Question for OMEGA owners...

[bubbadirect]

Just a quick question for all OMEGA 8000 owners. Does this unit have built into it a threshold setting? Let me explain what I mean. My MD hunting buddies and I go relic hunting in CW era fields looking for relics that are deep CW finds. 3 of them have Whites units and one has a Nautilus. While the Nautilus doesn't do this, the WHITES detectors will let them know that they have something deep in the ground by giving them an audio low growl type of sound, while the visual screen does not register whatever it is that is in the ground (means it is SOMETHING deep) Nothing usually (but sometimes) will let them know via VDI or anything visual on the screen that the detector "thinks" it is, but when headphones are on, you can "HEAR" something that the detector is trying to decode and let you know that there is something good in the ground, deep, with a low pitched growl.

In other words, if it doesn't register every time visually, it will let them know by the way it "sounds". Does the OMEGA have this capability? Does the T2? In my price range the OMEGA is what I am leaning towards, but I would like to know about your experience with this. Does the OMEGA have sounds like this that let you know that something is DEEP in the ground?

Thanks in advance,
bubbadirect

 

[chillyhiker]

The omega does have an all metal mode but no way to adjust the threshold that I am aware of. Hope this helps

 

[Monte]

a very functional All Metal mode that features Auto-Tune. It is the better mode to adjust the Ground Balance is, too. While you can GB in the Discriminate mode, the silent operation really calls for a press of the Pinpoint touch-pad to determine if the Ground Grab function got a "spot on" GB or if you might need to tweak it a bit.

However, look at the Owner's Manual on page 15 regarding Ground Balancing the Omega 8000. It suggests you select the Auto-Tuned All Metal mode and do the following (Step 3):

"Rotate SENS knob to point where you hear a slight background hum."

In short, a "Threshold" audio in the All Metal, mode. And to your questions I can say ... YES, this is the deepest and more sensitivity operating mode for the Omega 8000 and you can hear targets that are deep. I use Killer B Wasp or SunRay Pro Gold headphones for some of the best audio response possible.

Monte

 

[bubbadirect]

thank you for the response MONTE! But can you "hear" something via your headphones that something is "deep"? Can you hear it? What does it sound like? Whisper? Low growl? What?

Thanks again!
bubbadirect

p.s. I ordered my unit today! I am so excited!

 

[Monte]

yes, I can hear things via a Threshold-set All Metal mode. If I'm shooting for modern change at a playground I like to hunt in the Discriminate mode with d4 Tones. General hunting around ghost towns or logging camps or homesteads and so forth, where I like to hunt and hear all metals but classify most iron, I like the Discriminate mode in d2.

thank you for the response MONTE! But can you "hear" something via your headphones that something is "deep"? Can you hear it? What does it sound like? Whisper? Low growl? What? p.s. I ordered my unit today! I am so excited!

When I want to "get it all" and am hunting a site where I am looking for ANY sign of past human activity, I opt for the All Metal mode. Some who haven't hunting often in an All Metal mode, especially with a quick Auto-Tune function, might find it a bit challenging to get used to.

I hate to try and describe the audio because we each interpret some of the audio responses differently. But I like the proportional VCO audio that lets me hear weaker sounding responses from smaller and/or deeper targets Vs strong ,shallow-target responses. You've ordered an Omega so I think it won't be long before YOU can use and learn and master the Omega 8000's different modes and determine how it will best serve you.

Monte

 

[Old Katz]

[size=large]To Bubbadirect:
I was curious and asked people on the MXT forum and got his respone I want to share with you:[/size]
Katz

I now that it is difficult, at times, to explain what YOU listen for so others might understand.

Quote
Old Katz
I was looking at another forum where the writer was asking the following question and he mentions the MXT:

Just a quick question for all OMEGA 8000 owners. Does this unit have built into it a threshold setting? Let me explain what I mean. My MD hunting buddies and I go relic hunting in CW era fields looking for relics that are deep CW finds. 3 of them have Whites units and one has a Nautilus.

This was, or could have been, difficult for some to answer because they are not familiar with the MXT or other models that have traditionally relied upon a audible "Threshold" setting.

Quote
Old Katz
... the WHITES detectors will let them know that they have something deep in the ground by giving them an audio low growl type of sound, while the visual screen does not register whatever it is that is in the ground (means it is SOMETHING deep).

Many/most makes and models will not provide a very accurate, or even functional, visual Target ID on "deep" targets. The "low growl" sound could be referring to using the Relic Mode with with the all-metal "mixed-mode" audio, or was the poster referring to just a low (as in weak or faint) audio response from a deeper target? My 'guess' would be the use of Relic Mode but ... ???? You would mainly get the "low growl" audio from iron .. OR .. from a target that is deep enough to be just out of the effective range of the motion-based Discriminate mode. Thus, the All Metal mode (working in the Relic's "mixed-mode" function) might be all that is conveyed.


Quote
Old Katz
Nothing usually (but sometimes) will let them know via VDI or anything visual on the screen that the detector "thinks" it is, but when headphones are on, you can "HEAR" something that the detector is trying to decode and let you know that there is something good in the ground, deep, with a low pitched growl.

Yep, this sounds like the MXT''s Relic mode with just a hint of a response from a deep target.


Quote
Old Katz
Ok, I wasn't aware of this. I've never heard it on my MXT. Can any of you Guru's enlighten me? Maybe this applies only to certain White machines.

While it was stated there was a "low growl audio" and no good visual TID, or nothing repeatable or "lock-on" perhaps, what was missing was a description of what Gain (Sensitivity) level was being used. If the MXT's Gain setting was at about the 10-o'clock position to about a 12-o'clock position, then in the Relic Mode the MXT will not only produce a 2-tone audio with a "low growl" from ferrous targets, but also from those targets that the All Metal function might process but not ample signal to be filtered through the Discriminate mode.

This is one reason why I prefer, as do many savvy MXT users, to operate with a higher Gain setting. Most often I work my MXT above the factory "preset" marker and will be at the +3 position. A little noisy, perhaps, but that's okay with me in most settings. If it is terribly noisy, then I reduce it only enough to be a bit more stable.

I searching at a low to mid-range Gain level, the audio will be much more modulated whereby shallower targets will produce a strong audio but after a few inches from the coil he audio response will start to drop off and get weaker and weaker as the coil-to-target distance increases. The result could be a lower-level of audio and much less total response including less signal for TID processing.

By working the MXT at the higher gain settings you will hear a stronger audio response that will be more saturated, and that means a stronger (louder) audio from 'deeper' targets and more signal for processing. This could result in more TID information being conveyed.

So, the posted comments you refer to might have been someone using an MXT in a dual-tone audio function with a reduced Gain level and they could hear a subtle response from a deeper target provided by the All Metal function of that mode.

Just my thoughts.

Monte