Spectra V3i

[blund]

Just Bought a spectra V3i to use close to home for some prospecting I will use it in the parks and the beach as well I fish a lot I need something to do when the bite is slow. I need help with proper setup i.e coil to use and program changes to be made I have the standard coil that came with the machine A DD coil...

Thanks all...

 

[MI-AuAg]

Hello blund301,

I know the V3i has a dedicated prospecting program. I don't own one. I assume when the prospecting program is employed, it would put the machine in all metal mode, using the highest single frequency, not multi.

Generally smaller coils will work with small gold better. Won't go as deep. In most locations sub gram gold is what is found, not huge nuggets.

Concentric coils tend to be more sensitive, but, are less effective in harsh ground. The DD coils handle bad ground better.

I have a GMT a totally different animal than yours! I can't help with any customized settings therfore.

Hopefully, someone who uses, or has used a V3i can help out. To my knowlege, the V3i isn't one of the more common VLF machines used for nugget shooting.

GOOD LUCK

 

[steve herschbach]

The Prospecting mode is the way to go. You can use the coil that came with the detector unless you are halfway serious about this.

If you do want to put extra money and effort into it, a 6" x 10" DD coil would be the best all around option for prospecting but in all honesty not a huge difference over the stock coil. Going to the 4" x 6" Shooter coil might give you more versatility. The V3i does not ground track as well as the MXT and GMT, so the best thing you can do if you get serious about nugget detecting with the machine is get familiar with locking the ground tracking and doing the ground balance manually.

I gave it a go but frankly found the V3i a bit too digital in its responses for my liking. It does very well in milder ground but is a struggle to use in real mineralized ground. If you want to get into gold prospecting the price of a 6" x 10" Eclipse coil would cover half the cost of a brand new Fisher Gold Bug (the base $499 model) which would work better and be easier to master.

Best of luck to you!

 

[blund]

Steve What do you think about for the beach. I know the DD coil is not water proof what Coil would you recommend, for use with the V3i.

 

[steve herschbach]

All White's could are waterproof. Some do float more than other however. The stock DD would be the choice for mineralized black sand beaches, and the 950 concentric a popular option for milder white sand type beaches.

 

[blund]

Thank you Steve I am on the west coast, well kink of I live @ 3,000' above Jackson Ca.