1st time out w/MXT - observations & ??

[Anonymous]

Hi,
My first post here. I went out last weekwnd for the first time with my MXT. I had a DFX a couple years ago and sold it. It seems that the MXT is noisier than how I remember the DFX. It also seems to read iron almost all the time. After a while I ran it in relic mode to have the dual tone and also tried the prospecting mode. These seem to work better than the C/J mode. I like the different tones.
I was hunting a residential area that was built in WWII for housing for shipbuilders which then became family housing for the University. I found a 47 Jefferson and a number of wheaties and 1 zinc. The trash I dug was a little less than 50%.
I am now wondering if I am missing the silver or has this already been hunted out and the silver was taken leaving the nickels and pennies.
What can I listen for to tell silver. I am not using the ID but I am using the VDI.
Opinions?
thanks,
AlbanyMatt

 

[Anonymous]

I had alot of problems with my MXT - it is so easy to use but too sen sensitive for the beaches I used it on. I tried setting and locking the ground balance, using the salt mode but only turning down the sensitivity loads really made it better .... and then I lost alot of depth! I ended up buying a DFX - and yes, you remember right, it is alot more stable than an MXT. I now use a DFX and Minelab Quattro for the beach.
Many on this forum -unsurprisingly- love their MXT..... I think it depends very much where you are searching and how much chatter you are prepared to put up with. I love the balance and ease of use of mine so have ended up keeping it to use elsewhere, away from the beach. I hope in a different environment it will settle down a bit as the depth it seems capable of if you put up with the noise is better than the DFX.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Matt,
Did you try it in C/J mode with the trigger forward? If you after after silver primarily that will help quiet it down and eliminate some of the bothersome trash. I also suggest setting the sensitivity between 7 & 8. This helps in 2 ways, it reduces masking and with less chatter you can pick out the better sounding hits much easier
Other than that, the best suggestion I can make is run not walk to your dealer and replace the stock 950 coil with one of the DD's. The 6X10 will do wonders in helping keep your sanity and the 4X6 shooter or 5" Excelerator are a must in heavy trash.
I feel that 90% of the problems people have with the MXT are due to the stock coil. It is a very sensitive coil and combined with the high gain of the MXT, just does not work well in most situations we run into.
Tom

 

[Anonymous]

Matt,
I'm confused by your post but that is nothing new for me.... being confused that is.. <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
As for as I know you can't distinquish silver by your reference to "listen". You say you don't use the ID but go by VDI? To me that is the ID.
Silver will read from VDI 81 and up. I have found a few dimes at 78/79 but very few. Quarters usually come in at 84/85 and higher usually indicates rings, jewelry, or large aluminum cans that are deep...
As for as audibles I usually find that coins will usually give a crisp distinct sound and will be easy to pin point.
HH,
Johnny B

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Matt, I have the MXT. I use it in relic, switch center, with disc at 9 o'clock. This gives low tone for nickels, most gold, nails, iron ground, most trash, & high tone for zinc/wheat/clad/silver. Sometimes lack of silver is due to income of people, or lack of places to spend money there might mean they didn't bring silver & didn't get change there. A dime is about 10% smaller than a penny, so if you get 5" pennies, maybe 4.5" on dime. Quarters & halves may have been removed years ago, due to stronger signals. You can put up with the noise at full sens or reduce to preset or +1, & as has been mentioned, the DD coil should be less noisy in iron ground. The DD (6.75 x 10, I think) has a little less depth than stock coil, but separates better in trash. I get 3"-4" regularly & 5"-7" occasionally in moderately mineralized soil, but only dig those signals where visual ID & tone indicate probable coin. Those who dig junk beeps sometimes get some older, deeper, & better coins. The MXT can detect a few inches deeper than it can reliably ID. George (MN)

 

[Anonymous]

How did you manage to dig a Zinc penny? Zinc reads as high negative numbers on my MXT. Are you digging everything (including - numbers)?

 

[Anonymous]

That are made since 1982 and have a copper coating on them. These read slightly lower than a copper penny and lke a IH penny will read.
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

I dig zinc pennies all the time. My MXT reads them as positive 20 to 30. Ron Z

 

[Anonymous]

That's odd they vdi-+60to+67 on my mxt. most of the time +65 zinc

 

[Anonymous]

Next time I'm out detecting I'll check to see what my readings are for zinc. Thought for sure they were in the 20 to 30 range but then again I can't remember what I did yesterday!!!! HH Ron Z

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I had a brain fart. I was thinking about the 1943 Steel Pennies when I made that statement. Sorry for the confusion - My MXT picks up the Zinc pennies without problem (in fact too good as I find more of them than anything else).

 

[Anonymous]

Finally got out and check on the zinc readings. Mine came in between 65 and 75. I"ve learned something new. Thanks. Ron Z