Manual vs Auto

[Ohio Digger]

This might be a dumb question, but, is an Auto Sens at 26 (+\- 0) the same as running Manual Sens at 26? And is there a benefit from one to the other if its the same Sens? I thought I read on another thread today that you can swing a lot slower in Manual Sens and still pick up really deep signals as opposed to swinging too slow in Auto and it missing that same deep signal.

 

[Larry--IndianaHVAC]

I don't believe it would be the same because There are 3 signal channels in which the etrac is constantly tracking the magnetism interference in the soil that affects each and when in auto sens. it adjusts to the best channel. Adding +1 to +3 just lets you get more aggressive with your sensitivity. I always run mine in auto with a +3.. I still feel its best to use auto sens. JMHO

 

[jarid]

It would not be the same. It is true that manual allows you to go slower. I use manual as high as it will go while maintaining stability.
Good luck in the field.

 

[ot1138]

I use manual with a stealth coil and auto+3 with the stock coil.

 

[tarheeldiggin]

Using Auto sensitivity gives me more accurate ID numbers and the machine really runs smooth. But when I need max depth, I crank it up in Manual and tolerate the chatter/falsing.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

I use auto 3 + most of the time. I did few times 27 manual and digging and nothing! Fault! Shallow coins is no problem with manual but I don't have any luck with deep coins so I stay with auto 3 +. I test my coin garden and able to pick up mercury dime at 8 inch deep and quarter at 7 inch deep then my set up is fine with auto 3+.

 

[ironsight]

To answer the original question, NO they're not the same.
In Auto, the channels are all averaged dependant on ground conditions.
In manual, all channels are at the same absolute setting.

Auto will usually give a better more crisper target ID for shallower targets but will not typically detect a dime deeper than 8 to 9 inches or so in my experience.

Most of the silver dimes i found last Summer were from 10 to 13 inches deep using manual sensitivity.