Quote
TrpnBils
Regarding ground balance, I don't see that discussed too much about the 3030. Even though it has the option, I usually see people just suggesting that it gets left off. You said yourself here that if it's not done right you can actually lose depth. Do you ground balance AND noise cancel at every site? I generally noise cancel at least once at each site, but almost never ground balance unless the soil is particularly bad, but maybe I should start.
As far as doing the balancing right to avoid losing depth, is that just a matter of using the double-check of seeing if the threshold changes after balancing that you mentioned above?
"I usually see people just suggesting that it gets left off. You said yourself here that if it's not done right you can actually lose depth."
And that's exactly why most people say to leave it off. :)
"Do you ground balance AND noise cancel at every site? "
No. I do always NC. (Sometimes multiple times in bad EMI.)
I frequently GB...especially if the ground is particularly bad. (But not always.)
However, I will also turn off GB after I've used it for a while to see how the detector is responding.
If it's acting 'nicer' after GB-ing for a while, I'll leave it off.
GB on the CTX is sort of a 'red-headed step-child'. (Apologies to any real or imagined red-headed step-children.) :)
GB was implemented in a less than optimum fashion;
1. It doesn't track the ground, so you've got to manually adjust it frequently if your ground changes.
2. Since you're usually using it to go deep, unfortunately the GB is more touchy when Sense numbers are high.
3. The actually process of calibration (raising and lowering the coil) doesn't always work properly...the algorithm seems to not be optimized.
4. Noise cancel can completely 'bork' the GB...forcing you to redo.
5. And finally, it seems to drift a little all on it's own...regardless of conditions.
Now that I've completely bad-mouthed it, it does help considerably when hunting in the pinpoint mode...as I explained in detail in the previous post.
So as quirky as it is...it's still a heck of a lot better than not having it.
And to answer your last question...yes, listen for any threshold change...however slight...in either direction (up or down). And be sure to check it occasionally if you leave it on for any length of time.
Finally...in general...
1. If you don't have bad ground...leave it off.
2. If you don't want the hassle of 'baby-sitting' it...leave it off.
3. If you don't do much with pinpoint mode...leave if off.
4. If you're not sure you need it...leave it off.
BUT,
If you want to squeeze the very most out of the CTX in mineralized ground...especially when hunting in pinpoint mode...use GB and learn it's quirky behavior.
HH,
mike