I have 2 questions. More like a poll.

[grumpy]

Bob;
Am I reading into this that you think like turning on either fast or deep in some manner as with ANY discrimination lowers something in the target ability?? I would think this would be the case. As for sens. on manual I think it is much better tho I rarely use it mainly because I have not learned to properly use it by turning it till it stabalizes ; Lazy I guess so I let the machine do that one and I should get with it and learn so as to get more targets. I should add too that Silver and me are not real close friends I think we could be if lazy didnt kick in quite so often in so many places.:) like the sens on auto. Re reading the manual; I try and do that at least once a year to just help the old age learning thing; always find something new in there.
Thanks for your survey and keeping all on thier toes with brain work.
Good Luck
Grumpy

 

[NH Bob]

I think you are OK in using Sens. set to auto if you crank the sens. up to max and then back it down to the point where you are comfortable with the noise. We do not all have to obey certain rules here. It's a mater of doing what works for you and above all, having fun doing what we do.
Don't ever lose track of that. Once it becomes a technical strain on your day out. Then you have lost what this hobby is for. ENJOYMENT.

 

[NH Bob]

n/t

 

[Mike in Dana Point Ca]

the majority of the time i run deep and fast OFF. i'll toy around with deep on from time to time in an area where i have a hard time getting any more signals.

i HATE auto sensitivity. i think it would be near impossible to find a deep, clean signal with that setting. it seems to clip the signals short. i run manual sensitivity usually 26-30.

 

[RandyNorthridgeca]

Deep and fast in the off position is best for me. I only turn on fast when I'm in heavy trash and I'm using the stock or a larger coil. If I'm using the 8" coil or smaller size coil then I have both off, even in a trashy spot. I use to use auto sensitivity about 50 percent of the time in heavy trash or a spot loaded with iron but I switched to using manual all the time over a year ago. I have switched to Semi-auto sensitivity from time to time at certain beaches when I'm in the wet sand. My manual sensitivity is usually set between 25 and 28.

HH Randy

 

[NH Bob]

You and I use manual sens. all the time. I simply slow down when I hit a trashy area. I believe auto sens. in a trash site is counter productive.
That is just my feeling. May not be accurate.

 

[Knipper]

Yep....

Bob I'm wondering if you noticed that in addition to 'better' I.D., that the SE seems to return to threshold a bit faster...(see my previous post). When deep is on, I think there is a bit of 'overshoot', or delay. Perhaps because there is that much more info for the machine to process....( i.e.: the machine might be 'asking'...does this signal qualify as a 'deep' target', yes or no, if yes enhance, if no wait for next signal to analyze...). Granted this decision process may take microseconds, but it may manifest itself as the delay I'm talking about.

As far as accurate ID is concerned. I'm really trying to use the digital I.D. just to satisfy my curiosity. Hunt in the cursor screen and use relative position and the depth meter to see if I want to investigate further. I hate to get too meter dependent, but the sad fact is, I don't get out as much as I want to. That means that the old thigh muscles let me know they're not happy at the end of a day of frequent target recovery! So, if its shallow and in cent range, I might just leave that target for the next person. I'd almost rather dig a pull tab at 5" than to spend the time digging up alka seltzer pennies.

 

[Holedigger]

It doesn't make a heck of alot of difference on my Explorer II. I've done some experimenting on coins I suspected were deep silver or deep wheats (nine inches). Turned deep and fast off and the machine still picked them up. Played with the sensitivity and that made a difference. I had always hunted in manual, one number below unstable. After a nice tip, I have been running very high auto sensitivity with excellent results. Been pulling out a few Indians, wheats at nine inches with a little six inch coil in auto. In the auto mode, it seems to eliminate most of the falsing. Next to sensitivity, iron mask is the most important. I've played with that aso and lost the deep coin when I hit about 12? Just my 2 wheat cents worth. HH.

 

[mastereagle22]

I usually keep Fast and Deep both off and I only use the Autosense when the machine becomes unstable.

 

[NH Bob]

"because there is that much more info for the machine to process....( i.e"
You are so right. I keep the explorer setup as simple as possible and let the power be with me.

 

[NH Bob]

I have already covinced myself that better TID and general performance is more important then a setting that may or may not make a difference.

 

[GarynArk]

Thanks Bob for this poll,it is giving just the kind of insight a newcomer to the Explorer SE like myself needs.I have been running deep on with manual sensitivity for no other reason than what I have been reading on the forum.Thanks again this info is very helpful.

 

[Slay in IA]

n/t

 

[James N.D.]

I only run in Fast On, Deep Off now. When I first started using the Explorer XS back in Fall 2001, I only used Deep On, Fast Off. Even though I was still kickin' butt using Deep On, Fast Off, I seen that the Explorer will go just about as Deep as Deep On, Fast Off when used the other way. By using Fast On, Deep Off, I was still getting the Signals but just a bit more choppy than Deep On, Fast Off. Also, I was getting in between the Iron and Trash better and getting Coins that would have been passed over unheard using Deep On, Fast Off. Whenever I have a questionable Target, I just switch it over to Deep On, Fast Off to help get a better Signal and better idea on what the Target is. Now on Auto Sensitivity, I use this about 98% and only use Manual if the Ground is hard to penetrate due to Iron or Highly Mineralized Ground. I run 22 Semi-Auto and have no problem getting Coins at the 10" mark. Deeper than that, the Signals get weaker and the ID bounces around more, but I think we all knew that already. Good Luck and HH.

 

[NH Bob]

n/t

 

[rebelLT]

In trashy areas I run fast and deep off, conductive, im about12 (EX 2). In areas with little or no trash that I believe will have old coins (dont they all) I run in Ferrous (stop laughing) with fast off and deep on. Sensitivity is set between 27 to 30 in manual. IF I lose the threshold, which I keep just barely audible, I switch to semi auto. I also run the variablility at 8 when hunting deep, mostly because I am going to dig anything that ID's as a coin under 8 inches regardless of the tone. I have found that the EX II will have difficulties with the target ID when you do this. If you loose threshold the cursor will not change until you pick up the threshold again. Simple fix is to raise the coil until the threshold comes back, the cursor will change. I find alot of old, deep coins in good soil this way.

 

[NH Bob]

Thanx James,
From the posts that I've seen from you James, the settings you use are working very well for you.
You also have used the explorers for a long time and are in tune to what the machine is telling you.
Most of the newer explorer users are still going through the trial and error period. Even a lot of old salts are up for trying something new. I for one am switching over from deep on fast off to both off. Of course location rules here.

 

[NH Bob]

n/t

 

[Tinfoil]

n/t

 

[NH Bob]

As you learn the Explorer your settings will change with the sites that you hunt. Most cases you should be able to use the settings that you've become accustomed to. On occasion you may need to change a few things. Like fast on in the trash as an example.
These changes that you'll make as needed will become second nature.
Enjoy your machine and enjoy the hunt. Never get so technical about things that you spoil what this hobby is all about. Having fun.