Question for Monte or anyone else with a Omega.

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Got allot of swinging time with my Omega this weekend. I have notived the omega may be unstable at a very high sens but once you start actually swinging it the EMI issues seem to go away. Only got to hunt one area at "99" sens but will be trying this revealtion at a few more places today.

Anyone else notice this????

 

[jim tn]

Bart, yes, frequently. Once, however, I get the coil on the ground I find there are few places with the Omega that I can't run 99 sen. I hunted this morning within 25 or so yards of a major power line and with the coil in the air it chattered to all get out. Drop the coil to the ground and it ran quiet. Hunted with 99 sen all morning. Have a safe one. HH jim tn

 

[Monte]

Got allot of swinging time with my Omega this weekend.

The Omega is light weight, very functional, and a joy to use. I hope you can work it a lot on this holiday weekend!

I have notived the omega may be unstable at a very high sens but once you start actually swinging it the EMI issues seem to go away.

It is not only an Omega issue but can and will happen with most any half-decent detector that has sufficient Gain/Sensitivity. in the air the detector & coil are much more exposed to sources of EMI so it's not a good idea to check any detector with the search coil held far from the ground.

Now, even when we have the coil close to the ground (I suggest working any coil about

 

[Kevin B.]

Yes, Bart, I've noticed that my new Omega chirps while I hold it up, but when I start swinging it on the ground, the chirping goes away. This is with Sensitivity at highest setting. I noticed it this morning.

 

[tabman]

I wonder if Omega users would be happier if Teknetics would had backed off 20% on the sensitivity and call that point "100" and called everything beyond that point "super" something or another that could only be used in perfect soil? It seems to work well for Tesoro.

It's how you look at things that matters the most.

tabman

 

[jim tn]

I don't consider it a problem. Shoot, I am able to run with 99 sen almost all the time. In fact, if it didn't quiet down with the coil on the ground, then it would be a problem. HH jim tn

 

[TerraDigger]

Been reading ton's of posts on the Omega. One poster stated "in motion the Omega gets quiet. When I lay it down to dig a coin it chatters so bad I can barely hear my pinpointer with my headphones on."
My T2 chirps constantly at a sens of 40 & above, max disc @ 80, whether coil is in motion or stationary. Mineralization is between .1 & .3

 

[jim tn]

Mine will chatter pretty good at times when laying it down to dig. Sometimes I am able to determine the direction of the emi and face the coil in the opposite direction and it will quiet down some. HH jim tn

 

[D&P-OR]

Youse guys need to get a Gamma!!!!------Did I say that???? ------Seriously, don't think you're gonna have all that chattering (unstable) problem with the Gamma.---------Del

 

[Monte]

By that I mean that there are some subtle difference between the Gamma and Omega. I can usually get the Gamma up to about '94' to '96' when I start to hear a 'threshold' hum in the All Metal mode, but the Omega needs the Sensitivity reduced to somewhere between '68' and '74' or so. I know several people around here who use a Gamma and run the Sensitivity between '80 and '90' in the Discriminate mode and '80' will usually quiet it down more than reducing the Omega to that same numeric setting. As suggested below, I just consider this more like an added boost for the omega when you can run it at a higher Sensitivity level.

Monte

 

[D&P-OR]

By that I mean that there are some subtle difference between the Gamma and Omega. I can usually get the Gamma up to about '94' to '96' when I start to hear a 'threshold' hum in the All Metal mode, but the Omega needs the Sensitivity reduced to somewhere between '68' and '74' or so. I know several people around here who use a Gamma and run the Sensitivity between '80 and '90' in the Discriminate mode and '80' will usually quiet it down more than reducing the Omega to that same numeric setting. As suggested below, I just consider this more like an added boost for the omega when you can run it at a higher Sensitivity level.

Monte

Monte-----You hit the nail on the head on what I was referring to with my statement.------Both the Gamma & Omega go to 99 (max) sensitivity.----The Gamma manual states that above 90 sensitivity in a.m. the threshold "kicks in" and above 94 will be noisy or sound erratic.------If I remember right, the Omega manual states you get that same effect starting at 70 sensitivity.------On this Gamma I'm using right now, I can run it (as high as) 94 sensitivity (in disc) and it's still fairly quiet & stable (even when laying it down to dig a target).------On the Omegas we had (and we had 4 of them buggars), we had to run them in the 70's or low 80's (max) to have that same effect---when I say this, I'm talking about in order to have them quiet when you lay them down to dig a target (as well as swinging them hunting).-------So my question I want to ask you----If I'm running them both (Gamma & Omega) in higher sensitivity (in disc) and the Gamma is quiet(er) and the Omega is "chattery"----what's really happening?----Besides the irritating Omega chatter (when stationery). ------When hunting, is the Omega reading on smaller targets (because of the thresholds "wider" range)?------Would both detectors (under these settings & all things being equal as much as possible) be getting the same depth on coin size targets?-----To put it (ask it) in another way-----when you say you "consider this more of an added boost for the Omega when you can run it at a higher Sensitivity level"------in this case, is this giving the Omega more depth on coin size targets (than the Gamma)---more sensitivity to small targets--or both?-------Just trying to figure out what benefit (if any) this would have.-------I know I've been able to run the Gamma at the same higher sensitivity levels as the Omega and had a lot quieter (less chattery) machine.-----------Del

 

[BuckeyeBrad]

So it's already been established that what you're seeing is "normal". The sensitivity adjustment "linearity" (or the lack thereof) is definitely different between the Omega and Gamma. The Gamma was the first detector that I tested for FT and one of the things I noted to them was a concern around how high the sensitivity needed to be set at in order for the threshold to be audible. I'll qualify that by saying that I use all metal mode quite a bit and I felt that given the Gamma didn't have a separate adjustable threshold control, I would like to see the threshold become audible at a relatively lower sensitivity. And yes, I understood the resultant trade off of then having a louder more saturated threshold if I ran the Omega in all metal with the sensitivity in the 90's. I don't know if the Omega design and code was completely "in the can" at that time or if they made a change, but regardless, I did appreciate the fact that the Omega was released with that difference over the Gamma and it's one of the reasons that the two aren't redundant. As a sidebar, we've heard DJ comment about his fascination of the widely varying psychologies within all the detector owners worlds. For example, some would feel that a separate threshold control is critical whereas others may think they want it but not really understand how it needs to be "respected" similar to and in conjunction with the sensitivity control at which point it can actually become a liability. Still, others may just not care. I make the assumption (shame on me) that is at least partially behind some of the choices made around control function differences between say the Gamma/Omega and the F5/70.

 

[Monte]

Monte-----You hit the nail on the head on what I was referring to with my statement.------Both the Gamma & Omega go to 99 (max) sensitivity.----The Gamma manual states that above 90 sensitivity in a.m. the threshold "kicks in" and above 94 will be noisy or sound erratic.------If I remember right, the Omega manual states you get that same effect starting at 70 sensitivity.------On this Gamma I'm using right now, I can run it (as high as) 94 sensitivity (in disc) and it's still fairly quiet & stable (even when laying it down to dig a target).------On the Omegas we had (and we had 4 of them buggars), we had to run them in the 70's or low 80's (max) to have that same effect---when I say this, I'm talking about in order to have them quiet when you lay them down to dig a target (as well as swinging them hunting).

Del, I have and use both the Omega and Gamma, as well as the Delta and G2 and T2, but to compare the Omega and Gamma can be a challenge. Everything you pointed out, about the Gamma usually being a bit quieter when you set it down in the Disc. mode compared to doing the same with the Omega, at the same Sensitivity number being noisy, is just what I experience.

Now, I don't have it happen all the time, just mainly in an urban environment where I am closer to various sources of EMI. I usually hunt with the Omega set to '99' Sensitivity but on occasion I do have to reduce it to something in the mid-to upper '80s' to calm it down. The Gamma I might run higher, but I often can't get it much above '94' or '95' without it started to get noisy so it is similar to running the Omega at a higher (highest) Sensitivity level.

I'll just add that I seldom set my detector down to recover a target. Maybe 1 out of 10 times when I am hunting in a grassy park or similar site. Most recoveries I make quickly and squatted or bent, depending upon how I am feeling at the time, and I just use my left-hand for all recoveries and right-hand to hold the detector.


[quotre=D&P-OR]-------So my question I want to ask you----If I'm running them both (Gamma & Omega) in higher sensitivity (in disc) and the Gamma is quiet(er) and the Omega is "chattery"----what's really happening?[/quote]
IF, let's say, BOTH of these models, the Gamma and Omega, are set at THEIR highest Sensitivity reading of '99', how would they compare. The question is this: Are the numeric Sensitivity settings used equal for both models? Is a setting of '80' the same for each model?

Since they are using the same power (one 9V battery) and share the same control housing (so there's no difference in shielding, or lack thereof), is there an actual difference in the value or level of Sensitivity assigned to the numeric adjustment settings of each model, or does one model (the Omega) actually have a sort of 'boost' in the upper ranges of the adjustment?

----Besides the irritating Omega chatter (when stationery). ------When hunting, is the Omega reading on smaller targets (because of the thresholds "wider" range)?

I have found small targets with both the Omega and Gamma. I will say that I have found the smallest of these, some very tough-to-find gold ear rings that many other detectors don't even respond to, when using the Omega. I haven't compared both detector on a naturally-located deeper coin, but I might in the future. I know that I have done 'OK' with the Gamma, but I think I did a bit better last fall when hunting 3 days away from home with the Omega, mainly, and did get some deeper coins with it.

------Would both detectors (under these settings & all things being equal as much as possible) be getting the same depth on coin size targets?

Still the same basic question, and I'll try to put a 'spin' on it. The questions here need the kind of 'spin' that a broken record might require when it skips back and keeps replaying and replaying. When we used to hear that on the radio, the only 'fix' and right answer came from the Disk Jockey.

So, since the comparison between the Gamma and Omega with regard to the functional Sensitivity levels and noisy operation seem to be a point of discussion that you or I can't give accurate fact on, let's just ask for a knowledgeable DJ's opinion on this topic. Of course the best DJ to do this would be Dave Johnson! Who else ought to know?

-----To put it (ask it) in another way-----when you say you "consider this more of an added boost for the Omega when you can run it at a higher Sensitivity level"------in this case, is this giving the Omega more depth on coin size targets (than the Gamma)---more sensitivity to small targets--or both?

I like both models, I prefer the Omega due to simplicity, rod design, and easier one-hand operation with more visual display info available. Unless I seriously sought a few very deep targets to compare, I'll just say both models are very good, and I favor the Omega.

-------Just trying to figure out what benefit (if any) this would have.-------I know I've been able to run the Gamma at the same higher sensitivity levels as the Omega and had a lot quieter (less chattery) machine.-----------Del

I just hope Dave Johnson reads this and is interested in responding and maybe clarifying the gain differences between these two models.

Happy Hunting, and I'll be passing through Baker City again soon. I have 4 times since May 22nd, but haven't seen any exciting renovation to work. Maybe you could ask them to rip up some of the city park next week, like around Thursday or Friday, when I might be passing through with some time on my hands.

Monte

 

[D&P-OR]

Hey Monte----Stop in & see me when you get down this way.-----I'm sending you a P.M. ---------Del

 

[TerraDigger]

Baker City, Del.....your in my backyard.....lol

 

[D&P-OR]

Baker City, Del.....your in my backyard.....lol

Yeah, not all that far from you.----If I remember right you said once you are in the Boise area, right?----I go down there for VA health care occasionally at the VA hospital.----------Del