How wide open is your Fe line?

[DrBobinMO]

I have been running my e-trac in stock coin disc pattern since I got it (except for opening the silver dollar area) and know that I may be missing a few deepies. What values are y'all opening up to without getting too much iron coming through?

 

[D&P-OR]

I have my FE line set on 27 (28 on blacked out).----At times I had thought about bringing it up a little but just can't bring myself to do it as some of those deep, difficult coins can and do (on occassion) hit that low in that FE range.----At least that's been my experience & I've seen it happen although not all that often.---I just don't want to take ANY chance on missing a good target.-----I think you're safe with 28 on blacked out.----This is JMHO! ---------Del

 

[The Beep Goes On]

It is best to open it up at least to 20 or so, but 27 is recommended. With the E-Trac you look mostly at the CO number which tends to be stable...if the FE number varies, or is high, but the CO stays the same and it is good, dig it. It pays to research, or learn firsthand, how iron reacts. It can still fool you even if you know all the tricks, but you can minimize your "iron intake".

Iron indicators
- Pinpoint exactly, switch to search mode and get a reading directly over the target...if its iron it should be apparent
- Weak, diffuse pinpoint
- Pinpoints differently each time (target moves)
- Non-repeatable signal
- Good signal, but pinpoints elsewhere
- Use QuickMask to check the target for additional info provided by different pattern

If anyone has more iron tips, lets hear them.

HH!
TBGO

 

[NebTrac]

Hey Dr. Bob.

I've been running Andy's Old Coin program. Like Beep said everything is blackened out below the 27 line, and I too have thought about bringing mine up a little. To be honest I think the stock program would've hit 95% of what I've been finding. I do at times have the reading go down into the 20's (like the Merc. did on that last video) but it doesn't stay consistant ie. the numbers may go back up to around normal on the next swing. I think iron in or around will sure throw that FE number around. I can't recall ever digging a coin that just said 27-45 all two or four ways around.

So far in my limited experience the numbers (esp. the conduct. like everyone says) hold pretty close when it is a coin. But I dig a lot of "junk" making sure I'm not missing anything. I'll continue to do that close to home. If I were to go somewhere 2 or more hours away with limited hunting time I probably wouldn't spend near the amount of time digging super iffies. I had a signal good numbers 3 ways. I'd just dug a Merc out less than 10 feet away. It turned out to be a fencing staple....I'll live with it.

NebTrac

 

[CONDUCTOR7E]

Thats a touchy one......I too have read about coins,deep ones mind you coming in around the ferrous 27 line.Andy mentions it in his book as well.I personally have never seen anything like that and I have found lots of old coins,including coppers and old silver already this year,some deep as well.It makes you wonder what you are missing.Maybee in Europe,where coins are 15'' and deeper?Trial and error I guess?
My program of choice is a ''modified'' version of the stock beach mode for the cellar holes here in NH.After doing a very thorough job sweeping the site in this mode,I then hit it again with quickmask set at 19-22 or 23 on the Ferrous line.If ultra heavy nulling occours,2 or 4 tone ferrous is a last resort,but it can be tricky.

 

[gregliss]

+1 for Andy's coin program.

I use it 95% of the time.

 

[Ray-Mo.]

I have read of coins reading near the 27 line but I have found deep and or crusty coins go the other way.I have found a lot of very deep Indians and a few other deep coins including a seated quarter at 10" on edge that read 1 or 2 ferrous and 46-47 conductive.The Indians read 1-12 ferrous and 28-36 conductive depending a lot on the site I was hunting.At one site with extreme iron mineralization a 6" Indian reads 1-30 almost every time and 6" is at max depth for that site.It also makes a big difference on ferrous numbers when an Indian is very crusty at my sites here in south west MO.
I have found the best thing is to play it by ear on the deeper targets and if they sound solid and full it is time ti dig reguardless of numbers.Also coins colocated with iron can throw your ID numbers way off.Once again as has been posted countless times let your ears be your guide first and numbers or cursor second and you will do well,Ray.

 

[CONDUCTOR7E]

Good advice Ray.I did notice the EXACT same thing with the deep ones as well.If i'm in a known good location and the tone sounds good,regardless what the meter says,I dig it!

 

[ziphius]

I still get a little bit of large iron now and then.. but it seems a good compromise for my soils (southern CA) .... while still being able to nail the deeper silver.

 

[The Beep Goes On]

The E-Trac is demonstrably more sensitive to the orientation of a coin than most other detectors (halves seem to be affected most). It can affect both the FE and CO numbers, although the FE number is usually affected most.

This list has coins flat and on edge...

 

[mike - in]

If you haven't tried Gaz's pattern and settings do yourself a favor and take the time. He has everything open except FE line 1 - 1 through 37 and he uses Ferrous 2 tone, deep on, fast on, trash high. I've used it quite a bit and it really pulls the goodies out of trash. You hear the iron too using these settings which eliminates all nulling and when you hit those higher conductive targets they leap out from the iron low tones. Sure you need to check the screen a little closer but you get the opportunity to scrutinize all of the high tones. You can really clean up using this method by digging "all" of the high tones.

 

[Barry NY]

Mike-In:
I totally agree - worked like a charm in a plowed field and should perform as admirable on the beach.
IMO the elimination of the "null" makes the E-Trac run like a Ferrari on steroids.

 

[Gaz]

Barry/Mike......thanks for those very kind words guys!

The setup does work well!!

I have posed my theory already on why I have Recovery Deep AND Recovery Fast both on together. This I think is one of those 'urban myth's' that gained momentum and everyone said......
.........Oh No!! You can't have them both on!!!..........well you can!
If you read the manual, Recovery Fast when On actually turns off some filtering that stabilises target ID's. I'm not worried about this as I just dig high tones.
My theory continues that when people say "I found a coin that was reading FE 27"......"think" it was FE 27 but in actual fact it was still FE 12. I suspect that in these cases, there is something else next to the target which is Ferrous.
When Recovery Fast is Off, the additional filtering is active and to stabilise the target ID, it "blends" the two targets. The FE 12 and the FE 35 become FE 27.
By switching Recovery Fast ON, the filtering is bypassed. Because it no longer needs to "blend" and stabilise, in 2 tones, you now get a distinct high and low tone separation of these close targets.

Gaz.

 

[captn_se]

I was reading the E-Trac manual, and it looks like if you're using Ferrous 2-Tone, that all targets with a Ferrous reading from 1-17 will produce a high tone, while all Targets with a Ferrous reading 18-35 will produce a low tone. This is regardless of how much/little masking you have on your smartscreen. If you do have a small piece of silver co-located with a bunch of iron in the ground, and the iron pulls the ferrous reading of this piece of silver down to 18 or greater, you will receive a low tone, right? Looks like there's no way to adjust on the Ferrous scale where you want the high/low tones to sound off...looks like it's fixed on the Ferrous 17-18 line for 2 - tone. Is that correct?

HH,
CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[Gaz]

That is a brilliant question Dan!

It's one of the issues I presented to Minelab as feedback so they may take it onboard on their next development.
I and a few others suggested making the breakpoints on 2 and 4 tones user definable. This would mean that if you wanted, you could stay in 2 tones and move the breakpoint of the 2 tones from FE 17 to say......FE 25 for example.
Until then......it's fixed and we have to manage that the best way we can.

We all have our own views and we all have our own ways of detecting. My way is just one way......that's all !! That's why we must defend democracy!!

In answer to your second question........well......okay, I guess it could happen that the small piece of silver next to iron "could" have its FE number dragged down beyond FE 18 and give a low tone.
My view is that you have to make some choices here on your setup. Only you can decide.
You could go wide open and 4 tone Ferrous. I don't, simply because I don't like it. It gets too "warbly" for me.

I put forward to people that by using masses of black on the screen, you wouldn't of even got a low tone because the iron would have nulled and masked the silver.

I think my way maximises your chances to pick out that silver in between the iron by sneaking a high tone in there. Maybe enough for you to investigate it further and "wiggle" the coil over the silver.
I honestly think it's the fastest way to use the ETrac. Listen to the iron and Fast On.

Forget the target ID. If it's a high tone, you know its FE 01 - 17 and must be dug. Don't dawdle around trying for 30 minutes to figure out what type of coin you think it is.
You'll find out when it's out!!!

Gaz.

 

[captn_se]

Yeah, that would be very cool if ML would allow user definable breakpoints.....just a little more software creation for the ML engineers.....they could, and should, do it!!!

Thanks again!!

CAPTN SE
Dan

 

[NiagracountyNY]

If you haven't tried Gaz's pattern and settings do yourself a favor and take the time. He has everything open except FE line 1 - 1 through 37 and he uses Ferrous 2 tone, deep on, fast on, trash high. I've used it quite a bit and it really pulls the goodies out of trash. You hear the iron too using these settings which eliminates all nulling and when you hit those higher conductive targets they leap out from the iron low tones. Sure you need to check the screen a little closer but you get the opportunity to scrutinize all of the high tones. You can really clean up using this method by digging "all" of the high tones.

I used 2 tone /ferous sounds all metal today on a plowed field..It worked very well in some heavy iron .came home with a handful of buttons,a large Cent and a 1803 Reale I like it !The targets were on top of each other and I could still seperate very fast with this setup. Im converted from now on when im in the fields for sure! Thx Gaz

 

[Gaz]

....Fantastic news Niagra!!!......I'm really glad it helped.

Good hunting!

Gaz.

 

[DirtDean]

That is a brilliant question Dan!

It's one of the issues I presented to Minelab as feedback so they may take it onboard on their next development.
I and a few others suggested making the breakpoints on 2 and 4 tones user definable. This would mean that if you wanted, you could stay in 2 tones and move the breakpoint of the 2 tones from FE 17 to say......FE 25 for example.
Until then......it's fixed and we have to manage that the best way we can.

We all have our own views and we all have our own ways of detecting. My way is just one way......that's all !! That's why we must defend democracy!!

In answer to your second question........well......okay, I guess it could happen that the small piece of silver next to iron "could" have its FE number dragged down beyond FE 18 and give a low tone.
My view is that you have to make some choices here on your setup. Only you can decide.
You could go wide open and 4 tone Ferrous. I don't, simply because I don't like it. It gets too "warbly" for me.

I put forward to people that by using masses of black on the screen, you wouldn't of even got a low tone because the iron would have nulled and masked the silver.

I think my way maximises your chances to pick out that silver in between the iron by sneaking a high tone in there. Maybe enough for you to investigate it further and "wiggle" the coil over the silver.
I honestly think it's the fastest way to use the ETrac. Listen to the iron and Fast On.

Forget the target ID. If it's a high tone, you know its FE 01 - 17 and must be dug. Don't dawdle around trying for 30 minutes to figure out what type of coin you think it is.
You'll find out when it's out!!!

Gaz.

Gaz, how were you able to send feedback to minelab so that it might be considered for future models? I too have suggested on forums that 2 and 4 tones should be at the users option or preset. I think if they could get the discrimination a little better( EVERYTHING hits around 12 fe) and then allow operator to define which coordinates sound off a certain way...such as the learn function for creating patterns except you would be defining sounds of coordinates or a grouping. But the discrimination would HAVE to get better before such an option would be practical. Give us a moveable X, Y axis- allow us to move it accordingly and then apply tones to upper, lower, left or right quadrants?

Come on Minelab! get the crumply foil, canslaw and screwtops away from the coins and then give us the ability to slap a blah tone on them. Technology, R & D. You can do it! We'll be patient, for a little while

 

[Gaz]

....I think they changed it from the SE because as you increased the Quickmask which is parallel, it cut off some of the screen where good stuff comes in. It didn't match the 'S' curve. That's why it was straightened.

Again, you might want to assign a different tone to screwcaps, foil and ringpulls but I don't think it would be much help. These types of targets still come in the same a rings, coins and small gold.
They would still have to be dug even if they had a different tone. You could be missing some great finds.
Until the technology is there to absolutely tell the difference between a ringpull and a ring, we still have to dig I'm afraid. Just one of those things.
What it does do is increase the joy when you eventually do dig a nice ring!!

Gaz.