What does a scratch tone mean.

[Nickleanddime]

Doing a air test tonight of a new detector, moved the disc knob up and started getting a scratchy tone with some items. That means dont sig right?
Sounds silly but i moved up from a single tone detector to a multi tone and multi setting detector so trying to figure out what the tones are. I bought it used so no book.

 

[luvsdux]

Scratchy tone as you describe it is usually heard at or very near the point where a particular target is about to be discriminated out. This is what beep and dig detectorists listen for when thumbing the discrimination knob to determine whether a target is likely a coin or more likely trash as indicated by the marking on the detector face plate under the disc knob. With practice one can become pretty accurate at determining the likely hood of a desirable target versus trash. Also, hunting this way with very little discrimination set until a target is encountered, then thumbing the disc as described, avoids passing over potentially good targets because the disc is set too high while covering an area.
luvsdux

 

[Nickleanddime]

Thank you fr the info. It'll help for sure.