Trace, How To Use It

[DaugBiscuit]

I would like to hear a discussion on Trace and how to understand it better, I simply don't understand what it's telling me. I have read the manual and seen the Minelab video but there is little discussion about how to use it or how to read what it is telling me. The manual give a picture and identifies Horizontal Trace, Diagonal Trace, Vertical Trace but there is very little explanation or discussion about it. Maybe I'm just too dumb to get it but I am having trouble applying what they say about trace in the field.

I need help from the more experienced CTX users on this forum.

Thanks,
Don

 

[Buried Crap NJ]

Don, Don't be too hard on yourself. I'll second the request on more info on target trace. I see it about the best I can come up with from my readings is if it acks like fireworks that a bad thing (target)!
BCNJ

 

[DaugBiscuit]

BCNJ, of the four illustrations given in the Minelab material, e.g., Diagonal Trace, Vertical Trace, Horizontal Trace, and Erratic Tract, the last one is the only one I somewhat understand and recognize to some degree, that is that Erratic Trace points to junk; the other three are mystery to me. Maybe I just don't understand the principal behind Trace but not being an engineer at this point I fail to see the value in the Trace option - but it does add some pretty colors on the detect screen.

Having said that however, there must be a purpose to Trace and I shall keep on studying and searching for thought.
Don.....

 

[amberjack]

i have found that a small orange dot in the middle of the black cross hairs cursor is a coin or coin shaped item, big red dot 95% chance of junk, anything else has been junk for me, not sure about the up down trace lines always been junk for me, anyway it seems to be working for me so that's about all i can add. this is not in pin point mode i must add..

so a nice sound and a small dot equals coin for me.

hope others can add to the discussion

AJ

 

[Gso125]

i have found that a small orange dot in the middle of the black cross hairs cursor is a coin or coin shaped item, big red dot 95% chance of junk, anything else has been junk for me, not sure about the up down trace lines always been junk for me, anyway it seems to be working for me so that's about all i can add. this is not in pin point mode i must add..

so a nice sound and a small dot equals coin for me.

hope others can add to the discussion

AJ

I'm the exact opposite if I have good sound and the orange target is solid both directions it's been most likely a coin.

 

[amberjack]

i have found that a small orange dot in the middle of the black cross hairs cursor is a coin or coin shaped item, big red dot 95% chance of junk, anything else has been junk for me, not sure about the up down trace lines always been junk for me, anyway it seems to be working for me so that's about all i can add. this is not in pin point mode i must add..

so a nice sound and a small dot equals coin for me.

hope others can add to the discussion

AJ

I'm the exact opposite if I have good sound and the orange target is solid both directions it's been most likely a coin.

is that filling the black cursor with orange or red is that in pin point or normal detect mode?

i am using 5 tone bins.

AJ

 

[hershey1]

Sorry guy's I am in the same boat with you. Where you at Digger?

 

[Gso125]

I use the ctx in a few coin modes from the classroom ie. Docs and Gonehuntings. The target cursor is filled in solid red/ orange in normal mode and if in pinpoint mode it can get more solid block like as you hold the button. I'm also using ferrous- coin in the modes.

I tried the sizing pinpointing but really didn't figure it out so I just use normal pinpoint mode.

 

[grouser]

i have found that a small orange dot in the middle of the black cross hairs cursor is a coin or coin shaped item, big red dot 95% chance of junk, anything else has been junk for me, not sure about the up down trace lines always been junk for me, anyway it seems to be working for me so that's about all i can add. this is not in pin point mode i must add..

so a nice sound and a small dot equals coin for me.

hope others can add to the discussion

AJ

I'm the exact opposite if I have good sound and the orange target is solid both directions it's been most likely a coin.

I agree,,,,, I look for the cursor to be totally full of color and round,,, that is a good sign for me it's a coin,,, the TT is just a screen showing all the signals/visual record the MD is getting while your moving the coil,,,, it just puts them on the screen for you to see/analize and decide what your seeing,,, will read more about the orientation of the lines,,, I missed that part in the book,,,

 

[DaugBiscuit]

will read more about the orientation of the lines,,, I missed that part in the book,,,

I thought I saw those Target Trace Lines in the Owners Manual but actually I saw them in this video at frame 1:30. Scroll down and watch the video here http://www.minelab.com/usa/treasure-talk/ctx-3030-discrimination-advantages

There you will see the Horizontal Trace, Diagonal Trace, Vertical Trace, and the Erratic Trace discussed by Minelab. There is not mutch detail though.
Don.....

 

[spanish silver]

Nice post, I anxiously awaiting a expert to chum in on this matter haha,

 

[Jason in TN]

For me a bottle cap beer cap at the beach will some time sound good but give a up and down trace. Up and down usually cap at the beach. Have had no good targets do this.

Jason

 

[amberjack]

see at 1.38 on that video that's a good target for me a "coin" it can get a bit fuller and red-er but 95% of the time if its full its a screw cap or something i don't want, not really seen the 2 coins under coil much if hardly ever
am using FE coin and 5 tone bins.

interesting anyway how results differ.

i have had the machine sense release date and dug a lot of coins.

not saying anyone is right or wrong here just sharing what is working for me, most of my sites have lots of iron like 90% of coin targets i have recovered have had the iron cursor saying iron is there too when the top cursor is saying coin small orange dot or part filled not a to red cursor and audio saying coin. it has been a coin or a coin type target

like i said before i have dug some coins with a full cursor but 95% of full curser targets has been something i don't want.

interesting discussion 1st one that has really got my attention on here to warrant a post in the way of helping and learning

AJ

 

[Digger]

Page 11 in the manual: Target Trace shows a real time animation of the many detections per second that the detector uses to determine a Target

 

[Porschephile]

Like said above the trace is the visual record of multiple detections by the machine graphed as to ferrous and conductivity properties of the target. Each tiny orange pixel seems to represent one detection (or a very small number of detections) by the CTX. If the target is shallow, large, or both then the trace will be big and dark. The opposite is true for small and deep targets because the machine has more of a challenge detecting them. If the trace is spread out in a large figure, you probably have a heterogeneous target which is usually trash. If you have two or more distinct traces then you may have two or more targets. Hope I am correct here. These have been my experiences. Your mileage may vary...

 

[Digger]

Agreed. Those very small dots of orange that float over the screen are what I refer to as a meteor shower. Usually very small bits of iron and oxidation. When multiple targets are all coins, they will be more difficult to "separate" on the Smartscreen because US coins all register around a 12 Ferrous.

Here are three coins and a nail, and how they look using Target Trace.
[attachment 247667 4mixedtargets.JPG]
[attachment 247668 targettrace4mixedtargets.JPG]

 

[DaugBiscuit]

Here are three coins and a nail, and how they look using Target Trace.

Digger, thank you for the picture showing what the coins and a nail look like using Target Trace. I believe your picture illustrates Pinpoint Target Trace, can you show us what Detecting Trace will look like? Pinpoint Trace continues to add to the depth of the trace in size and color the longer you hold the trigger and sweep the target, but I am interested in what it looks like before pinpoint.

Thanks to everyone for your input regarding "Trace, How To Use It."
Don.....

 

[Gem71]

I would say the best way to learn Target Trace and the detector for that matter would be to set up a coin garden with different conductors together, single coins at different depths, some iron targets, foil, lead and the obligatory ring pull and just spend some time watching the screen and listening to the tones in whatever mode you prefer. A few hours of this will save you a lot of wasted digging time and head scratching. JHMO

 

[Digger]

I believe your picture illustrates Pinpoint Target Trace, can you show us what Detecting Trace will look like? Pinpoint Trace continues to add to the depth of the trace in size and color the longer you hold the trigger and sweep the target, but I am interested in what it looks like before pinpoint.

Here are three shots of a nickel laying to the left of a penny by two inches...

This first shot is as I sweep right to left. In other words, the center of the coil had already passed over the penny as is now on the nickel.
[attachment 247702 nickelheadedtowardpenny.JPG]


The second shot is sweeping both targtets left to right. In other words, the center of the coil had already passed over the nickel and is now on the penny.
[attachment 247703 pennytonickel.JPG]


The third shot is target trace pinpoint, repeatedly Xing over both targets.
[attachment 247704 pptracenickelabovepenny.JPG]

 

[DaugBiscuit]

Here are three shots of a nickel laying to the left of a penny by two inches...

Digger, this is what I was interested in seeing; these snapshots and the video by Phil Beck have helped alot. Thanks
HH,
Don.....