The possible target ID of all manufacturers is just that, a possible target. The identification feature has to include variables such as depth, diameter, variations in conductivity, and attitude of the target.

Take, for example, a half-dollar at five inches. If the half-piece is flat, the indicator will probably pick it accurately. Now pitch it at an angle of 45 degrees. The cotact area that echoes a signal to your coil has been greatly reduced and the coin might now appear as a quarter, or a dime, based on how steep its pitch actually is.

Now, consider your sardine can... the depth was eight inches... to your detector, it might have been seen as a half dollar at a slightly different depth. Since there are far more variables than pitch and depth, the detector companies are using a common sense approach to the whole thing and recommend using several approaches to target ID. In the end, though, they all say the only way to know for sure is dig everything.

My Bounty Hunter products use 3-tone ID and LCD target read-out to indentify object. There is also a depth of target meter. Still, I dig when in doubt.

Mickey Maguire magfly@infinet.com