Auto vs. Manual sensitivity! :starwars:

[moseng]

I see A LOT of threads with people suggesting setting sensitivity to manual is the only way to get the deep targets and just plain works better than auto. In fact most of us who have used the E-trac for some time as well as those coming from the explorer will use manual sensitivity "cranked up" exclusively. By cranked up we are talking 25-30 sens when the suggested is much lower at say 20 or less. This of course often comes with a price in the form of threshold nulling and extra chatter or "squeaking". But, could we be paying a higher price? Could we be MISSING DEEP TARGETS by using manual sensitivity?

Sometimes when I get a deep sounding target I'll "play" for awhile in order to enjoy the experience of a "deepie". For example I'll use all metal to hear and see the target better. And In addition to finding the targets location, I'll pinpoint to try and get a better ID and depth. I will also switch back and forth from manual sens to auto and what I have found quite often is that I can hear the target BETTER in auto. Sometimes MUCH better! If you think about it, it makes sense (no pun intended) that the folks at Minelab know more about this detector than any of us? Why even have auto if it doesn't have its advantages? True, there are conditions where manual works better but if I had to give a percentage on my findings I would say it's at least 60-40 in favor of auto at most of my sites. Here is a video that I think illustrates this (Thanks NiagracountyNY). At around the 6:30 mark he shows using Auto vs. Man on about a 7 inch target he has found. Not a really deep target but I think you'll get the idea.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bERG4Eh3lyQ&feature=player_profilepage&eurl=http%3A//www.youtube.com/user/NiagracountyNY%23p/u/22/bERG4Eh3lyQ#[/video]

All I am saying is, Minelab has come along way with auto sensitivity and it works quite well on the E-Trac IMHO! For those starting out or those who have never really given it chance, maybe it would be worthwhile to check out Auto sensitivity?

 

[ziphius]

Maybe.......I only know my own experience with this machine so far is that running manual sensitivity around 27 (assuming it's higher than the desired auto level) gives me better signals on undug turf targets. The only exception I've found is at the beach where the iron-rich sand screws up signals if you run manual too high. In those cases, auto sens. signals are clearer. The guy in this video alluded to some possible electrical interference from the adjacent building - maybe that's why manual didn't give as clear of a signal. I've switched between auto and manual (~27) on numerous deep turf targets in my area (San Diego) and manual always sounds better to my ears. I would have walked right by many of the targets if I had been in auto. HH - Jim

 

[moseng]

Thanks Jim. I was trying to suggest that auto has it's uses as you have found at the beach. I have only hunted a couple of times at the beach with the last time getting zapped by a rouge wave!

 

[gregliss]

I've almost always run Auto +3 and constantly dig impressivley deep targets. However, I don't like it when sensitivity is running any less than 20 if I'm after deepies, if it does I'll go manual and push it up over 20. I feel if it is running less than 20 I'm missing out on the deep ones.

I personally prefer to have the etrac running stable, so this works well for me.

 

[John LA]

n/t

 

[MT]

IMHO...Auto sensitivity works well if you know where the target is. It won't "sense" a target next to the coil. You need to hit it "right -On" to find it. Again, IMHO, forget Auto, hunt as high as allowed in manual.
HH,
MT

 

[MT]

I've almost always run Auto +3 and constantly dig impressivley deep targets. However, I don't like it when sensitivity is running any less than 20 if I'm after deepies, if it does I'll go manual and push it up over 20. I feel if it is running less than 20 I'm missing out on the deep ones.

I personally prefer to have the etrac running stable, so this works well for me.

I run 28-29 Manual all the time with NO PROBLEM!
Give it a try.
HH,
MT

 

[gregliss]

No worries MT, I'll give it try next time I'm out.....I get my 15x12 coil this week and keen to see what it can do.

 

[EZrider]

I've almost always run Auto +3 and constantly dig impressivley deep targets. However, I don't like it when sensitivity is running any less than 20 if I'm after deepies, if it does I'll go manual and push it up over 20. I feel if it is running less than 20 I'm missing out on the deep ones.

I personally prefer to have the etrac running stable, so this works well for me.

This is how ive been running mine and have done well. Its nice to know that there is more under the hood when needed.

 

[Southwind]

I ran auto +3 and had a manual of 29 for testing. When I got an iffy signal I could switch to manual and see if it cleaned up. If I tried to run a manual of 29 all the time I spent way too much time checking false signals.

 

[BeachBumm]

I've almost always run Auto +3 and constantly dig impressivley deep targets. However, I don't like it when sensitivity is running any less than 20 if I'm after deepies, if it does I'll go manual and push it up over 20. I feel if it is running less than 20 I'm missing out on the deep ones.

I personally prefer to have the etrac running stable, so this works well for me.

I run 28-29 Manual all the time with NO PROBLEM!
Give it a try.
HH,
MT

Same here, however at the ocean (beach) I will run Auto +3 unless the machine is trying to keep me under 17. Gregliss . . . any updates on your 12x15? Please tell me everything!

HH, Mark

 

[gregliss]

Hi Mark,

I've only had an hour with it and found a shallow 1945 penny. Impressed with it already though, seems to hit targets just as nice as the pro coil. Sensitivity runs at good numbers on Auto +3, and seperation seems to be better than the coiltek 15" coil I have. But again, I've only been out for an hour and this is just first impressions. oh yeah its heavy of course.....lucky I'm tough , the more senior users might wan't to consider one of those "Swingy Thingys" to negate the weight.

I need rain here, I have a couple ovals I know there are deep coins but the ground is too hard and you can't recover a coin without leaving a mess, you almost need a jack-hammer to dig in the parks in the Australian summers. When it does rain I'll be able to test it head-to-head with my mate's etrac with exactly the same settings/pattern but with the pro-coil attached.

I did try bumping up the sensitivity on manual over a few hunts, I only ever seem to be able to get about 2-3 above what it was running in auto+3 before it starts faulsing.....maybe it's just my soil conditions. I'll play some more with this.

Cheers,
Greg

 

[gregliss]

I ran auto +3 and had a manual of 29 for testing. When I got an iffy signal I could switch to manual and see if it cleaned up. If I tried to run a manual of 29 all the time I spent way too much time checking false signals.

Good idea Southwind!

I think this method suites my hunting style, thanks