Newbie questions

[Dave-in-CT]

While hunting in the coin mode, sensitivity set on auto, threshold set at 9, I noise cancel and start a slow sweep. Search area is fairly clean (backyard, 2' fill about 7 years ago). I get a hit in the 36-38 area, I use small sweeps to try and narrow area, that done I move the coil towards me and when signal dies mark the spot in front of the coil with a poker chip. Then I move the coil forward and when the signal stops, I mark the behind the coin with another chip. Then I move 90 degrees and try to follow the same procedure. Quite often I get no signal at all when I do this. I also try using the pinpoint mode moving the coil away from area and then slowly move it back towards target until I get full bars, then rotate 90 degrees and repeat. Again sometimes no signal at all. I make sure coil is horizontal to the ground. I noticed that many times the signal is not steady,but, a bunch of short beeps the tone of which drops off sharply with a dull sound.

Having only had my detector 3 weeks, I dig everything. Many empty holes . What am I doing wrong? Should I lower the sensitivity? Target Volume? Threshold? I am not complaining, just trying to learn all the ins and outs of this detector. Since I received my Safari, I have found a man's 14k wedding band at a local beach, a 1938 Mercury and brass belt bucket in a wooded area near my home and a clad dime, 3 memorial cents in my backyard.

Thanks. Will appreciate any help offered.

 

[Hotzone]

Found gold and silver already. Do you have a pin pointer? I have a garret pro pointer on order, everyone likes those. Loosing a signal when turning 90 degrees could be a coin on edge or a nail! I like to switch to all metal to see if I get the same ID before digging in a lawn. I would rather pass something good up, than make a mess trying to find an iffy target that doesn't pinpoint well. If you are digging where it doesn't matter dig it up and see. That is how we learn. Just be sure to fill in all holes. Also when digging lawns don't completely remove a plug, but cut a flap and fold it back. Remove dirt and place on a towl, plastic, or frizbie to keep soil off the grass. Later the lawn mower will not dislodge the plug and it will be unnoticeable .I like high trash setting and manual sense 10 most of the time. You will loose the hum if to trashy and high trash recovers much faster. Loss of a little ID is no big deal and is not noticeable anyway. Good luck and good job so far...

 

[Dave-in-CT]

I have an automax 4 pin pointer which came with the Safari. When cutting a three sided plug I use an old kitchen knife and flip it onto a piece of plastic and then use a trowel to put digging on the plastic. When finished I slide dirt back, replace plug and stamp down with my foot. You can't tell where I have dug.

Thank You for your inputs

 

[Dave400]

That's how to dig a plug.Great job keeping it clean.Remember some times you only get a signal in one direction.It dos'nt mean there is no target.It's good to swing in both directions.If it's a good target it will repeat.Sounds like the nulling you hear is the coil going over iron.I run my machine with no threshold.In quiet mode I get no nulling at all.All you hear is the target noise.Good or bad.Try a small test garden in your yard.It will help you hear what signals you are looking for.Takes a while to learn the sounds but it will come with practice.I run auto sensitvity in coin and jewery.I use a garrett pro pointer.It cut my recovery time in half.Much better then any other pinpionter. In my opinion..Can't hunt without it now.After some more hours you will see you picked the right machine. HH