Tejon set up/air test?

[Houston1852]

Hi, I just bought a Tejon because I wanted something to go a little deeper. I just started setting it up and tried the air test. I was using a dime. I started by waving it about a foot or so out and gradually got closer. I didn't get a signal on it until I was about 5 or 6 inches out. I set the dime on the ground and moved the coil back and forth above it and again, no signal until I was about 6 inches above it. Is there an issue I'm missing here? I thought if I waved the dime about a foot away it would have given me a signal. I had it in the disc mode on all metal, with the sensitivity set to about 7 or 8. I'd appreciate any help on this.
Thank you
Ryan

 

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[rainyday101]

Did you ground balance first?

 

[Houston1852]

I thought I did, unless I did it wrong.

 

[Houston1852]

Well, this is where I'm at now. I read up a little more on ground balancing (because I've never had to do it manually). So, I think I got it set. Here's my test, in All Metal Disc mode, sensitivity at 9 or 10, I waved a musket ball in front of it starting at 20". I got a faint signal at 8 or 9" but didnt really get a decent strong signal until 6". I did the same with a coin with same results. I tried my cell phone in front of it and got a signal at 20". I don't expect the musket ball and coin to give that strong of a signal at 20", but shouldn't I be getting a signal further away than 6"??

 

[Sandman]

Air tests are for nothing more than seeing if the detector responds. Its in the ground where it counts. If you bought it used, try a different frequency and clean out the coil cover of any dirt. Make sure the coil bolt is not brass and should be nylon or fiberglass.

 

[Houston1852]

I bought it new a few weeks ago but the ground is just starting to thaw. So, if I place a coin on the ground and only get a signal 6" up from it, that doesn't necessarily mean its only gonna detect the coin if its buried no more than 6"?