2nd outing with E-trac

[4thDoctorWhoFan]

For those that don't know, I am new to MDing and just got my first detector ever this month.

Well, I had time to go try another little park close by for 2 hours and once again no silver.

I only was able to get a memorial penny, 2 nickles, 1 dime and 1 quarter all of which were clad. I am still having trouble with deep targets as I never know when to dig because I get lots and lots of high pictched tones below 4-6 inches but it always turns out to be trash. Today the usual reading for the deeper targets was mostly around Fe-27 Co-35 or Co-43. I get lots of these signals but so far they have been nothing.

I would like to get some input on this one particular signal:
At around 6 inches I was getting a solid Fe-12 Co-43/44 reading. I dug down to 8 inches and found nothing. Once the hole was dug, the same signal seemed to have moved 3 inches so I dug another deep hole only to find nothing once again. I rechecked the signal with the detector and the signal seemed to have moved again. In the previous 2 holes I was still getting a signal but not nearly as strong as the original signal. I finally gave up and moved on. Big waste of time.

Boy, I was really ignorant about MDing because this is turning out to be more difficult than I originally anticipated. BUT I am still having fun!!

 

[OhioCoinHunter]

Here's a pinpointing tip. First I should share that I use Normal pinpointing. When you get a signal you want to dig, press the Pinpoint button. Wiggle the coil side-to-side over the target and stop when it sounds like the coil is centered over the target. You must judge this by the sound. Now simply push the coil away from you until the signal disappears. Now bring it back until you get the signal and stop. You must stop the moment you hear the signal. The target will be under the bold, black serial number on the coil.

If you want to practice, just throw a penny down on the ground and give it a try.

I also want to add that when I first got my E-trac all the different tones confused me. Hunting in multitones simply wasn't an option for me at that time. So I hunted in 4-tones and that helped simplify things some. After a while I got used to the 4-tones. After I became used to 4-tones I made the big switch to multitones. When that got to be too confusing, I just switched back to 4-tones. Eventually I got used to multitones and have hunted exclusively in that mode since. However there's nothing wrong with staying in 4-tones...or even 2-tones if that's what you're comfortable with.

When you're hunting, try to isolate the high pitched tone you are interested in. You only want to hear that tone and no others. So don't swing the coil over it. Wiggle it until you have that signal isolated. Does it repeat when you wiggle the coil over it? Try wiggling the coil over it from different directions. If it repeats then pinpoint. While you are pinpointing, check the depth meter because it is the most accurate for coin-sized objects in the pinpoint mode.

Pinpointing in the manner above will tell you where the coin is under your coil. Checking the depth in pinpoint mode will tell you more accurately how deep it is. Now simply dig that puppy!

Hope that helps you out.

 

[Jack Flynn]

Sounds like you definately are not pinpointing correctly. The targets you are digging you just happen to dig where they are under the detection strip down the middle of the coil. When you get a signal and it is good while you circle it press pinpoint and sweep over it again. When the strip is over it, "it is an 11 inch detection strip" if you were to dig a trench 11" long you would find it". Please don't do that. Very important this part. Turn 90 degrees to the imaginary strip where you just had the target located and center that strip up dead center the coil and sweep the 11" imaginary strip. When you are over the target dig your hole dead center where the coil was. The E Trac is superb at pinpointing, you can find the target with a screwdriver if you want then. But you have to pay close attention to the places the coil was on the ground, the first imaginary detection line. You are isolating the target with an X and it will be right in the middle if you do your part. I haven't tried the pull back the detector short wiggle with the E Trac but if it is as accurate as the other ML's it is dead on too. I prefer the X method................That 12-43 or 44 you left was a deep dime or an older copper penny not a zinc. However it could be anything clad on edge or slightly tilted not laying flat more than likely

 

[Goes4ever]

I rarely use the pinpoint button. I use a technique Andy mentioned in his book, just wiggle the coil over target to find out where it is then pull it back slowly till signal goes away and then dig right in front of the coil. Works perfectly for me and it is quicker than pinpointing. But I pretty much did the same thing with my xterra, so i am used to that method

 

[4thDoctorWhoFan]

Sounds like you definately are not pinpointing correctly.

I don't think pinpointing was the issue because I have had no problems pinpointing the coins I have found.

The issue I mentioned in my original post was after I definitely had it pinpointed correctly because the etrac had me dead center and a high pitched tone when in pinpoint mode. Perhaps it was one of these ghost holes I read about. I am not sure what that exactly is but it sounds similar to the problem I had.

Thanks to all who are giving their opinion because it is helping me understand the detector better.

 

[rbholt80]

iv had dimes that came out of the hole then vanished. when i pp again it was down under the grass a few inches from my hole. so i pp again and get a bad depth reading dig and nothing there. so i find it again then repeat this crap. it only happens to me when my sense is running very high.
it may be what you had happen.
i found that if i stomp the ground under were the coil was getting the signal that it lays the dime flat and smashes the grass down and then i get the dime reading at its true depth which is realy on the surface of the dirt.
some dimes were actualy in the ground but once i dug them up i lost them and couldnt even get a peep of a target so when that happens i do the stomp also.
only ever had this happen with the etrac and the teknetics mark1 ltd.

 

[EZrider]

It's extremely hard to diagnose what someone is experiencing when there detecting. We are not there at the moment and can't rely on what is told to be clear. Since your new to detecting and this is your first machine i can somewhat see what your experiencing. I have a friend who is new and has a Safari. Even though we hunt together side by side its still difficult for him.

Detecting and making great finds takes time in the field. I have over 100 hours in detecting with mine and i still learn something every time i go out.

From the sound of it "common with newcomers". Is that your having a hard time telling the difference between a false signal and a good one. All of us have went through this when we first started. In time you will learn to disregard those signals and tune into the good ones.

There is no such thing as a "ghost hole" something made your machine sound off. Knowing your machine and how to run it and set it up is only half the battle. You must also master pinpointing and recovery also.

"Silver tip" To know if your area might hold silver. I always look for wheat pennies and the old style pull tabs. If I'm digging them i know there can be silver. Ive seen 150 year old parks here with 3 feet of fill dirt rendering our machines useless for anything other than modern items.

Look up this video to help get you started

http://www.dankowskidetectors.com

 

[OhioCoinHunter]

I see now. It was just that one signal. If you dug a deep hole and found nothing...I'm thinking it was deep iron. Or it may have been a deeply buried shredded pop can giving a high tone. Shredded pop cans often throw pinpointing off.

 

[terrywl]

Another trick, when in PP raise your coil, if the sound stays with you several inches above the ground it is not a coin or ring sized object. Maybe a crushed can as they will give a nice tone and read 12/44. Happens to me on the beach all the time. It's the old garbage can lid at 3 feet vs a quarter at 6" effect.