Jusy got Excal Need help

[NJMIKE]

Ok have XLT and just got the Minelab Excalibur. Can some point me in the direction for some info on how to use the Minelab. It came with the usually book but i want some more info,hints etc. I have been detecting for years now but this detector is alot differnt then the XLT. I just paid alot of money for detector and would like to get some tricks hints etc but dont want to have to pay more money for a book etc.
Thanks Mike

 

[Art (NWOH)]

Read a lot of stuff on the Sov/Excal forum.
Sovs and Excals are the same basic detector. You can expect them to work the same way, ignoring the extra switches and knobs on the Sovs.

HH

 

[Neilo]

Do this in the water in the area you are to be detecting, Turn your volume flat out, turn your discrimination knob back to minimum, select discriminate mode, not pinpoint.
Set your threshold so you can just hear it.Turn your sensitivity knob slowly until you start getting false signals, then turn it back until they just stop.Then you are set to detect.Make sure you use slow even sweeps of your coil if you use uneven sweeps you will get false signals.If the threshold goes silent and then returns at a very low tone you have just gone over some iron.On the other hand go over a non ferrous item the signal be obviuos and the threshold will return at a higher tone.You will have to learn the differences in the sound of good targets, eg small aluminium eg alfoil will give a dull signal where as a piece of copper or lead will give high pitched signals.Generally a gold ring will give a low to medium pitched signal.My advise is dig all signals.Some times you will get a good signal and you will start digging then run the detector over the item again and it starts to blank out.This is because it is a deep item and because of its depth the machine could not identify it properly but because you have got nearer to the item and it has been able recognised as being iron it is now blanking it out. Another way of identifying a rubbish item is you will get a good signal but it ends abruptly, almost like the signal has been chopped off.Get yourself a good long handled scoop you will find some of the targets are so deep you will not be able to reach them without one.If you need any more help send me a pm and I will do my best seeya Neilo

 

[NJMIKE]

Hello and thank you so much for all your help. What seemed to be happening in my first use on the beach was alot of false signals. The information you gave me should help.Oh one other thing i have 14 K white gold ring that i found with XLT and i was testing with the minelab and it did not pick it up. Any ideas.
THANKS MIKE

 

[NJMIKE]

Hello Again, I went out with my excalibur and this is the only problem which is a big one i think. The threshhold never stays steady either is goes quiet for awhile or it changes sound from which i read changing sounds is normal. I adjusted the sensitivity many times and still nothing, I am finding things up high even with these problems. I think because of this prolbem with threshhold i cant anything deep. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Mike

 

[Art (NWOH)]

Sounds like it's falsing on you.

It's not an XLT......sweep it slow....about 2-3 seconds per sweep at most.........no faster. That's once across.....left to right or right to left, but not "round trip".
In a place where there is nothing, the threshold should be a steady tone. If the tone is not steady with the slow sweep, turn the sensitivity down until the threshold IS steady.

Threshold drops out when an object is discriminated.....usually iron. We call this a "null". Nulls from iron are longer than for nonferrous objects that are rejected. Mineral in the ground also causes nulls if sensitivity is set too high or if you sweep too fast.

Threshold tone changes........
Threshold tone changes to reflect the conductivity of the last object the detector saw whether it was discriminated or not. It will also change on a false caused by bad coil control, ground mineral, excess sweep speed, excess sensitivity, and noise spikes. This stuff can interact and you may have more than one problem at a time.

The bottom line is that you need to run it so the threshold is smooth.......at least most of the time.

HH

 

[Neilo]

What setting have you got your discriminator on ? make sure it is only on setting 1 only. Are you sure there is no other iron target nearby. Where are you carrying your sand scoop? make sure you drag it behind you well away from the coil. What are you wearing on your feet, if you are wearing wet suit shoes the zip could be made of metal upsetting your machine. Make sure your threshold is turned down to a minimum volume so you can just hear it.It should easily pick up a 14ct ring the signal could be on the low to medium pitch.Have your volume on flat out.Under what conditions were you trying to pick up the ring ? in the water or on dry land or simply waving the ring passed the coil in mid air.How long had the batteries on the machine been charged for, they need at least 15hrs at first.If the batteries are nearly flat you will get some erratic sounds coming from the machine. hope you find out your problem but I think half of it is becomming familiar with your machine.A good indication of wether you have your sensitivity too high is you get false signals every time you raise and lower your coil off of the bottom.If this is the case turn your sensitivity down until it stops. good hunting seeya neilo

 

[NJMIKE]

Hello andthanks my only other question is during a iron null will it still detect coin jewerly at the same time.
Thanks again Mike

 

[Art (NWOH)]

Yes, but it has to be a very strong hit. It is a good idea if you get a long iron null to backtrack your sweep and hit it from the opposite direction.

HH

 

[Neilo]

This is where the iron mask feature of the machine comes in to its own
and allows you to pick up jewelry close along side iron targets. seeya Neilo