3 months with a Sov XS-2, here is what I've learned

[radarwill]

I used to use a Whites Spectrum XLT, sold it and took a long break from detecting.
I was in the market for another detector and stumbled onto the Sovereign Line.
This forum and others really convinced me and I bought a used one with the 550
meter and a BBS1000. Here is what I have learned.

1. You guys said "go slow", you really meant it. If the ground is not absolutely perfect
where you get a constant threshold you will overrun coins as shallow as 4". To catch these
coin signals even as a short blip you must swing an arc of 5" in about 5 seconds. Thats
slow.

2. You must investigate the blips using the wiggle or miss out on the goodies. I've been
swing too fast and just heard a blip that sounded like the detector just found iron and was
blipping just before nulling and ignored them. As my skill increased I started investigating
these blips and found very repeatable signals at 550 which turned out to be coins.

3. You must swing the coil evenly and if possible skimming the ground or you will overrun deep
targets.

Sounds like three duh things, but they have taken me a long way so far. This Sov is still way
better a detector than I am a detectorist.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Hey radarwill! I'm even newer, as I've only been swinging a XS-2a for about a month now (but have already found more goodies then with my other detectors, coincidence perhaps).

A couple of question for you:

[quote radarwill]
1. You guys said "go slow", you really meant it. If the ground is not absolutely perfect
where you get a constant threshold you will overrun coins as shallow as 4". To catch these
coin signals even as a short blip you must swing an arc of 5" in about 5 seconds. Thats
slow.[/quote]

You mean 5 inches in five seconds or five feet in five seconds ??

[quote radarwill]2. You must investigate the blips using the wiggle or miss out on the goodies. I've been
swing too fast and just heard a blip that sounded like the detector just found iron and was
blipping just before nulling and ignored them. As my skill increased I started investigating
these blips and found very repeatable signals at 550 which turned out to be coins.[/quote]

Can you describe these blips ? I've heard blips (like mosquito buzzes) and when I investigated them they turned out to be iron trash.

[quote radarwill]3. You must swing the coil evenly and if possible skimming the ground or you will overrun deep
targets.[/quote]

Skimming the ground, or scrubbing the ground (scrubbing is what I've been doing) ?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[radarwill]

I did mean 5 feet in 5 seconds. I've found that even In a constant null condition like over iron infested ground,
going at that speed will still give you a good chance not to overrun the goodies.

If you are swinging to fast it seems the Sov doesn't have enough time to average and respond with the correct
tone. It just gives you a "brritt" sound. often times you back up a foot or so and get a solid/repeatable 550 reading and a coin.
Maybe this is what people mean when they refer to a small change in threshold.

On the coil height, as low as you can get it without destroying the coil.

Any Sov vets thin I'm making any sense or have input?
Thanks

 

[Art (NWOH)]

What you are doing is good when you have a threshold most of the time and there is not much trash, and you are not looking for the deepest possible targets. However it sounds like you are going too fast and/or are running your sensitivity too high for the conditions you just described. You could also consider a smaller coil.

You need to keep a threshold most of the time to keep the detector working it's best. You do what you have to in order to get the best results, or you leave a lot of stuff for guys like me.


HH

 

[Ron from Michigan]

Radarwill,the XLT and Sovereign have opposite sweep speeds,very slow sweep with the XS2 to lock on to targets.I usually switch back and forth from the 800 to 1000 Tornado coils.The smaller coil isn't as sweep sensitive as the larger coil.I use a XS and have found the larger coil requires a 1/4 drop in max sensitivity to stable out in my ground conditions,but still has excellent depth.I'm working a park where the coins I'm finding are 8-10 inches on an average with the smaller coil.With the start of the season I use the smaller coil to build my confidence and switch to the 1000 coil which requires a lot of patients.Good Luck with the XS2.

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Art I believe the main point of your post is essentially turning down the sensitivity far enough to maintain a steady threshold, right (all best are off if in heavy iron) ?

 

[Art (NWOH)]

I would not call it the main point.
There are three basic things......
coil size...for ground conditions (mineral/trash) and noise
sweep speed...for ground conditions (mineral/trash)
sensitivity.....for ground conditions (mineral/trash) and noise

Depending on conditions, any one of the above may be suitable by itself to get good performance. Often, all three of the above will need to be used in conjunction.

For example.......
When slowing down is not adequate, then lower the sensitivity. If you have lowered the sensitivity a lot and things are still way bad, then use a smaller coil too. At this point you may be able to increase sensitivity and or sweep speed a bit.
Then there will be places that are impossible unless you use a shovel and a sifter.

Often, a quick check of the area will give you an idea where you will be able to hunt the easiest, and where you will have to go to extremes. Adjustments and coil changes are dictated by how the detector is working.
Also ...in bad iron trash make sure to check out any positive target no matter what the reading. Multiple targets can average and make the meter useless.
Always cover the area from several different directions to help find good targets that get averaged or masked by the junk. The more junk, the more meticulous you need to be.

HH

 

[Cal_Cobra]

Makes sense Art. I picked up an 8" Coinsearch coil, it's a really good coil, it does well in trash (the stock 10" wasn't cutting the mustard in trashy parks).

 

[Art (NWOH)]

I think the coinsearch or the S-8 either one would be a good all around choice for any but the worst trash.

I would rather use a S-12 in trash before I would use a minelab 10" . The S-12 has a very narrow detection window.

The minelab 10" coils just have too wide a window for trash.

HH