The Minelab Intrepid – The sub £100 cracker!

Introduction

Minelab Electronics was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Australia. It has established itself as an industry leader in metal detection technology. Known for its substantial investment in Research and Development, Minelab has consistently pushed the boundaries of what metal detectors can achieve.

The company has built a reputation for manufacturing high-quality, innovative products that serve both recreational treasure hunters and professional users worldwide. Their commitment to advancing detection technology has resulted in proprietary technologies across their various detector lines that have revolutionised the field.

The Minelab Intrepid represents the company’s dedication to creating high-performance single-frequency detectors that deliver exceptional results for their target audience. Positioned strategically in Minelab’s lineup, the Intrepid offers powerful detection capabilities with proven technology and user-friendly operation at a super low entry level price point of below £100.

The Minelab Intrepid is perfect for the absolute beginner to take the plunge into metal detecting and would make the perfect surprise gift. The Minelab Intrepid is only available from Minelab UK on their Amazon shop in order to keep the price point low.

Find the Minelab Intrepid from Minelab UK shop over on Amazon here.

Technical Specifications

The technical specifications of the Minelab Intrepid are as below which I will summarise after.

• Operating Frequency: Single frequency at 5.82 kHz
• Weight: 2.7 lbs (1.45 kg) excluding batteries
• Length: 55″ (140cm) fully extended, 28.3″ (72cm) fully collapsed
• Standard Search Coil: 10″ concentric coil
• Audio Output: Built-in speaker
• Water resistance: Coil waterproof to 1m (Not control box)
• Display: LCD screen with numeric target ID and depth indicator
• Battery Requirements: 2 x 9v batteries or rechargeable NiMH batteries
• Battery Life: Approximately 20-25 hours with alkaline batteries
• Warranty: 3 years parts and labour (varies by region)

To summarise the Minelab Intrepid’s specifications, Minelab have been keen to remove anything that they deemed unnecessary for basic metal detecting in order to provide a great first metal detector at a bargain price.

Operating on a single frequency of 5.82 kHz, this will be great for coin shooting and punching deep into the soil. You can read my further in depth article on detecting frequencies here.

It’s lightweight, and fully adjustable in height to suit young people and adults. It comes with a large 10 inch concentric coil which will punch deep. Concentric coils work differently than “DD” coils.

They are generally used when trying to reduce costs however this does not mean that it won’t perform because it will. They just have different characteristics. You can read further into metal detector coil types here.

One comprimise on the Intrepid is that there is no wireless connectivity to headphones. It just relies on the external speaker for output and a headphone jack plug. The omission of this contributes to the super low pricepoint.

The display screen is simplicity itself. Showing all of the basic information you need, it includes the Search Mode icon, the target ID number, the battery strength, sensitivity level, target depth indicator, headphone icon and volume level indicator.

This really is a “switch on and go” machine. Choose your pattern, adjust your sensitivity and listen for either of three tones. A high and medium tone will be good, a low tone for iron. What could be simpler!

Detection Technology

The Intrepid utilizes a 5.82 kHz operating frequency, which provides an ideal balance for general-purpose detecting. This frequency is particularly effective for coin hunting, relic hunting, and detecting a wide range of conductive targets at good depths.

While not as high as the frequencies used in some specialised gold prospecting detectors, the 5.82 kHz frequency still offers reasonable sensitivity to smaller gold items like jewelry.

The detector features Minelab’s proven circuitry combined with digital controls, delivering stable operation and consistent detection capabilities across various ground conditions. The Target Identification (TID) system uses a 0-99 numerical scale to provide information about detected objects based on their conductivity.

Search Modes and Program Settings

The Minelab Intrepid utilises the four following search modes below:

1. Coin Mode: Optimized for coin hunting in parks and recreational areas with moderate trash
2. Relic Mode: Calibrated for historical sites with adjusted discrimination to better handle iron-rich environments
3. Jewelry Mode: Enhanced sensitivity to the conductivity ranges of common jewelry items
4. All-Metal Mode: No discrimination for maximum detection coverage and depth

Adjustable controls include:

• Sensitivity: Variable across 5 levels
• Discrimination Pattern: Choice of four levels of discrimination with preset patterns
• Volume: 3 levels

Depth and Sensitivity Performance

The operating frequency of 5.82 kHz is perfect for general metal detecting where targets are coinage and jewelry etc. It offers great sensitivity on these types of objects whilst offering good depth to around 6-8 inches.

Audio output and target identification

The Intrepid’s target ID scale goes from 0 to 99 on the conductivity scale. (You can read further on target conductivity here)

These are the big numbers in the centre of the screen. Iron will be 1-30, Small coins and fine jewelry will be 31-55, Mid sized coins, pull tabs and larger jewellry will be 56-85 and large coins and bottle caps will be 86-99.

(All these are approximate of course)

Don’t forget that very often, rubbish targets will give the same signature as a good target so if in doubt, dig it up!

Working together with the visual ID will be the tone alarm. This will either be a low tone, a mid tone or a high tone depending on where the target falls on the conductivity scale.

A low tone will indicate iron so is a good audio response to get familiar with. After a while, you’ll learn the TID numbers for familiar targets along with their tone. A good trick is to pass some coinage over the coil and jot down the numbers along with the tone.

Build Quality and Ergonomics

The Intrepid’s construction is weather-resistant but not fully waterproof. The control box can withstand light rain but should not be submerged. The coil is fully waterproof for searching in shallow water. Any rain showers should not cause concern.

Fully adjustable for height through it’s tough camlock system, it’s tough and rugged design has been proved as it’s used on more expensive machines. Very well balanced too.

Find a Minelab Intrepid from Minelab UK over on Amazon here

User Experience

The Minelab Intrepid emphasises ease of use through logical control placement and intuitive menu navigation. The quick-start guide section demonstrates that new users can be operational within minutes of assembly.

The “Field Techniques” chapter provides valuable guidance on sweep technique, target recovery, and interpreting signals in different ground conditions, highlighting Minelab’s focus on supporting users beyond just the technical operation of the detector.

You can find the Minelab Intrepid User Manual here.

Summary

The Minelab Intrepid from Minelab presents a very capable single-frequency detector operating at 5.82 kHz. This frequency choice positions it as a versatile detector suitable for coin shooting, relic hunting, and general-purpose detecting.

The price point of this capable detector makes it perfect to dip your toe into metal detecting and would also make the perfect gift for a loved one without you going broke and not buying a piece of rubbish!

While it doesn’t have many advanced features or Minelab’s Multi-IQ technology found in their premium models, the Intrepid delivers reliable performance through well-executed conventional detection technology.

The detector’s strengths lie in its user-friendly interface, effective discrimination system, and stable fixed ground balance that can handle typical inland soil conditions effectively. The various search modes provide appropriate presets for most detecting scenarios.

With a battery life of 20-25 hours and ergonomic design elements, the Intrepid is well-suited for extended detecting sessions. The comprehensive User Manual provides both technical guidance and practical detecting advice, reflecting Minelab’s understanding of their user base.

For detectorists seeking a reliable, well built conventional detector from a company known for quality and innovation, the Minelab Intrepid offers a compelling package that balances performance, usability, and extreme value.

While not featuring the most advanced technology in Minelab’s lineup, it delivers consistent results in the field and provides a solid platform for both newcomers and experienced hobbyists.

Find a Minelab Intrepid from Minelab UK on Amazon here