most of my sites that I have hunted for a long time (they are old farmsteads) with several different detectors and now with the Xterra 70, now only give me ferrous ID's ( a lot of -6's and -4's). I hardly ever get a positive number, a few 4's and they have always been pieces of foil. I am hunting in all metal and it doesn't seem to matter whether I use the 6" HF DD or the 9" LF. Are these sites "hunted out" as far as coins are concerned-- at least until new, deeper technology comes along? I hardly ever get any pieces of copper or brass anymore, I seem to have dug it all. I have grid searched these sites numerous times from different directions and try to overlap quite a bit. Do I need all new sites? Any opinions/suggestions? Thanks in advance.
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I know "they" say a site is never hunted out ,but
- Thread starter Cliff KS
- Start date
try digging up the low numbers and getting rid of some of the trash. many times i have had shallow iron mask deeper good targets. I have noticed on my XT70 that a good target laying right near or on a bad target will be masked out. some times the recovery speed from a bad target isn't fast enough to show the good target.
I suppose you have done everything possible with the X-70 short of buying a round 10.5 MF DD to get more depth. Did you try the Prospecting Mode(PM)(at close to max. sensitivity 30) with the Iron Mask(IM) all the way up to max. 20 to (blank)knock out some iron, because PM gets considerably more depth than Coin & T Mode(CTM), but you will dig more trash. Then when you get a good target in PM, you can switch over to CTM(All-Metal) to check your signal numbers on the TID screen. If the target is too deep for CTM and there is no signal, then dig it up. If there are too many trash targets, this method is way too time consuming, but maybe try it as an option.
Deeper technology(IMO, marginally, not heaps better but still deeper depending on the soil) is already here with the E-Trac or Safari, maybe get one, learn it well, and get the extra depth you need, unless there is no more goodies deeper to find anyway.
Either Digger(Randy) who has an E-Trac or morelic55 who has a Safari can tell you how much deeper these machines are being more than the X-70(5)? Maybe they will chime in and say how much deeper?
Deeper technology(IMO, marginally, not heaps better but still deeper depending on the soil) is already here with the E-Trac or Safari, maybe get one, learn it well, and get the extra depth you need, unless there is no more goodies deeper to find anyway.
Either Digger(Randy) who has an E-Trac or morelic55 who has a Safari can tell you how much deeper these machines are being more than the X-70(5)? Maybe they will chime in and say how much deeper?
7centsworth
Well-known member
Try vslowing way down, Until you think you are going way to slow. I have pulled alot of coins out like that that I had missed previously.
OK: Tip #1: Dig up the low numbers and get rid of more trash (iron).
Man that would be a lot of diggin' as these old farms are loaded with iron of all sizes. I have been running without discrimination and have slowed down my sweep speed to try to unmask targets and have removed a lot of the large and medium sized iron from these sites in the past to try to help in that regard.
Tip #2: Dig negative numbers that peg the depth meter.
My ground is not heavily mineralized like yours, but I guess I could try this some and see where it gets me. Wouldn't cost anything but a little elbow grease.
David: I have not tried prospecting mode with the Iron Mask. I may have to give that a go. Sounds interesting.
Thanks to all for their advice.
Man that would be a lot of diggin' as these old farms are loaded with iron of all sizes. I have been running without discrimination and have slowed down my sweep speed to try to unmask targets and have removed a lot of the large and medium sized iron from these sites in the past to try to help in that regard.
Tip #2: Dig negative numbers that peg the depth meter.
My ground is not heavily mineralized like yours, but I guess I could try this some and see where it gets me. Wouldn't cost anything but a little elbow grease.
David: I have not tried prospecting mode with the Iron Mask. I may have to give that a go. Sounds interesting.
Thanks to all for their advice.
I know other's might have a differing opinion. But I don't see an appreciable difference (in depth of detection) between a properly set X-705 and an Etrac. The key here is "properly set". Now before some of you get all wound up thinking that I am condemning how some may set your X-TERRA's, let me explain what I mean. I can set my X-TERRA precisely, and still not have the degree of accuracy that the Etrac provides. Afterall, the Etrac does not require Ground Balancing as it takes care of that through the electronics. And, the Etrac does not require a Sensitivity adjustment, because that can be done automatically, based on software application. As well, the Etrac provides a targets conductive reading as well as it's ferrous reading. Not like an X-TERRA who only qualifies a target via conductivity. So those three things alone can create a situation where the Etrac will "go deeper" than an X-TERRA. However, I think the key to the depth of detection of an Etrac is it's ability to separate targets exceedingly well. Part of that is due to the detector's processor. But again, only in my opinion, a bigger part of that is due to the "accepted" slow sweep speed of the FBS detectors. When someone buys an Etrac or Explorer, they know up front that they are going to have to sweep the coil very slowly, to separate targets and maximize depth. On the other hand, the X-TERRA has a very forgiving sweep speed. As such, we may have a tendency to sweep too fast, thinking that it is doing all it can do. This fast sweep speed can allow much more target masking than we might imagine. When I want to "clean out a site", I sweep much more methodically that I typically hunt. I sweep S L O W E R, and cover the area from every direction imaginable. Not just north to south and eash to west. But I also go cross-ways, 45 degrees from my initial paths. I know this may sound odd, but I also go south to north and west to east, and back cross ways in the opposite direction than the initial path. How many times have you dug a "one way" signal that turned out to be a coin? I know I've dug quite a few. My point is, if you don't follow the same path, but in the opposite direction, you might be passing up some of those "one way" signals that happened to be the "wrong way" the first time you went over them. JMHO HH Randy
Thanks for the very good explaination Randy, so many variables between the X-70(5) and the E-Trac. The inherent slower sweep speed of BBS & FBS(E-Trac) machines is good for trash separation and listening for signals but overall you will cover less ground overall in a day than with an X-70(5).
I know about using that for gold prospecting but in coin hunting about approaching the site from different directions like that is something I did not use yet, sounds good.
Briefly Digger(Randy), with your E-Trac(conductive and ferrous readings) do you find yourself digging a bit or alot less trash than the X-705 overall in a day, or about the same ??
I know about using that for gold prospecting but in coin hunting about approaching the site from different directions like that is something I did not use yet, sounds good.
Briefly Digger(Randy), with your E-Trac(conductive and ferrous readings) do you find yourself digging a bit or alot less trash than the X-705 overall in a day, or about the same ??
Funny you should mention that..... my brother and I were just discussing that very subject the other day. I find that when using the Etrac in my typical hunting spots, I dig fewer targets, period. Fewer pieces of trash AND fewer coins. I attribute that (as you said) to the slower sweep speed and covering less ground in a given period of time. Not necessarily in the capability of either detector. Don't get me wrong, I like the Etrac. But I don't find near the "differences" that some might suggest, between the Etrac and the 705. Part of that might be due to the fact I've spent thousands of hours learning the X-TERRA. And probably fewer than 300 hours on the Etrac. It is, in my opinion, a different tool for a different job. If I were hunting nasty parks most of the time, I'd likely chose the Etrac equipped with either my Coiltek Joey or the DeTech butterfly. But as I've said many times, I prefer to hunt old farmsites, picnic grounds, Chautauquas, fair grounds and any other places where people congregated 1850's - 1930's. The new coins (and trash) just don't excite me that much. And as far as deeply buried iron on those old sites, I don't find the discrimination capabilities of the Etrac to be superior to the 705. Even with the ferrous and conductive readings, I've dug quite a few old, bent nails that "said" they were coins, when using the Etrac. By listening to the multiple tone harmonics, and working the coil in a methodical manner, I don't dig much deep iron with my 705. JMHO HH Randy
I say dig some of the deeper iron signals, you might be surprised. The IDs on deeper targets are not always correct and sometimes come through as iron, even though they're not. Also, there is unmasking to consider. If you dig out some of the iron you'll likely uncover some good targets you didn't see before. But, if you can stand digging trash, then I guess you'll have to look for new places to hunt.
I tried David's suggestion about using prospecting mode with the iron mask turned up to max (20).
I guess I don't understand prospecting mode as it quickly nearly drove me nuts! (Audio Fatigue).
It went WEE---ooo WEE-ooo WEE-ooo all the time. Constant sound all the time with the pitch sliding back and forth between high and low all the time, with a staccato of nulls strung throughout, which I assume is all the iron that is being blocked out by the Iron Mask function. Even when I slowed the sweep speed way down the audio was constantly sliding up and down the scale. How do I know when it is over a non-ferrous target?
I guess I don't understand prospecting mode as it quickly nearly drove me nuts! (Audio Fatigue).
It went WEE---ooo WEE-ooo WEE-ooo all the time. Constant sound all the time with the pitch sliding back and forth between high and low all the time, with a staccato of nulls strung throughout, which I assume is all the iron that is being blocked out by the Iron Mask function. Even when I slowed the sweep speed way down the audio was constantly sliding up and down the scale. How do I know when it is over a non-ferrous target?
I'm using prospecting mode all the time now... and for me.. I have nulling from iron all over the place too, but a good target will have a nice smooth sound. With my threshold set around 3 or so.... good deep non-ferrous targets come in as a smooth, quiet warble or rise and fall. The deeper or smaller...the quieter and smoother the sound. There isn't an inch of ground here that doesn't have something setting off the detector for me... so if your ground is like that.. ya just have to learn to get used to the constant sounds and use your ear to pick out the good ones. It takes some time, but it is rewarding.
Oh.. and try going very slow in all that iron. As slow as you can tolerate.
Oh.. and try going very slow in all that iron. As slow as you can tolerate.
TURNMASTER
Active member
Different tools for the job. I recently picked up a used Explorer SE and I was not entirely supprised at digging rusty nails. A bunch of em. More than I have been with the X 705 by far. I did dig less of other trash that day. Of course less other trash, I think may mean less cool relics also. That will come with time and changing the machines parameters.
Do I think an FBS or BBS machine will replace an Xterra... Not likely, for me that is. I am sure that there are some who it would. Who knows maybe it will, but I do not think so.
I don't know for sure yet, but I suspect that I will generally go over a hunting ground with the 705 first time or 2 then with the SE to see what I missed, in the real tough spots and real deep. Should be a fun journey.
So, no your sites are not hunted out, but it may or may not be possible to find what is left. Different technology may make the difference.
Do you need some new sites? Absolutley.
Do I think an FBS or BBS machine will replace an Xterra... Not likely, for me that is. I am sure that there are some who it would. Who knows maybe it will, but I do not think so.
I don't know for sure yet, but I suspect that I will generally go over a hunting ground with the 705 first time or 2 then with the SE to see what I missed, in the real tough spots and real deep. Should be a fun journey.
So, no your sites are not hunted out, but it may or may not be possible to find what is left. Different technology may make the difference.
Do you need some new sites? Absolutley.
The reality of your situation is how much time you have to detect and is it worth it to pound every last object (impossible) from the ground at your sites? I would probably look elsewhere for new sites as you will more than likely have better finds. Others have already given you the best advice, prospecting mode rocks, you will not miss anything you sweep over, going over ground from another direction works well also. Whichever decision you make you will not go wrong learning to use prospecting mode.
I guess I don't understand prospecting mode audio. What I was trying to get at in my last post was: When the sound is basically constant and just sliding up and down the scale from high to low, how do you know when you are over the target? Is it when the tone is the highest, the lowest, or just when it dips in the valley between the high and the low, which would be hard for me to pinpoint because it switches from high to low so quickly? When the audio is fluctuating all the time, how do you zero in on your target?
I went back to one of my old sites a couple of evenings ago and hunted in all metal with the 9" 3 kHz and got a few nonferrous signals. I dug up a brass padlock key, a beavertail pulltab, a more modern retangular tab, a brass liner from a pocketknife, a copper rivet, but no coins.
I went back to one of my old sites a couple of evenings ago and hunted in all metal with the 9" 3 kHz and got a few nonferrous signals. I dug up a brass padlock key, a beavertail pulltab, a more modern retangular tab, a brass liner from a pocketknife, a copper rivet, but no coins.