Pinpointing

[StephenA]

I know this is likely an old topic but how does one pinpoint with the 3030?
Thanks, playing with my new one now.

 

[KinTN]

2 basic ways: the DD wiggle and X'ing the target.

 

[AgileMJOLNIR]

Engage the pinpoint button and watch the two bubbles on the bottom of your display converge towards the center, one from the left and one from the right. Once they light up Red and overlap one another you're on the target. My target will usually be right under the Minelab coil logo at that point. Remember to keep the coil moving when pinpointing and move it in a + pattern to help zero in. At that point recover your horde of Gold and pat yourself on the back

 

[KinTN]

Haha. My bad. I was thinking about pinpointing with the coil in search mode. Of Course, using the PP feature is more exact! I'll shut up and go stand in a corner now.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Both are good methods to use, some times one way works better than the other so it's best to be familiar with both!

 

[trojdor]

Both are good methods to use, some times one way works better than the other so it's best to be familiar with both!

In fact, I'll use both on an iffy signal to check for iron...if the two methods differ by a couple inches, it's typically rusty iron.

mike

 

[indy durtdigger]

Nobody mentioned the two different pinpoint modes?? My preference is the default setting with target trace turned on to go along with the wiggle. The pinpoint with target trace will eliminate quite a bit of larger pieces of can slaw or similar bad targets and as mentioned above adding the wiggle will eliminate most iron trash. Most of the places I hunt are rather trashy and I haven't been able to use the pinpoint sizing to good effect due to multiple targets being under the coil.

 

[trojdor]

Nobody mentioned the two different pinpoint modes?? My preference is the default setting with target trace turned on to go along with the wiggle. The pinpoint with target trace will eliminate quite a bit of larger pieces of can slaw or similar bad targets and as mentioned above adding the wiggle will eliminate most iron trash. Most of the places I hunt are rather trashy and I haven't been able to use the pinpoint sizing to good effect due to multiple targets being under the coil.

indy,
You are absolutely right to mention target trace, of course...I've been doing it so long, I've forgotten Target Trace is not on by default.

In fact, I hunt with BOTH 'target trace' and 'target trace pinpoint' on, and also turn on 'pinpoint sizing' and 'pinpoint lock'.
This lets me hunt in the pinpoint mode and simulates a (visually) discriminating, non-motion, all-metal mode.
(Advanced technique, and takes some practice, but gives greater depth...)

That Target Trace feature is a gold mine if you learn to use it. It's like a radar screen...painting all the different targets under the moving coil.
I was recently able to sniff out an Air Force captain's pin from among 4 other close junk items, all painted on the screen.
(It only hinted at audio, but the target trace was a solid circle(s).)

mike

 

[indy durtdigger]

Nobody mentioned the two different pinpoint modes?? My preference is the default setting with target trace turned on to go along with the wiggle. The pinpoint with target trace will eliminate quite a bit of larger pieces of can slaw or similar bad targets and as mentioned above adding the wiggle will eliminate most iron trash. Most of the places I hunt are rather trashy and I haven't been able to use the pinpoint sizing to good effect due to multiple targets being under the coil.

indy,
You are absolutely right to mention target trace, of course...I've been doing it so long, I've forgotten Target Trace is not on by default.

In fact, I hunt with BOTH 'target trace' and 'target trace pinpoint' on, and also turn on 'pinpoint sizing' and 'pinpoint lock'.
This lets me hunt in the pinpoint mode and simulates a (visually) discriminating, non-motion, all-metal mode.
(Advanced technique, and takes some practice, but gives greater depth...)

That Target Trace feature is a gold mine if you learn to use it. It's like a radar screen...painting all the different targets under the moving coil.
I was recently able to sniff out an Air Force captain's pin from among 4 other close junk items, all painted on the screen.
(It only hinted at audio, but the target trace was a solid circle(s).)

mike

Maybe my inability to use the sizing feature is technique related. I spent most of my first season with this machine sniffing out silver dimes in heavy iron trash and just got red smears running up an down the screen.

 

[StephenA]

Thank you all for the help. I was about to be overwhelmed but you guys reeled me back in.

 

[glenn3-88]

It's a lot to take in. All of the above is great advice but try to keep it simple as you possibly can especially
in the early stages. Keep the above information handy even if you have to print it and keep it in your finds
pouch because it is invaluable when you do get to that iffy target.

Me myself, I use target trace, target trace pinpoint, with pinpoint button locked when I find an iffy target.
Now, the above more experienced detectorist may or may not agree with this.
I wiggle all the time. If the target is beyond 6" even though with the wiggle I may loose it
I will mark my pinpoint position when it is beyond 6" a couple of inches inward of the loop
of the coil and have yet to miss digging the target without digging a second hole. If it is beyond
9", then and only then will I "use target pinpoint" and it has to be a good repeatable signal then
before I will dig. Seems the first 1 or 2" of the diameter of the coil to me is capable of being accurate
to 5 or 6" then it falls off but does not loose the target. This is not a cone shaped signal under the coil
but it is stronger to me when the target is near the center of the coil on a deep target, thus using target
pinpoint option to find target.