I have two machines , a whites xlt spectrum and a xterra 50. On ground balancing the xlt its stated in the book to re-ground balance after each pre-amp adjustment. I am equating this to the sensitivity setting on the xterra. I have read that to ground balance the xterra you should drop it down into single digit sensitivity setting. It seems this is the same as pre-amp on the xlt. I understand about neutralizing ground effect and ground matrix on a ground balance but why would you do the exterra in a single digit and then increase it to your hunting mode at a much higher setting. It seems this would amplify your ground matrix and cause the machine to not be actually ground balanced to your ground. I am wondering why you just don't ground balance at the setting your hunting at so you know you have the ground matrix balanced out.
Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
Changed email? Forgot to update your account with new email address? Need assistance with something else?, click here to go to Find's Support Form and fill out the form.
attn: digger I am confused about the procedure for ground balance
- Thread starter mitwes56
- Start date
In the XLT or DFX, the Preamp gain (or Signal Balance) is used to provide stability on signals received from the loop. If I recall correctly, the Preamp Gain is an analog amplifier. It merely repeats what it hears. In the case of the XLT, it balances and filters the analog signals, and feeds them into an analog/digital converter. This digitized signal is then sent as binary code to the microprocessor of the detector. Sensitivity controls are not amplifiers, but software driven attenuators. Regardless, if set too high, both the XLT's analog amplifier or the X-Terra digital attenuator will cause chattering and unstable operation, as well as unreliable TID readings. I beleive a better comparison between the Sensitivity control on the X-Terra and a similar control on the XLT or DFX might be the AC Sensitivity control for motion mode or the DC Sensitivity for non-motion mode.
The X-Terra Sensitivity control adjusts the signal intensity between the target and mineralization. In other words, the proper sensitivity setting should enhance the metal targets and not enhance the signals created by soil mineralization. That is why I suggest lowering the sensitivity until after the GB has been set. We don't need more chatter from "non-target" objects. This is more prevalent in sites with high mineralization levels. Understand that Ground Balance is simply another form of discrimination. In essence, you are discriminating out the effects of ground minerals, in an effort to distinguish signals created by metal targets. If the sensitivity is set too high when GBing, you risk of not only rejecting the effects of the ground minerals. But, you may also be setting it at a level that ignores small, deeply buried metallic objects.
I suggested a lower sensitivity setting for GBing, then raising the sensitivity to higher settings after establishing the proper GB as a precaution for those unfamiliar with the function of each process. (keep in mind the article you mentioned was written before most had a chance to use the X-Terra) The more we use the X-Terra and the more we learn what it is telling you as you establish your settings, a higher sensitivity setting might be used while GBing. In my moderately mineralized soil, I always scan an area in all metal prior to setting the GB. As I have gained more experience with the X-Terra and gained confidence that I can hear the difference between a small, deep target and the effects of mineralization, I seldom drop the Sensitivity prior to GBing. And, I am usually able to run the Sensitivity at or near maximum level. JMHO HH Randy
The X-Terra Sensitivity control adjusts the signal intensity between the target and mineralization. In other words, the proper sensitivity setting should enhance the metal targets and not enhance the signals created by soil mineralization. That is why I suggest lowering the sensitivity until after the GB has been set. We don't need more chatter from "non-target" objects. This is more prevalent in sites with high mineralization levels. Understand that Ground Balance is simply another form of discrimination. In essence, you are discriminating out the effects of ground minerals, in an effort to distinguish signals created by metal targets. If the sensitivity is set too high when GBing, you risk of not only rejecting the effects of the ground minerals. But, you may also be setting it at a level that ignores small, deeply buried metallic objects.
I suggested a lower sensitivity setting for GBing, then raising the sensitivity to higher settings after establishing the proper GB as a precaution for those unfamiliar with the function of each process. (keep in mind the article you mentioned was written before most had a chance to use the X-Terra) The more we use the X-Terra and the more we learn what it is telling you as you establish your settings, a higher sensitivity setting might be used while GBing. In my moderately mineralized soil, I always scan an area in all metal prior to setting the GB. As I have gained more experience with the X-Terra and gained confidence that I can hear the difference between a small, deep target and the effects of mineralization, I seldom drop the Sensitivity prior to GBing. And, I am usually able to run the Sensitivity at or near maximum level. JMHO HH Randy
remember that this is just the process I use. Others may do it differently and have equally good results.
When you first turn on the X-70, it comes up in the Coin & Treasure mode. As a coin hunter, this is the mode I hunt in. The first thing I do is switch to the all metal mode. Some folks say that the all metal mode is actually a zero discrimination mode, opposed to a true all metal. But honestly, it don't matter to me. After I set the X-70 to the all metal mode, I hold the coil horizontal to the ground, about a foot or so high, and press Menu Select. I choose Noise Cancel, then press MODE to activate the Automatic Noise Cancel circuitry. To me, it just makes sense to get rid of any electrical interference before trying to set the controls that deal with mineralization. Once the Noise Cancel channel has been automatically selected, I press PINPOINT/Detect to go back to a hunt mode. Now I will check my Volume control to make sure it is at the maximum setting of 30. Remember that the X-70 offers separate volume settings for use with headphones or without headphones. So, make sure it is set for the current application. At this time, I generally check my Sensitivity setting, and lower it if I am not back in the same general area I last used the X-70. For those fairly new to the X-70, setting the Sensitivity to a single digit setting may help you properly set the Ground Balance. But don't worry as we will raise the Sensitivity back up once we set our Ground Balance.
After I've confirmed a "less than max" Sensitivity setting, I set my Threshold. Remember that the X-70 allows the user to set one Threshold preference for use with headphones and one for without headphones. I set the Threshold by pressing MENU SELECT, and chose Threshold. I press the + or - button until I get a slight audio "hum" in the background. Not so loud that it is annoying. But loud enough that I can hear target blanking. Target blanking is when the sound goes away when you pass the coil over a rejected target, while in a Pattern mode. Once I have the Noise Channel optimized, and the Volume and Threshold both set, it is time to set the Ground Balance. I prefer to use the AutoGB process, allowing the detector to automatically select the GB setting. Before I do this, I sweep the X-70 (in all metal mode) over the ground until I find an area that has no metal objects. Once that is determined, I hold the coil about 6-inches above the ground, parallel to the surface and select Ground Balance. I will now hear a constant hum when I hold the coil steady. I now press MODE to activate the Automatic Ground Balance feature. After pressing MODE, I lower and raise the coil above the surface of the ground. I don't let the coil bang against the dirt and I don't lift it more than 6 inches high. While doing this, the letters AU will appear and the X-70 will automatically select what it considers to be a matched Ground Balance setting. With the GB set, I go back to the Sensitivity setting and raise it as high as I can, without causing annoying chatter. If it beeps every now and then as I pass over a clod or when I am not as careful changing directions as I should be, that is OK. Beeping now and then, without going over a target, tells me that I have it set up as "hot" as I can get it. Now, before I start my hunt, I like to tweak the GB a bit positive. That means that I am changing the GB setting so that the detector thinks there is less mineralization in the soil than the Automatic GB told it there was. To me, it makes the X-70 more responsive to deep targets and seems to be more sensitive to small ones as well. To do this, I simply press Ground Balance, press the - button a couple times and then press PINPOINT/Detect to lock it in. Now it is time to hunt.
I've been a coin shooter for 35 years and could count on one hand the number of times I have hunted with a detector in all metal mode. Well, actually that isn't true because some of the first ones I used didn't offer much for discrimination. Regardless, I hunt with my X-70 in the all metal mode 90% of the time. I set the detector for 4 tones, and simply ignore the low tones. If a target gives me consistent location, consistent tone from various directions, and consistent TID, I dig it. I don't care if it is a solid 42 or a solid 24. If it is consistent, it is worth investigating. If I happen to be in a place loaded with pulltabs that all read 16 or 20, I might stop digging 16's and 20's after awhile. But generally speaking, I dig all targets that are consistent, when swept from multiple directions.
For those hunting in a Pattern mode, the set-up procedure could be the same as I explained above. I still encourage you to do all the steps in the all metal mode. But once you get the GB where you want it, simply press a Pattern button and modify it to represent the amount of rejection you want. You won't hear targets whose conductivity reading puts them in a rejected notch segment. But with a properly set Threshold, you will be able to hear when you pass the coil over them, by the Target Blanking I mentioned above.
This is basically the procedure I go through when I hunt with my X-70. If I've hunted the site before, I may not lower the sensitivity to set the GB. And, sometimes I leave the GB where the X-70 automatically sets it. It kind of depends on the coil I am using and the targets I am looking for. DD coils are more "forgiving" of soil mineralization.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
HH Randy
When you first turn on the X-70, it comes up in the Coin & Treasure mode. As a coin hunter, this is the mode I hunt in. The first thing I do is switch to the all metal mode. Some folks say that the all metal mode is actually a zero discrimination mode, opposed to a true all metal. But honestly, it don't matter to me. After I set the X-70 to the all metal mode, I hold the coil horizontal to the ground, about a foot or so high, and press Menu Select. I choose Noise Cancel, then press MODE to activate the Automatic Noise Cancel circuitry. To me, it just makes sense to get rid of any electrical interference before trying to set the controls that deal with mineralization. Once the Noise Cancel channel has been automatically selected, I press PINPOINT/Detect to go back to a hunt mode. Now I will check my Volume control to make sure it is at the maximum setting of 30. Remember that the X-70 offers separate volume settings for use with headphones or without headphones. So, make sure it is set for the current application. At this time, I generally check my Sensitivity setting, and lower it if I am not back in the same general area I last used the X-70. For those fairly new to the X-70, setting the Sensitivity to a single digit setting may help you properly set the Ground Balance. But don't worry as we will raise the Sensitivity back up once we set our Ground Balance.
After I've confirmed a "less than max" Sensitivity setting, I set my Threshold. Remember that the X-70 allows the user to set one Threshold preference for use with headphones and one for without headphones. I set the Threshold by pressing MENU SELECT, and chose Threshold. I press the + or - button until I get a slight audio "hum" in the background. Not so loud that it is annoying. But loud enough that I can hear target blanking. Target blanking is when the sound goes away when you pass the coil over a rejected target, while in a Pattern mode. Once I have the Noise Channel optimized, and the Volume and Threshold both set, it is time to set the Ground Balance. I prefer to use the AutoGB process, allowing the detector to automatically select the GB setting. Before I do this, I sweep the X-70 (in all metal mode) over the ground until I find an area that has no metal objects. Once that is determined, I hold the coil about 6-inches above the ground, parallel to the surface and select Ground Balance. I will now hear a constant hum when I hold the coil steady. I now press MODE to activate the Automatic Ground Balance feature. After pressing MODE, I lower and raise the coil above the surface of the ground. I don't let the coil bang against the dirt and I don't lift it more than 6 inches high. While doing this, the letters AU will appear and the X-70 will automatically select what it considers to be a matched Ground Balance setting. With the GB set, I go back to the Sensitivity setting and raise it as high as I can, without causing annoying chatter. If it beeps every now and then as I pass over a clod or when I am not as careful changing directions as I should be, that is OK. Beeping now and then, without going over a target, tells me that I have it set up as "hot" as I can get it. Now, before I start my hunt, I like to tweak the GB a bit positive. That means that I am changing the GB setting so that the detector thinks there is less mineralization in the soil than the Automatic GB told it there was. To me, it makes the X-70 more responsive to deep targets and seems to be more sensitive to small ones as well. To do this, I simply press Ground Balance, press the - button a couple times and then press PINPOINT/Detect to lock it in. Now it is time to hunt.
I've been a coin shooter for 35 years and could count on one hand the number of times I have hunted with a detector in all metal mode. Well, actually that isn't true because some of the first ones I used didn't offer much for discrimination. Regardless, I hunt with my X-70 in the all metal mode 90% of the time. I set the detector for 4 tones, and simply ignore the low tones. If a target gives me consistent location, consistent tone from various directions, and consistent TID, I dig it. I don't care if it is a solid 42 or a solid 24. If it is consistent, it is worth investigating. If I happen to be in a place loaded with pulltabs that all read 16 or 20, I might stop digging 16's and 20's after awhile. But generally speaking, I dig all targets that are consistent, when swept from multiple directions.
For those hunting in a Pattern mode, the set-up procedure could be the same as I explained above. I still encourage you to do all the steps in the all metal mode. But once you get the GB where you want it, simply press a Pattern button and modify it to represent the amount of rejection you want. You won't hear targets whose conductivity reading puts them in a rejected notch segment. But with a properly set Threshold, you will be able to hear when you pass the coil over them, by the Target Blanking I mentioned above.
This is basically the procedure I go through when I hunt with my X-70. If I've hunted the site before, I may not lower the sensitivity to set the GB. And, sometimes I leave the GB where the X-70 automatically sets it. It kind of depends on the coil I am using and the targets I am looking for. DD coils are more "forgiving" of soil mineralization.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
HH Randy
Thanks for the great input. another quick question. Does jewelry/ring/pendants etc... give consistent location, consistent tone from various directions, and consistent TID like a coin?
The reason I ask is I was finding some of these types of items with my old Tesoro, but have not yet with the x-70. Of course, I only have about 6 hours with it so far.
The reason I ask is I was finding some of these types of items with my old Tesoro, but have not yet with the x-70. Of course, I only have about 6 hours with it so far.
How any metal detector responds to a given target depends on the size and shape of the object, the angle it is buried, the depth, the soil composition, the alloy composition and adjacent targets. The easiest way to determine how a target will "generally" respond to any detector/coil combination is simply waving the target under the coil. Notice how the angle of the target effects the response. Audio and visual. Note how close you can hold a piece of trash adjacent before the good target becomes masked. You will find that a ring might provide a solid audio response when held parallel to the coil. But will give a "double beep" when held on edge. Similarly, a coin will sound differently when at an angle. You will find that hardly any two pieces of jewelry will respond the same. But coins of the same denomination and composition will. I would imagine that if you set your X-70 to single tone and taped over the LCD, you would find that the audio response is similar to your "old Tesoro". Starting out, you should use that to your advantage. But you can do even better when you add in the benefits of having different tones for specific target ranges and visual TID representing the different notch segments.
My recommendation to anyone wanting to learn more about target response it to make themselves a test plot. I have one that includes coins, jewelry, modern trash and other common "finds" that don't make it to my safe. Bury them at varying depths and every possible "circumstance" that you might find at your favorite site. Make a map of what you have buried, and a description of how it is buried. Practice listening to the tones. Learn what the display is telling you. Learn proper separation techniques. Learn what coil works best in any given situation and practice, practice, practice.
When all is said and done, the best advice I can give is what I put at the end of my posts. You'll never know for sure......unless you dig it! HH Randy
My recommendation to anyone wanting to learn more about target response it to make themselves a test plot. I have one that includes coins, jewelry, modern trash and other common "finds" that don't make it to my safe. Bury them at varying depths and every possible "circumstance" that you might find at your favorite site. Make a map of what you have buried, and a description of how it is buried. Practice listening to the tones. Learn what the display is telling you. Learn proper separation techniques. Learn what coil works best in any given situation and practice, practice, practice.
When all is said and done, the best advice I can give is what I put at the end of my posts. You'll never know for sure......unless you dig it! HH Randy