Threshold Question

[04jeep]

Newbie to MXT, but not to metal detecting. Running the MXT in relic alternate mode, can you run threshold all the way up and adjust volume with your headphones. The reason I ask is, I've noticed that the higher the threshold the smoother the machine. Also, will adjusting the threshold so high on the machine effect depth? HH

 

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[wingmaster]

You want the threshold barely audible as the deep targets have to break threshold to be heard, even running the gain too high will give too much noise to hear those really deep whisper targets. I try and run at +2 gain for depth but when you have bad EMI it can give you too much noise too hear those whisper targets so you'll have to lower the gain some. HH

 

[04jeep]

You want the threshold barely audible as the deep targets have to break threshold to be heard, even running the gain too high will give too much noise to hear those really deep whisper targets. I try and run at +2 gain for depth but when you have bad EMI it can give you too much noise too hear those whisper targets so you'll have to lower the gain some. HH

I understand, but what I'm asking is: regardless of the threshold volume adjusted by the knob on the machine, can you adjust at the headphones?

 

[04jeep]

You want the threshold barely audible as the deep targets have to break threshold to be heard, even running the gain too high will give too much noise to hear those really deep whisper targets. I try and run at +2 gain for depth but when you have bad EMI it can give you too much noise too hear those whisper targets so you'll have to lower the gain some. HH

Thank you. HH

 

[Gold Itch]

I understand, but what I'm asking is: regardless of the threshold volume adjusted by the knob on the machine, can you adjust at the headphones?

I agree with wingmaster, Of coarse you can do it the way you want to but you will loose targets, And by running the threshold high you are removing the reason for having a threshold in the first place making it useless, Robbing your MXT of 3 to 5 inches of Depth maybe more.

 

[wingmaster]

You can adjust the headphones as well just make sure you adjust the threshold on the detector first, I run my headphones as high as they will go to not miss anything. You can get headphones that have a limiter so the overloads won't blow your ears off and really loud noises won't be heard. HH

 

[04jeep]

You can adjust the headphones as well just make sure you adjust the threshold on the detector first, I run my headphones as high as they will go to not miss anything. You can get headphones that have a limiter so the overloads won't blow your ears off and really loud noises won't be heard. HH[/QUOTE

Wasn't sure if I was asking my question correctly. By your answer, I suppose I did. I just need to find the sweet spot for threshold volume. Even with the 13" coil I only get about 7" depth. Can this be due to my ground balance being, 92?

 

[04jeep]

I agree with wingmaster, Of coarse you can do it the way you want to but you will loose targets, And by running the threshold high you are removing the reason for having a threshold in the first place making it useless, Robbing your MXT of 3 to 5 inches of Depth maybe more.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of silent threshold?

 

[airscapes]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of silent threshold?

I use silent search (DFX) not sure if it is the same on the MXT, in places like sports fields.. I am not digging anything deep and don't need the added audio fatigue.

 

[Gold Itch]

You can adjust the headphones as well just make sure you adjust the threshold on the detector first, I run my headphones as high as they will go to not miss anything. You can get headphones that have a limiter so the overloads won't blow your ears off and really loud noises won't be heard. HH[/QUOTE

Wasn't sure if I was asking my question correctly. By your answer, I suppose I did. I just need to find the sweet spot for threshold volume. Even with the 13" coil I only get about 7" depth. Can this be due to my ground balance being, 92?

If your ground is reading that high then you need to hear the threshold but set it so you can only just hear it and keep your headphones turned up full, The MXT is the best threshold base machine on the market and sometimes a rise or waver in the threshold is all the signal you will get from deeper targets, Classic example of this is the minelab GP/GPX or the Whites TDI Pro etc they don't bleep and it is their threshold that alerts the user that a target is present, The threshold on the MXT can add up to over 100% depth increase if you are paying attention, People think that because it is not bleeping deeper than 7 inches then the machine is not very deep, Using the NON Tone ID mode or one of the alternate relic modes or the Prospecting mode in an Air test the MXT will see a Quarter at about 12 to 13" but in the alternate modes or the Prospecting mode it can add another 5 to 10" inches using a US Quarter if you train your ear what to listen for, Like I said before Keep the head phones Maxed out and the threshold down very Low and you can test this for your self, In the ground the results will be a bit less but it will still give you more depth than you are digging now,

hope that helps.

I use silent search (DFX) not sure if it is the same on the MXT, in places like sports fields.. I am not digging anything deep and don't need the added audio fatigue.

If you are suffering from Audio fatigue then you are running your threshold way too high, I would never turn it off.

HH.

 

[wingmaster]

It could also be the targets where your digging isn't that deep depends on soil and sometimes the amount of traffic over the ground, in parks they can get really deep and my thinking on this is when the ground is real wet people walking over coins will push them deeper in the ground the ground might spring back but the coin doesn't. Some places won't have a chance to go deep like the top of a hill where erosion keeps the ground from building up but the bottom of a hill where all the leaves and grass make new soil and builds up way faster than the top not to mention the erosion from the top bringing soil down to the bottom. The clay layer will also stop coins from going deeper, so if you live in a state that doesn't have much topsoil above the clay your targets don't have the chance to get very deep before coming to rest at the clay layer. You could make a test garden with coins but note the fact that a detector won't pick up a newly buried coin as deep as one that's been in the ground for a long time. I've got some whisper targets that you couldn't detect anymore once you cut a plug and disturbed the ground that's when I make sure and dig at least 12" of dirt out and have found dimes at a full 12" before, I know I missed a few when I first started detecting with my MXT. The spot needs to be pretty clean for those full 12" dimes though but even some trashy home sites have area's that are clean here and there. HH

 

[04jeep]

If your ground is reading that high then you need to hear the threshold but set it so you can only just hear it and keep your headphones turned up full, The MXT is the best threshold base machine on the market and sometimes a rise or waver in the threshold is all the signal you will get from deeper targets, Classic example of this is the minelab GP/GPX or the Whites TDI Pro etc they don't bleep and it is their threshold that alerts the user that a target is present, The threshold on the MXT can add up to over 100% depth increase if you are paying attention, People think that because it is not bleeping deeper than 7 inches then the machine is not very deep, Using the NON Tone ID mode or one of the alternate relic modes or the Prospecting mode in an Air test the MXT will see a Quarter at about 12 to 13" but in the alternate modes or the Prospecting mode it can add another 5 to 10" inches using a US Quarter if you train your ear what to listen for, Like I said before Keep the head phones Maxed out and the threshold down very Low and you can test this for your self, In the ground the results will be a bit less but it will still give you more depth than you are digging now,

hope that helps.


I will give the air test a try, but I feel hearing the deeper targets will take time, just a part of learning the machine. HH

 

[04jeep]

It could also be the targets where your digging isn't that deep depends on soil and sometimes the amount of traffic over the ground, in parks they can get really deep and my thinking on this is when the ground is real wet people walking over coins will push them deeper in the ground the ground might spring back but the coin doesn't. Some places won't have a chance to go deep like the top of a hill where erosion keeps the ground from building up but the bottom of a hill where all the leaves and grass make new soil and builds up way faster than the top not to mention the erosion from the top bringing soil down to the bottom. The clay layer will also stop coins from going deeper, so if you live in a state that doesn't have much topsoil above the clay your targets don't have the chance to get very deep before coming to rest at the clay layer. You could make a test garden with coins but note the fact that a detector won't pick up a newly buried coin as deep as one that's been in the ground for a long time. I've got some whisper targets that you couldn't detect anymore once you cut a plug and disturbed the ground that's when I make sure and dig at least 12" of dirt out and have found dimes at a full 12" before, I know I missed a few when I first started detecting with my MXT. The spot needs to be pretty clean for those full 12" dimes though but even some trashy home sites have area's that are clean here and there. HH

I know in my area where the soil is sandy, I am missing deeper coins, just because I have not learned exactly what to listen for. I'm hoping after time I will become more familiar with the MXT and get the deeper coins I know are here. HH

 

[04jeep]

I just want to add: It's a real pleasure to have Wingmaster, auminesweeper and others answer my questions and concerns here on this forum. I appreciate them sharing their knowledge, which for me, cuts down on the learning curve that it would take me to learn my MXT all by myself. HH

 

[Gold Itch]

I just want to add: It's a real pleasure to have Wingmaster, auminesweeper and others answer my questions and concerns here on this forum. I appreciate them sharing their knowledge, which for me, cuts down on the learning curve that it would take me to learn my MXT all by myself. HH

Like you I jumped in the deep end and it took me a week or so of 10 to 12 hours a day non stop detecting to get use to the MXT then suddenly it all made sense and the thing with the MXT is don't over think it, you have 16 sub modes which sounds daunting but it is not, pick one of the 3 main modes and go for it, If you over think the MXT then you will never under stand it because it is a set and forget type machine and once you find your preferred setting you will be unstoppable, So get stuck in and just enjoy ya self, and take a break when your mind starts to wonder, 15 or 20 minutes is all it takes to get you back on track, And if you have any questions just give me a yell and we will sort it,

Good luck,,, John.

 

[04jeep]

Like you I jumped in the deep end and it took me a week or so of 10 to 12 hours a day non stop detecting to get use to the MXT then suddenly it all made sense and the thing with the MXT is don't over think it, you have 16 sub modes which sounds daunting but it is not, pick one of the 3 main modes and go for it, If you over think the MXT then you will never under stand it because it is a set and forget type machine and once you find your preferred setting you will be unstoppable, So get stuck in and just enjoy ya self, and take a break when your mind starts to wonder, 15 or 20 minutes is all it takes to get you back on track, And if you have any questions just give me a yell and we will sort it,

Good luck,,, John.

I feel honored to have someone like you on my side. With that being said, I think I'll head out and see what I can find. Oh... now you have me curious on what the 16 sub models are.

Thanks again, Steve

 

[BuckRogers2000]

I too, appreciate all the assistance you guys are providing. I'm under a little bit of a time crunch, with my anniversary trip approaching.

I plan to detect and mark spots, giving my wife the pointer and couple of digging tools.

I found my first deep targets last week, using just a threshhold tone. It was just junk but illustrates the capability of the MXT.

 

[wingmaster]

Here's some really deep finds from yesterday, I was detecting an old school site when an older guy started detecting and then he came over to see if I was finding anything and told me it's been pounded over the years. The MXT will find deep coins that others miss. HH

 

[04jeep]

Here's some really deep finds from yesterday, I was detecting an old school site when an older guy started detecting and then he came over to see if I was finding anything and told me it's been pounded over the years. The MXT will find deep coins that others miss. HH

Nice job! Love those mercury dimes, indian head cents and all the Wheaties as well. Where you using the 13" coil? Still haven't figured out the whisper signals yet, find it hard to hear with all the chatter. HH

 

[wingmaster]

I was using the White's D2 coil (the 10"DD coil), just make sure when you start the detector have your coil waist high and turn it to the gain setting that your going to use (I was using +2 gain) you want to adjust the threshold while at that gain setting as well then lower your coil and ground balance in a clean spot. If your in a high EMI area you might not always be able to run that hot without too much threshold background noise but you want the threshold barely audible and at +2 gain it will probably be a little erratic but you don't want it too bad. If you can run that same gain setting the next time out you probably won't have to adjust the threshold, and a good set of headphones is a must for those whisper targets as if you use a cheap set your probably going to miss a lot of those whisper targets. HH