aggravated

[Tony66]

I was out this morning and I got a lot of beeps but I couldn't find them. I managed to pull 4 items out of the ground (fishing weight, 2 nails, 1 washer) but I had a huge whole going before I got to them. Actually 3 big holes in my backyard , I would bet that if I would've seen anything shine it would've been the sun coming thru from the other side. I know I'm not setting my disc and sens right and my pinpointing, well, lets just say I narrowed it down to the backyard. I'm exaggerating on the pin pointing but I am having a hard time with it. Thanks for letting me vent

 

[JJ]

Sounds like you and your machine are finally starting to bond. I feel your frustration. But all that work with few finds paid off in experience. Please describe your technique for hunting/pinpointing. Which machine are you using? What Coil Size are you using? Have you thought about a hand held pinpointer? I'm glad you had a chance to vent. Please fill me in on the rest, thanks, JJ

 

[Tony66]

Bond would be a good way of putting it. It was beeping at me and some of the language I was using should've been beeped out. I don't really have a technique yet. I try to keep my swing as low to the ground and as level as possible. I found that problem almost fixed itself when I started to slow down my swing. I'm using a BH QD II with an 8 inch coil. I just ordered a hand held from Harbor Freight. I haven't received it yet but I'm eagerly waiting. I know it's not one of the more expensive models but I wanted to try one and get a feel for it before I bought a more expensive unit. On the advice from others here on the forum I had set some coins down and went over them to see how they read and where the coil picks them up. It seemed liked it would beep pretty center. When I find something I will go over it several times to try and figure where exactly it's located, but, apparently I don't quite have it down yet. Today I had the sens set at high and gradually moved it to about the 1:00 o'clock position and my disc started at about 2:00 o'clock and ended up at about 11:00 o'clock. I think that's about it for this mornings comedy of errors. Believe me, any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[JJ]

Trial by error is the only way most of us learn anything. It sounds like you may have fixed any falsing problems by backing off the sensitivity. I personally like my disc set fully CCW to hear everything but thats just me. I'm sure you were fine setting it at 11. Something to try when pinpointing is to find your target in multiple directions to help zero in on it. Side to side then front to back, or 90 degrees from your original swing direction. This should effectively narrow it down to a few square inches. This would be the time I would move in with my hand held pinpointer. Even though there are plenty of ways to find the target without the pinpointer, I think they help reduce the amount of damage you will do digging a nice find and also helps with the frustration you mentioned. Something else to try before the pinpointer gets there is to start beside your target, switch to all metal mode. If you get too much chatter, back off the sens or raise your coil, then go back over your target from multiple directions. This will give you a much more honest pinpoint than the decided beep of a disc/notch mode. Something else that might help is the 4" coil. You really have to slow way down to cover the same ground with the 4", but it's great in trashy areas and also great for pinpointing. Keep practicing. Persistence will pay off, the odds are with you. GL and HH, JJ

 

[BH-LandStar]

One of these days, I am going to take the video camera with me and tape how I hunt...It might be a great help to some of the folks that are new here on the forum...My general rules for new hunters are:

Before you begin: Use good 9V batteries. I am loosing faith in the rechargeables...I get less false signals with the Duracell alkalines...

1: Read your manual until you know it in your sleep

2: Keep your SENS below noon to start (I generally keep mine at 9 o'clock) (It is a myth that higher SENS = Deeper targets. This only works to a point...at 9 o'clock, I still get targets up to 6" deep...at noon, I max out at 8-10" deep...Beyond noon, I get nothing but chatter)...

3: keep your DISC/NOTCH all the way CCW (counter clockwise)...

4: keep the coil about an inch off the turf and level as you can. (that means adjust the coil on the end of the pole until it is level with the flat ground)

5: keep your swing speed slow and steady...coil should be moviving at about 2 feet per second or slower...overlap your swings...go slow...no need to rush...the targets are not going anywhere (but in your pouch) if your doing it right...


HH,

BH-LandStar

 

[Tony66]

I think that I'm going to print some of this out and take it with me as reference.As far as the pin pointer goes, I'm still waiting. I will probably start experimenting with different size coils at some point, but I want to learn how to use it just like it is. I figure if I can learn to use it this way then it will be easier when I start using different equipment. I'm hoping that with the pin pointer I can see where my target is at and then go over it with the MD again and see where it says the targets located. I really want to get the pinpoint thing down pat so I'm not relying on that 2nd piece of equipment all the time. The less I have to use it means I'm, doing it right. At least that's what I'm thinking. I hope I have a better idea of what I'm doing when the pin pointer gets here. There's literally 2-3 schools, 2-3 small parks and 2 open field like areas near me (one appears to be a little baseball field that's not used anymore with the bleachers still there, the whole field is over run with weeds and grass and such), within a 10 minute drive anyway. I don't want to even try to hit them until I can leave it looking like I was never there, or close to it. I didn't even realize these places were so close by until I started reading the forum, it made me look at my area differently. Thanks for the help guys, i truly appreciate it.

HH (see I'm learning)
Tony 66

 

[BH-LandStar]

I am going to go out in the backyard and take a video of pinpointing...both with the detector, and with the handheld...I will post it later tonight...

HH,

BH-LandStar

 

[Tony66]

Heck, that video would be the first gold I've come across, at least that's what it's worth to the novice like myself. Thanks BH-L.
I'll be looking forward to it.

 

[leesumm]

I havent used my BH for a while now since getting an Ace , I leave the BH for the wife to play with and she does a great job sometimes out finding my Ace. But, when I was using the BH and have taught her to use it , she sets the desc. about 12:00 and ups it a little from there and the sens. about 11:00 and takes it down from there and does wonders with it . For the pin pointing. I showed her how to swing left to right or right to left which ever suits her and when she gets a beep , visually mark that spot on the ground and come back side to side where the beep was .,then forward to back motion and visualize where the side to side and forward to back intersects and dig that spot. She never misses

 

[kimsdad]

I've had the most luck using the method JJ described:

First ID the target's general location in discrimination mode, then switch to all metal mode and criss-cross the target like BH-Landstar showed you. In all-metal/no-motion mode, the audio will get louder as the target gets closer to the center of the coil. If you have a big target, you can approach it with the coil, and once the signal gets loud, but before it peaks, hit the ground balance button to zero the balance again to zero the noise and help pinpoint the exact center. Be sure to work the coil both side to side and forward & back to find the strongest point.

Both methods work great, but like I said, I've been able to get right on top of targets this way. I've found that when I do this right, the target is usually within the small circle of the inner coil. Then cut your plug & find the target. You might want to try it & see which method works best for you.

Good luck!

 

[Mat Hastings]

Wow, thanks for the info guys that's awesome. Like JJ said all that info is worth more to me then what I'll find in the ground. I do have another question though. When everyone talks about keeping the coil about one inch or so off the ground to get better and deeper signals is that above the grass and inch or is it above the dirt and inch? I guess the reason I'm asking is I've got about 5 acres of pasture land with sometimes tall (5-7") grass and have a very difficult time hunting that any suggestions? Thanks and keep the info coming.

 

[Tony66]

I've actually made a plan to get out this weekend, I've scheduled it in...LOL (something usually comes up)
i want to try what JJ and Kimsdad suggested, combined with the video BH-L put up, it should be a kick in the right direction.
Keep it up folks, it looks like there's a few more benefitting from this information.
I can't say thanks enough for the help...

 

[JJ]

Tony66: This will take you no time at all to master, I have complete faith in you. Don't give in to frustration. Stick with it It will get much easier and you will really start to enjoy it soon. If not, check back in, we're here all week... (well I'll be in Salt Lake City for the next few weeks for work) but still plenty of great help available here 24/7. We'll be expecting pics soon! GL, & HH, JJ

 

[Goldburn]

2: Keep your SENS below noon to start (I generally keep mine at 9 o'clock) (It is a myth that higher SENS = Deeper targets. This only works to a point...at 9 o'clock, I still get targets up to 6" deep...at noon, I max out at 8-10" deep...Beyond noon, I get nothing but chatter)...

3: keep your DISC/NOTCH all the way CCW (counter clockwise)..

Thanks for the tip! The chatter I've been getting is frustrating me to no end!
I've been keeping my SENS about 2 o'clock and DESC/NOTCH about Noon. Anything above Noon will render nickels invisible for me.
I just went over a 200 sq ft section of my yard tonight and pulled 3 more nickels that I missed before!

 

[Tony66]

Thanks JJ. I actually belong to 2 forums. between this forum and the other one I've gotten the best advice. I've looked at a few others but they weren't as nice, helpful or willing to freely give some advice as they are in the 2 forums I visit. I've talked to few people in person, mostly at a couple of place that sell MD's, and once I say I've got a BH QD II it's as if they don't want to talk to me anymore. These 2 forums having been a saving grace for me. I say this because as it turns out, one of the guys from the other forum lives about 20 minutes from me. We're hooking up tomorrow and he's going to show me what I'm doing wrong. Even if I start finding a bunch of junk, I'll know I'm on the right track. Judging how everyone here has been so far, I have no doubt someone from here would've done the same thing and offer to show me first hand how it's done. Believe me, when I start finding "stuff" I'll be posting pics on here too.

HH
Tony66
(don't have too much fun in Salt Lake City) LOL