Ghost targets help on Nokta Double Score

[ShovelTrouble]

Ive got a Nokta Double Score, I live in Marion Ohio. At the park, Im getting targets that read deeper than they really are, I have to ground balance every time I find something, and I get strong signals with nothing there. Any advice would be very helpful.

 

[JCR TX]

You might do a Factory reset then try hunting with the Sensitivity set at 50% for awhile. Give yourself time to get familiar with it.

 

[ShovelTrouble]

Thank you, I also can't dismiss the soil here is highly mineralized...lots of sand mixed with clay passed 6 inches. I usually run sensitivity on 5 with that machine, could go lower I suppose and focus on surface goodies for practice

 

[tab-nabit]

From what JCR TX says a reset & lower sens is a good start...
You mention getting this at a park so wondering if you get the same thing at other locations, after doing a noise cancel + ground balance + checked the cable is not flopping around and cable connection is secured.
" signals with nothing there" rusted out halo signals?
After you find a signal and you set the detector down while digging, wondering if the coil is near a metal object and it's skewing up the Auto Ground Balance while your digging...

 

[ShovelTrouble]

From what JCR TX says a reset & lower sens is a good start...
You mention getting this at a park so wondering if you get the same thing at other locations, after doing a noise cancel + ground balance + checked the cable is not flopping around and cable connection is secured.
" signals with nothing there" rusted out halo signals?
After you find a signal and you set the detector down while digging, wondering if the coil is near a metal object and it's skewing up the Auto Ground Balance while your digging...

I'm far away from the beach right now, so the park is the only place I can take it out. It didn't do this last week, but I was searching in a different area in the park around the remnants of what looks to be an older structure that was once there.

 

[JCR TX]

It might also have been deep big iron you were getting a response from. Raising the coil up over a strong signal will help identify big deep iron/cans/junk.

 

[jmaclen]

I can’t remember the default settings for the Double Score. If your ground is moderate to higher mineralized/conductive you can try raising the recovery speed. You can also try the multi M3 setting. For the latest simultaneous multi frequency detectors, some one way pops and clicks even using the A discrimination pattern are normal on more mineralized ground and they do not necessarily represent a viable target. These kinds of “ghost” targets can be even more noticeable on wet ground. These detectors depth gauges are calibrated for a US quarter sized target. A small, shallow target which can be real, ground noise or even EMI, will show up in the depth gauge as much deeper. As a newer user, you could practice on the targets you hope to find by just testing them on or near the surface of the ground to get a sense of the strength of coin sized two way target responses. Also don't use tracking ground balance. Use automatic ground grab.

 

[Odanscoils]

It could also be the Iron Halo effect.
Small nails, tacks or metal wire bits.

As small iron decomposes in the ground.
It leaches out into the surrounding soil.
Creating a kind of iron crystal ball around the object.
In blonde sand and carefully digging you will notice the orange to redness leached away from the iron.
Giving a very nice coin tone.
And typically much bigger than the tiny little piece of iron.

I carry a 1/4" by 12" long screwdriver.
I dull round and polish the blade end.

Pushing it into the ground near the target and giving a Firm wiggle.
Left right forward and back.
Will usually break the halo.
Then re scan.
It'll be different if it's an iron Halo.
Most times it will all but disappear.

If three to six inches deep.
I've found a good hard couple of stomps with a good boot heel will usually break the halo as well.

This applies to most every machine made.


Good Luck