Ajax Tropic

The Ajax Tropic is the entry point into the Ajax range and is aimed at beginners and growing prospectors. Instead of long-range or imaging systems, it focuses on close-range search with a 35 x 35 cm coil and three EFM systems. Its main strength is telling targets apart, so you spend less time digging iron and more time on precious metals.

The Discrimination system separates precious from non-precious metals and can be set to ignore iron. The Graph system shows how the signal changes as you sweep, and Quick Scan helps you cover ground faster and narrow down the target. The 5-inch colour screen is easy to read, alerts change tone as you get closer, and optional vibration adds another cue in noisy places.

Ajax lists gold, gold nuggets, silver, bronze, copper and iron as targets, with a maximum search depth of about 2 metres. The carbon-fibre stick adjusts in length, the whole unit weighs about 2.5 kg with battery, and a 30,000 mAh battery pack gives more than 20 hours of continuous use. The Tropic comes with a two-year manufacturer warranty. It also works well for checking signals found with an Ajax long-range unit.