Hi Ed,
Welcome aboard! Glad you found your way over. This is a great place where you can speak your mind and ask any question without the fear of being censored. I am like you, very new to detecting and the V3i. I have learned a bunch from the great folks here.
You asked about my wife...she is from Invercargill. Hence my love of Speights. She is actually down for a visit right now. She flew into Christchurch the day after the quake. Absolutely tragic...luckily all of our friends there are safe. Our prayers go out to the entire country.
Again welcome,
JD