Keep getting TDI 48

[hegshen]

Hello all!
I'm new to the forum as well as the xterra 705, but not new to MD'ing. I have been out a bit with the detector and keep getting 48 TDI readings on my detector. It is somewhat trashy in the areas I am hunting and have backed down the sensitivity to 18-20. I don't always get a 48, but of the 2 wheat pennies and zinc pennies I've found, they have been about 2.5 inches with a good tone, but the numbers don't seem to be close to what other's have posted in terms of TDI for these coins.
I've air tested some other coins and the TDI meter seems to be working ok. Have I setup the detector wrong? I live in Denver could it be the soil?

Thanks,
Erik

 

[Digger]

Just to make sure your detector is "working right", I'd suggest you check your Noise Cancel channel and Ground Balance to see that they are both set properly. If they are set properly, and your sensitivity is not too high, you might turn on the TID stabilization. The audio sounds may not match the numbers as accurately. But the TID stabilization will provide a more accurate TID. Another suggestion.....if the soil you are hunting in is highly mineralized and you are using a concentric coil, you would likely get better results with a DD coil. The "rule of thumb" that I use to determine whether or not a DD would neutralize the effects of the soil is the number 28....... if you set the ground balance properly when using a concentric coil and the ground phase number is 28 or lower, you would likely be better served using a DD. JMHO HH Randy

 

[hegshen]

Randy,
How do I double Check my noise cancel to make sure it is correct? I am assuming that my ground balance incorrect because I am using automatic gb in the all metal mode like you mention in the xterra book. however, I dont recall how to get the gb number to check the soil.

Erik

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Check the gound balance by lowering and raising coil above the ground. It should barely make a noise when you do this is GB correctly.

 

[Digger]

The best way to verify that your NC channel is correct on the 705 is to do another Auto NC. On ground balance, if you are using Auto GB, that only means the ground phase is correct for the exact spot directly below the coil at the time. Ground conditions can vary from from one side of a park to the other or sometimes within a matter of a few steps. For the time being, I'd suggest that you use Tracking to insure you have the optimum ground balance at any one time. Regardless of whether you are in manual GB mode or Tracking, you can check what the current ground phase reading is by pressing the GB pad. After the number is displayed, press the GB pad again to resume your hunt. You can switch from Tracking to manual (or vice versa) at any time by simply pressing the Tracking pad. If you go from manual to Tracking, the X-TERRA will readjust and maintain the ground phase ("on the fly") for the soil under the coil. If you have it in Tracking and want to go to manual, all you have to do is press Tracking pad and it will go into manual GB mode with the ground phase setting that the Tracking mode last recognized. Just make sure when you switch it back to manual that you're not hovering the coil over anything metal. HH Randy