Digging Deeper: Interview with Joshua Sipes of Vets Dig Beeps
For metal detectorists who spend long hours in the field, gear that improves efficiency and helps prevent lost equipment can make a real difference. In this interview, Focus Speed speaks with Joshua Sipes, founder of Vets Dig Beeps, a company known for its colorful P-Cord pinpointer lanyards designed for detectorists who want faster target recovery and a more streamlined setup.
Built from real field experience and shaped by Joshua’s own frustrations with tangled, twisting lanyards and lost pinpointers, VetsDigBeeps.com has grown into a trusted small business serving hobbyists across the United States and beyond. In addition to its popular lanyards, the company also supports the metal detecting community while encouraging military veterans to explore the outdoor therapy benefits of the hobby.
For Those Who Have Not Yet Heard of Vets Dig Beeps and Its P-Cord Lanyards
The Vets Dig Beeps P-Cord pinpointer lanyard is available in 18-inch, 22-inch, and 26-inch lengths, giving metal detectorists options to match their setup, height, and preferred range of motion. It also comes in multiple color options, allowing detectorists to choose a style that fits their gear and personal preference. Each lanyard is built with substantial stretch. For example, the 18-inch P-Cord extends to approximately 34 inches, providing flexibility without sacrificing control in the field.
Built with marine-grade components, the P-Cord is designed to resist corrosion, binding, and premature failure, which are common problems with many standard pinpointer lanyards. This makes it especially valuable for beach metal detecting, water hunting, and other demanding environments where saltwater, sand, mud, and moisture quickly wear down lesser gear. Experienced detectorists know that saltwater can be especially harsh on equipment, and many traditional lanyards may only last a few months under repeated use in those conditions.
The Vets Dig Beeps P-Cord uses a thick, heavy-duty bungee cord with 100 percent stretch, while still remaining strong, dependable, and resistant to twisting. Designed by a detectorist who understands the real-world wear and tear that gear takes, the P-Cord has been tested in a wide range of hunting conditions, from saltwater beaches and shallow water environments to wooded relic sites and rough terrain. For detectorists looking for a durable pinpointer lanyard that can hold up to serious use, while also offering multiple sizes and colors, the P-Cord stands out as a practical and field-tested option.
Q: What’s your personal story with metal detecting—when and how did you get into the hobby, and what metal detector did you start with?
After getting out of the Army, I knew I needed something physical and outdoors to keep me moving. I first got into gold prospecting in the mountains of Washington State. I loved moving boulders, running pay dirt through my highbanker, and getting down to bedrock that had never seen human hands.
I’ve always liked gadgets though, so I started using a metal detector around prospecting sites and between digs. Someone told me the best way to really learn your detector was hunting yards and parks, so I gave it a shot. Not long after, a prospecting buddy invited me to detect a location where I found a few silver coins.
That was it — I was hooked.
My first detector was a Whites Spectra V3i, which, honestly, wasn’t the easiest beginner machine. That thing had more settings than my truck dashboard. I later moved to the Equinox 800 and the finds really started coming from there. Metal detecting quickly became my favorite hobby.
Q: I see from your social media that you use the Deus 2 and Minelab Manticore. Can you tell us your favorite settings?
I’m a big believer that your detector needs to match the ground you’re hunting. I detect everywhere from old homesites to saltwater beaches and freshwater lakes, so settings change depending on conditions.
Both the Deus 2 and the Manticore are great machines right out of the box. A lot of people do really well just learning the stock programs first. Once you understand what the machine is telling you, though, small adjustments start making a big difference.
My go-to Deus 2 settings are built off Park using Full Tones, Offset 15, Disc. 6.8, Notch 7-30, Reactivity 2(often increased to 2.5). But Sens Full Tones is my go-to program for heavy iron. Those settings are very similar except I don’t use Notch and Reactivity starts at 3.
I break out the Manticore when I’m searching for raw depth. As a result, I push the sensitivity as high as the situation allows and drop the Recovery as low as possible(usually 3-4 unless in saltwater, which I start at 5). The one setting that remains consistent on any machine is Full Tones, which gives your ears the maximum amount of information. Other than that, my settings vary from AT High Conductors in parks, or areas with light iron, to Beach Low Conductor for any saltwater application it remains stable in.
But honestly, the best adjustment most people forget is slowing down. Swinging slower, keeping your coil level with the ground, and overlapping will result in finding many more targets.
Q: Tell the readers about some of your favorite metal detecting finds.
Silver coins and targets with unique history will always be my first love, but some of my favorite finds actually come from water hunts. Texas is HOT, so I spend a lot of time detecting in the water!
That’s where a lot of gold shows up.
I’ve recovered quite a bit of gold jewelry doing water hunts, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite parts of detecting. One of my favorite water finds was a 2-carat, Marquise diamond ring that my wife immediately claimed — and she still enjoys wearing it today. That one definitely stayed in the family.
But my favorite find to date has to be my 1840 O mint Seated Liberty Half Dime. I have the Manticore to thank for one! But, like most detectorists, I have an overflowing finds case of targets I’ve fallen in love with.
A Small Sample of Joshua Sipes’ Coin Finds From Metal Detecting
A Small Sample of Relics Joshua Has Recovered Metal Detecting
Q: What inspired you to start Vets Dig Beeps?
When I started detecting, I started using a pinpointer lanyard almost immediately. I was often climbing through mountains or wading in rivers, and I didn’t want to lose an expensive pinpointer! But I quickly grew frustrated with them tangling/twisting and creating knots, slowing down my recovery time per target. That means you’re recovering fewer targets in each hunt!
From work to play, I’m all about efficiency. My finds pouch, digger sheath, and pinpointer are all set up for the optimal hunting experience. So I started playing with different ideas, and quickly settled on the P-Cord design we all love today. Your pinpointer is always within reach, doesn’t even drag on the ground for most people, and I don’t have to battle with a twisted lanyard anymore!
For the first few years I used the P-Cord, I just shared prototypes with hunt buddies. Eventually, word got around, and members of my local MD club started asking me to make them one! Now I have the honor of having earned the confidence of thousands of detectorists worldwide.
All of that led to Vets Dig Beeps. Listen, I have a niche product in a niche market, but I love that it allows me to meet other military veterans and tell them how incredibly beneficial metal detecting is as a form of Outdoor Therapy. And it’s so accessible, anyone living anywhere can find somewhere to swing!
Q: For readers who have not heard about Vets Dig Beeps, can you tell us about the company and what types of products you manufacture and sell?
Vets Dig Beeps is really about supporting fellow detectorists and spreading the word to other military veterans about the outdoor therapy opportunities available through metal detecting.
Our main product is the P-Cord pinpointer lanyard. We currently offer three sizes — The Mini P-Cord 18, The All Around P-Cord 22, and The Big Dawg P-Cord 26 — available in colors like OD Green, Neon Yellow, Neon Orange, Neon Pink, and Blue so detectorists can personalize their setup. I tend to recommend the P-22 to anyone under 6’, and the P-26 for those above. However, I’m 6’3” and use the 22, which is the original design and perfect for my full reach when attached at/near my waist.
We also offer F-Cord lanyard, V.D.B. Silver Spray for cleaning finds and sporting our wicked logo, and our growing Vets Dig Beeps apparel line.
P-Cord Customer / Detectorist Testimonials
“I have relied on Vets Dig Beeps lanyards in my personal metal detecting setup for years, and they have proven to be dependable, durable, and well-made. I have never had a problem with them. Vets Dig Beeps offers a quality product, supports a meaningful cause, and, in my opinion, remains one of the best-kept secrets in the metal detecting industry.”
Dylan Anderson, Founder of Milbea
“Most traditional spiral lanyards are flimsy. They twist up, tangle, stretch out, and snap far too easily once you put them through real field use. That gets old fast when you are out detecting and your gear needs to take abuse. Vets Dig Beeps lanyards are built much tougher. They are made by a detectorist who understands the wear and tear our equipment goes through, and it shows. They hold up, they do not tangle like the fragile spiral ones, and they are built for real use in the field.”
Joanna Laznicka, Founder of Focus Speed
Q: Has there been a proudest moment since starting Vets Dig Beeps?
Honestly, being recognized by the detecting community has meant the most. When fellow detectorists recommend our gear, it says a lot because those folks use their equipment hard.
It’s also been amazing getting requests from places like Australia and detectorists across different states.
But the moments that really stay with me are the personal ones. I’ve had kids send handwritten notes thanking me for my products, and that honestly melts my heart every time.
I’m also proud when I see detectorists still using their Vets Dig Beeps lanyards years later. That usually means the gear held up — and they probably haven’t lost their pinpointer either, which every detectorist knows is a big win.
Q: Aside from the P-Cord, are there other products in development?
Yes, we’re excited about what’s coming next. We’re launching stylish metal detecting T-shirts for men and women along with mugs and additional Vets Dig Beeps gear people have been asking for.
The goal is to keep building things that bring the detecting community together.
Q: What advice would you give others looking to turn passion into a product line?
Honestly, Vets Dig Beeps started out of frustration.
I lost three pinpointers while detecting, and anyone in this hobby knows those aren’t cheap. After the third one, a Whites Accupoint, disappeared somewhere in the woods, I decided enough was enough.
If something frustrates you in your hobby, chances are other people are dealing with the same thing. Solve a real problem and build something you’d trust using yourself.
Q: For those struggling with PTSD, what encouragement would you give them?
The biggest thing I’d say is don’t isolate yourself.
Building community has been huge for me. My faith in God and getting involved in my church community has helped me stay grounded and manage PTSD in a healthier way.
I’ve also learned how important it is to communicate with my family — letting them know when I need space or when I’m feeling down instead of keeping everything bottled up. Y
Outdoor therapy changed a lot for me too, first through fishing and now through metal detecting. Being outside, focusing on signals, and just moving forward helps quiet your mind.
Between faith, family, and getting outdoors, there really is a way forward.
Final Thoughts
As this interview shows, Vets Dig Beeps is more than just a brand selling accessories — it is a company built on firsthand metal detecting experience, problem-solving, and a genuine connection to the community. From the well-known P-Cord lanyards to its growing line of gear and apparel, VetsDigBeeps.com stands out for creating products designed by a detectorist for detectorists. For readers looking to improve their setup, protect their pinpointer, and support a veteran-connected business that understands the realities of the hobby, Vets Dig Beeps is a company worth knowing.
Joanna Jana Laznicka, a Czech-Canadian residing in Southern California, is passionate about all things associated with metal detecting. She mainly detects on the West Coast, from Southern California to Northern British Columbia. As the founder of Focus Speed, her goal is to bring quality content to metal detectorists.
Joshua Truly is an Inspiration to Us All!