GoldenRoyBoy, I'm glad you are figuring it out. When I first started using
Explorers, I hated them. They are so alien in the way they operate compared to what many of us are use to or used when we got started. I want to personally thank all of those that did with me, as they are doing with you now, and and kept me going with it. In my humble opinion, it is the best detector out there right now, for what it's made for.
Do like others have said...set the coil down of center from the target and push the pinpoint button when you have a threshold hum. That works for me. All of us have had to relearn the pinpointing with the SE. At first, I liked the Exp. ll pinpointing better, but now the SE does it fine. Here is a review I did on the Exp. ll; maybe it will help:
First off...I have tried most detectors. Even when I start liking another detector, I go out with the Explorer again... and it amazes me again. In my opinion, this is probably the best overall detector made for FINDING items in the ground at depth. When I first got/used the Exp. ll, I was ready to wrap it around a tree. The thing was constant noise!!! Now, I'd hate to be without it. I had a lot of encouragement from friends to give it time. Boy were they right! Rather than bore you with my stories, I want to give some prospective Exp. owners a few opinions and pointers...
If you are impatient and/or just a casual coin hunter, don't bother. There are a lot of light, short learning curve, detectors that will do well. Click the back arrow and look at something else.
Now, those of you still here, here goes...
The Exp. machine is superior to others in most conditions. Minerals don't seem to affect it. Get the probe. It helps locate targets in a deep hole.
Know that when you get the Exp, it will take time...it has a steep learning curve and by that let me say the learning curve doesn't mean alot to learn. It means it takes a good while for your brain to process and understand what you are hearing in the ground and know a good signal when you hear it.
Next, You HAVE TO HUNT SLOW!!! I can't say this enough. Slow means slower. Alot of the noise people complain about hearing is just all of the junk in the ground and going over it too fast. The slower you go, the more separated the sounds are, and easier to pick out.
The Exp. is very versitale, but not complicated. Once you get it set the way you want to hunt, it is pretty much a "turn on and go" machine. It is great in the ground or on the beach.
Again, if you are just wanting the 4-5" coins, most all machines will do that. If you are wanting to find coins the other detectors can't reach, the Exp. is for you. Just yesterday, I found a ring and two wheaties at about 7-8" (highly mineralized) in an old park in a small area that has been POUNDED FOR YEARS!!! I went slower than slow and was rewarded for doing that.
The Exp. is heavy. I recommend shortening the rods and hunt closer to your feet. In other words, don't extend the detector out in front of you. Or get a bungie strap to help hold it. Make sure you have NO metal in your shoes!
Once learned, this detector will increase your finds and go for the old stuff. It will, and has to, take time to learn it. There are no short cuts. Your brain has to have time hearing the machine's sounds to reprogram itself in to knowing how to, and when to, recognize a signal and what it means. That WILL NOT happen over night.
For those of you that want the best...this is what it takes. If you quit too soon, that's OK...it is just more for us other Explorer owners. The forums have a wealth of info and many users to help anyone. The only reason I scored it at four stars is because it is a little heavy. Good luck to you and Happy Hunting!
