Sensitivity Control - Newbie Question

[BigChief14]

Got a new to me (used) White's Classic III SE and I'm trying to learn what it's telling me. I've read the manual about the Sen. Control but I'm still a little confused on how and when to adjust it. The book and dealer said crank it up pretty much until the machine starts giving you false signals (chirping) while the coil is not moving and then back it down a little. However the old church yard I'm hunting is a little trashy and I've read on T'N that turning the Sens. down helps with solid hits on good signals

Also, why might my detector seem to hit a good signal and then loose it all together? When I noticed this, I tried to get a solid hit on a pop tab laying on the ground and it was hit and miss. (maybe like a good signal one way, then poor signal or no signal coming back)

Disclaimer...I have not changed the batteries sense I've only had this machine two days. Are these symptoms an indication of low batteries? If not, how do you know when it's time to change?

I'm determined to learn what I'm doing but I hope my patience lasts. So far I'm not setting the world on fire.....best find in about 3 or 4 total hours has been a fairly old nail punch.

Any Comments are Certainly Appreciated!!

J. Sparrow

[Charlie P. (NY)]

The sensitivity is like the focus on binoculars. There is a best setting, and it changes. Many hunters seem to make the mistake of thinking that knob or dial has to be at max or they are not getting "everything" out of a detector. You should turn it up as high as you can tolerate the falsing. Everyone has a different opinion of how much is too much. Remember that if you hear some you are near the edge, but if you hear none you may be way off the optimal setting.

Turning it down past optimum and, sure enough, you'll only hear the good signals. My Musketeer seems to think aluminum bottle caps give the best signal of all, so that is no guarantee of coins only.

When I noticed this, I tried to get a solid hit on a pop tab laying on the ground and it was hit and miss. (maybe like a good signal one way, then poor signal or no signal coming back)

That is the sign of an irregularly shaped object . . . like a pulltab, squashed bottle cap or $10,000 gold ring. Or, an object at the verge of the signal, like a deeper coin. You have the choice of digging everything, digging when in doubt, only digging the hits that are solid in all directions.

[Timberwolf]

Good advice Charlie

Another reason for a hit and then a miss, with something right on top of the ground, is that you may have the "discrimination" set a little too high.

Timberwolf

[BigChief14]

Thanks for the replies. Being inexperienced, I just feel like I'm missing good targets and only digging trash. I think I need to practice some at a playground where I KNOW there are coins (clad) and not start out on old sites looking for silver.

[Charlie P. (NY)]

I would recommend that highly. I've hunted MANY old sites that produced nothing but scrap iron and shotshell bases. It can be frustrating and discouraging - especially if you are unsure of your detector. One in particular must have been a tent maker as there were dozens and dozens of old brass grommets that drove me NUTS!

It takes a while to get the hang of the machines and a town park with multiple targets (good and bad) is a great place to learn.

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks for the replies. Being inexperienced, I just feel like I'm missing good targets and only digging trash. I think I need to practice some at a playground where I KNOW there are coins (clad) and not start out on old sites looking for silver.

I also recommend this. Make sure you know the laws and regulations in your area--or just go to parks that you've seen detectorists at before.

When I took a newbie under my wing a little over a year ago, the first few meetings he went through the "Buckleboy Research Course" and we met at libraries. Then off to the tot lots and parks so that he could dig clad--work on pinpointing--and also learn to make flawless plugs and use good recovery methods. In older and trashy sites, a good coin hit will still be a good coin hit, but many other "lesser" hits could and frequently are good coins. So with that in mind, you should "graduate" from tot-lotdom and come along just fine. My buddy has now paid for his machine with his finds during just this past fall window, and found his first silver coins, CW relics, and even a gold ring.

I wish I had been able to ask questions like this on an forum when I started back in 1992. It might not have taken me as long to start finding the good stuff.

Best Wishes,


Buckleboy

[BigChief14]

I agree 100% about this forum.