ken ward said:
In some places you can get EMI, but not very much. I have this Tot Lot I like to hunt. There are high intention power lines right over the top. On sertian days I will get some EMI. Not to much. As far as finding small gold Items. It can not be beat. The 8" coil will go a little deeper. I like the small coil. I can hunt slow and get inbetween the trash signals. It is one of them detectors you just can not put down. It is just fun to use because it does not have a bunch of buttons or knobs..
An excerpt from one of Dave Johnson's essays. This one dealing with electrical interference, this paragraph specifically with overhead power lines.
"when working near overhead power lines, you'll often find that you get the best results right under the power line, and the worst results at about a 30 to 45 degree angle away from the power lines. When you read reports of people bragging that their metal detector worked great right under power lines, this is often the situation. The person doing the bragging often couldn't get out from under the power lines because of weeds, right-of-way fences, etc. and so many have been unaware they didn't have a magic metal detector in their hands."
I experienced the very thing he speaks of. Detector worked great right under the power line, I was amazed. When I was at an angle from it, it started getting sparky.