Moving signals frustrating..

[olprofessor]

'Moving signals' frustrating..

Apologies up front if this is in the wrong place, but the board's pretty extensive, and I did look for this subject. Im new (2 months hunting) and recently got a Garrett Ace 250. I find that many of my signals seem to move after I've started digging. They'll move an inch or so, and I sometimes give up out of frustration. I know..keep digging, but any clues as to why this happens? My holes are getting wider..lol..Help!

 

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[DiggerGal]

Exactly what Kemper said....The use of a Pin Pointer negates a ton of unwarranted frustration....The investment will pay back oodles compared to the amount of holes left without claiming the prize because we think there is nothing there. Good Luck and HH! Keep swinging and digging!

 

[olprofessor]

I plan on getting a pro pointer, but are you saying the pinpointer on the Ace 250 is inaccurate?

 

[gleaner1]

Are your signals moving? Or is the metal target moving?

 

[olprofessor]

I'd say the signal's moving after using the pinpoint button.

 

[danloop]

Happens to me once in a while. I figure minerals in the ground or I'm actually moving my target without realizing it.

 

[HaaCha]

Hiyas, I've had the same issue. Ace 250 with meandering signals. I'll use the feature, pop the plug, then pinpoint again only to find that the target moved to the side of the hole. Dig the side, then it moves back to the original spot. Sometimes it'll change ID on me. I'm to the point that if it starts doing that I'll put the plug back and come back after getting my pro point. One question tho, is there a high pitch whine coming from the control case? Mine does that and every once in a while it'll start having seizures with the target ID. It'll ping everything from iron to silver.

 

[signal_line]

Basic pinpointing skills require lower sensitivity on shallow targets. Simple solution is to use the toe/tail of the coil. Work you way towards the target and right when it sounds off the target is at the front (or rear) edge of the coil.

 

[DDancer]

Targets that appear to shift are often a result of either multiple targets or ground mineralization. A bit more practice with your pin point mode and you'll begin to get a feel for when targets are actually where you pointed them out. A bit of probing before you dig, or the use of a hand help pinpointer, will cut down on chasing signals that seem to have shifted. The type of coil your using will also affect target location~ regular round coils are more spot on than DD coils in my opinion.

Multiple targets and mineralization, even halo effect, present the detector with a larger than expected target even if it ID's as a small one. Pin point mode, being an all metal mode, will often make an average between the conductive signals and as a result shift ones expected dig spot between targets. Its best to slow down and take a few moments to check around a target to see if pin point is "seeing" other information.

 

[RobRieman]

Toss a coin down on a piece of clean ground (no targets present at all) and practice pin pointing the coin until you can do it with your eyes closed. Then drop another target, wether junk or different composition, and see how it effects your original target. Usually if a target appears to "move around" it is a piece of junk (iron, can slaw, foil, etc) near another target. The old iron can break apart and disappear at times also. Practice is your best bet to fix your problem.

 

[bill from lachine]

I used the ace 250 many years ago and it runs rather hot....so keep the sensitivity about midway...say between 4 and 6.

Also you may want to get some of those plastic ties from a hardware store and clip several along the length of the coil wire to keep it from flopping around....either of of those issues could cause falsing.

Regards + HH

Bill

 

[pat-tekker-cat]

You may have located the elusive "jumping bean gold nuggets"!
Or, you're just in a highly mineralized area. Back off on the sensitivity, maybe.
I had the hardest time on Bondi beach with my Ace250, hot rocks everywhere......
But dug a lot, of $2 coins.

 

[cudamark]

You're pinpointing one direction and then again 90 degrees off, right? It could also be that the target is on edge or next to a root or rock. That can throw the signal off a bit.

 

[olprofessor]

Thanks for all the help. Much appreciated!

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Without watching you it sounds like you are not as pinpointed as you think when you start digging.

I don't do well with open center coils.

Have you tried "X"ing the target before you start pinpointing? Use a plastic or wood golf tee (or a tiddly wink) and set it over where you thing the target is. The swing over it on a low left to high right diagonal and see if the coil "beeps" centered on the spot. Then sweep diagonally low right to high left and see if it still appears centered. If you focus on the spot you'll see if the beep occurs when it is centered. If not move the plastic spot until it does. Then dig there.

With a closed coil you can put a contrasting color dot on the coil and concentrate on the ground for a similar pre-pinpoint pin pointing.

And with DD coils you can further back away from the target until the coil passes short of the spot - and that is the "horizon" of where the target sits.


BEST PRACTICE is to bury a coin 4" and mark it with a golf tee then practice over that. Also good for trying different settings. I've got a dozen coins, caps, nails, etc. buried in my yard as a "test garden". Well worth the effort.


Pinpointing is definitely an art.

Try this: When you are over a target go through the pinpoint button routine and then, before digging, put the coil beside the target a couple inches and then push the pinpoint button and center it again. You may get a different result. If you initialize the pinpoint with the target just inside the field it gets you a little closer as it is making the detector less sensitive to the object (which seems counter intuitive).

 

[Nugs Bunny]

This has happened to me in my yard on occasion with a White's MXT Pro.

My house was built in 1900, so after 115 years of use there are targets on top of targets on top of targets.

Switching to a smaller coil helped considerably and switching to a top of the line after market coil helped enormously.

A handheld pinpointer is a must, one I dig a plug I search the loose dirt and sides of the hole for other targets, in my yard one hole produces several targets quite often.

Practice pinpointing with your machine, after awhile you will know exactly where the target is located. It may be worth the time to search Youtube, most manufacturers have videos and there may be some more in depth information available there.

Good luck and remember practice and patience are the key.

 

[kayakpat]

trying to figure out the different pattern from a center coil and a DD, I would have thought the center coil makes a cone and the DD a narrow cone

 

[pokerdad911]

My boys have an ace 250 and they find it hard to pinpoint as well. I use a Whites, it has a pinpoint built in and is so accurate. Maybe it is soil conditions.

 

[NcHillbilly]

I have an Ace 250, I haven't had any issues with using the pin point feature. I usually have mine set on Jewelry with the sensitivity just above half way. I haven't mastered the pin point yet and just dig a plug the size of the coil. It'd be nice to have a pin pointer, but being a state employee with a daughter in private school that's $150 bucks I just don't have at the moment...

The only issue I've noticed with the ACE 250 is I took it out over the weekend and while I dug some really nice items it seemed like there were signals everywhere and I ended up digging holes as far as I could reach without finding anything....I really think the fact the ground was still wet from rains last week may have been interfering some how.

 

[DiggerGal]

Saw this video here on TNet in the "How To" section. Neat little trick!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZrH0vzpIld4?feature=oembed