GT Iron Mask and learning the DTI II meter

[JimmyCT]

Tonight I wanted to see what would happen when I detected over my iron property marker. With the iron mask on, it nulled. I then turned iron mask off, and it still nulled as I swept over the property marker. Shouldn't I be hearing audio from the iron with the iron mask feature in the off position? So I combed through the backyard again learning the GT's language and pinpointing. I am finding that pinpointing in disc mode is easier than trying to locate the item with all metal pinpoint. When I find a good tone / ID number, I back the coil off the target (swinging back and forth just an inch or two) and soon as the threshold tone goes steady, I start swinging back towards the object until the audio changes. Then, I turn 90 degrees and repeat the process. Then I dig. all the targets (except one) were right were I thought they were.

Tonight I realize this machine is extremely sensitive compared to three other detectors that have graced my yard. Two out of the three (which will remain nameless) were top-of-the-line models. The other was bottom-of-the-barrel entry level detector. No disrespect to the detectors and the respective companies that made them. This is why I am not even mentioning the name. I point this out as they walked over (nothing special but they were there) 1 modern nickel (right around 150 on the meter) and 4 modern pennies (registered right around 164) They also walked right over two small eagle buttons. Which flashed 147-150 on the meter.

The meter on the GT really makes a BIG difference in learning the tones it produces.

A side note - when I searched the side of my home, the audio started fluctuating up and down and the meter was bouncing around in numbers and I wasn't even detecting on the ground. I was just standing there adjusting my headphones. ( no steadiness in the threshold) I had it on auto sensitivity. So I turned the sensitivity all the way down as far as it would go. Then it smoothed out. I also switched bands. I don't know if it is because of the WIFI in the neighborhood or what but it went bonkers on me. As long as I stayed in the front yard, I had to keep my sensitivity at bare minimum. Once I left and went into the backyard again, I was able to switch it back into auto sensitivity. On the side of the house I was right near the main power line that went into my house. Maybe that was the problem but that wouldn't explain why it was doing it in the front yard.

 

[JimmyCT]

I also want to add - A big thank you to everyone that has been helping me and to all those that write up the articles on their experiences with the GT. This forum is a blessing as without it, I truly believe I would of given up even before I started.

 

[Rick(ND)]

This is what I said that most people that try a Sovereign will give up before they learn it and hate it. Takes a little time and those that spend the time and get to know it will do well.
On the interference I would say it was the power lines giving the problem and in most cases switching to band 1 will help get rid of it plus turning down the sensitivity a little also. A little is OK too for me anyway as it still will see the good targets, but remember they have to be repeatable in the same spot, no one way signals.
The iron mask on or off is explained in the owners manual, but this is how I explain it. Sovereign hate iron in disc, with the iron mask on it don't disc the iron as much so a good target close to iron will possibly give you a good signals, but with it off that same good target close to iron will null out as it disc iron more so you wont hear the good target. This is why I hunt in disc with the iron mask on like all the older Sovereign as it may false on iron once in a while, but will get good targets close to iron also much better than with the iron mask off. If you want to detect iron or go prospecting with the GT you have to run in all metal, but while in disc the GT hates iron.

 

[JimmyCT]

Thanks Rick, I truly appreciate the clarification. Thanks to this input from many of you, I have been really been going slow with the search speed and listening intensively on the tones in between the bad tones so to speak. One of the pennies I found was in between junk targets as the tone and meter both confirmed. But I slowed down and made tiny little (1") back and forth sweeps and that is how I realized it was a good target. I can't say it enough - Thanks to all of you for helping me. I feel by reading and applying the knowledge even BEFORE buying the detector has excelerated my learning curve of the Sovereign GT tremendously. Every day (maybe every other day at times) I would read an article or two or three on peoples experiences with the machine. This made a world of difference. Happy hunting to all!

 

[Rick(ND)]

Just by reading your post I can tell you are seeing what the GT can do and feel you are going to be one that will spend the time to get to know your detector and will be posting some great finds after a while.

Good luck and have fun.

Rick

 

[synthnut]

I do not give iron mask on the Soverign as much clout as others do on this forum , and I will not go into it ....... I do however applaud you for your involvement in learning the Soveerign ..... Continue to ask questions when you hit a stumbling block ..... There are many good folks on this forum with YEARS of Sovereign experience that can lead you in the right direction.....Jim

 

[goodmore]

I also do not think that much of the iron mask feature. It was discussed on here in length. No need to go down that road again. But I will tell you with iron mask on or off my AT Pro does better than the Sovereign at iron masked targets. And it isn't even close. Not saying at all the AT Pro is a better detector. Just talking about masking.

 

[JimmyCT]

I took the GT out this morning to a local park that has been hunted pretty heavy. I can say for a fact, had I not had the GT, I would of walked right over the target for probably the 20th time. This exact area I was at 2-3 months ago with two different detectors and both of them told me it was an iron target. Obviously I didn't dig. However, the GT sniffed out a clad quarter more than 12" down ( more approx. 17" as I just measured my digging tool and that is 14" long) my digging tool was 2-3" below the surface of the ground when I saw a quarter at the bottom of the hole. I pulled out the quarter and continued to comb over the hole. It still seemed as if there was another quarter as my meter was pegged at 180 and had a screaming high tone. As I turned 90 degrees and more, it started grunting iron. And it was deep
I figured since I dug this deep, I mine as well dig a little more and see the iron object. Now I was probably down 19-20 inches. At this point I gave up. There was going to be no way to pull out the item anyways. As I re-scanned the area I realized this was a large piece of iron. What I was really impressed with was the fact I pulled out a clad quarter amongst the iron and at incredible depth.

I am becoming more impressed with the GT as the days go by. I will say that I dug an amazing amount of pulltabs. (I was using zero disc, zero notch) auto sensitivity, slight threshold, iron mask on. This same area I also pulled out two modern nickels and two modern pennies. The GT hits on nickels really hard in a raspy mid-tone ( at least that is how I hear and perceive it) (approx 146 on my meter) Again, this is a small area of the park that I usually concentrate on that is over loaded with iron. (old farm house property turned public park) The other side of the park has been filled in with tons of dirt for the baseball diamond. Obviously the side I search on they never touched it.

 

[Neil]

I also do not think that much of the iron mask feature. It was discussed on here in length. No need to go down that road again. But I will tell you with iron mask on or off my AT Pro does better than the Sovereign at iron masked targets. And it isn't even close. Not saying at all the AT Pro is a better detector. Just talking about masking.

Ive only a little time in on my AT Pro but I would say your absolutely correct. Thats one of the reasons I went to using the explorer more, being able to adjust the iron mask unlocks targets the sov will not pick up because of the base setting and iron mask setting (bias towards iron) is set so high. and the etrac has taken that even a step further with the fastest processor yet of the minelab multi freqs.