ATP and ghost signals?

GreatElb · Jul 10, 2013

Recently upgraded to the ATP from an Ace350 a couple weeks back and am loving it.

Yesterday evening I was able to isolate a high 93-95 VDI target at 8" deep.

Long story short, I found a cut nail under a rock that was the size of my coil (8.5x11) which was complete luck but nothing that would read high. So deeper I go.

After my plug turned into a hole the size of my coil and 8" deep, I'm still getting a high VDI dead center in the hole. As I keep going deeper, my pinpointer keeps sounding like it is touching the target every time I removed another inch or two of soil. After being about a foot down, nothing can be seen yet the ATP and my pinpointer tell me I must be blind if I can't see a target.

Could it simply be a ghost signal or should I go back to find out what is there? The only reason I left is because it was getting dark and I was a good walk from my car.

I have been able to recover a target with every plug so far with my ATP. This was a strong repeatable signal from all directions.

wvwildman · Jul 10, 2013

go back and keep digging there is something in the ground it could be in the side wall too

christo000 · Jul 10, 2013

Try this I do it to all my machines with cords when u wrap ur coil go straight up the rod about a foot then start wrapping the coil clockwise from there its not inly helped with ghost signals also helped settle down the machine made it more stable including being around EMI to may help may not worth a shot dont cost anything to try

Jay In NewKen · Jul 10, 2013

You could also try pinpointing and raising your coil over the target. If its a strong signal several inches to a foot over, its a large target probably fairly deep. Could be in the side wall as well, as stated.

Ace350 · Jul 10, 2013

If you're machine and pinpointer are going crazy then it is a large metal object in the ground.
The best way to tell if you have a large object under your coil is to lift the coil 6-12 inches above the ground over the target.
If it still sounds off it most likely is a buried can or large metal object.

Treasure finder · Jul 10, 2013

The best discriminator is a shovel.
Good luck.
Rich

badpenny · Jul 10, 2013

All good pointers here. Also, you may have some hot rocks that are screwing with you too.

bzbadger · Jul 11, 2013

I've had same thing and thinking I'm crazy when ATP and pro pointer whispering dig deeper dig deeper, only to find its a stupid soda can. As others have said raise it up off the ground about 8" and if its still singing its the highly collectable rare canus aluminus.

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GreatElb · Jul 12, 2013

I went back today. And couldn't find the same spot. Thought for sure I could. Guess I covered up proof I was there too well.

Tried scanning the area for my mystery signal but it was unbearable. Readings all over the place today, but it wasn't that way two days ago. I could stand in one spot not moving with VDI and beeps all over from 1 to 99. This was happening in an are about an acre in size, no overhead power lines.

Others side of the park was just fine. Found a bunch of clad and some jewelry.

I guess this will be the one that got away. Lessons learned, don't give up even if it is getting dark on the last target.

GreatElb · Jul 12, 2013

Link to a short video of how the ATP was reading the area. And how unstable it was today.

Scrammer · Jul 12, 2013

Try changing the frequency, and reducing the sensitivity as well as the coil wrap suggestions above. Good luck and HH.

GreatElb · Jul 12, 2013

I did. But it was no help in that section of the park. The other half was not an issue and I was able to actually find stuff there. The mystery today is that this area did not act this way two days ago.

Jay In NewKen · Jul 12, 2013

One of the parks i hunt had a camera mounted on a tree that was stream video to the police station. This park has been vandalised recently with people burning down pavilions. The streaming video was putting off emi that made my MD chattery. I moved away and it cleared up.

bzbadger · Jul 12, 2013

Of you don't mind me asking has it been raining there? Other than making sure the coil wire connector is tight, the wire itself is obviously not jiggling from your video the only two options left are, bad box or as what I ran into. Near my property an area gave many of my detectors erratic readings like yours and was worse when it rained. The electric company eventually found out that a main distribution wire had a split in the insulation and the rain water caused it to go crazy. This was area I had problems in, once fixed no more issues. Just a thought, funny how these machines can pick up the oddest things.

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YukonCorn · Jul 12, 2013

bzbadger said:
I've had same thing and thinking I'm crazy when ATP and pro pointer whispering dig deeper dig deeper, only to find its a stupid soda can. As others have said raise it up off the ground about 8" and if its still singing its the highly collectable rare canus aluminus.

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It happened to me twice already
I was heated when out pops a whole can.

GreatElb · Jul 12, 2013

bzbadger said:
Of you don't mind me asking has it been raining there? Other than making sure the coil wire connector is tight, the wire itself is obviously not jiggling from your video the only two options left are, bad box or as what I ran into. Near my property an area gave many of my detectors erratic readings like yours and was worse when it rained. The electric company eventually found out that a main distribution wire had a split in the insulation and the rain water caused it to go crazy. This was area I had problems in, once fixed no more issues. Just a thought, funny how these machines can pick up the oddest things.

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It did rain on Wednesday hunted today on Friday. But it also rained on Monday (much heavier than Wednesdays rain), hunted on Tuesday without any issue.

I double checked my connection today and removed the coil protector to make sure nothing was between the two. Again it was only in a small area of the park that was effected today.

I'm thinking it may be an underground electrical issue. Could be wrong but will check the same area again the next time I am in the neighborhood. Once I cross the sidewalk and go another 30-35 yards from where the video was filmed the chatter disappears.

bzbadger · Jul 12, 2013

I would think its underground line. Ours was affected everytime it rained and our house would act like we had a power drain but I think it was shorting out somehow and as I went near with my MD it picked up on it acting like I'd found a hidden alien spaceship. Keep us posted I want to know if it does it again when you go back.

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