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TrpnBils
One thing I am noticing though... if it is working right and I'm getting the appropriate "marginal" signals for the edge of detection, I'm not digging a whole lot of what I should be digging. At the edge of detection here the merc was ringing in at 12-35. I know the Etrac was a little unstable with FE numbers, but I thought the 3030 was better at it. I don't care either way, just as long as I know what to look for!
I'm going to let you in on a secret about the CTX...
If you're still getting ANY stable, repeatable ID numbers, that's not an 'iffy' signal... :blink: ...you're still not nearly deep enough...
It's not an 'iffy' signal until the ID jumps all over the place in what (at first glance) looks like completely random junk noise.
This effect happens earlier/worse in mineralized ground like you and I have.
Many times you'll get a tone without ANY ID, and any ID presented can appear to jump all over.
When you get a signal like that, slow WAY down...shorten your swing to just an inch or two...and watch the bouncing ID cursor/numbers....ALONG WITH THE DEPTH NUMBERS.
Note that the depth numbers stay stable and accurate long after the TID numbers try to 'jump ship'.
(BTW, once you've experimented in your ground, you should learn what represent coin size objects at 'iffy' depths.
For me, in my ground, these iffy signals typically start at around 7.5 - 8 inches.
If I get the same iffy signals at some other extreme...say 4 inches or 13 inches...target probably not coin sized.)
Circle the target to see if you can clear up the signal any.
Try to imagine a really bad pistol shot trying to hit a bulls-eye. The shots will be all over the target, but if you keep looking closely, they'll start to form a general pattern as to where they're trying to hit.
The 'iffy' CTX signals are the same way on the CTX screen. (Of course, target trace is ON to help with this 'screen visualization' as much as possible.)
For instance, if the target cursor/FE numbers cluster near the bottom half of the screen...probably iron. If FE occasionally jumps well over the 12 line as well as under...probably non-ferrous.
If the target cursor/CO numbers tend to generally hit/cluster near the right-hand half of the screen, probably a high conductor, towards the middle/left...a low conductor.
Every now and then even a bad marksman hits the bulls-eye. Iffy signals are the same way. Every now and then you might get something like a nice 12:42 13:45 back to back for a couple of swings.
If that happens, stop and dig now...before that silver dime gets away.
It requires lots of practice, time, and patience...just like playing a musical instrument...but after you've put in the time, you can start to get some serious extra depth out of your machine.
One thing you do need to realize with those 'just out of range' numbers, is that sometimes the best you can do is to classify the really deep target as probably either ferrous or non ferrous.
This is not an entirely bad thing, as really deep non-ferrous targets are unlikely to be modern trash. I've yet to dig a pull tab at 12", for instance. :)
It's more likely to be coins that other hunters have simply missed.
I suggest you experiment with the different separation modes in your ground to see which gives you the best depth and ID info at depth.
In my ground I get the best depth and ID with High Trash, but that means nothing unless you're going to hunt along side me...test your ground for the best settings.
Finally, you can supplement this technique with the excellent Pinpoint Trace/Lock hunting mode that has been discussed here before.
Hope this helps, and wasn't too painfully long to read...
:thumbup:
mike