Explorer II Digital Display Recovery Time

[Wirechief]

Hi everyone, I have been working with the Explorer II in the digital mode and it seems there is a lot of dead time on the display. The audio is of course way ahead of the readout. I have the instrument set for deep and fast, this may not be ideal settings. In fact I don't even pay much attention to the readout at all and just go by the tones. I have read where this a swing very slow detector and it seems that is what I am doing. Actually I have to raise the coil and wait for the thresh hum to return and then it seems the display will change. I believe I may not have the instrument setup quite right. I wanted to post this observation and get any suggestions. Thanks everyone !

Wirechief

 

[Mike Bearden]

That is NORMAL for the Explorer or Sovereign detectors unless you are running zero discrimination then you will hear everything and the reset speed will dramatically increase between targets.
Try setting the iron mask to -16 and then push the detect button one more time to put it back into the digital screen and see for yourself just how much faster it responds .... BIG difference but it'll sure be noisier as you will hear everything.That's how I hunt 99% of the time ( -16 ) iron mask and hardly ever look at the screen.
Given enough time, the brain just tunes out the iron and trash signal sounds and a good sound will stop you in your tracks.
Works for me
This is a slooow hunt machine and reset time will lag with just about any kind of discrimination.
H.H.
Mike

 

[4luckyo]

My exp. does the same , try x-ing out crowncaps and nails and adjust your sen. til you get your threshold back at a steady hum , you will be able to tell when sens is right , turn it up high and watch the digital ,the numbers will start flashing wildly , then turn it down til it is stable ,and it won lock up on you , and you wont have to raise your coil. try a few coins tossed on the ground spaced apart and adjust to pick the up the coins as you sweep over them .

 

[Captain Kirk]

Wirechief,

The cursor and the digital display are only updated after the detector recovers from the null. If you have several targets in close proximity to one another, then the display only updates after the last target detection/null recovery combination.

NULL IS GENERATED AFTER EACH TARGET IS DETECTED

Many people do not recognized that the Explorer generates a null after an isolated target even in with zero discrimination. You can demonstrate this by following experiment:

Run a coin past the bottom of the coil and you will hear a very brief null after the target tone is generated. You have to listen closely or you will miss it. I suggest you do all of the testing using a set of headphones with the threshold tone set to a high level so that the null is easier to hear.

THE BEHAVIOR WHEN TO TARGETS ARE CLOSE TOGETHER

The purpose of this experiment is to see how the cursor behaves when there are multiple targets in close proximity.

* Use the stock 10" coil.
* Set the iron mask to -16 (zero discrimination)
* Set to the CONDUCT mode
* Set DEEP off.
* Sensitivity to 20 to cut down on possible interference.
* Use the SMART screen to make it easier to see the cursor jump from one location to another. This is easier than trying to read the digital numbers that are changing rapidly.
* Place a nickel and dime about 4" apart on a stiff piece of cardboard
* Pass the coin combination under the coil (or over the top if it is easier)
** The coins should pass about 6" or so away from the coil. If the coins are too close to the coil, then the outer rim of the coil will produce a target ID when one of the coins passes over it.
** The path of the coin should be perpendictular to the center strip of the coil
** Try various sweep speed from very very slow to about 1 foot/sec.

Observations:

* When the coins are moved very very slowly you will be able to hear each coin tone ID. You will also be able to see the cursor jump from one coin position to the other.

* As the sweep speed is increased you will be able to hear the two different target tones, but the cursor only jumps to the spot of the last target tone to pass under the coil. There may be some target averaging

* As the sweep speed is increased even further you will notice that you only hear the tone of the first coin with no indication of the second coin (target masking). If the dime passes over the coil first, then you hear only the dime. If the nickel passes over the coil first, then you hear only the nickel.

This experiment show how importand sweep speed is in being able to properly detect multiple targets in close proximity. It also gives important clues about the importance of sweeping from different directions.

THE EFFECTS OF HAVING THE DEEP FUNCTION ON

If you repeat the above experiment with DEEP on you will notice the improved ability to detect multiple targets in close proximity. But this is at the expense of making a tone ID have a "chopped off" sound to it.

A FINAL THOUGHT

When I first started using the Explorer II I was confused about what I was hearing compared to the cursor position. I would run over low tone target and then very quickly get a high town target. I would stop over the high tone target and do the coil "wiggle" and hear the repeated high tone target, but the cursor was in a low tone position. I would then lift the coil away from the target and only then would the cursor jump to the high tone position (because targets that are close together do not produce a null between the tones and the cursor does not move until a null is generated).

Hope this is of some help to you.

HH,
Glenn

 

[Wirechief]

Hi Mike, Glenn and 4luckyo, I really appreciate the feedback on my query and I am going to print everyones advice out for reference and to absorb it. Looks like very good info guys. Glenn thank you for quite a bit of advice. I am trying to become proficient on the use of the Explorer II. It is an excellent instrument that just requires more effort to operate and understand. Minelab has put a tremendous amount of R&D into this model I'm sure. Ok many thanks again and when I have more questions I will be sure to post them. God Bless you all.

Wirechief, CET

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

n/t

 

[AK in KY]

Glenn - Very good explanation. Thanks

 

[Tony in Ohio]

By having deep and fast turned on at the same time you're losing 4 inches of depth.
Check it out for yourself.
Put your machine on deep only and find a very deep target, then turn on fast also. The signal will diappear.
I don't know how many users know that. I learned that in the field through trial and error.
HH, Tony in Ohio.

 

[Ocean7]

especially if you swing fast or pass over multiple targets. Few swing what I would term slow. I have found very good targets that were passed over by others because I had both "ON". Some were using EX II with just fast 'on' and some were using DFX. Maybe I'm crazy but look at Magic Mike's website - he swears by Both "on' too unless in very clean ground.

http://www.mikesweather.metsite.com/detectin/html/mike_moutray_s_explorer_setup.html

 

[Tony in Ohio]

by having deep on too, you'll limit your depth. I guess shallower good targets are better than no targets in a trashy site.
I guess it's a trade off and depends on the type of ground you're hunting.
I generally sweep VERY slow and in quiet ground such as wooded picnic groves and areas with little modern trash. It's in those areas that you'll really notice the loss of depth with both on.
I'll try the both on technique at my next trashy site if you'll do the test I mentioned in your next quiet site.
I know you'll agree with me after you try it.
HH, Tony in Ohio.