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First Time Hunting With New Explorer II

Mike,

I'll agree the Explorer is one of the strongest machines out. I have found that as mineralization increases the Explorer really starts to shine. In tamer soil (GB 5.5-6) my 3D is slightly deeper than my Explorer. But, if I GB much below 5 on my 3D the Explorer is deeper... as a general rule. But, the Explorer is awesome in iron and can get the job done... :) Another reason I like the Explorer is the good selection of coils out. If the area you are hunting isn't too trash I would suggest buying the WOT from DOC. The WOT can NOT be touched in raw depth and ID abilities. I've went to alot of sites deemed cleaned out and came away with a HANDFUL of keepers using the WOT. You seem to be doing well even without iron mask being on. As you progress with your knownledge of the Explorer and try different settings you will realize even more how good of a machine the Explorer is after it has been tweaked some... :) HH!

-Bill
 
Bill, thanks for the tips. What about the Platypus? Do you have one? Would that fall somewhere between the stock 10" and the WOT?

What settings tips do you have if I want to try to do some more tweaking?

What's the difference between Iron Mask OFF and running Iron Mask with like IM-16? I suppose I know the answer to that. If I have it off and am running a disc pattern of say Coins, Jewelry, Tabs, and Foil accepted then I will be getting nulls on iron stuff (and perhaps stuff that isn't iron that the Explorer thinks is) and with IM-16 (or whatever) I will be hearing a lot of the garbage but maybe some good stuff is in there? I don't mind a little chatter from my machine for a good cause but I also used to hate hunting with my DFX with some of those programs that made it sound like it was going over a scrap bin most of the time. But what can you tell me that might help?

Also, what would be your best advice for beach settings?

Thanks!
 
Mike,

I don't have the Platypus so I am not sure how it compares to the stock. If it's like anything DOC sells it's first rate. But, I would go with the WOT if you have some lower trash sites. It's an amazing coil.

The first thing I would personally change is your variability to 8. Variability at 8 makes silver sound slightly lower than iron falsing that peeks thru sometimes. I have gain at 10 and have done better with it at the max.

The most important ANYONE can tell you about learning the Explorer is to learn it's Sound ID. The sounds it makes for different targets is far more accurate than the crosshairs or ID numbers. Go by sound. (period) Learning that from the begining makes it easier. As far as iron mask goes... When you have iron mask on iron make will allow you to hear deep coins that get 'pulled' to far left to make a sound or get pulled into another area that you have discrimated out. You will be able to hear those coins and ID them thru sound. I would learn the Explorer step-by-step. Learn your coin sounds then add in the trash sounds. It might sound like a circus at times but then you know to move to a smaller coil or you're swinging the coil too fast. I would suggest starting at IM-10 or so them move towards IM-13 or IM-14. Don't overdrive the sensitivity initially because it can make you chase some crap signals or make iron sound too good.

What some people do is duplicate the IM screen in DISC and edit out anything that is giving you problems. Just remember to take your time and it will come. The Explorer is an awesome machine and deserves alot of the recongition it gets.

I don't do beaches enough to give advise... :) I am sure someone will chime in here and help. Ferrous tones at the beach might be the way to go because you are looking for such a wide variety of conductivity targets. Ferrous make high-low tone on the opposite axis of the Explorer. Conduct is vertical (bottom to top) and ferrous goes horizonal (left to right).

Feel free to email me privately or publicly.

-Bill
 
Bill, thanks for the advice. I was already back from hunting when I read it but as it turns out I figured out most of it today at my hunt spot. Check my new post. I ran IM -12 and yes, it was a symphony, but I was OK with it. I was always into the sounds big time with my Sovereign Elite and I learned that one with now meter, concentrating on the sounds first...you're right, that's good avdice. The Explorer II is giving me so much more info though...I'm the kind of person that wants it all RIGHT NOW. I'll try to take your advice and take it back to basics a little and try to go with the sounds above all. The site I was at today is a very difficult site...not a good one to learn at, really. I usually stay in clean ground with a new machine until I know it but I couldn't wait to try this one with it. There's that "right now" thing again! :lol

Anyway, thanks for you response and good tips.

HH!
 
Mike,

Sounds like you're well on you way and only need time not advice with the new machine... :) Every area is different and as long as you're getting good results I wouldn't changing much. Having the other Minelab machines no doubt helps. Good luck.

-Bill
 
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