Might be looking for some help

[madmantrapper]

I'm in central Maryland. I just got my first metal detector and may be looking for some help or mentor when the ground ever dries up and not froze solid. Maybe in the spring.

Paul

 

[A2coins]

What detecter do you have

 

[A2coins]

Welcome also Tommy Michigan

 

[madmantrapper]

I bought a Bounty Hunter Land Ranger Pro. I fooled with it a little at the end of my driveway and it would not stop squawking. I'll have to see if I can figure out the settings.

 

[catherine1]

It should work fine as soon as you turn it on. Like the manual says, you don't want to fire it up near any metal. Try it over a grassy area.......and see what happens.

 

[Rookster]

I'd start at a small park that allows detecting. That should give you a feel for the different sounds and targets. Go low and slow. Post us some finds. Good luck.

 

[HighVDI]

When i think of the end of a driveway i picture a bunch of overhanging power lines and transformers producing EMI. Try getting in an open area away from anything electrical and or phones.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Watch a few YouTube videos on the machine, read the manual a few times and go to a school play area...have fun!

Good Luck with your new machine!

 

[madmantrapper]

OK I took the MD out in the yard for awhile today. I kept getting signals indicating silver and a very high pitch. I found nothing. My yard is 4 acres, nearest power-lines are about five hundred yards away to the north. The yard was a pasture until about 1985. Low pitches and iron indications produced nails and screws, mostly shallow from different projects around the place. Signals indicating aluminum produced either nothing or an occasional hunk of flashing material maybe the size on a quarter. I did not make any adjustments to anything like the ground balance or disc setting. Just to make sure everything was at the defaults, I turned it on holding the mode button like the manual said. How long did it take you folks to master your equipment. I feel like I don't have a clue what I am doing.

 

[pa-dirt_nc-sand]

Go to an elementary school playground that has mulch. You will get lots of coins and maybe some jewelry signals. Best place to learn IMO, then hit your yard. At this point You’ll know what a legit signal sounds like. Good luck and have fun

 

[RustyGold]

Lay out different coins about 18” apart on signal free ground and swing the coil over them even with the ground. Don’t pendulum swing.
Take note of the tone and numbers each coin creates and do the same with some test objects like silver and gold rings.
Also take note of the tones they make and the TID (Target ID). Do the same with any artifacts or relics that you’re interested in finding.
Soon you’ll be on your way to knowing what you’re looking for by recognizing the tones and TID of various objects.
Best of luck!

 

[madmantrapper]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll try these ideas when the weather is a little warmer.