HELP !! Solo With The New SE PRO

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[size=large]went out today for my first solo hunt with just the se pro. no xlt back-up. took two hrs. to all the newbies to the se you won't like how slow you gotta go. that is if you're coming from a fast swing machine. didn't get any deep hits. was wondering about all the nulling. it was as if the place was covered in iron. kept losing my threshold. would this happen if i had too much sensitivity? i started with 22 then took it up to 28. i get to go out again tomorrow and try it again. i'm also having a hard time pinpointing. i'm using the circle trick but wondering if i'd do better all around with lower sen. isn't there supposed to be a sweet spot on a dd coil? only have the 11" pro for now.
if nothing else it's back to the reading room.

HH[/size]

 

[Erik in NJ]

Put it in Auto Sensitivity - runs much smoother - I don't feel there is any depth loss in most cases. Get out of the iron to some clean land for your first few hunts. You don't have to go that slow when your ears are trained and your not hunting in trashy spots.

 

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[size=large]will try to find this clean land. thanks erik.[/size]

 

[Erik in NJ]

I mean in relative terms - just don't start in a place that's littered with junk. Seek out places where the unit doesn't null as much
- the Explorer will report targets thru the null. I started by opening a 1/2" square in edit mode in upper right corner to limit the barrage of noises the machine made after switching from a 1 tone Garrett 2500. You get a nice repeatable signal in that square - dig it!

 

[dewcon4414]

iPinpointing....when you find a target wiggle the coil back toward you until the target disappears..... it should be at the tip of your coil. Thats also a way to ensure that a weak target IS where you think it is and not just something close to the back of the coil. DEEP targets may fall back a bit on the coil tip. After awhile its second nature. I hunt with manual 24 sensitivity and 26 IM. I used to use 28 IM but found i got a better read on deep iron on 26. BUT.... everyone hunts with different setting on here... wierd huh? All thou ive never built up a lot of trust in auto sensitivity... i have to say when ive tested it on deep target i could hit those targets. What i noticed with air tests was that manual sensitivity seems to know something is there an inch or so more depth, but the TID was poor. In auto, at a certain depth it just CUT OFF as soon as it couldnt clearly tell what the weak target was. To much sensitivity can cause you to go null because the coil is like a sponge... when it hits a DEEP piece of disc target its like squeezing it.... it nulls and you loose depth. But Bryce will tell you... you WILL find targets even when its in null. Find yourself a DEEP target it dont have to be a coin.... then do some sensitivity and IM adjusting. You are going to get a dozen posts telling you to stay in factory settings for awhile. Anytime you switch machines your finds drop off until things start clicking. I always recommend you find someone experienced for a bit to hunt with. It shortens the learning curve.

Dew

 

[teleman2525]

this may be a little advanced but if in a lot of iron and lots of nulling i go to all metal ferrous sounds dig the nice high repeating signals on the right upper section of smart screen the iron will sound as low burps a quick high in between the burps can easyly be a good target auto sens 26 good setting great depth the pinpoint dont work well for me in iron as it seems to pick up on all the iron cant see the good target i use this set up quite alot gotten very comfortable with the ferrous sounds have fun the se opens up lots of good ways to hunt

 

[Philo_NY]

You can also bring down your threshold where it does not hum... The best way is just to get out there and try different settings till you get the one that works best for you. I use sensitivity at 22, and there very little spots I can crank it up higher... say to 28, but 22 to 26 seems to be the norm on the SE Pro, also as Bryce says, you can hit the pin point button on a target and it'll tell iron or other... There is a learning curve to all the Minelab detectors, usually about 40 hours and you'll begin to get a feel for all the different tones you are hearing. Hope this help, because the SE Pro is very good at picking out the silver in junk, just as it'll do with the gold... Here is a picture of my finds for just a month in a hunted out park, every bunch that are together are separate hunts... Enjoy... and HH. Hope this helps... Note: It is very important to keep your threshold (hum) in a stealth manner, others can deal with their sensitivity very high and all the chattering that comes with it... I also hunt with the Auto-Sensitivity off for a cleaner signal and possible depth...

Philo_NY

PS The Seated Quarter was dug 8 to 10" in Michigan at Prerriesvile, with Mike and Tom from Michigan...

 

[dewcon4414]

I like Ferr sounds, but normally only use it along with the settings i mentioned in fields because of the very reason you mentioned. There is a lot of iron around those old home and Ferr seems to react quicker on recovery.... plus you dont loose the high tones for silver, and it sounds great on IHs and LCs or any copper. Let me see... the down side i have with Ferr, bits of metal like old tin cans still give a high tone because of rust, but hit in the lower right corner and may bounce to the upper left. Since Ferr digital readings arent as consistent as Cond you may get a different tone at first on targets close to the coil HALO. You have to center that target correctly to get a more accurate reading. I dont know why... but i still run Cond in a park over Ferr even in iron unless its just unhuntable. A lot of hunters hunt AM Ferr and i do know why. Have we got your totally confused yet? There is an emulator you can down load to help you with the sounds as well while you are setting around the house. When the weather is right i hunt a LOT... i mean a LOT. Like most of the hunters i keep learning more and rehunting places over and over that had produced. As your skill gets better you keep pulling deeper and deeper coins. What we have give you is how we all learned.... unlike the Etrac for a new person you arent going to out hunt us ole folk until you pay your dues.... it will be frustrating, but rewarding this next year. Rule of thumb.... NEVER trade or sell the Explorer until its paid for its self.... then you know.

Dew

 

[Hotcz70]

.....LEAVE it in the factory preset conductive sounds settings.. while hunting in the smartfind screen for at least 5 to 10 full hunts.

Don't mess with anything for some time. Those preset settings are there for a reaon...and that reason is to help new users adapt to the language the SE speaks.

IMHO the worst thing a new explorer user can do is switch anything at all...especially switch back and forth between conductive and ferrous sounds.

That will completely change what you hear and how you hear it over deep coins....and probably confuse you at this point.

Take your time...swing very slow...and do NOT worry about anybody's settings right now. There is a crucial time frame where you have to spend some quality time with your new friend...the SE...and nobody else. That time is the first few hunts.

Pay close attention to the barrage of sounds you hear...the nulling...the instability...etc...and don't get frustrated.

ONLY 2 things I would even consider changing from the stock factory learning settings which is pretty much a coin program....

1) possibly set the iron mask at -22 on the SE while continuing to hunt in smartfind screen.

2) The only other thing I would consider changing would be to put the sensitivity in semi auto and set it at 26 which will GREATLY cut down on the falsing and chirping..

Both of those change suggestions do not even need to be made IMHO...but if you must tinker...then tinker with only those two things.

Everything else....I strongly recomend leaving alone for a few weeks...and leaving it in the factory preset settings.

Do NOT try too much too fast...just have FUN.

These Explorers are more than capable of hitting 8"+ deep coins right out of the box in the factory preset mode.

Once you have quite a few hours on it...and have familiarized yourself with the "language" it speaks...then you can start to piddle with settings if need be.

You might even decide at that point that you want to give ferrous sounds/AM a shot. That is a proven method as well.

For now though...trust me...leave it as I suggested for a few hunts...then when things start to click a little...you can start piddling and tinkering

Of all the things I get asked about through messages...this is the number one thing...and my advice never changes.

I think it's a big mistake for new users to get caught up in what other's settings are and they try too much too fast...then get discouraged and sell the Explorer.

Just take your time...enjoy...and get a "feel" for the explorer before taking big leaps...and the learning curve will lessen a bunch.

After a few weeks or 5 to 10 full hunts...whichever comes first....then start pickin' the brains of everyone on this forum for tips...suggestions...advice...settings to try...etc. This place is a wealth of knowledge and there a ton of talented hunters here who will help you in whatever way you need

 

[widebody]

[size=large]okay. going to try it again. lousy time of year to learn. cold but clear today. can't take the dogs and hunt. dogs lose.
school is in session. thanks guys. gotta go. day is burning.

HH[/size]