metal detectors are supposed to identify with an exact frequency, many of their manufacturers claim they can be set to find a specific metal such as gold. Because of this, some long-range locators are not just bound to finding metals. We will discuss this in more detail later. 

What are Resonant Frequencies?

Resonance frequency chart.

Resonance is the natural oscillation of an object and the wavelengths that it gives off. With applied pressure, the resonance can increase. For example, when you pluck the string of a guitar. The people who sell these fake technologies claim that they have invented a circuit board that can pick up the frequencies given off by specific metals or other objects, even if they are deep underground or far away.  

Are Resonant Frequencies Real?

Resonance is a real scientific concept, supported by complex mathematics and modern physics. This is part of why long-range locators of all types can be so convincing. Even if the average person tries to fact-check the claims of the manufacturers, they may come across real science websites with useful information. Science fiction often exists on the border of real science, so you must be careful not to conflate reality with fantasy. 

Why Don’t Long Range Metal Detectors Work?

If resonant frequencies are a real thing, you might be wondering why long-range metal detectors don’t pick them up. It is in large part due to the Inverse Square Law. According to Merriam Webster, the Inverse Square Law is defined as “a statement in physics: a given physical quantity (such as illumination) varies with the distance from the source inversely as the square of the distance.

To put it simply, the resonance of the metals and other objects this equipment is supposed to be able to pick up, are not strong enough at the distances claimed. If such a technology did exist it would be groundbreaking and would probably garner far more attention from the media than these pseudoscientific devices have done so far.

Are Long Range Metal Detectors Useful For Anything?

While the manufacturer of a long-range metal detector might put both their pseudoscientific technology alongside standard metal detector technology, it isn’t really a risk worth taking. Because these detectors are supposed to find metals far deeper than that of an ordinary metal detector, they can be far more expensive. It is best just to avoid long-range metal detectors altogether.  

Common Types of Long Range Metal Detectors

Because of the convincing scientific language adopted by Long Range Metal Detector manufacturers, it can be difficult to tell that they are fraudulent. This is further complicated by the fact that they are sometimes referred to by different names. 

Below is a list of other terms for Long Range Metal Detectors. Be sure to keep an eye out for these terms when looking to buy a metal detector. They may come up with new terms in the future, so also remember to always carefully examine what the seller claims their metal detector can pick up. 

  • Long-range locators: Long-range locators is a general term used to designate any kind of device including long-range metal detectors that supposedly pick up the resonant frequency of various objects.
  • Long-range gold detector: Long-range gold detector is a term that capitalizes on the popularity of gold in the treasure hunting community. They use gold to catch your attention, then they try to sell it to you by making wild claims about how it can also find all other metals. This is the most common alternative term we were able to find. 
  • Long-range diamond detector: Like the long-range gold detector with gold, the long-range diamond detector is specially marketed to find diamonds. Oftentimes the diamond aspect is used to catch a customer’s attention, however, they claim that it can find metals like gold as well. 
  • Underground gold/treasure detector: Underground gold/treasure (sometimes they just use the one term, while other times they use both) is the least common term we were able to find, however, we did stumble across a few brands of long-range metal detectors marketing themselves this way. They are usually the rod-like probes we mentioned before. 

As if things were not already complicated enough, it is important to note that sometimes real metal detectors market themselves as being long-range. To distinguish the real from the fake, you should examine how the seller is claiming their metal detector works. If it works like a regular metal detector, then it probably is one. If it makes wild claims about the frequency of specific objects, it is probably fake. 

What Are Some Other Kinds of Long Range Locators?

Man holding a dowsing rod.

Previously, we alluded to the fact that long-range metal detectors are not the only pseudoscientific long-range locators on the market. There are long-range locators that are supposed to detect everything from golf balls to explosives. They all use the same basic claims rooted in the principle of resonant frequencies. Below is a list of a few well-known hoaxes. 

  • Dowsing Rod: Okay this one isn’t exactly modern, however, it was perhaps the first fake long-range tracker, meant to help find freshwater. These Y-shaped rods supposedly pull the user in the direction of a body of water. Some people still believe in the power of dowsing rods to this day, which is just a testament to how strong confirmation bias can be in human beings.  
  • ADE 651: Developed by the company ATSC (Advance Tactical and Security Communications) this fraudulent device was meant to detect bombs. This device was so convincing that it was used by the Iraqi Army and Police for a time. They acquired hundreds of these devices back in 2008.  
  • Sniffex/Sniffex Plus: Homeland Safety International created this fraudulent technology. Like the ADE 651, this is another device supposedly purported to find bombs. In 2008 Homeland Safety International was sued for fraud and financial crimes that included misreporting their profits and stock fraud. 
  • Alpha 6: Like the above two devices, this one was purported to be able to find bombs, however, its producers went as far as claiming that it could even pick up drugs as well. In 2010 the UK banned the export of this product to Afghanistan and Iraq. 
  • Quadro Tracker: The manufacturer of this device claimed that it could detect the molecules of everything from bombs to golf balls. This just goes to show anyone can fall for these false claims if they are pushed convincingly enough, as this product was sold to schools and police departments in the early nineties. 

Why Do People Still Believe Long Range Metal Detectors Work?

There are a number of possibilities as to why these devices are still sought by some people to this day. Below is a list of some possible reasons why people still buy long-range metal detectors and other long-range locators.

  1. Treasure hunting is a niche hobby and sometimes scams like these go undetected. The scheme that long-range metal detector companies are pulling, can fly under the radar because it is a hobby that doesn’t always garner as much mainstream attention. 
  2. People are prone to superstition and still believe long-range locators work despite all the evidence to the contrary. There are still some people who believe dowsing rods will find freshwater. It’s not all that surprising others might also believe long range metal detectors work.
  3. Like those who still buy long-range detectors, some of the vendors may also genuinely believe they work. Sometimes the people who are selling Long Range Locators, aren’t necessarily being dishonest but actually believe they work themselves. This is especially true if you’re buying it used from another treasure hunter.
  4. The concept of long-range locators is based on some real science and can sound convincing. Not everyone has an advanced degree in science. One of the main ways hoaxers like to sound convincing is through their use of esoteric language.

Why You Shouldn’t Feel Bad If You Were Tricked

If you have already bought one of these devices and find yourself here because you can’t seem to find any metals with your new detector, you may feel like you should have known better. The fact of the matter is anyone can fall for these types of claims, especially when they sound like they are supported by science. 

With the long-range locators designed to find bombs, entire governments, police stations, and schools have been duped. It would be unreasonable to expect everyone to understand physics to the degree you would need to in order to examine the claims these companies make about their products in real-time. 

Finally, confirmation bias is something every single person in the world experiences. Confirmation bias is when what we believe corresponds with what we want to be true. Everyone has it to some degree. If you really want to find treasure, you’re by nature more likely to be susceptible to false claims about better treasure hunting technology. It’s perfectly normal.

How to Examine Claims in the Future

Whether it’s a product someone is trying to sell you or a claim someone is making about any general subject, in today’s world, it is always a great idea to fact-check what you read. Below is a list of steps you can take to suss out false information. 

  • Start with a basic google search. In the case of these long-range metal detectors, I would google something like the title of this article; “do long-range metal detectors really work?” 
  • Look for multiple sources confirming that the information is true. There are plenty of websites and Youtube videos out there that are made by the people pulling these scams to make their outlandish claims more believable. You should make sure the ones you’re reading are backed up elsewhere. 
  • Find information on reputable websites if at all possible. The more niche a subject, the harder this advice is to put into practice, however, it is best to look for websites that have a good reputation. Despite the fact that it is often the butt of jokes, Wikipedia is actually a good place to start. Just follow the links in their sources section to confirm what you’re reading. 
  • If you really want to examine a claim’s veracity, take a step deeper. In this article, we’ve not only attempted to answer the question of whether or not long-range metal detectors work, but we’ve also performed a cursory examination of the scientific claims behind them and similar historical hoaxes that have been pulled in the past. It’s always a good idea to go as deep into a subject as time permits.
  • Lastly, if you’re part of a community, find out if anyone you know has a specialty in the subject. If you’re into treasure hunting, you likely know other people who are also treasure hunters. In this case, you could ask around and see if anyone you know has experience with long-range metal detectors.

What are the Alternatives to Long Range Metal Detectors?

Metal detector laying on the ground.

So now that we’ve looked at other examples of long-range locator hoaxes, you may be wondering if there’s anything that actually works. While there are no metal detectors that utilize the resonant frequency principle to be super-powered, there are some great regular metal detectors on the market. 

If you’re serious about becoming a treasure hunter, you should get a high-quality metal detector. While standard metal detectors do not have the enormous scope that is claimed by their long counterparts, you’ll find far more success using them. With a long-range metal detector, you might as well just randomly search for metals without any equipment.

So, Do Long Range Metal Detectors Really Work?

Long Range Metal Detectors do not work. They are just one of many long-range locators–all of which are pseudoscientific hoaxes. Any piece of equipment that claims to be able to use resonant frequencies to find objects deep underground or far away, is likely to be fake. 

If you find yourself questioning whether the metal detector you’re looking to buy is real or not, scan the product description for keywords commonly used in long-range locators. Another rule of thumb is that when you find something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you have any questions or comments please leave them in the section below. Thanks for reading and until next time Happy Treasure Hunting!

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Author: Cory Haasnoot

Cory Haasnoot is an author, entrepreneur, metal detecting enthusiast, antique, coin collector, and founder of Treasure Seekr.

59 thoughts on “Do Long Range Metal Detectors Really Work? Don’t Be Fooled!”

  1. Thanks for this informative article. Following the recent news I wondered if there were such a device that could be used by police officers to detect whether a suspect was carrying a weapon (or just ‘lots of metal’). This would obviate the need for rough handling at the scene. My ‘research’ has led me here.
    My evidence to date is that … “if such a device were available or even possible they would be in regular use by law enforcement all around the world. Also at airports they could do away with the time consuming arrangements currently in play.”

    Reply
    • Well, the technology is out there to detect metal on a person called a metal-detecting wand or pinpointer. The wands I believe are used by police before a person is admitted into jail. I don’t think they use them in the field. But a metal-detecting wand wouldn’t be able to tell if the person has a gun or knife on their person it just signals if metal is present. It would be useful to law enforcement if there was such a device that could indicate a weapon but as far as I know there is no such device.

      Reply
    • Hi John, steer clear of OKM I have not owned one of their so-called long-range metal detectors but I have heard from people in the metal detecting industry that OKM detectors are junk. They might work but they are no better than a magnetometer and will not perform the way that they are promoted to. Hope this helped. Thanks for reading!

      Reply
  2. Is any devise or technology in 21 century which can help to locate metals from distance?
    We are in technology century, scientists find: computers , mobile phones, space shuttles but this looks like no possible ?

    Reply
  3. Sorry but your not including the satellite capabilities to locate the metals/treasure from space (long distance). There is at least one affordable LRL that functioned by emitting(not just reading) the frequency, the emitting makes the atoms vibrate more and the detector can then pick up the resonance. The one i am familiar with works just like this, and its patented. The inventor died and its no longer available, his technology is now lost. My point is, it is possible. I have one of these and it works!

    Reply
      • Researching for almost 2 weeks now, damn what not I already read lol. Started researching with a desire to buy now interest in actually starting treasure hunt fade.

        Too good to be true term seems exactly that. Came across too many suspicious things. One is when watching video from OKM, they were scanning the ground with their own devices but previously using one detector from megalocators [dot] com. Those devices look like a toy lol

        So OKM is I think scam or at least their devices not working as described/marketed.

        Let me know what you think about the device in the link attached above tho

        Thanks and to all, be careful, or at least always go and test the device before buying, and then buy that exact one 😀

        Reply
  4. Thanks, Cory. It’s a valuable post. We encounter people that were defrauded by long-range detector sellers every week. It’s awful. So your article helps. These long-range detectors hurt real metal detector sellers’ reputations.

    Reply
  5. Thanks for the article. I’m supposed to meet a vendor of GERDETECT Gold Hunter next week. And I was just wondering why I have never heard of long range detectors, specially in a TV show like Gold Rush. You have just saved me 2500 USD. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Glad I could help Sony! Yeah, don’t waste your money on long-range detectors. If you are looking for a real gold detector I would go with the Garrett AT Gold which is much cheaper than $2500 and will do what you want it to do. Thanks for your comment!

      Reply
  6. Hi
    What do you think about the Ajax Primero device? The manufacturer claims that this device is beyond the devices available in the market.
    Does anyone have experience with this device?
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi ARAZ,

      I don’t have experience with this metal detector but I would be cautious about the claims the company makes. One of their distributors says on their website that the Ajax Primero cannot be returned. That alone brings up red flags on this product for me.

      Reply
      • Thanks for your quick guidance, I wanted to know how efficient other systems such as 3D Earth Scanning or Live Earth Scanning, other than long-range scanners, are just a claim like the Long Range Search System?

        Reply
  7. Hi
    Thank you.how about the itreasure hunter 3d which is new in the market?can this really detect treasures and caves under ground?and they even have treasure light that can also detect treasure?

    Reply
    • Hi Gary,

      No, I wouldn’t recommend them. I see they claim you can detect 100 feet into the ground using an app on an iPhone. I don’t believe that is possible. Stay clear of these wild claims. It’s nothing more than charlatan claims and tactics to sell you an overpriced piece of junk.

      Reply
  8. hello!
    Thanks in advance for the clarity!
    So even the IONIC field that most LRL Company claims to be the best way to detect from the distance are fake reality?
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • This might be something that can be perfected for future use but I believe the technology is not there yet for use in metal detection. Buyer beware! I recommend avoiding long-range metal detectors. They are false representations of metal detecting technology. Thank you for the question Mirko!

      Reply
  9. Hi

    Can anybody on the forum tells me if diamond detectors (yes, talking about the long range ones) like the GER500 really works. Can it actually detect a diamond underground? And to what depth if any.

    Regards

    Deon

    Reply
    • Hi Deon,

      Metal detectors cannot detect diamonds they can only detect objects that are made of metal or metal alloy. You could find a diamond with a metal detector but the diamond would have to be in a ring or neckless made of metal. The Ger Titan 500 is just another misleading false claims detector. Don’t waste your money!

      Reply
  10. Thank you for the information, i spent 3 hours comparing between long range detectors to buy one and start my journey with gold, but after reading this article I will change the way I am looking.
    So if I am looking for gold in basalt area buried 4 meters down, which device you suggest to use?

    Reply
    • Hi John,

      For your situation, I would recommend the Garrett AT Gold. It is an all-terrain detector that specializes in finding gold with its excellent ground balancing system which you can let the machine balance automatically or you can manually adjust the balance you should have no trouble detecting through basalt to find gold. Make sure to read the owner’s manual which might give you tips on how to adjust the machine for your particular situation.

      Hope this helped! Hope you find that gold!!

      Reply
  11. Hi Cory
    do you have any information or detail – producer, about the technology (not available to the average consumer) which can locate from distance a gold??
    all the best.

    Reply
    • Hi Dugi,

      I don’t have any information on the subject. The claims some companies offer of detecting gold or other metal from far distances are unsubstantiated and in my opinion and many others in the field are false. With the technology that we have available now 18-24 inches is about as far as you can detect gold and other metals in the ground. Thank you for the question!

      Reply
  12. Hi Cory,
    Thank you for the informative reality about the long range locator. I have researching for the most accurate and price friendly metal detector. Can you comment on the https://www.minerdetectors.com/ products. I am presently attracted to MINER AL-1250 REMOTE SENSING ELECTROMAGNETIC LONG-RANGE DETECTOR. There is no available videos, or info on the product. I wonder if it really work. Thank you

    Reply
    • Hi John, I don’t own one and have never used it so I can’t say for sure but I wouldn’t trust their claims. If it really worked the way they claim then you would be seeing this metal detector all over the internet and I just don’t see that. There is a video on their website but it didn’t convince me. I noticed that their website was very amateurish. You would think if their metal detectors sell well that they would have a top-rated website and they don’t. I see red flags all over that company so I would steer clear of it. I hope this helps you out. Thank you for the comment and question I really do appreciate it!

      Cory

      Reply
  13. Cory, you just saved my 11900 USD – the price I was about to pay for Ajax Primero.
    I was already picturing myself finding mountains of gold and diamonds and laying lazy on a private beach 🙂
    But 9 to 5 work is more fun, right?

    I was searching a lot for reviews about it and I found yours on the 4th page of Google.

    Please work harder to be on the first page, man, you deserve it the most

    Reply
    • Glad I could help! It’s a shame these long-range metal detector companies try to rip off the public. That’s why I wrote this article to combat these false claims. As for the Ajax Primero I wasn’t trying to rank for that keyword it just came up in a comment from a reader. Brands like Garrett and Minelab are companies you can trust and they make some of the best metal detectors around. Go with one of their metal detectors if you are still looking to buy one. Thanks for reading and Happy Treasure Hunting.

      Reply
  14. Cory does GPR have any use in metal detection? I have heard they found 800 structures in the central American jungle on one site, and penetration can be much deeper than metal detectors depending on soil type . Advantages and disadvantages of this technology for treasure and artifact detection?

    Reply
    • Hi Dionne,
      Overpriced piece of junk! Ger’s craftmanship is far below what you would expect for a metal detector at the price they charge would be. The claims they make in their advertising are false. Steer clear of this company. For a metal detector that is a powerhouse that actually works as claimed check out the Garrett ATX Deepseeker. The ATX is a lot less than the $14,000 price tag that Ger sells their Titans for and the ATX works as advertised. Click here to check out the Garrett ATX it’s on sale now at High Plains Prospectors.

      Thanks for reading and Happy Treasure Hunting!

      Cory

      Reply
  15. Hi Cory Sir,
    Is it the right decision to buy a Makro Jeohunter 3D Dual System metal detector to detect metals at maximum depth? please guide properly.

    Reply
    • Hi Ajay,
      I would advise you to pass on the Makro Jeohunter. The claims they make about 10 to 12 meters detection are not accurate. From what I have read this metal detector at best can detect up to 2 meters deep. And the readout is only a guess at what depth the object is. The Jeohunter does not offer true ground penetrating radar but is actually a VLF metal detector. If you are going to spend that kind of money on a metal detector I would recommend
      The Garrett Deepseeker metal detector because it actually performs like they claim it does and Garrett is a trusted company I can stand behind. High Plains Prospectors is running a sale right now on The Garrett Deepseeker and you get a bunch of free accessories with it. If you are interested CLICK HERE to check it out.

      Thanks for your question and good luck Treasure Hunting!

      Cory

      Reply
      • Well thats dissappointing to hear about the Jeohunter, they hava very impressive display & interface. Im new to detecting and was hoping to have something simple that sorted out all the data for me. I hav a lead on a small shoebox size treasure of coins in Mexico prob 3′ deep. What can find that and still be easy to read?

        Reply
  16. Thank you for this wonderful article. I was looking for the feasibility or effectiveness of the AJAX PRIMERO device, I hope you can give your opinion on it. Also I want to ask about 3D imaging devices that claim to work through the ionic layer such as AJAX GAMMA device, are they really real?

    Reply
    • As far as I know, the Ajax Primero is one of those metal detectors that doesn’t work as claimed. Don’t waste your money! Like I tell everyone stick with metal detector brands that actually work as they claim like Garrett and Minelab detectors. Thank you for the comment.

      Reply
  17. I went through your article and all your comments. I was about to spend 14000 $ on TITAN GER1000 long-range detector. thank you for saving my money.

    Reply
  18. Hello.
    Greetings from Greece.
    I read your thread and of course the comments.
    I can tell you for sure that there are machines that can detect gold from a long distance (without dowsing).
    A week ago we did a test with a new device with over 90% success results.
    Real gold distance detectors are not on the market, except for a very small group of manufacturers and operators. I can tell you that the manufacturers are less than three in the world and they do not deal with the general public.
    I can also tell you that there is a theory and principle of operation, but it makes sense not to publish it.
    I am an operator and not a manufacturer, anyone who wants to see such this device can come to Greece and do whatever tests he wants, as he wants (with eyes and hands), to convince himself. However, he will not be able to buy, because it is not for sale to the world, but only to specific individuals.
    best regards
    Stathis

    Reply
  19. Hello sir
    Thank you for such a precious information. I found your article on right time because I was just going to place my order for long range gold detector.
    By this article I saved my 1800 USD. Thanks alot.
    Do you recommend
    nokta anfibio multi? Turkish made they claim 4 to 5 feet depth.

    Reply
  20. Hello.
    Greetings.
    What is your opinión about the Dowsing Rods of Carl Anderson, now Simmons. Thank you for your time.

    Reply

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