Coupla questions for you expert Omega runnin fellas

[D&P-OR]

The Omega has some neat feature sets on it.----It's easy to sound like an operators manual but be honest now. -----(1) On actual in-field hunting--do you pay much attention to (and very often check) the "Ground Error" graph bars?---(2) When they are "out" one way or the other, do you do a Ground Grab or align them back up using the + or - buttons?----(3) if you do the "Ground Grab" ( to bring them back to correct alignment & while you are hunting), do you perform the Ground Grab in the disc mode or do you actually take the time to go to the a.m. side (like the manual states) for a precise (Ground Grab) g.b.?----(4) Last question (for now) ----or, rather than do the afore-mentioned, do you just periodically do a Ground Grab "ever so often" in either disc or a.m.?-------Looky here, more than a couple of questions!---Well, just humor an old man with answer(s) if you feel like it. ----------Thanks, Del

 

[digginLa]

I won't say that I'm an expert with my Omega but I'll try to answer some of your questions anyway While hunting I rarely pay attention to the ground error bars, but if I do happen to look down and see things have gotten out of whack I use the arrow keys to readjust the gb. When I turn the machine on and do a ground grab I have it set to all metal then after the gb is set I swap over to discrimination and begin to hunt.

 

[jim tn]

I am not your your expert, Del, but when I get a good initial g/b and usually in a t starting out, I don't pay a great deal of attention to the ground error graph after that. I do, though, do a ground grab in disc every half hour or so. My ground doesn't change all that much, but if I do run into a spot where the g/b is different starting out, then I do watch more closely and g/b more frequently. Your ground, though, is tougher then I have to deal with, so i would "go by the book" up in your neck of he woods. HH jim tn

 

[D&P-OR]

Thanks guys.-----Part of the reason for my questions is that I had the Omega some time back but I don't think I really gave it enough of a chance & traded it off.----I got another one coming now, supposed to be here tomorrow (5/1)--wanted to give another one a "go" and really work with it this time.-----I can't remember just what the g.b. #'s were when I did a ground balance out here but I do remember that when I did a Ground Grab in disc mode & then did the Ground Grab in a.m., the g.b.'s would be (check out) identical the same.----So the Ground Grab in disc mode must be very precise also--although the manual states to do it in a.m.-------In any case, it's gonna be fun!-----I got a back yard test garden just waiting for that Omega & got a lot of test targets in my shop waitin for it to. ----Anybody else got any advice for me---"fire away", I'm "all ears"! ---------Del

 

[TerraDigger]

No Del.....in all honesty...I do not monitor Ground Error bars....for the reason that they constantly shift. I do re-ground balance, not every 'X' number of minutes, but when I am getting out of the area (eg. 50 ft away) I did the original ground balance in. If its a brand new area, yes I do a GG with the button in all metal then fine tune that with a manual ground balance in all metal. Doing a manual balance all on its own is too time consuming. If I have hunted area prior, and do not need absolute max depth......I use the ground grab button while in all-metal mode...then switch to disc. Glad to see your re-acquiring the Omega. Are you getting the 11" & 5" DD coils?
Also, a little tip......Does the Omega have a proclivity for certain types of aluminum slaw.....yes!! However, it is rather easy (for me) to discern aluminum slaw. A high conductor target (coin) on the Omega will give a rock solid VDI (about a 0-2 ID number variance when swept) within approx 6" of the coil. Aluminum slaw/pieces, that reads as a high conductor (coin) on the other hand will have about a 3-5-7 ID number variance when swept. Also, the audio hit on the 'falsing' aluminum just doesn't have that solid audio 'thump' like a real high conductor, especially when rotating the coil around the aluminum target or sweeping coil slightly 'off center'. Alot of Omega users get frustrated about this and think its a fatal flaw. Its not, if one learns the 'slaw' sounds/behavior. Are there exceptions to this....of course. It reads aluminum tabs/pull rings/screw caps accurately in regards to the proper ID categories.. I am talking only about slaw/some foil types. Its the only 'flea' on this hunting dog that I have come accross.

 

[D&P-OR]

Terra-----That's good info, thanks for sharing it.----Yes, I'll have both the 11" & 5" DD coils for it.---Actually, I already have those coils & got the Omega with the 10" concentric stock coil.----Waitin for that brown truck to show up today! ---Appreciate you guys answering my questions.-----------Del.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

No Del.....in all honesty...I do not monitor Ground Error bars....for the reason that they constantly shift. I do re-ground balance, not every 'X' number of minutes, but when I am getting out of the area (eg. 50 ft away) I did the original ground balance in. If its a brand new area, yes I do a GG with the button in all metal then fine tune that with a manual ground balance in all metal. Doing a manual balance all on its own is too time consuming. If I have hunted area prior, and do not need absolute max depth......I use the ground grab button while in all-metal mode...then switch to disc. Glad to see your re-acquiring the Omega. Are you getting the 11" & 5" DD coils?
Also, a little tip......Does the Omega have a proclivity for certain types of aluminum slaw.....yes!! However, it is rather easy (for me) to discern aluminum slaw. A high conductor target (coin) on the Omega will give a rock solid VDI (about a 0-2 ID number variance when swept) within approx 6" of the coil. Aluminum slaw/pieces, that reads as a high conductor (coin) on the other hand will have about a 3-5-7 ID number variance when swept. Also, the audio hit on the 'falsing' aluminum just doesn't have that solid audio 'thump' like a real high conductor, especially when rotating the coil around the aluminum target or sweeping coil slightly 'off center'. Alot of Omega users get frustrated about this and think its a fatal flaw. Its not, if one learns the 'slaw' sounds/behavior. Are there exceptions to this....of course. It reads aluminum tabs/pull rings/screw caps accurately in regards to the proper ID categories.. I am talking only about slaw/some foil types. Its the only 'flea' on this hunting dog that I have come accross.

Great post Terra! I learned a few things!

 

[Monte]

The Omega has some neat feature sets on it.

Yes, all of them are "neat" and some are more functional or useful than others. I especially like the Ground Phase/Ground Balance readout present in both hunting modes. I refer to that, but only occasionally use some of the others.

It's easy to sound like an operators manual but be honest now. -----

(1) On actual in-field hunting--do you pay much attention to (and very often check) the "Ground Error" graph bars?

Seldom. I usually have a fair idea of the ground conditions where I hunt, and also monitor how and where they might change based upon the appearance of the bare, exposed ground.

The way I mainly "pay attention" to changes in the Ground Balance setting is when I locate any target and use the All Metal 'pinpoint' function to isolate the target. While in that momentary All Metal 'mode' I can simply bob the coil within 3"-5" of the ground off to the side and that will let me know if it is different than where I initially GB'ed the detector.If that quick audio alert to GB change is noted, it takes but an instant to re-Ground Balance.

In some conditions, and usually if unfamiliar with the site, I might glance at the Ground Error read-out now and then just to monitor any changes.

(2) When they are "out" one way or the other, do you do a Ground Grab or align them back up using the + or - buttons?

IF I glance at the Ground Error read-out and IF it is only off a bar or two, high-or-low, I make a quick + or - touch-pad adjustment. If it has changed more than that, then I just use the Ground Grab function and that usually establishes a 'proper' or functional GB quickly and I can keep having fun searching rather than tinker around.

(3) if you do the "Ground Grab" (to bring them back to correct alignment & while you are hunting), do you perform the Ground Grab in the disc mode or do you actually take the time to go to the a.m. side (like the manual states) for a precise (Ground Grab) g.b.?

Ground Grab or Manual GB, I always do it in the search mode I plan to use at that site.

If I am going to hunt in All Metal, then I set the Threshold (w/Sensitivity control), and Ground Grab or manually Ground Balance the Omega and start hunting. If I opt to search in the motion Discriminate mode (about 95% of the time, or more), then I GG or GB in that search mode. The result is the same and I don't waste time tinkering around when it is not necessary to go back-and-forth in the operating 'modes' to achieve a functional GB.

(4) Last question (for now) ----or, rather than do the afore-mentioned, do you just periodically do a Ground Grab "ever so often" in either disc or a.m.?

I 'check' when I do any target recovery in the Pinpoint mode, and only make a change when it is needed, and as I stated, I just do it in the search mode I am using.

Monte

 

[D&P-OR]

Hi Monte----Thanks so much for your answers/input to my questions.----Yes, that wonderful brown truck did make it to my house today! (with the Omega). -----It's been raining off & on down here but I got a chance to test it out some in my yard & test garden today.---So far, I'm pretty impressed with it--want to test it on a bunch of targets I have in the shop as well.----Looking forward to getting it out on an actual hunt.--------Del

 

[jim tn]

Good luck with it, Del, I find it to be a great coin hunter. HH jim tn

 

[Furious T]

Hi Del, I've come i n late on this one, and really cant add anything that everyone else has covered. Good luck with your new Omega. I love using mine, and the 3 coils give it great versatility. Just relax with it...the ground balance feature is great, and easy to use...so it is no great problem to re-balance from time to time...whenever I balance or re-balance I put it in All Metal to do so, but, like some of the others, only re-balance if moving from one soil type to another. Enjoy!!!

 

[D&P-OR]

Thanks Furious----Good to hear from ya.-------------Del

Hi Del, I've come i n late on this one, and really cant add anything that everyone else has covered. Good luck with your new Omega. I love using mine, and the 3 coils give it great versatility. Just relax with it...the ground balance feature is great, and easy to use...so it is no great problem to re-balance from time to time...whenever I balance or re-balance I put it in All Metal to do so, but, like some of the others, only re-balance if moving from one soil type to another. Enjoy!!!

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Personally like Montes Ideas on just checking periodically while in pinpoint.

Having used a unit that flat out told you the ground balance it changed 5 times on one football field.

The main thing is to find a clean area and a couple of bobs and your good to go.

Heck its so easy to do one could periodically check it...If you are covering a lot of ground the color of the dirt changes or terrain changes just follow procedure and bob.

Certainly not the complicated 10 turn adjustments of years gone by so just check periodically and for the most part should be good to go and Technetics has made it easy..