Questions from a novice 705 user.

[homebre]

Just lost the message I typed out. So here I go again. Background: I live in central NC with mostly red clay soil with iron. I have had the Xterra 705 for about a month now. So far I have only been hunting coins and jewelry. I have reread the manual and am reading the E-book. I also did a few simple experiments, In AM mode with auto GB I tested some objects such as rings, coins, lead, and pulltabs. on a terra cotta surface. I noticed that the ID values would jump around as I swing over the objects slowly Variations were usually from 2 to 4 numbers. Is this normal?

Other questions:
1. Do most people use auto GB, tracking GB, or manual? I read auto is the most accurate.
2. Do most people use target stabilization?
3. What threshold do people generally use?
4. What sensitivity do people generally use?
5. How many tones do you use?
6. Do ID numbers vary with the depth of the object?

I know conditions and environments vary as well as the object of the hunt and the skill of the operator, but I just wanted to get some ideas how to improve my accuracy with the maching. Thanks for any comments.

Andy from Hillsborough

 

[7centsworth]

My numbers jump sometimes that much.
I usually use tracking on. Unless I get in real trashy ground then I auto ground balance.
I never use stabilized I'd
I use two tones sometimes three. I use to use three an four but relic hunting got me to using two all the time no matter what I'm hunting.
I usually run my threshold at 4
After about 6 inches the id is not as accurate. At least not for me.
I use the low frequency nine inch and the coiltek digger te most. When I'm relic hunting I use different coils. Hope this helps. Feel free to pm me anytime.

 

[ahunter]

The target numbers will and do bounce, the E book has an excellent section on this question.
I run my 705 in auto GB tracking all the time, with your bad soil you can also GB offset this is also explained in the E book.
Never use the target stabilized function.
Threshold is set so I can just hear the hum and hear the blanking/nulling when using discrimination.
Sensitivity as high as it will go without excessive chatter.
I use 4 tones and 99 tones, my wife only uses 4 tones on her 705, the multi tones gives you more info.
Accurate TID is affected by many variables depth of target, orientation in the ground, close proximity of other targets, mineralization in the ground and more.
I do use the auto noise cancel and if the machine starts to chatter I will noise cancel again before reducing sensitivity.
I use pattern 4 with no notches, and if I get in the heavy iron and get tired of the noise, I go to pattern 1 with number 48 notched back in.
My wife runs the HF 5x10 DD, I run the MF 10.5 " DD, the 9" LF concentric hits silver and copper very well, poor IMO on nickles.
And there you have it, different coils different frequencies for different types of hunting the X-Terra 705 is one of the best all around single frequency detectors out there.

 

[homebre]

Thanks for your help. You said you never use ID stabilization. do you just not use it, or are you saying you shouldn't use it?

 

[ahunter]

Should have read I never use the ID stabilization.