Auto Sensitivity and depth

[sprchng]

Noise , instability , high tone falsing and of course , pulsing.
It will probably change with different dirt.
In mine, if the machine recommends 9 and it's running in auto +3 at 14 or 15 , I can usually push 10 over the recommended and remain stable but when I start getting consistent one way high tones I know it's time to back off. You can still hunt that way if you're a glutton for audio punishment and the Etrac will still sound off on good targets but the hobby is supposed to be fun. Much the same as running a F75 too hot but not as much low iron sounds.

 

[WV62]

Noise , instability , high tone falsing and of course , pulsing.
It will probably change with different dirt.
In mine, if the machine recommends 9 and it's running in auto +3 at 14 or 15 , I can usually push 10 over the recommended and remain stable but when I start getting consistent one way high tones I know it's time to back off. You can still hunt that way if you're a glutton for audio punishment and the Etrac will still sound off on good targets but the hobby is supposed to be fun. Much the same as running a F75 too hot but not as much low iron sounds.

From what you just said I think I have been running on the hot side almost from day one. As I said at first I did run Auto +3 for a short while, then I changed to manual 30 and sometime later I backed that down to 27.

It has kind of turned cold around here and I am not sure when I will be able to get out again, but I will try to pay attention. Maybe I could take an hour out of a hunt and just run that sensitivity up and down and see if I can hear what a calm E-trac sounds like.

Also I have started a lone term project trying to make my own pattern. I started off with Andy's S. pattern which seem to be pretty open and I have been logging in all numbers for items I find, both junk and good stuff. Once I see if I get any kind of grouping of items I can work the pattern in around the items to either open it up or disc some out. If I get some good items coming in close to Andy's disc out area I will open up a few boxes around that area. May end up with nothing but got to keep working.

Ron in WV

 

[IDXMonster]

Noise , instability , high tone falsing and of course , pulsing.
It will probably change with different dirt.
In mine, if the machine recommends 9 and it's running in auto +3 at 14 or 15 , I can usually push 10 over the recommended and remain stable but when I start getting consistent one way high tones I know it's time to back off. You can still hunt that way if you're a glutton for audio punishment and the Etrac will still sound off on good targets but the hobby is supposed to be fun. Much the same as running a F75 too hot but not as much low iron sounds.

From what you just said I think I have been running on the hot side almost from day one. As I said at first I did run Auto +3 for a short while, then I changed to manual 30 and sometime later I backed that down to 27.

It has kind of turned cold around here and I am not sure when I will be able to get out again, but I will try to pay attention. Maybe I could take an hour out of a hunt and just run that sensitivity up and down and see if I can hear what a calm E-trac sounds like.

Also I have started a lone term project trying to make my own pattern. I started off with Andy's S. pattern which seem to be pretty open and I have been logging in all numbers for items I find, both junk and good stuff. Once I see if I get any kind of grouping of items I can work the pattern in around the items to either open it up or disc some out. If I get some good items coming in close to Andy's disc out area I will open up a few boxes around that area. May end up with nothing but got to keep working.

Ron in WV

You will wind up knowing the machine inside and out,exactly as I do with the CTX. That will make it easier for you to adjust on the fly if needed,know why it’s doing what it’s doing and make you feel as if YOU ARE IN CONTROL when you’re out hunting. Knowing the technical aspect as thoroughly as possible is a real world contributor to results for sure. Keep at it Ron,I am one of your biggest cheerleaders,because I was you at one time with the Explorer2. I doubted,I wondered,I got frustrated a bit...but there was a core of guys who told me to just go use the machine as much as possible. That’s what it took,and that experience boosted my confidence through the roof! The pocket loads of coins didn’t hurt either...

 

[Chris(SoCenWI)]

The earlier models of FBS detectors didn't have the +3 Auto feature, or show a recommended setting, so in Auto it was impossible to know what level sensitivity was running at and we devised several experiments to try figure out what was going on.

Some people swore by Auto and made good finds, but I think most settled on running manual sensitivity up to the point where the detector started getting twitchy, then backing of a notch or two. The feeling is that the Minelab algorithm sacrifices depth for stability. If you are in a very target rich environment or near sources of EMI it will dial the the sensitivity back farther than needed and you will lose depth. In clean soil away from EMI Auto levels may be close to what you would do in manual.

There is a million posts on this topic, and I don't think the Etrac and CTX operate much differently than the earlier models.

Chris