Hi Badfrog,
How did you come up with that name? Well it 's definitely going to fit in here.
Some general thoughts on the matter:
(1) make a point of using the original programs to create your own customized programs, label and save them so you know what they are for ie parks, prospecting, the beach, relic hunting and so on. This step helps to eliminate fooling around on site with the menu system, since you can use the shortcut keys, especially the up/down keys to return to your last menu parameter setting. In the field, normally I then only adjust the AC Sensitivity according to the ground minerals and access it simply by pushing either the up or down arrow key; even here in iron rich ground, I can still use max sens most of the time.
(2) to get an "edge" on depth, I recommend that you adjust your autotrack to track slightly positive (plus one will do fine); not too much, otherwise the ground will sound off as a target whenever you pull the pinpoint trigger to check targets.
(3) run the sensitivity as high as possible without getting unstable operation, which will mostly present itself initially in the guise of jumpy VDI indications.
(4) I prefer modulation on targets, but if you turn it off, all signals will read the same volume regardless of depth...which many do prefer.
(5) pre-amp gain increases the signal strength transmitted and will give you more depth to a point, but don't overdo it or the machine will be unstable, and prone to overloading. Preprogram it in say at a level of 3 to 5 in a separate but otherwise identical "park hunting" custom type mode, so you can try it out occasionally when the mood or need arises.
(6) if the area is not too laden with signals try out the all-metal mode by simply turning off the audio discrimination under basic adjustments; the unit will still give visual ID. This will provide substantively more depth, although the visual ID will not go as deep as the audio (in any mode configuration this is true).
(7) I prefer to avoid using tone ID, as it is not reliable on deeper targets in my highly mineralized soils. Coins at the fringe of discriminate detection can read at plus 95, or jump around erratically, or read as iron when deep. By using straight single tone for signals, it alerts you to at least check it out with your pinpoint trigger to determine the depth. If it's deep, dig it even if the signal is not a two way solid signal...because a deep broken signal may not be the result of your discrimination circuits coming into play, but rather as a results of the circuits inability to discern the target clearly...at that depth.
8. if you're in an iron infested area, ie relic hunting, pay attention to the signagraph for bars on the left side, or, scattered right across the entire screen, for iron ID. The signagraph is very reliable, and more dependable than the audio discrimination for iron ID. The signagraph will continue to present iron info no matter where your disc VDI settings are set at. It's so dependable on large iron, I use it as a backcheck on large iron in mine tailings, to save a lot of digging. I've checked large iron readings innumerable times, and it has always been spot on. The only "if" is that you do have to ensure it's a good solid signal strength (that's regardless of whether it's a broken signal or not, although as you know, a shallow broken audio signal usually indicates trash anyway).
(9) ensure "transmit boost" is always turned on, period.
(10) never use disc VDI settings beyond mid-foil range; use the audio to evaluate the signals, use your meter to determine where the target identifies, and use your judgement to determine whether to dig. I prefer to keep my settings no higher than minus 30 to ensure better depth and cleaner signals, unless it's full of trashy signals, then to save sanity, I'll up the disc to about "plus 9", and no more. Less disc = more depth. Again, set up your custom programs to accomodate these settings, so there's no fooling around with the menu...in the field.
(11) set your threshold to "1" and leave it there. This provides best hearing sensitivity to targets, particularly in the all-metal mode. When using the all metal mode, try leaving the SAT control set to about "8"; reading the manual, you may think that's too high. It isn't, and you will agree once in a typical park setting (with multi-signals everywhere, you will want the quicker speed for better separation of targets). Besides, you'll still get better depth than with the "audio disc" in the on position.
(12) keep bottlecap reject setting very low ie. "1, or 2"; any higher, and you start discing out deeper desirable targets. Try it and you'll agree. The signagraph is usually sufficient to id iron once you learn it. Incidently, leave the "recovery rate at the default setting; if you want better separation, go get a smaller coil. Increasing the recovery rate, decreases depth of detection.
OK...that's about all I can think of for now, without going and trying to find the old manual to check for anything else. Hope you'll keep in touch here and let us know how you're progressing. See ya and good luck
Jim.
