How long did it take you to really get it ?

[jsandman]

I have had four hunts now with a total of say 10 hours on my E-Trac which is all this week. I played with my dads Ace 350 for a few hours before that. Other than that I have no experience metal detecting.

When I go out I usually just dig the highest tones.......I have the VDI chart but bringing a paper copy to hunt is just a mess.
How long did it take you guys to really get the tones on an E-Trac and how long did it take you to memorize the VDI numbers ?

Right now I have just gotten extremely lucky with what I have found............I just know the tone is high and I dig it but I really want to understand the tones and numbers.........other than practice is there any ways you all have found helpful to associate the numbers to the sounds ?

Thanks,
James

[filthyflyer39]

me and my dad have been sharing a safari (little less than an etrac) for almost a year and we still get surprises and fooled all the time. so much of the ways these machines read is variable. even now, it seems like I learn something new about the machine, ground conditions, or even detecting in general every time out. just keep on getting out and digging and you'll start to see some patterns for different signals. the most important thing is to keep on digging

[Lookn4Seated]

....I still don't get it.

I've gotten surprised on almost every hunt. Signals i was certain would be silver were memorials or wheaties, and ones i was certain were wheaties or other junk and were seated dimes.

It's the beauty of the hobby. You just never get it......That's why its so damn addicting. You never know what will come out of that hole until you cut that plug.

You are already doing much better than I was when I first got my E-trac. Keep doing what you're doing, and the numbers and tones will just get retained in your memory naturally.

[tmanfromtexas]

I started off in 4 tone as I just hated the multitone. I left it in factory set and went to swinging. I finally changed over to multitone and after about 20 hours I started feeling confident. L4S is right though, it isnt an exact science and due to what else may be in the hole or very near the target may give some off tones that may surprise you. TMAN...

[Rockin Chairs Gold]

Learn to listen to the tones the machine gives. On more then one occasion I have had numbers like 12-31 12-38 and dug some really nice Wheat backs. I once had a reading of 12-39 12-40 and dug a 1876cc dime. Though the numbers didn't fit the high pitched tones did. If the numbers don't seem quite right but the pitch does, dig it.

Like some one else said this is not an exact science, and you will be often surprised. When I first got into this hobby there was no Target ID, no Tone ID, No discrimination, no VLF ground balance. Just a machine that went beep and you dug everything. What we have today is a really big improvement. Practice, practice, pratice, and have fun while your doing it.
Rick IL

[MR Senior L4S]

FOREVER !!! 40+ years with MD , and learning .