Reg - A little note on Smooth Mode

[steve herschbach]

Hi Reg,

This is probably meaningless but I figured I'd let you know anyway. I really need a larger set of test targets.

GPX-4000 in normal mode

Quarter Lo-HI
Dime Lo-Hi
Copper Penny Lo-Hi
Zinc Penny Lo-Hi

Nickel Hi-Lo

When I do this with an Infinium the zinc penney goes hi-lo like the nickel. The problem of course on both of these units I cannot manually set the ground balance and so can't fiddle it to see what happens.

GPX-4000 in Smooth Mode

Quarter Hi-Lo
Dime Hi-Lo
Copper Penny Hi-Lo

Zinc Penny Lo-HI
Nickel Lo-Hi

So the zinc penny moves back with the nickel like with the Infinium, whatever that means.

I did this in my office and so he unit was noisey. Smooth Mode is not quieter per se as it does not reduce the interference. I could run the White's PI in my office and it was smooth as silk in straight PI mode and just a little ratty in GB mode. I did try the GPX-4000 in cancel and it did quiet down. In both normal and smooth settings all tones inverted when I went into cancel.

This is a used unit I have for sale. Anything else I might try while I've got it? I'm going to bring in some silver coins tomorrow and add them to the test results plus any other coins I can find. The dime and quarter I used were of course clads.

Steve Herschbach

 

[bearkat4160]

Steve,
Have you tried the Infinium with the new improved coils like when you detect in town and did it make the Infinium more quiet in a populated place?

Its good to here the new Whites PI was quiet in your office, sounds like it will be a winner! I'm still waiting to see the price of it. Sounds like around $2000 from what I hear. So still up in the air between the White and an Infinium with the Improved coils. Is alot of cash for a detector.

Interesting test you have going. Thanks, Alan

 

[steve herschbach]

Hi Alan,

I got buried at work today and did not get around to it. The GPX was sitting in my office but I have to break a new Infinium out of a box to see how the latest units do.

Here is a picture from my old article at http://www.akmining.com/mine/coins_garrett_infinium.htm I was using an Infinium around shool yard equipment. All the items on the left were hi-lo targets and all those on the right were lo-hi targets. As you can see by digging lo-hi only you would get the higher value coins and little trash. The coins of the left are all nickels and zincs. I liked the fact that bottlecaps all came up hi-lo. Most gold items would read with the right hand pile of junk, but frankly that is how it is with VLF units also.

 

[Reg]

Hi Steve,

Actually, your information is quite meaningful.

Looking at the signal changes between the normal mode and the smooth mode, sort of points to a couple of changes. One there is a general tone change or reversal on most of the targets. Second, there is a specific tone change on at least one, which most likely is caused by a change in the relationship between the two (maybe 3 on the ML's ) samples used for ground balancing has changed.

I am not sure why that was done, but there had to have been a reason. What probably isn't obvious are a few other internal changes to help reduce noise levels, etc. Most likely ML is altering the pulses, and the relationship between samples to accomplish the objectives.

The key is to see what they are trying to do in their explanation and that is, to reduce ground noise as well as rock noise, while making it easier to hunt for small gold.

I think you will find simply advancing the GB control to the point that minimizes the most offensive hotrock signal will basically do the same thing on the Whites, while making sure the delay is at minimum. It won't be exact, but the results will be very similar.

Personally, even though I mentioned how to generally create a form of smooth mode, I don't recommend anyone try to compare or duplicate ML modes. Instead, use the new unit, such as the new Whites PI once it is available, to its own advantage. I think once you get a handle on the controls and their functions, you will see how easy it is to set the unit up to do what you want it to do. Then it is a matter of becoming familiar with various combinations to see just what happens to see if that combination fits your needs.

As far as general comparisons go, the best comparison will be when you try the Whites and the ML together in or near any relative noisy environments. Better yet, even in remote areas where you have encountered strange unexplained signals on your ML, I think you will find the Whites to be totally silent in most cases.

There are a couple of reasons for this including somewhat less gain and, of course design differences. Most likely the Whites will sacrifice some shear depth for quietness and ease of use. What serious users will like is the ability to personalize it control wise. The people who have taken time to learn how to best use the detector can generally tell you whats under the coil and buried in the ground. The subtle differences in signals and knowing how to analyze a target using the GB control will tell you a lot about the object.

In other words, I fully expect many if not most of the new owners who take time to learn the new detector will be quite satisfied.

Reg