First I'll explain my mode and setting choices as they will be somewhat dependent on the search coils size and type I am using as well as the site environment of ground mineral and trash target challenges.
If I am using one of the two smaller-size search coils [size=small]
(the round 5¼" DD and 4X7½ DD)[/size], I use the processed Di3 three-tone mode the bulk of the time, occasionally switching to Di4. This is for hunting any densely littered site, most especially iron debris with a lot of rusty tin or rusty tin shards.
Dense iron trash = smaller search coil and Di3.
On low to modest trash I like to use the Di2 two-tone most of the time, especially if the iron junk is mainly nails that are well scattered. For these types of sites I like the new 5X9½open-frame DD coil. Depending upon the site environment and what I am mainly searching for [size=small]
(be it Coin & Jewelry Hunting or Relic Hunting)[/size] I will sometimes opt for Di99 or even GEN mode, at times also switching to the DEEP mode.
When working large, open areas like farm fields, open range land, or urban sports fields or big grassy parks, the standard 7X11 DD coil often gets the nod due to sparse targets that are well spread around causing less good-target masking. Here I might work in GEN, Di2, DEEP or just kind of switch things up and play around a little to see if something different seems to 'click' for that site.
So, once I eyeball a location I am not familiar with I make a search coil decision first to best deal with what's at hand, then I will use the program mode I have saved, or select a different search mode. Also, I almost always start or hunting at the default turn-on operating frequency of 14 kHz, then make Frequency changes as I feel the best fit the site I am hunting. In heavy iron contaminated sites I will shift to 20 kHz as a rule, or when I am mainly going after gold jewelry or other lower-conductive targets. In sites that have very little debris, and also very little iron junk, and it I feel there has been enough ground disturbance or other events that might have cause surface build-up or displacement of lost targets such that they might be a little deeper, then I opt for the 5 kHz and work the site in a slow and methodical manner to try and eek out any deeper-positioned targets. I might also pick 5 kHz when going after silver coinage and other higher-conductive targets.
RANDY CONNELL said:
what is your favorite setting in iron infested sites
Dense, closely associated iron with a heavy concentration of rusty tin to use Di3:
'99' - Gain
'03' - Discrimination
'02' - Iron Audio Volume
'15' - '40' - '70' - Audio Tone
'15' - '62' - Tone Break
'01' - iSAT
In low-to-modest iron debris to rely on the mid-sized 5X9½ DD coil and use Di2:
'95' - Gain
'03' - Discrimination
'02' - Iron Audio Volume
'15' - '50' - Audio Tone
'15' - Tone Break
'01' - iSAT
Note that my saved programs for each search mode start out at a higher Gain level. I decided decades ago that I am better served if I start out at a high to maximum Gain level, then adjust down should I need to better handle EMI than I am to start out at a lower setting then slowly work my way up to a find the higher level that will function well. This even works fine in most iron littered sites.
RANDY CONNELL said:
your lake gold hunting settings
When I work wet zones it is most often in streams, rivers and lakes/reservoirs, mostly freshwater, and I will start out in Di2 at 14 kHz and then determine what changes I might fell better about for that particular site. The same is true when I hunt saltwater beaches where I generally pick the4 COG mode.
RANDY CONNELL said:
i have found more GOLD in the water than i have land.
I haven't. I spend far more time hunting dry ground than I do wet, and for over 52 years I would guess that 90%-95% of my gold jewelry has come from sites away from a coastline, lakes and rivers. I haven't lived in any really fantastic beach areas or other sites that generate a lot of jewelry loss, although some have been quite good in years past.
Just a little info that might be of some help.
Monte
