Sixtigers
Forum Supporter
So...there I am, out in the park, going to try and find some coins. I'm using a Garrett GTI2500 that I bought six years ago and took out once, where I learned that one doesn't go MDing with steel-toed boots. Lesson learned.
Now I'm trying it out again. Only--holy heck! In All Metal mode, I get constant signals. Signals everywhere. Nothing really consistent.
This can't be right, right? Shouldn't be this noisy.
I learn what "Threshold" is. I turn that wayyyyyyy down, so I don't have a constant tone. Still get lots of noise. Surely there can't be that many targets, can there?
Grass. Dirt. Basic park. Same reactions in the sand around the swingsets..
I turn down "Sensitivity". The manual says "Don't touch the settings! Search in 'All Metal' for a 100 hours or so before you start messin' with the settings!" but I'm not detecting anything--I'm just getting sounds everywhere. Turning sensitivity down halfway from my starting point doesn't have an effect.
I've tried to read through the threads posted, learned that my wire needs to be wrapped tight and not moving in relation to the coil to minimize falsies. I've learned that maybe EMI could be an issue, because I get moving targets even when the coil is stationary--or even held up high inthe air.
Maybe it's highly mineralized soil? Don't know. Took it to Kernville, CA over the weekend, tried to hunt around Old Kernville now that the lake is dried up, but it was impossible. Too many signals.
I've "reset" the machine to factory settings numerous times. Doesn't change anything. Still a bunch of signals.
Question is this: I know the newer detectors are supposed to have automatic ground balancing, and I'm assuming I'm in a mineralized soil area. Garrett GTI2500 videos on YouTube show how to do a ground balance by pumping the MD up and down a few times, from 2" to 8" and back.
What is the goal, here? Am I supposed to be listening for anything during this pumping? How do I know when I've achieved GB? Is it just good to go after a few pumps, or am I looking for feedback from the machine?
I appreciate the help. This is sort of driving me crazy. If it makes a difference, the soil in the lakebed was still damp from rain. Still--same antics as the MD had when in the park. Is wet soil the issue?
Now I'm trying it out again. Only--holy heck! In All Metal mode, I get constant signals. Signals everywhere. Nothing really consistent.
This can't be right, right? Shouldn't be this noisy.
I learn what "Threshold" is. I turn that wayyyyyyy down, so I don't have a constant tone. Still get lots of noise. Surely there can't be that many targets, can there?
Grass. Dirt. Basic park. Same reactions in the sand around the swingsets..
I turn down "Sensitivity". The manual says "Don't touch the settings! Search in 'All Metal' for a 100 hours or so before you start messin' with the settings!" but I'm not detecting anything--I'm just getting sounds everywhere. Turning sensitivity down halfway from my starting point doesn't have an effect.
I've tried to read through the threads posted, learned that my wire needs to be wrapped tight and not moving in relation to the coil to minimize falsies. I've learned that maybe EMI could be an issue, because I get moving targets even when the coil is stationary--or even held up high inthe air.
Maybe it's highly mineralized soil? Don't know. Took it to Kernville, CA over the weekend, tried to hunt around Old Kernville now that the lake is dried up, but it was impossible. Too many signals.
I've "reset" the machine to factory settings numerous times. Doesn't change anything. Still a bunch of signals.
Question is this: I know the newer detectors are supposed to have automatic ground balancing, and I'm assuming I'm in a mineralized soil area. Garrett GTI2500 videos on YouTube show how to do a ground balance by pumping the MD up and down a few times, from 2" to 8" and back.
What is the goal, here? Am I supposed to be listening for anything during this pumping? How do I know when I've achieved GB? Is it just good to go after a few pumps, or am I looking for feedback from the machine?
I appreciate the help. This is sort of driving me crazy. If it makes a difference, the soil in the lakebed was still damp from rain. Still--same antics as the MD had when in the park. Is wet soil the issue?
