ReviewedByPhil

Buy it at Amazon: Forager Go Metal Detector [Affiliate Link]

Takeaway: Easy to assemble, lightweight, loud speaker, fun to use; comes w/handy field guide.

The metal detector comes in several pieces and requires assembly, which seems to be the main complaint of a lot of folks, but I didn't have a problem with putting it together. It sounds like the piece that gives folks the most trouble is the tightening collar that connects the lower half of the shaft to the upper half. Make sure to unscrew the outer collar on this sleeve and slip the threaded side onto the upper shaft until the snaps click into the holes on the pole; then loosely place the tightening collar over it, insert the lower half of the shaft into the upper half and tighten the collar. You'll also receive a mini fold-able shovel, a set of instructions, and a field guide.

The control box contains the electronics for the device. On the front you have a detection display, a discrimination dial which filters signals based on metal type, a sensitivity dial which can increase the range and depth of detection and also serves as the power switch, a volume dial, a pinpoint button, low battery indicator, and 1/8" earphone jack. This unit requires two 9V batteries for operation which are not included. The coil is what detects metal in the ground and it plugs into the back of the control box. The included search head coil is 7" in diameter. When fully assembled the length of the metal detector is about 40".

The travel shovel comes in a green camouflage pouch with a nylon hanging loop and a belt strap on the back. The shovel also requires a bit of assembly, too. First, screw the upper shaft of the handle into the lower half, then unfold the shovel head. Remember to tighten the collar nut underneath the shovel head so that it doesn't move around. You can use this tool as a shovel for digging or turn the head perpendicular to use as a pick (you can also tighten the nut in this orientation, but remember to loosen the collar nut to switch orientations and fold the shovel back up for storage). On the side of the shovel head is a serrated saw blade edge and on the opposite corner is a bottle opener.

The included instructions are pretty basic but explain how to assemble and use the metal detector. The field guide provides more in depth instruction and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your unit which I found pretty useful. There are instructions on how to change the settings to filter out false positives from mineral rich locations and "junk" metal. You just have to turn the discrimination dial clockwise and adjust the sensitivity accordingly. Some folks said they had to constantly use the pinpoint button to get any positive hits, but you shouldn't have to do that if the sensitivity is turned to the max and discrimination set to "all metal." The pinpoint key will be able to locate items that are deeper and the unit detects metal to a depth of about 7 inches. But that's not really an efficient way to use this tool. So far, the metal detector has been pretty accurate for me. I've been able to locate quite a few metal objects, particularly in sand which were close to the surface. A few coins, some stainless steel jewelry, and the occasional odd metal scrap piece. The deepest object I've found was a chunk of aluminum gutter buried about 6 inches in my backyard. Not a great find but good for practice with the detector.

I found the field guide and manual instructive for first-timers, like myself, and being able to use headphones is nice so you don't have to disturb other people with loud beeping all the time. I will say that if you'll be using headphones, you only need to set the volume to just above the minimum as it's plenty loud. Overall, the metal detector works as expected and is a lot of fun to use, even though I haven't found anything worth mentioning here. I have not tried using this in water like a stream or shallows of a pond, so I don't know if it will stand up to its waterproof claim yet.

Buy it at Amazon: Forager Go Metal Detector [Affiliate Link]

Buy it at Amazon: ANKR Smart Tracker Key Fob Tag [Affiliate Link]

Takeaway: Average smart tracker, light on features, no Android, limited real world application.

The smart tag is about the size of my thumb and no bigger a grocery store loyalty card, though thicker. The tag uses low powered Bluetooth signal to pair with an app on your phone, and that's how it determines the location of your stuff. The catch is, your phone and the tag always have to be near each other (in Bluetooth range, about 33 ft). If you leave your tag and subsequently your keys somewhere and walk out of range, the app will notify you on your phone that you’ve become separated from your belongings. When I got the device it was only compatible with iOS devices but it seems now they've launched the Android app (I have not tested it but it gets poor ratings).

For the iPhone, setup is straight forward and the takes you step by step through the process, allowing you to name the item you’re connecting the ANKR to, and setting up safe zones so the alert doesn’t go off in a specific location, say when you’re at home and run outside to get something from the car. Even so, I found sometimes it's overly sensitive and I get an excess number of notifications and I have to expand my geofence. I also found that when using this with the iPad vs the iPhone, you don't get push notification popups when you walk out of range, the alert only appears in the app itself, which is odd. However, you can add as many ANKRs and safe zones as you want to the app and check on each device’s battery level. The battery inside should last you 6 months to a year and is easily replaceable. The only problem I had with my unit was that initially I was able to turn it on and off using the button on the back, after all I don't need to track my devices constantly and would like to save on battery life, but now it seems I can't shut it off and it's "stuck" in always on which is a minor inconvenience.

The ANKR has an audible alarm on the tag itself to help you locate your item if it’s misplaced but in range of your phone, just press the ping button in the app. Once you’re out of Bluetooth range though, you can only see its last known location, so it’s not a great theft mitigation tool. Also, if you misplace your phone, it can’t help you there. Mine has run out of batteries a few times over the years, though I can't say how long it lasts because by the time I remember to check the battery, it's probably long since been dead.

The ANKR tag is somewhat useful for folks who are forgetful, frequently misplace important things or want to try to keep tabs on their belongings. But if you want something with GPS tracking for lost items, ANKR doesn't have crowd geolocating.

Buy it at Amazon: ANKR Smart Tracker Key Fob Tag [Affiliate Link]