Cell phones
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mudwhale
Elite Member
I leave mine in the car. I go detecting to get away from phones.
Diga
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Is your question in relation to privacy / security or possible EMI interference?
If the latter, of the 4 detectors I've recently had, not one of them was affected by my cell phone. The cell phone frequency range isn't even remotely close enough to a detectors frequency range to have any affect.
If the latter, of the 4 detectors I've recently had, not one of them was affected by my cell phone. The cell phone frequency range isn't even remotely close enough to a detectors frequency range to have any affect.
Last edited:
Martin_V3i
Elite Member
My cell phones have never bothered any of my detectors either. I'm not a social phone user, it is convenient and a safety line in old age. I hunt all alone all by myself much of the time, the security of knowing I have my phone a must.
Some people I have hunted with though are tethered to a phone and are on it a lot. Their phone rings, they always answer and generally quit detecting relatively quick. Most are married tectors so some of that is understandable.
EMI due to my cell phone, nope.
Tom_in_CA
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This is a good subject (assuming you're talking about electronic signal interference issues). It has come up in the past.
Let me share a personal anecdotal story on this : One time I had corded earbuds under my full cup md'ing headphones. The little earpods are left to be loose inside the larger cups, so that I can hear my phone ring. And there's enough volume that the little buds do not need to be inside the ear canal. So I can stop, at any time, and take a phone call. And not have to even raise the phone to my head. I just click the "answer" button, and I'm already wired.
So One time I was detecting a park for deep-silver-cherry picking, and my wife called me. I answered her call, and she began yapping about something on and on and on. So I figured that since I had both the cell phone AND the detector on independent audio, that I could continue to detect WHILE talking to her. And after a minute or so, I got a very iffy signal. Difficult to isolate, judge, etc... But just enough audio clue that I made a mental note that, after this call is over, I'm going to check this one out more.
A minute or so later, the call ended, and I began to criss-cross swing over the flagged spot . And I noticed something interesting : The signal CLEANED UP BETTER. I was able to get a better TID, more consistent, etc....
Which led me to wonder if : While I am an active phone call, is there some sort of cross-talk that was actively subtly affecting the detector ?? I ran this past a tech friend of mine (who works with 'puters as related to cell-phones). And he told me that, actually, our phones are PERPETUALLY "talking" with the cell towers around us. Sending and receiving signals. So that the phone is "seeking out" to find the nearest towers, AT ALL TIMES. So his notion was that if I thought there was interference in an actual active call, that so too will some level of interference be there with the phone simply carried on your person.
However, I carry my phone, in the powered on position, all the time. I have never experimented with turning it on and off, over a flagged iffy/deepy, to see if there's a difference. Any tech people here to chime in on this subject ?
Let me share a personal anecdotal story on this : One time I had corded earbuds under my full cup md'ing headphones. The little earpods are left to be loose inside the larger cups, so that I can hear my phone ring. And there's enough volume that the little buds do not need to be inside the ear canal. So I can stop, at any time, and take a phone call. And not have to even raise the phone to my head. I just click the "answer" button, and I'm already wired.
So One time I was detecting a park for deep-silver-cherry picking, and my wife called me. I answered her call, and she began yapping about something on and on and on. So I figured that since I had both the cell phone AND the detector on independent audio, that I could continue to detect WHILE talking to her. And after a minute or so, I got a very iffy signal. Difficult to isolate, judge, etc... But just enough audio clue that I made a mental note that, after this call is over, I'm going to check this one out more.
A minute or so later, the call ended, and I began to criss-cross swing over the flagged spot . And I noticed something interesting : The signal CLEANED UP BETTER. I was able to get a better TID, more consistent, etc....
Which led me to wonder if : While I am an active phone call, is there some sort of cross-talk that was actively subtly affecting the detector ?? I ran this past a tech friend of mine (who works with 'puters as related to cell-phones). And he told me that, actually, our phones are PERPETUALLY "talking" with the cell towers around us. Sending and receiving signals. So that the phone is "seeking out" to find the nearest towers, AT ALL TIMES. So his notion was that if I thought there was interference in an actual active call, that so too will some level of interference be there with the phone simply carried on your person.
However, I carry my phone, in the powered on position, all the time. I have never experimented with turning it on and off, over a flagged iffy/deepy, to see if there's a difference. Any tech people here to chime in on this subject ?
VirginiaBikeGirl
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I carry mine as a lifeline. But also, it has a great camera, and I'll take pictures of especially good finds in the dirt to document them.
Diga
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Ah yes, the proverbial wife "yapping" on and on about nothing. I know it well
The occasional nod in her direction, or a word to make it sound like you're listening, works wonders....as long as she doesn't ask, "What did I just say!!!???"
Kansashunter
Elite Member
Gotta have it with me for safety and for pictures!! I hunt alot in the hood.
Tom_in_CA
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Ah yes, the proverbial wife "yapping" on and on about nothing. I know it well
The occasional nod in her direction, or a word to make it sound like you're listening, works wonders....as long as she doesn't ask, "What did I just say!!!???"
CallMeGrey
Forum Supporter
I don't have a cell phone. Still have a landline but hardly ever use it. Used to only use it to order pizza delivery - now I do that online. Only current use I have for a phone is to make an occasional Dr's appt. I HATE talking on the phone. Bah Humbug!! (Full curmuddgeon mode activated!)
SirDigsALOT!
Full Member
I hunt alone mostly and use my phone for pics and as a safety line like mentioned above.
So … you are all alone by yourself?
too_pointer
Elite Member
I take my phone, just in case, I need help out in the woods, I also use it for the clock.
too_
too_
Martin_V3i
Elite Member
Yes out in the wide open spaces.So … you are all alone by yourself?
I detect alone in some very remote places and often use my onx app on my phone to track where I am going and also to bookmark a good area. As mentioned the phone is also a lifeline and also a very accurate compass. The Onx app also gives me a fairly accurate idea as to who owns the property I am detecting on.
yatahaze323
Junior Member
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- Feb 4, 2020
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I carry my cellphone with me and put it in airplane mode when detecting.
When I first got my nox I would randomly get emi that the detector would pick up but I was way out in the woods. The only thing that could cause it was the cell phone, I started putting the phone in airplane mode the issue went away completely. The emi was just like how some cell phones cause interference with speakers just the detector was picking it up.
When I first got my nox I would randomly get emi that the detector would pick up but I was way out in the woods. The only thing that could cause it was the cell phone, I started putting the phone in airplane mode the issue went away completely. The emi was just like how some cell phones cause interference with speakers just the detector was picking it up.
MasonDixonMding
Elite Member
I’ve had a small problem with my phone detecting only in one site. This site is in a valley with bad cell service. I think my phone was searching for the cell tower and thats why it gave me trouble. I would turn it off and the trouble was gone. But this was only at this bad cell site. I know when I’m in a bad cell area it will burn my battery on my phone up fast. I’m guessing it uses more power searching for a tower?
PAdogman
Junior Member
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- Feb 26, 2024
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Like above, safety and pics. It always rides in my pants pocket. It never crossed my mind not taking it.
Not tethered to it at all. And don't understand those who are.
I had to get blood drawn today and as the woman ahead of me walked out the door into the waiting room she was already typing on her phone. She couldn't wait ten seconds until she had left the building? I don't understand that.
I surely do don't.
Not tethered to it at all. And don't understand those who are.
I had to get blood drawn today and as the woman ahead of me walked out the door into the waiting room she was already typing on her phone. She couldn't wait ten seconds until she had left the building? I don't understand that.
I surely do don't.
GroundSweeper
Forum Supporter
I take my phone with me. Never had any detector/interference problems other than texts/calls that have made me wonder if I should just leave it in the car sometimes.... but I do like to have it for taking pictures of those targets in the hole that turn out not to be a ring or silver coin I thought it was 
