Pinpointing with the cortes UPDATE

[smcdmc]

Is it true this model doesn't have an actual pinpoint mode and if not how hard/accurate is it to pinpoint with. I'm looking to upgrade my current model to get more depth but I can pinpoint with it so that I can probe a coin on the first couple probes. I just don't want to have to dig a big hole to retrieve a clad coin.

Shane

[bigtim1973]

It has an all metal mode/disc mode in the form of a toggle switch. You flip it to all metal and it is the same as using pinpointing mmode on another machine, being in the center of the open hole on the coil. Most tesoro users do not even use the pinpoint/all metal switch to pinpoint their target as it is so easy to do just by narrowing down your sweep over the target, it will be dead center of the coil. This is one thing that tesoro detectors do very well, Tim

[smcdmc]

Ok. I have one coming and can't wait to try it out. I've been spoiled with one that pinpoints extremely accurate and even though this is definitely an upgrade the thought of not being able to pinpoint as easily was kinda worrying me. But it sounds like that's not gonna be an issue.
Shane

[bigtim1973]

You should like it better than your garrett 500. The 500 is a great detector but the tesoro it a lot more versatile unit. Let us know your thoughts when you get it and use it some, Tim

[smcdmc]

Well, I only have a couple hours on it so far but this is what I think. With practice I should be able to pinpoint just fine. Shallow coins are not a problem already. So far though, the Garrett is much easier to pinpoint with. As far as depth goes, I actually think the Garrett has it beat. At least in discrimination mode. In an air test I was able to clearly hear a large cent at 10" with the Garrett but not so much with the Cortes. In all metal I could faintly, but so far I can't get used to hunting in all metal. Seems like it's so sensitive to any little piece of metal that it is sounding off every few seconds with most registering as foil/iron. But like I said, I've only got a couple hours on it and that is hardly enough to know the machine.
Shane

[bigtim1973]

Well, I only have a couple hours on it so far but this is what I think. With practice I should be able to pinpoint just fine. Shallow coins are not a problem already. So far though, the Garrett is much easier to pinpoint with. As far as depth goes, I actually think the Garrett has it beat. At least in discrimination mode. In an air test I was able to clearly hear a large cent at 10" with the Garrett but not so much with the Cortes. In all metal I could faintly, but so far I can't get used to hunting in all metal. Seems like it's so sensitive to any little piece of metal that it is sounding off every few seconds with most registering as foil/iron. But like I said, I've only got a couple hours on it and that is hardly enough to know the machine.
Shane

Ok now do not take this the wrong way but are you sure you have ground balanced it correctly? You must do this before you hunt. Put it in all metal, turn the threshold up to where you can hear it and put the detector toward the ground. If the threshold gets louder, turn the ground knob down, if the sound gets less audible, turn the ground knob up, your goal is to make the threshold sound the same when the coil is lifted up off of the ground as it does when you lower it to the ground. Remember you have to pump the coil up and down while making adjustments to the ground control. The cortes should be deeper than the 500 unless your using a bigger coil on it than the stock one. Also when in disc mode, turn your sensitivity knob all the way up until it starts to chirp and back down until it quiets down. Also while running in disc mode, you have to swing the coil back and forth over the target. If done slow it will null out. That is why there is an all metal mode to pinpoint with because that mode is non motion meaning you do not have to swing the coil back and forth as much when narrowing down your sweep to find the exact location of your target. It is a totally different unit than the garrett but you will get the hang of it and probably will be very surprised at how is performs, Tim

[smcdmc]

Well, I only have a couple hours on it so far but this is what I think. With practice I should be able to pinpoint just fine. Shallow coins are not a problem already. So far though, the Garrett is much easier to pinpoint with. As far as depth goes, I actually think the Garrett has it beat. At least in discrimination mode. In an air test I was able to clearly hear a large cent at 10" with the Garrett but not so much with the Cortes. In all metal I could faintly, but so far I can't get used to hunting in all metal. Seems like it's so sensitive to any little piece of metal that it is sounding off every few seconds with most registering as foil/iron. But like I said, I've only got a couple hours on it and that is hardly enough to know the machine.
Shane

Ok now do not take this the wrong way but are you sure you have ground balanced it correctly? You must do this before you hunt. Put it in all metal, turn the threshold up to where you can hear it and put the detector toward the ground. If the threshold gets louder, turn the ground knob down, if the sound gets less audible, turn the ground knob up, your goal is to make the threshold sound the same when the coil is lifted up off of the ground as it does when you lower it to the ground. Remember you have to pump the coil up and down while making adjustments to the ground control. The cortes should be deeper than the 500 unless your using a bigger coil on it than the stock one. Also when in disc mode, turn your sensitivity knob all the way up until it starts to chirp and back down until it quiets down. Also while running in disc mode, you have to swing the coil back and forth over the target. If done slow it will null out. That is why there is an all metal mode to pinpoint with because that mode is non motion meaning you do not have to swing the coil back and forth as much when narrowing down your sweep to find the exact location of your target. It is a totally different unit than the garrett but you will get the hang of it and probably will be very surprised at how is performs, Tim

From what I understand the ground balance is only an issue if you are in all metal. In disc it is factory set so should not be an issue. For the air test I tried it both ways as outlined in the manual with the sensitivity all the way up and repeated with the Garrett under the same conditions. Overall I'm happy with it and it's definitely to early to make any kind of decision on I just hope I'm not losing depth by switching. I do like the display and don't find it hard to see/read like some have complained of.
Shane

[fbjr]

I also have a Cortes and think it's a great detector. Only took about 1 week to completely understand it and it's better at pinpointing(all metal mode) then my minelab e-trac. Been using the e-trac for about a month and still having a hard time with it, trying to read the display and understand the tones. There are a couple things I can tell you about the Cortes...1 - it loves silver, 2 - it loves indian head pennies !!! My only complaints is that it could have been made with better quality material and it goes crazy with electrical interference even with the sensitivity turned all the way down. Found lots of cool stuff with mine tho. Good luck to you !!

[smcdmc]

I also have a Cortes and think it's a great detector. Only took about 1 week to completely understand it and it's better at pinpointing(all metal mode) then my minelab e-trac. Been using the e-trac for about a month and still having a hard time with it, trying to read the display and understand the tones. There are a couple things I can tell you about the Cortes...1 - it loves silver, 2 - it loves indian head pennies !!! My only complaints is that it could have been made with better quality material and it goes crazy with electrical interference even with the sensitivity turned all the way down. Found lots of cool stuff with mine tho. Good luck to you !!

Do the indians read a 95 like other coins or a little lower? And what kind of depth are you getting on silver dimes?

Shane

[Coin Digger]

Well, I only have a couple hours on it so far but this is what I think. With practice I should be able to pinpoint just fine. Shallow coins are not a problem already. So far though, the Garrett is much easier to pinpoint with. As far as depth goes, I actually think the Garrett has it beat. At least in discrimination mode. In an air test I was able to clearly hear a large cent at 10" with the Garrett but not so much with the Cortes. In all metal I could faintly, but so far I can't get used to hunting in all metal. Seems like it's so sensitive to any little piece of metal that it is sounding off every few seconds with most registering as foil/iron. But like I said, I've only got a couple hours on it and that is hardly enough to know the machine.
Shane

I had very similar results with the one I owned. I even sent it in for a check-up and it came back with a clean bill of health.
It's been on the market a long time and has been surpassed by newer units for less money. Tesoro needs to update their TID lineup because their getting left behind.

[fbjr]

Quite honestly I'm not sure what the indian head pennies come up as on the numbers. I just always dig based on sound, never really read the numbers much at all and have had a lot of success this way. The indians will have what I call a medium sounding tone, not that high and not too low either......I dug about 12 or more this year with the Cortes anywhere from about 3 inches down as far as about 8 (maybe even a tad bit deeper then that). As far as silver dimes, I have only found 3 or 4 with the Cortes, none were all that deep......maybe 4 or 5 inches. Not to say that it won't find them deeper then that as I'm sure it will find them much deeper. I have found silver quarters around 9-10 inches deep !! My favorite find with it so far is a confederate script I button, that baby was deep....not sure how deep but the ground conditions were perfect. I always seem to have better luck and more depth when there has been a day or 2 of solid rain. Hope some of this info is usefull to you and happy hunting !!

[shanegalang]

Is it true this model doesn't have an actual pinpoint mode and if not how hard/accurate is it to pinpoint with. I'm looking to upgrade my current model to get more depth but I can pinpoint with it so that I can probe a coin on the first couple probes. I just don't want to have to dig a big hole to retrieve a clad coin.

Shane

I've used my Cortes for a few years now and have never had a problem with pin pointing. I simply swing it back and forth across the target while looking at the ground to see where the center of the coil is. Great machine that has found me lots of good stuff.