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Etrac FE/CO number help

On the E-Trac (and CTX), this is where Fe-Co targets fell (see the legend to color codes in the upper-left). The numbers in the cells describe the target more exactly (not shown - on a different sheet). It is meant to give you a starting point.


 
This is the list of targets that correspond to the numbers on the Fe-Co display (previous post). Use it if you find it useful. There are 611 targets listed, you'll need to scroll right to see the rest.



Jackalope
 
Users will be much better off not worrying about specific numbers. Think about zones of numbers because when in the ground and possibly around other targets the actual FECO numbers can be skewed.
 
Perfect advice. Audio audio audio! Learn the tones, not the #'s.

Have to agree with both here. If all you do to determine what you'll dig is look for a specific number, you'll miss a lot. I run a CTX and even that advanced machine is not always "on the money" as far as an ID number goes. Especially in the penny/copper "zone". Large coppers/IH's/Wheats/farthings etc. will all fall into this zone.
If I get a squeaker in that zone....I DIG IT. I mean really, how long does it take to dig a little hole?
 
I know this is an old post but wanted to revive it because of all the good info in it.
A lot of people are buying E Tracs now (myself included) and this is a gold mine of a thread here.


Ya that's some good info as my wife ow owns an etrac...having her read this now..thanks
 
A very good point, pasttom...very true. The "Minelab wiggle" is very helpful and seems to allow the unit to sort of "lock on" and get a better read on the target...

Steve
What is the "Minelab wiggle"?
 
What is the "Minelab wiggle"?
The"Minelab Wiggle" can be used with most detectors. Once you have the center of the coil over the target you wiggle from side to side and move the coil back towards you. As you wiggle and move the tone & VDI can change a tell you more about the possible target. Once the tone disappears, the target should be right at the tip top of the coil. This is also a quick way to pinpoint a target.

I have noticed most bottle caps and other junk will change to the iron grunt at the edge of your coil.
 
b1dearm,

I don't do the "wiggle" quite the same as Cherry Picker does, nor for an identical reason (it seems he utilizes it at least to some degree for pinpointing, and for testing to see if a target will near the tip of the coil, as a "check" to see if it is trash). What Cherry Picker describes IS a way to pinpoint, and IS a way to "check" a target (if it "breaks up" or sounds otherwise "crappy," near the tip of the coil, it often IS junk). I'm not knocking what was said, but that use of wiggling the coil over the target while also gradually drawing the coil back toward your feet, with the target gradually moving toward the front edge of the coil, is not what I mean when I talk about the "Minelab wiggle."

When I talk about the "Minelab wiggle," what I mean is when I'm detecting and hear a target that needs to be explored further, I shorten up my swing to very short, left-to-right sweeps (maybe 6" or so width of sweep) over the center of the target. I listely carefully as I begin the "wiggle," and allow my "ears" to help get me centered directly over the target. If I CAN'T get centered (i.e. get a repeatable hit in one location), it's either junk (usually iron), OR multiple targets under the coil. BUT, when I CAN "zero in" and find the center of the target using the wiggle, then I continue to make these very short (4 to 6") sweeps back and forth over the top dead center of the target, as I rotate my body slowly around the target (while continuing these short sweeps over the center of the target), all the way around, 360 degrees.

These short sweeps allow the machine's algorithms to get a really good look at the target, and thus give the best ID possible for the target (i.e. you are giving the machine multiple, repeated "reads" of the target). And doing so as you rotate lets the machine see it from the entire 360 degrees. Again, this allows the machine to use its ID algorithms to the fullest...

I am sure this works with other machines, but with the Minelab units, I especially feel that you are maximizing these SMF machines' ability to really "interrogate" the tartget, as the information from these short, repeated sweeps is fed through the ID algorithms to give the best ID possible.

What you'll notice, is that there are times that the wiggle allows a target to really "clean up," over several seconds worth of "wiggling" it, and will give an increasingly good, solid report and ID with time. That's usually a good target. Other times, doing the "wiggle" causes the target to gradually "degrade," audibly, i.e. "sound worse," as you do the "wiggle" repeatedly...OR, sometimes you "lose" the target at some angles -- i.e. it seems to "move" a few inches). This is obviously, much of the time, indicative of trash.

Hopefully that helps...

Steve
 
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