Etrac Programs

[101numlock]

I just wanted to pole the forum and find out how most of you have your minelab set up. I hear a lot about 2 tone ferrous mode. Do you run this all the time? What about detecting older homes with modern junk mixed in? just seems like it would be a noise maker anywhere other than on a beach or a farm field!

 

[Nick A]

I agree with your assessment on the use of TTF. In a trashy site it will make you crazy. I've tried it. I'm a park and school hunter and the preset coin program always gets the goods for me.

Auto Sensitivity +3
Preset Coins mode
Threshold 16 Threshold Pitch 5
Volume Limit 24 Deep On (or Off)
Volume Gain 20 Fast Off
Response Normal Trash Density High
Tone ID - Multi Tones Ground Difficult
Conductive Sounds Pinpoint Normal
Variability 30
Limits 30

 

[Bill - De]

What about using the learn feature, where you black out the entire screen (to reject everything), and then scan all the stuff from your goody-box that you want to accept? In theory, if you have a collection of the kinds of things you want to detect, this should teach the detector to only beep on them, and reject all else. If the items are scanned from different directions and angles, the machine should have a pretty broad range of acceptable targets. Anyone doing this?

 

[UtahRich]

I agree with your assessment on the use of TTF. In a trashy site it will make you crazy. I've tried it. I'm a park and school hunter and the preset coin program always gets the goods for me.

Auto Sensitivity +3
Preset Coins mode
Threshold 16 Threshold Pitch 5
Volume Limit 24 Deep On (or Off)
Volume Gain 20 Fast Off
Response Normal Trash Density High
Tone ID - Multi Tones Ground Difficult
Conductive Sounds Pinpoint Normal
Variability 30
Limits 30

I am running similar general settings to Nick A. Differences are:

Variability = 29 - because I don't like that last HIGH pitched sound you get when running 30.
Pinpoint = Sizing
Sensitivity = Manual, and I adjust to what the site allows before it starts getting unstable.
Discrimination = Typically I use Quick Mask with CO set at 5 and FE set at 26 or 27.

Lately, I have been switching over to the Minelab Coins Mode and seeing how it responds when I get an IFFY coin signal in Quick Mask that pushes further down into the FE range than normal. Like FE=25 CO=44. I find that these are often deep coins with rusty nails and the like.

Andy Sabisch wrote about the 'see through ability' of the E-Trac to see multiple signals at the same time, and to overlook a stronger discriminated signal and respond to a weaker accepted signal, like an old silver dime down with a large piece of rusted iron or even a surface pulltab that is blocked out. If I read it correctly, according to Andy, this is something that the Explorer series can't do the same way the E-Trac does it. So if I am running pretty wide open in Quick Mask all the time, I am not taking advantage of this E-trac ability.

If my experimentation shows that the E-Trac isn't missing those mixed targets, I don't see an obvious reason that I would want to hunt in Quick Mask anymore and I could move over to Minelabs Coin Mode (or a close variation of it) for discrimination.


Rich -

 

[tippyhound]

Bill- De - I have a program set up with the learn feature. I blacked out the whole screen and used my X-1 probe to teach it the targets I was specifically searching for. I then loaded it into one of My patterns. Works great in areas that have so much trash it simply drives you nuts listening to it. I usually only use it in areas I am searching for shallow targets like new coins and tokens. I have found deeper targets while using it like a V nickle and a 1917 campaign token. It comes in handy when searching carnival and fair grounds when the events are over and you want pick up surface coins. I do this to help save up cash to buy accessories for my hobby.

 

[tippyhound]

Rich (Utah) - I to have a Quick Mask program set up with CO set at 5 and FE set at 25. I use this in areas which have very little trash. Used it last Sunday at a old closed down golf course. Targets were few and far between. Those type of hunting areas are hard to come by. I do leave my Quick Mask wide open with no discrimination to be able to check out iffy signals for iron. That Quick Mask is probably my biggest back saver. Rick

 

[gregliss]

95% I run Andy S's coin program (slightly modified), Multi conductive with +3 Auto sens, gain 30, fast on, deep on.

The other 5% is when I hit those iron patches, eg around old stables etc, where the above pattern constantly, or nearly constantly nulls. Then I switch to TTF, open screen with a strip of disc across the top stopping around CO 30'ish, this gets rid of iron faulsing and still allows large silver.

If Auto sens hits 19 or below, try the other soil setting (Neutral or Difficult). In my experience detection depth drops off quite a bit at 19 or less.

I've tried many patterns, and these two have been my most effective and about all I use now.

Good luck mate!
Greg

 

[Nick A]

What about using the learn feature, where you black out the entire screen (to reject everything), and then scan all the stuff from your goody-box that you want to accept? In theory, if you have a collection of the kinds of things you want to detect, this should teach the detector to only beep on them, and reject all else. If the items are scanned from different directions and angles, the machine should have a pretty broad range of acceptable targets. Anyone doing this?

I did this when I first got the Explorer. I made a silver quarter program and made it my business to learn the machine. I dug plenty of clad quarters, a few silver ones, silver dimes and clad dimes... even a few "fooler" copper pennies, but after a few weeks of using it that way, I was able to open up and use the coin pattern with little difficulty picking out the good targets. Since I set up the E-Trac to sound like the Explorer, I had no difficulty switching from one to the other.

 

[gregliss]

Bill- De - I have a program set up with the learn feature. I blacked out the whole screen and used my X-1 probe to teach it the targets I was specifically searching for. I then loaded it into one of My patterns. Works great in areas that have so much trash it simply drives you nuts listening to it. I usually only use it in areas I am searching for shallow targets like new coins and tokens. I have found deeper targets while using it like a V nickle and a 1917 campaign token. It comes in handy when searching carnival and fair grounds when the events are over and you want pick up surface coins. I do this to help save up cash to buy accessories for my hobby.

I experimented with this also, did all desirable coins, different coins touching (changes ID), different swing speeds, different distances from the coil and so on. In the end I had a pattern that looked a little bit like the default coin pattern.

Probems start when the targets are in the ground, in particualar the deepies, the FE numbers can vary quite a bit, usually toward the bottom of the screen, down around the FE20-24.

So in a nut shell, the pattern I created above was too narrow and I was missing the deepies that has some FE shift.

I recommend the oppisite, start with an open pattern, Andy S's coin pattern is a great one to start. Then say you start digging 22. bullet shells, then just disc that out, and keep going. Just try to understand what good stuff you could miss as a result of blanking the bad stuff.

Lots to try,
Good luck

 

[Bill - De]

I hope I didn't hijack the OP's thread, but thanks to those who replied to my question. I had posted my question as a possible idea for the OP, but admitedly, donot know the E-Trac. I have one, which I bought new early this year, but have not used it. This year has been one very different from what I planned or expected, at this time last year, and I have done almost no metal detecting at all... have been to the beach with my CZ, 2 or maybe 3 times. I tought about just selling it, but now am getting fired up about getting out, and seeing what it, and I can do. I apologize if my posts are taking this thread off course.