Iffey Signals

m bryan

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Jun 12, 2010
691
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east texas
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Delta 4000 and Garrett 300 Teknetics T2 Minelab Explorer SE Pro
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You guys dig unstable signals? I have found coins that would hit from one way only but never dug anything good if the signals were unstable and eratic from every direction..... so I usually just pass on them....anybody ever found anything good from a bad signal?
 

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thrillathahunt

Silver Member
Jul 24, 2006
4,591
952
TEXAS
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YES! Two things come to mind right away.

Rhodium plated 14k white gold rings. HORRIBLE signal....and bi-metal coins, especially nickel-copper combos.
 

bigtim1973

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Oct 12, 2007
751
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Middle Tennessee
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XP Deus II & XP Deus
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I have found Indian head pennies, mercury dimes, silver rings and civil war bullets on those iffy signals. I will give you a tip, if you use a metered machine and the signal stays on the higher end more than the lower end of the scale I always dig it especially if it deeper than the normal ID'ing depth of your machine. Most metered machines cannot ID something accurately deeper than 6 inches. Good luck, Tim
 

Smudge

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Jul 9, 2010
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Central Florida
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To be honest, I don't usually dig a signal unless its solid and repeatable. It can be faint, but solid and repeatable.

I realize I might be missing some good targets doing this, but I typically draw the line when I'm searching trashy areas, which is most of the time.

Now if I'm in a very low trash area, I'll probably dig everything.
 

Woodland Detectors

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Nov 23, 2008
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You betcha M. Bryan! :wink:

If the site has age to it, and I am digging good relics, I will most definitely dig those iffy broken "pips"

I have found some of my better stuff on those iffy signals
 

Swartzie

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Mar 15, 2009
791
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Tuscarawas County, Ohio
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Tesoro Tejon
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If I have worked a good site to death, then yes I will start to dig the iffy signals. But, if it's a newer site then I'll cherry pick for awhile. Deeper signals are the exception. If the signal sounds like a deep one (and is iffy) then I'll dig. Just today I dug a tombac button on a site that I have "hunted out". The signal was an iffy one. It was one of the last targets for the day and I was fighting that lazy feeling. You know. That "man, should I dig that thing or not" kind of feeling. When in doubt, dig that f*cker out.

-Swartzie
 

Woodland Detectors

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Nov 23, 2008
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Swartzie said:
If I have worked a good site to death, then yes I will start to dig the iffy signals. But, if it's a newer site then I'll cherry pick for awhile. Deeper signals are the exception. If the signal sounds like a deep one (and is iffy) then I'll dig. Just today I dug a tombac button on a site that I have "hunted out". The signal was an iffy one. It was one of the last targets for the day and I was fighting that lazy feeling. You know. That "man, should I dig that thing or not" kind of feeling. When in doubt, dig that f*cker out.

-Swartzie
Hahahahaha!
 

CrazySlasher

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Jul 6, 2010
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I was about to make a post about this. Maybe you can help Woodland. I'm having a hell of a time with iffy signals on my e-trac. For whatever reason, if I get an iffy signal that's on the lower side, like buttton/gold range, I have no problem figuring out if I should dig the target. But the higher toned stuff is killing me! I never know which ones to dig. The only ones I know FOR SURE not to dig are the ones that lock on in the 35 range/iron range.
 

treasurefiend

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Mar 17, 2008
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Chicago IL
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Yup I love iffy signals!!! These were all from signals that bounced from coin to iron because iron was mixed in. I dig a ton of garbage but sometimes it pays off, my last iffy find was the morgan dollar. :icon_pirat:
 

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Bart@Big Boys Hobbies

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Jul 24, 2005
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Beautiful coins treasure F!!
 

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m bryan

m bryan

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Jun 12, 2010
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east texas
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Well, it's time to go back and dig! lol
 

deepskyal

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Aug 17, 2007
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IH's were the first thing that popped into my head too.

I've dug up a couple tootsie toys and those old fashion lighters, padlocks, campaign buttons...

I think after a while when you really get to know your machine, you can tell that certain "iffy" signals aren't your ordinary iffy signals....if that makes sense to anyone. :dontknow:

I was just over a guys house a week ago that lives in a mid 1800's unit. Didn't find anything old but a lot of clad and as I was showing him and letting him use my Vision, he hit an "iffy" signal. I said, "Now there's something!" Turned out to be a modern tonka toy...but...you do learn certain iffy signal require digging.

Al
 

philinchio

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Dec 24, 2010
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Anchorage, Alaska
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White's CoinMaster Pro
I'm just starting out so I'm trying to mentally discern my signals. Most of my solid repeating hits have yielded me trash or a few pennies so far. Iffy signals are typically rebar from sidewalks or curbs. I have gotten some good signals that I've dug and then they either went away or were deeper down than I thought. Probably me just needing to learn to read the depth guage better or do more accurate pinpointing.
 

oldcoon

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Jul 10, 2010
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Middletown, Pennsylvania
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If I can't get a signal to repeat I lose interest. I have dug one-way-wonders, and a few times I have come up with something worthwhile, but by and in large when I have dug a one-way-wonder I come away feeling silly, sheepish and stupid because I knew I shouldn't have been digging in the first place.

I think the answer to your question comes down how bad do you want to find everything of value in the ground and how hard are you willing to work for it?
 

goldseeker4000

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Mar 5, 2011
101
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Kalispell, Montana
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Found a 1929 wheatie today on an iffy signal. It it is repeatable but not accurate on tids but puts up mostly good tids I dig. Lots of old coins that way. todays wheatie around 7 inches down.
 

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