Just to clarify what Treasure Hunter is saying because ML uses some confusing terminology when describing ground balance, here is a little description on how it works on the Equinox:
First, Multi IQ multifrequency technology helps to enhance ground balancing because it allows multiple ground phase readings to be taken at different frequencies which creates a ground phase profile that the machine can use to: 1) get an accurate ground phase reading for the purpose of setting the ground balance number, especially in highly mineralized soil and in high salinity soil and 2) allows the machine to be very forgiving of a less than optimal ground phase reading which enables it to work well when just using the default ground phase setting under mild soil conditions - this is what Treasure Hunter was referring to when he mentioned "auto ground ground balance". It is not really "auto ground balancing" in the sense that ML uses the term below, but it is Multi IQ automatically compensating for less than ideal ground balance settings if you use the default GB setting out of the box or a less than ideal manual/auto derived GB setting.
For this reason, ML does not consider that setting GB is needed in every case. ML recommends doing a ground balance only if you are getting a lot of ground feedback noise. The only way to hear the ground feedback is to remove all discrimination by hitting the Horseshoe (All Metal) button and listening and watching for erratic negative TID numbers (boundcing TIDs between -7 and -9) while swinging the coil. In that case you SHOULD do a ground balance. You have three choices:
Manual GB: Put the detector in GB mode and pump the coil and use the +/- keys to adjust the GB until the audio nulls, high and low tones prompt you as to whether you should be increasing or decreasing the GB number using the + or - key as appropriate.
Auto GB: Put the detector in GB mode and hold down the the accept/reject pushbutton while pumping the coil and the GB number will automatically adjust until it becomes stable and you can stop.
Tracking GB: Put the detector in GB mode and single press the accept/reject pushbutton and the tracking GB icon (looks like a decaying sine wave - refer to p. 40 in the manual) will turn on. This is best used for situations where you have moderate to heavy mineralization or rapidly chaning salinity conditions (heavy surf) for the Tracking algorithm to grab onto (it is looking for significant changes in mineralization or salinity that will affect ground phase). I would not use this for white sand beaches devoid of mineralization because the tracking algorithm will hunt and likely no be accurate. Under those conditions you can usually just get away with the default GB setting or do an Auto GB and forget about it.
One other thing to note. Each mode should be treated like a separate detector, which means that you should noise cancel and GB each mode separately when you use them at a site. You don't need to noise cancel every time you switch modes or GB every time you switch modes if the site conditions are stable, just make sure you do it the first time you use the mode during a detecting session.
HTH
