Please explain "bobbing the sensitivity"

[JASONSPAZ1]

Hey guys, I am embarrassed that I don't know this , and feel even more silly that I cant track down the original post. But can someone explain bobbing the sensitivity. I use the bobbing method for ground balancing my GT in the all metal mode before i flick the switch to P/P. I think that bobbing the sensitivity means a way to find max sens for GT and still have stability.

Thanks in advance

Jason

 

[crazyman]

Jason, you can slowly bob the coil or you can use short sweeps. Either is fine. I just bob mine because I've been ground balancing in all metal then power balancing in discriminate mode in bad ground and on black sand beaches with different detectors for years so it just feels natural to me. This is from my original post.

Once you have the other settings set the way you want find an area that is clean and with the coil in the air set the sensitivity to minimum and the threshold to a slight buzz. Now start bobbing the coil like your ground balancing while advancing the sensitivity just until the threshold nulls or goes silent. Now slowly back it off while still bobbing until the threshold returns. You now have the sensitivity set for optimal performance and depth for that particular ground. Make sure you adjust your swing speed to your sensitivity setting to keep a steady threshold.

 

[crazyman]

I've used this method on different detectors for years to set the sensitivity in bad ground. One my Whites detectors that had the analog meters I would ground balance in all metal then set the coil on the ground and adjust the sensitivity in discriminate mode to where the the needle on the meter would start jumping and the threshold would start reacting and then back it off until the needle and threshold were stable again then reground balance. On my modified IDX Pro I would do the same but I would bob the coil until I got a signal as the coil neared the ground then back it off until the signal disappeared. It worked well in bad ground and on the beach. When I first starting using the Sovereign again I was running in auto most of the time when hunting areas with a lot of iron. I then read a post here about setting up the Sovereign this way and thought duh, if it works on other detectors why not the Sovereign. It has worked well for me and I know I'm getting all I can out the detector for that particular ground when hunting for the deepest targets. For hunting the deep stuff the goal is to have a maximum sensitivity setting and a sweep speed where your able to maintain a steady threshold.

 

[goodmore]

Crazyman I see you dropped the Xl Pro in your signature. Did you finally move on?

 

[crazyman]

Yes I sold my XL Pro to my brother-n-law. I sold my IDX Pro soon after getting my Elite but it was hard to part with the XL Pro. I was a Whites man for about 25 years. The Whites are still excellent machines but the Sovereign and I are just clicking and I'm digging coins and relics deeper than I thought possible in really bad ground up here and on our beaches. It's been doing well in my ghost town sites also. I'm keeping my Advantage also but I'm going to pick up another Sovereign or maybe just a control box if I can find one and do the waterproof mods. but I'm not sure which one yet.

 

[goodmore]

The reason I asked is because I just sold my XL Pro also. I know I don't have the bad ground you do. But I just like the Sovereign for all around detecting. I am currently looking at getting a meter for the Sovereign. I have the older 550 ? meter & I hate it. Too much bouncing around. I wish I could have ripped off the XL Pro meter & stuck it on the Sovereign. I never pay attention to depth readings on meters. I started detecting a long time ago before the depth meter. I learned to tell by raising the coil. But I miss the VDI numbers. I tend to dig good sounding signals all the time. But it would be nice to filter zinc pennies more. I hate digging em. Sometimes picking a detector to sell is like picking between your kids. But I hate seeing a detector collecting dust.

 

[SurfPro]

Yes I sold my XL Pro to my brother-n-law. I sold my IDX Pro soon after getting my Elite but it was hard to part with the XL Pro. I was a Whites man for about 25 years. The Whites are still excellent machines but the Sovereign and I are just clicking and I'm digging coins and relics deeper than I thought possible in really bad ground up here and on our beaches. It's been doing well in my ghost town sites also. I'm keeping my Advantage also but I'm going to pick up another Sovereign or maybe just a control box if I can find one and do the waterproof mods. but I'm not sure which one yet.

Waterproof mods? Please share.