Simplified Golden uMax Settings

[reddirtfisher]

Hi, I have a Golden uMax ( older version) and I'm still trying to figure out the best settings for it. I have read all the postings lately about the notch on the Golden and it looks like a lot of you don't use the notch feature. So what is it's value then? I am so confused that I'm about ready to get rid of it but I really want to learn how to use it better. Would someone please volunteer some SIMPLIFIED information on how to set up a Golden uMax's notch feature?
What are the best settings for gold? When I flip over to narrow notch it always completely knocks out the zinc ( where big gold rings live). This happens no matter where the notch width control is set and my disc below nickels. I would like for someone to share their best overall setting for gold and the best setting for coins. Please explain it as simple as possible. I just can't get the hang of it yet. HELP !!!

 

[The Magician]

I find that notch, no matter what setting, will knock out most of the larger gold rings. The idea is that there are more smaller rings in parks that fit under the pulltab range, so using notch to knock out pulltabs will still allow you to get that higher % of gold. As to what the notch does specifically, use the search function, there are others here who have explained it with diagrams and you might understand it better than what I would. But here is my explanation:

The notch function, for all intense and purposes is fixed. You can't move it, but you can widen it or narrow it. Is sits right on top of the pulltab conductive range.

In the disc range, you have: ...iron......foil......5c......pulltab......1c......silver... The notch only functions when you flick the notch switch to "narrow" or "wide". This will also activate the notch turn knob to be used for customising notch.

With notch functioning, you have: ...iron......foil......5c....|...notch zone...|....1c......silver...
__________________________...Start of notch zone ^ __________.. ^End of notch zone. In between these zones, everything is notched out.

The "notch width" knob will move the start of the notch zone left or right, indicated in red: ...iron......foil......5c....|notch zone...|....1c......silver...

The "narrow"/"wide" notch switch will move the end of the notch zone accordingly, indicated green: ...iron......foil......5c....|...notch zone|....1c......silver...

This way, you set it up however you want to set it up. You might want to notch out more than just the pulltab, so you set it wider on whichever side...or go narrower to let more targets through. When you have the notch switch in the off position, the "notch width" knob has a different functionality. It shifts the position of the lower two tones. There are too many variables to mention, you set this up however you want it to.

You can also use the tones as a guide to what you want to dig, especially if what you're looking for only falls into one of the range of tones. Most Silver for example, will only fall in the highest tone range. This way, you can keep the disc down in order to get more depth, and only listen for the highest tone if you're only looking for silver. That's just a simple example. It's up to you how you want to advance yourself with it.

 

[The Magician]

Don't sell your Golden. One other important thing I want to mention is get a Cleansweep coil (it's so good it deserves to be typed out in with a capital initial), if you can't find one, just about any round coil will be better than the stock.

 

[tabman]

When I flip over to narrow notch it always completely knocks out the zinc ( where big gold rings live).

When in narrow notch a zinc penny is suppose to be accepted. Send it to Tesoro to be calibrated correctly.

I don't use the notch unless I'm in extremely trashy sites. Take a foil cap and throw on the ground and start sweeping the coil above it.

With the notch width switch in the off position use the notch width control knob to move the foil cap tone just barely into the iron tone.

Dig all clean small sounding beeps above the iron tone. After you dig lots of trash you will eventually find a nice gold ring.

I don't care how much money you spend on a detector, you're going to have to dig trash to find gold rings.

tabman

 

[reddirtfisher]

Wow !!!Thanks Magician & Tabman. Those are the best and easiest explainations I have ever seen. That helps a lot. I understand it a whole lot better now that I know that the notch width is in a "fixed" area and just where that area begins and ends. Tesoro should have put that in the manual !!!

 

[Idxpro]

Watch 53'silver's video's on youtube.........great stuff

 

[tabman]

Watch 53'silver's video's on youtube.........great stuff

Here's one of them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxz6oueP4t0

Here's another one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDgLYEBqg_g

tabman

 

[Topdecker]

I don't use the notch unless I'm in extremely trashy sites.
tabman

Quoted for truth. Unless your goal is to not recover anything but clad, you have to invest the energy and time to get the better stuff.

One thing that I had forgotten about about Tesoro detectors (and probably analog detectors in general) is how adversely discrimination impacts the depth. For instance, if you dial up your discrimination to max, you will get less than 50% of the potential depth. If you conduct some air tests with varying levels of discrimination in use, it will quickly teach you to use discrimination in moderation.

The Golden is an excellent trash arbiter in the sense that you can set your discrimination to a tad above iron and use the audio to control what you dig. This means that you can get maximum depth while using your ears to discriminate and it is something that no other detector in Tesoro's lineup really offers until you get to a target ID machine. And in my opinion, the TID machines are a lot slower to use - monitoring a display requires multiple sweeps of a heavier detector and more of your attention.

Top

 

[reddirtfisher]

That's a very good point. I have always used tone ID detectors from other brands but the Golden is really the only choice we have as loyal Tesorists !!! Tone ID detectors are a must for me personally

 

[SpiritRelic]

I am amazed at the knowledge you guy's have with Tesoro detectors.I have seen nothing like this in the four years reading this forum.I want to say thank you.You guy's are great! The weather is changing and hope the finds start pouring in.I myself am going to to try to really learn and stay in the field more.Thanks to all for the great info and talent.