First day out, one hour's use

[Reggie]

Using the factory preset in "coin" mode, with some increase in sensitivity I only found a couple of coins in an hour (before the rainstorm hit) at an old home, but the learning curve has begun. When using the preset in "coins", what adjustments are most beneficial to a newbie with the SE? How can you tell a lifttab or pulltab from a cent or clad coin?

I'm wondering how long it usually takes to learn how to use this machine effectively? Thanks, everyone.

 

[Erik in NJ]

When you're starting out I recommend that you open up a 3/4" x 3/4" square in the Smart Screen and dig all repeatable signals. When you're comfortable with that expand the window, then finally go to Iron Mask. Best of luck!

 

[Reggie]

Okay, I'll try to do that. I don't know how, but I'll read the book about the 3/4 X 3/4 inch screen. The Iron Mask I can handle ( push the button). LOL Thanks, Erik.

 

[Erik in NJ]

You'll need to go into Edit mode and edit a pattern - use the big cursor - it's pretty easy. With the square in the upper-right hand corner you'll discriminate out most junk, but also nickels and some othe coins, but you'll get most silver and other good coins while severely cutting back on the orchestra of noises that the Explorer will make to confuse a new user. Once you get used to your wonderful new machine, use Irom Mask and go back over the spots that you detected with the rectangle and get the rest of the goodies.

 

[Reggie]

Thank you for the suggestion. I have read up on it and will try this tomorrow, Lord willing. The book seems to suggest a higher Iron Mask setting would be 16, but what number should I use in re-searching the same ground?

 

[Erik in NJ]

I don't have the numbers memorized, but open up the right 1/3 to 1/2 of the screen after a couple months of using the rectangle in the upper right-hand corner. As you get better keep lowering the iron mask setting until you feel comfortable opening up the whole screen. After 9 years with the Explorer I still don't have the whole screenopen yet. Take it nice and slow and you won't get frustrated with the machine. If you start with Minelabs stock coin pattern you'll want to throw the detector away on the first day. Do some air tests to see how different coins sound - kind of like a higher pitched screetchy sound - the deeper the coin the more muffled it'll sound. Hope this helps....Erik

 

[Reggie]

I sent you a pm because I'm having trouble saving the box in one of the six custom sites, even after checking it. I'm going to try it the way you suggested. I think I'll get some lifttab/pulltabs in that quadrant, butsome silver and clad should also be there. Should I set sensitivity up to 29 or 32, or what? Thank you.

 

[dewcon4414]

If you are working in AUTO sensitivity, setting it higher is a good suggestion. The machine will have a wider span to ajust its self. If in manual the machine will try to go too deep in trashy areas you wont be able to get a threshold, especially with the disc you are using. You need that threshold to get the screen to adjust quicker. There are pros and cons about using digital vs smartscreen. You tend to dig a LOT of stuff in smartscreen... but you get targets you might not dig in digital. In smartscreen you tend to really use the tones more which is what makes this machine the great machine it is. Ive noticed the FERR number bounce much more than the COND ones if you are using digitial. If you are just looking for coins right now, the nickel is the coin fallling nearest the pull tabs, which is well below what Eric told you to use for disc. Those nickels fall somewhere around 10/05, depending on depth, deteriation, and soil. Your only limitation will be your williness to dig.

 

[Reggie]

Our soil is not mineralized very hign, so how much "higher" should I set the sensativity in Auto? How much black space should I leave on the bottom right of the smartscreen setting to exclude liftabs and pulltabs? Thank you!

 

[Yeasty]

One of the first "tweaks" during my "Factory Preset" learning curve was to reject foil in really trashy areas. MENU - SELECT - FOIL X (reject). It quieted the machine down a lot and was still able to find nickels which hit just above the blacked out foil area.

Pete

 

[Reggie]

Yeasty, you've taught me something very valuable. I didn't know how to go into the options in "select" to add or reject them to my custom setting. Thanks a million. I also think I can do the learn-reject thing and save it if I want to. If I reject liftabs, won't that also reject nickels? If so, I'll have to dig liftabs. Thanks again. Reggie

 

[Yeasty]

Reggie, by X'ing out PULL TABS you run the chance of missing gold items. Gold items, depending on many factors such as karat, size and shape can ring up in many places on the screen. I know for a fact that if I had PULL TABS rejected I would have missed several golden goodies. It's a sad fact but it's a price I'm willing to pay. You will learn to be able to make adjustments suitable for most conditions. Take the laminated "cheat sheet" when you go out hunting. Dont make the mistake of changing too many variables at one time. It's best to tweak one function, see and learn what happens, then move on to another. This machine takes time to learn, and for me at least, even after several months of use, I am still on the upward side of the learning curve but I'm getting there. The very best advice for a new owner is to read the manual, then read it again. And again.

Pete