Hey all,
Ok, so I have been working with the Excal and GT, trading between them, learning them both at the same time for a few months now. Since I work full-time, have a family, and go to school part time, my free time is limited, but not always hurried. Prior to three weeks ago, I was only able to use the Excal or GT about every other or every third day in a week, then for about four hours on each of the weekend days.
This past three weeks, I have been stopping by a park close to work all but one day each week,and using the MD until dark usually. I have also been listening to Ear Training for Excal on my way to and from work since I got it a couple months ago - it does make a difference for me. But, in the past three weeks, I have noticed that I'm starting to understand target separation while using both of these machines - I use one at a time, not both at the same time - GT one day, Excal the next, or if it's raining. Today I out for about 5 1/2 hours and was using the GT, I was digging several coins that were on edge or partially on edge, thus throwing the PPing off a bit. But I did start to understand how to interpret those signals too.
I also figured out how to ID two targets close to each other, and figure out which of them is the good one, the one to dig. Both of these were pretty large steps for me to make.
If I were to scrunch all my time using the Md's into 40 hour work weeks, I would say it's taken four weeks - but doing it for small amounts of time over several months - for me to learn the interaction between the settings, the soil conditions, the weather, power lines, trash ID, various other ID's, and get to a point of grasping more about multiple targets in close proximity, and now the angular targets - those that are not on edge fully, and aren't flat either. But it's interesting with this last item that iron and good target can act similar to angular target. If I were to state the difference, I would have to say there is a pop in the sound when the GT nulls. I cannot say that I have noticed that with the Excal though. Now that I have noticed that, I will have to compare to see if there is a difference or not.
The park I'm hunting in is reasonably clean - if it was detected, it would have been a long while ago. I'm finding 40's, 50's. 60's and on cents, nickles, dimes, and quarters. Some have been silver, many have been more recent clad. I'm learning how to find the hot spots of this particular location - a lot of people go there, and anything could be anywhere. There is also a high school right next to it - so there are a lot of students that go there, use the volleyball pits, or the baseball diamonds. Plus the regular picnic tables, kid swings and such. One of the clues I have picked up on is to find the spots where trees used to be. Find where there is a mound, the tree has been cut, and the stump has been chipped; all some years ago - the targets I have found near these are in the 40's or sometimes the 50's. The bigger trees could have anything around them. And finding the pressed down grass where people were laying on the lawn is a good bet too.
Being a park, with well-kept lawns, and higher end business people that patronize it, I have passed certain targets that I know are good, but I would have to dig too deep to get them - or, I have to refine my digging methods. I don't take the Predator Tools digger there, lest someone call the cops saying I have a knife - it wouldn't be fun to explain. But, if I see a cop, I may well ask him to look the tool over and ask them if it's ok for me to use in that park. At least that way, I would be able to do a better job, and the cops would know who I am.
So, between finding the patterns in this particular park, and working with the Excal and GT, I would say you all have me hooked on these two tools. The sounds are new to me, the various tones, though not totally new, are busier than other detectors. But in that busy signal, is a boatload of information that I'm starting to feel comfortable with, and it's starting to show in my finds.
So now, my biggest problem using these MDrs, is finding the time to.
The main reason I'm posting this, isn't for the more experienced GT users, or Excal users, but for those that are relatively new to it. I'm not a fast learner, but I am methodical in my approach. Each person observes different things, and these are some of mine. If you are new to it, stick with it, it won't be long before you start feeling comfortable with it. I tried my dad's BH the other day, and I almost couldn't stand it because there was no information in the tones - fancy that, all the confusing sounds that made me think this was an expensive mistake, actually mean something to me now. And that will happen to you as a newb too. Be patient, test your own theories, and prove them to your self. Then post your findings here; it's really worth it, because the experienced users do give valid feedback and insights on your observations.
On Sunday, I plan an 8-10 hour hunt on the family land...
HH
Ok, so I have been working with the Excal and GT, trading between them, learning them both at the same time for a few months now. Since I work full-time, have a family, and go to school part time, my free time is limited, but not always hurried. Prior to three weeks ago, I was only able to use the Excal or GT about every other or every third day in a week, then for about four hours on each of the weekend days.
This past three weeks, I have been stopping by a park close to work all but one day each week,and using the MD until dark usually. I have also been listening to Ear Training for Excal on my way to and from work since I got it a couple months ago - it does make a difference for me. But, in the past three weeks, I have noticed that I'm starting to understand target separation while using both of these machines - I use one at a time, not both at the same time - GT one day, Excal the next, or if it's raining. Today I out for about 5 1/2 hours and was using the GT, I was digging several coins that were on edge or partially on edge, thus throwing the PPing off a bit. But I did start to understand how to interpret those signals too.
I also figured out how to ID two targets close to each other, and figure out which of them is the good one, the one to dig. Both of these were pretty large steps for me to make.
If I were to scrunch all my time using the Md's into 40 hour work weeks, I would say it's taken four weeks - but doing it for small amounts of time over several months - for me to learn the interaction between the settings, the soil conditions, the weather, power lines, trash ID, various other ID's, and get to a point of grasping more about multiple targets in close proximity, and now the angular targets - those that are not on edge fully, and aren't flat either. But it's interesting with this last item that iron and good target can act similar to angular target. If I were to state the difference, I would have to say there is a pop in the sound when the GT nulls. I cannot say that I have noticed that with the Excal though. Now that I have noticed that, I will have to compare to see if there is a difference or not.
The park I'm hunting in is reasonably clean - if it was detected, it would have been a long while ago. I'm finding 40's, 50's. 60's and on cents, nickles, dimes, and quarters. Some have been silver, many have been more recent clad. I'm learning how to find the hot spots of this particular location - a lot of people go there, and anything could be anywhere. There is also a high school right next to it - so there are a lot of students that go there, use the volleyball pits, or the baseball diamonds. Plus the regular picnic tables, kid swings and such. One of the clues I have picked up on is to find the spots where trees used to be. Find where there is a mound, the tree has been cut, and the stump has been chipped; all some years ago - the targets I have found near these are in the 40's or sometimes the 50's. The bigger trees could have anything around them. And finding the pressed down grass where people were laying on the lawn is a good bet too.
Being a park, with well-kept lawns, and higher end business people that patronize it, I have passed certain targets that I know are good, but I would have to dig too deep to get them - or, I have to refine my digging methods. I don't take the Predator Tools digger there, lest someone call the cops saying I have a knife - it wouldn't be fun to explain. But, if I see a cop, I may well ask him to look the tool over and ask them if it's ok for me to use in that park. At least that way, I would be able to do a better job, and the cops would know who I am.
So, between finding the patterns in this particular park, and working with the Excal and GT, I would say you all have me hooked on these two tools. The sounds are new to me, the various tones, though not totally new, are busier than other detectors. But in that busy signal, is a boatload of information that I'm starting to feel comfortable with, and it's starting to show in my finds.
So now, my biggest problem using these MDrs, is finding the time to.
The main reason I'm posting this, isn't for the more experienced GT users, or Excal users, but for those that are relatively new to it. I'm not a fast learner, but I am methodical in my approach. Each person observes different things, and these are some of mine. If you are new to it, stick with it, it won't be long before you start feeling comfortable with it. I tried my dad's BH the other day, and I almost couldn't stand it because there was no information in the tones - fancy that, all the confusing sounds that made me think this was an expensive mistake, actually mean something to me now. And that will happen to you as a newb too. Be patient, test your own theories, and prove them to your self. Then post your findings here; it's really worth it, because the experienced users do give valid feedback and insights on your observations.
On Sunday, I plan an 8-10 hour hunt on the family land...
HH
, can you provide little more information on that subject? 
, bytheway I have been using the GT for the last 6 months and only when the weather is clear, as now I have been using the SEF 15X12 and I have learned how to separate the targets and I can tell when the target is dip (in fact I'm able to said when is dipper than 8") just on the sound because sounds like it is far away but clear, and I'm almost to the point to tell what coin it is.
:angry: