Gain and threshold?

[Brandigr2]

I recently viewed a post of someone who found a ring using the F5 at a park. He said he ran his gain between 30-50. Why run the gain 30-50? I always thought you would run it as high as you could without too much chatter. Doesn't gain directly relate to depth? I use the F5. I started in April and am still learning. I still don't really get what gain and threshold do exactly. I thought threshold was to discriminate smaller objects. I was out in my neighborhood yesterday and was running 90 gain and -2 threshold but I still found a bunch of tiny objects. Do I have this wrong?

 

[stinger]

maybe the park had a lot of trash in trashy areas I would turn it down

 

[Longhair]

You might find this that Rudy wrote a while back useful.

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showpost.php?p=144051&postcount=1

 

[Vito]

Gain:
Yes, use it to get the deep items. Running as high as you can without falsing is
one thing. On the other hand, if you're in higher mineralized soil, less gain can
be helpful so the ground will not mask some good/small targets.

Threshold:
Set this to a very faint hum that will not be annoying, may be you have to use
it for some hrs. To me it will monitor the ground condition. Any change in
threshold volume (+/-) may be heard if the threshold level is very low.
If the threshold is set to high, very faint changes can be missed.

 

[Will*in*Cali]

I would be that guy. When I know that all the good items are less than 4 inches deep in a certain area ( all the clad Ive pulled from the park is 4" or less) running a massive gain makes no sense, basically turning up the volume on the trash to match the treasure. I want a ring to sound louder than a small piece of foil, and those are everywhere. So by lowering the gain and turning the threshold down, I can limit what the detector picks up. Yes I might miss that small gold chain or whatever. But that is fine, I will be coming back to that same park again, and again. Im learning a new machine and a new hunting ground. Ever tried to read 100 books at the same time, gets confusing right? Thats what you do when you run massive gain and wide open threshold at the same time in trashy areas, you hear EVERYTHING. I dont want to hear everything, at least not right now. I want to hear specific things. Its just my learning style, yours might be different. Happy Hunting
Read this

http://www.treasurelinx.com/uploads/Fisher_F5_Tips___Tricks_Apr_2013_rev.pdf

 

[Texas Looter]

You might find this that Rudy wrote a while back useful.

http://metaldetectingforum.com/showpost.php?p=144051&postcount=1

Good info.
Should be a sticky.

 

[Brandigr2]

I would be that guy. When I know that all the good items are less than 4 inches deep in a certain area ( all the clad Ive pulled from the park is 4" or less) running a massive gain makes no sense, basically turning up the volume on the trash to match the treasure. I want a ring to sound louder than a small piece of foil, and those are everywhere. So by lowering the gain and turning the threshold down, I can limit what the detector picks up. Yes I might miss that small gold chain or whatever. But that is fine, I will be coming back to that same park again, and again. Im learning a new machine and a new hunting ground. Ever tried to read 100 books at the same time, gets confusing right? Thats what you do when you run massive gain and wide open threshold at the same time in trashy areas, you hear EVERYTHING. I dont want to hear everything, at least not right now. I want to hear specific things. Its just my learning style, yours might be different. Happy Hunting
Read this

http://www.treasurelinx.com/uploads/Fisher_F5_Tips___Tricks_Apr_2013_rev.pdf

Wow! Thanks everyone! I think I understand it now! I can't wait to get back out there. It might be warm enough this weekend! Woot!

 

[stingray]

subscribing very intersting thread...

 

[machineman]

I have found that running a high sensitivity will throw off your vid numbers. I usially set my sensitivity in all metal mode. I will turn it up until it starts to chatter then turn it down to quiet. I do this unless i need super depth