Saltwater beach depth question

[JCR]

Are there any combinations of settings that provide more depth in wet salt than the others. I dig every signal that repeats even if it only repeats once. I discriminate bobby pins only.
Thanks,
JR

 

[mtwolf2270]

The 2 big things is turn seawater setting off when coil is not submerged in saltwater and second is set manual sensitivity to the highest stable position. I never use fast on in any mode I find it degrades the audio response, target info and id numbers too much. I also feel you lose depth the CTX is fast enough with out that filter. Deep on is also good and a little slower sweep speed in dry sand and wet sand will work better with deep on. In the water when seawater function is turned on you need to keep your swing speed as fast as possible to ensure maximum depth you may also need to adjust sensitive in deeper or shallower water. Hope that helps HH

Matt

 

[stitchlips]

I thought you were supposed to use the seawater setting even on the wet sand and faster swing speed with seawater on in the ocean equals more depth?

I have found very deep targets with deep on and high trash on. Some so deep I can't recover them. I have noticed that I tend to lose targets in the wet sand and water too. I will get a good repeatable signal. Pinpoint, dig. Target still in hole. Dig, Target still in hole. Dig, target not sounding in hole and not in scoop and nowhere to be found. What gives? I dont know if it is because they are so small or because they sink. I have pulled ear ring backs out of 6 inches with this thing.

 

[PowerDetecting]

I was told to use auto instead of manual while on the beach since conditions are always changing. I agree with fast off and deep on. I use salt water setting even if i am on dry sand I have not noticed any loss in depth at all from this.

 

[stitchlips]

I was told to use auto instead of manual while on the beach since conditions are always changing. I agree with fast off and deep on. I use salt water setting even if i am on dry sand I have not noticed any loss in depth at all from this.

When you use auto, do you crank it to plus 3? Just wondering.

 

[PowerDetecting]

Most of the time I stay on +3 but some times it will false and either deal with the falsing or drop it down to +2 and sometimes even lower.

 

[DaytonaGold]

I thought you were supposed to use the seawater setting even on the wet sand and faster swing speed with seawater on in the ocean equals more depth?

I have found very deep targets with deep on and high trash on. Some so deep I can't recover them. I have noticed that I tend to lose targets in the wet sand and water too. I will get a good repeatable signal. Pinpoint, dig. Target still in hole. Dig, Target still in hole. Dig, target not sounding in hole and not in scoop and nowhere to be found. What gives? I dont know if it is because they are so small or because they sink. I have pulled ear ring backs out of 6 inches with this thing.

This exact same thing happens to me as well. I'm about ready to give Minelab a call and found out what the heck is going on, it's happening more frequently too

 

[mtwolf2270]

Per Minelab new updated manual and a minelab rep "When detecting with the coil submerged in salt water, use the Seawater function to maintain a higher Sensitivity level for maximum depth without the occurrence of false signals. For maximum depth the Sensitivity level may need to be adjusted when detecting in deeper/shallower water. If the Sensitivity is reduced so it is quiet at all water depths then you could be missing opportunities to have the Sensitivity higher!
When detecting on the beach out of the water or inland turn the Seawater function off. This is to eliminate the Seawater functions sweep speed effect and other filtering to ensure maximum depth when away from the water.

NOTES
With Seawater on, keeping your sweep speed as fast as possible will provide maximum depth. As mentioned above
Most beaches are non-mineral

 

[stitchlips]

I thought you were supposed to use the seawater setting even on the wet sand and faster swing speed with seawater on in the ocean equals more depth?

I have found very deep targets with deep on and high trash on. Some so deep I can't recover them. I have noticed that I tend to lose targets in the wet sand and water too. I will get a good repeatable signal. Pinpoint, dig. Target still in hole. Dig, Target still in hole. Dig, target not sounding in hole and not in scoop and nowhere to be found. What gives? I dont know if it is because they are so small or because they sink. I have pulled ear ring backs out of 6 inches with this thing.

This exact same thing happens to me as well. I'm about ready to give Minelab a call and found out what the heck is going on, it's happening more frequently too

Let me know if you do call them. I would like to know what they say.

 

[mtwolf2270]

What I quoted is from the product training coordinator in Minelab Austrila as I needed details on seawater feature and sensitivity for a training video I was filming on the seawater function. So that is what minelab says for beach hunting the CTX.....................

 

[swing it low]

I thought you were supposed to use the seawater setting even on the wet sand and faster swing speed with seawater on in the ocean equals more depth?

I have found very deep targets with deep on and high trash on. Some so deep I can't recover them. I have noticed that I tend to lose targets in the wet sand and water too. I will get a good repeatable signal. Pinpoint, dig. Target still in hole. Dig, Target still in hole. Dig, target not sounding in hole and not in scoop and nowhere to be found. What gives? I dont know if it is because they are so small or because they sink. I have pulled ear ring backs out of 6 inches with this thing.

I have had this happen also. What I found out most the time after digging so much the signal can not pick up target because to much air between coil and target. CTX does not go as far in air. Dig more scoops out and check that sand. Also I have been shocked how small some of these targets are. If the just flip on their side the signal can stop. Also these small targets fall threw scoop. Kind o f problems we want I guess?

 

[stitchlips]

I thought you were supposed to use the seawater setting even on the wet sand and faster swing speed with seawater on in the ocean equals more depth?

I have found very deep targets with deep on and high trash on. Some so deep I can't recover them. I have noticed that I tend to lose targets in the wet sand and water too. I will get a good repeatable signal. Pinpoint, dig. Target still in hole. Dig, Target still in hole. Dig, target not sounding in hole and not in scoop and nowhere to be found. What gives? I dont know if it is because they are so small or because they sink. I have pulled ear ring backs out of 6 inches with this thing.

I have had this happen also. What I found out most the time after digging so much the signal can not pick up target because to much air between coil and target. CTX does not go as far in air. Dig more scoops out and check that sand. Also I have been shocked how small some of these targets are. If the just flip on their side the signal can stop. Also these small targets fall threw scoop. Kind o f problems we want I guess?

I have managed to find some targets if I keep scooping. I think you are 100% correct on this issue. I think the there is too much air and the target has either sunk a little deeper or turned on its side.

 

[DaytonaGold]

I thought you were supposed to use the seawater setting even on the wet sand and faster swing speed with seawater on in the ocean equals more depth?

I have found very deep targets with deep on and high trash on. Some so deep I can't recover them. I have noticed that I tend to lose targets in the wet sand and water too. I will get a good repeatable signal. Pinpoint, dig. Target still in hole. Dig, Target still in hole. Dig, target not sounding in hole and not in scoop and nowhere to be found. What gives? I dont know if it is because they are so small or because they sink. I have pulled ear ring backs out of 6 inches with this thing.

This exact same thing happens to me as well. I'm about ready to give Minelab a call and found out what the heck is going on, it's happening more frequently too

Let me know if you do call them. I would like to know what they say.

I called them and told them of the situation I have, they said to do a factory reset or try another coil which I do not have. I will try the factory reset tomorrow and hit the beach. If that doesn't work it's off to Minelab then.

 

[G. E. Edwards]

Ok guys, here's what happens to me in southern California. most beaches I detect have heavy black patches of sand. my Ex call II would grunt loud passing over these areas. My ctx seems to handle them just fine, now I also read to turn seawater off while out of the water. with it on I can run my sens.between 22 and 26 in manuel, with it off I can only run at 14 to 16 or it will false till I do turn it back on., higher sens. numbers over low sens.numbers makes since to me, so I've been leaving it on. I still find deep quarters and dimes. Auto sens. on my beaches will drop down to 1 on most of the areas I work, so it's not even an option. So you can see why it's a bit confusing reading one thing and just the opposite works better. at least on my machine it does. Gene

 

[jtalley007]

Some parts of CA you can only use a pi so if you can run over 20 in manual and are getting some depth you should be set. Be careful with iron discrimination. If ground is high iron then it can kill depth. Try open screen for max depth and just experiment and ask for someone's feedback that hunts the same conditions you have with the same machine. I'm in VA and think our black sand may be conductive? Also try different tone modes and combinations of deep on or off and fast on or off. Ground coin may work there too. Maybe Randy (aka) digger can give some insight? Keep us posted, thanks.

 

[G. E. Edwards]

Thanks Jtalley for your info, Went to a favorite place on the beach today, saw the sand was down a foot or so exposing some big rocks. worked around them and my first find was a 1954 quarter, then next target was a 194? dime, third target was a 1955 wheat. also $2.35 clad. I was using a very high disc. self made pattern, in 2 ferrous mode. I set it up to only pick up quarters, dimes, nickels and copper pennies only. My nickle area is big enough to get most gold rings. Then I reworked the area in silver factory mode. more targets started sounding off, but were crusted clad pennies, a 32 cal.bullet lead, and a few more clad dimes and quarters. this area if infested with chunks of iron and nails. I was using my 17'' coil. not to bad a haul in tons of iron with that size coil, proves how good the ctx 3030 is. Tomorrow if the rocks are still exposed I'll hit the area with the 6''coil and see what pops up. Love that ctx 3030, Gene

 

[unearth]

Ok guys, here's what happens to me in southern California. most beaches I detect have heavy black patches of sand. my Ex call II would grunt loud passing over these areas. My ctx seems to handle them just fine, now I also read to turn seawater off while out of the water. with it on I can run my sens.between 22 and 26 in manuel, with it off I can only run at 14 to 16 or it will false till I do turn it back on., higher sens. numbers over low sens.numbers makes since to me, so I've been leaving it on. I still find deep quarters and dimes. Auto sens. on my beaches will drop down to 1 on most of the areas I work, so it's not even an option. So you can see why it's a bit confusing reading one thing and just the opposite works better. at least on my machine it does. Gene

I hunt So. Cal. beaches also, and this is the same situation with me. Today, hunting in dry sand, I set the ctx to the beach program; man. sens. at 30; ground-coin; seawater setting on; fast off/deep on. The ctx ran great and quiet. When there was falsing, it was very minimal and it didn't last very long. I was finding quarters at 8 to 12 inches and dimes at 5 to 8 inches. Now I didn't have a measuring stick with me, but on some I was digging and digging until I stopped and used my pin pointer to find the target. And most times I just didn't dig deep enough in the first place. I tried using ferrous-coin; seawater off but couldn't keep the machine at man. 30. Had to knock it down to 22 to 24 sens. to get the machine to run pretty stable. When I ran auto +3 the machine wouldn't go any higher than 24 sens and I think the machine recommended a sens. setting of 19 or so. I'll be going back to the beach again soon and will try these settings again.
HH Gary