My 17" coil is sitting in a drawer. I still haven't figured this thing out. Any links to previous posts regarding this issue, or any pedagogical help is much appreciated. I'm sure Johnny Anglo has some input. The problem basically boils down to getting too many ambiguous signals, and the resulting unnecessary digging for what usually winds up as trash. And let's face it, even with the harness, swinging the 17 for more than a couple of hours rapidly gets tedious. Thanks!
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CTX owner for almost a year still can't figure out the 17" coil...
- Thread starter Lensman
- Start date
I like my 17 just because i feel the coverage is complete. The depth reading is not accurate and should be corrected with a SW option to select the coil. Weight is a little heavy for multiple hrs for sure. I dont care what people say about balance, still a fact of added weight. Overall , I like it. On the opposite spectrum, the 6 inch , for me is cumbersome. Feels like there is surely missed coverage on sweeps. And yes, I know it is for tight areas and not general sweeping. Gonna try the new coiltech soon, when I can justify cost in my mind.
silverchef
New member
Here's my take. I like to use it in woods and open areas of parks. Usually middle areas of large parks where not a lot of targets and not many people have detected. What I really like about it is I can go to areas that have been filled(hopefully clean fill) and it goes down deep past(unless there is a foot of fill-I once dug a 12" 2009 dime). If I get into a trashier area I go VERY slow. Sometimes I just can't detect in some spots.
I use mine quit a bit with good results.
Have found it a bit chatty compared to the stock coil. I compensate with running sensitivity a bit lower and or running with the saltwater mode turned on.
You don't mention what is holding you back with the big coil. Give us someone detail on your concerns and maybe we can help you love it to.
Have found it a bit chatty compared to the stock coil. I compensate with running sensitivity a bit lower and or running with the saltwater mode turned on.
You don't mention what is holding you back with the big coil. Give us someone detail on your concerns and maybe we can help you love it to.
Snakeriver
New member
What is the SW option to select the coil?
Snakeriver
New member
Usually I just plug and go, but the post made it seem like I was missing a step.
I love my 17" took it to field I clean with 11" and pick 10 more dimes one halth two barber quarter and 12 g 14k ring. Pro swing working great 5-6 hours with no pain only one trick you have to reseat it every 30-40 min of hunt becase it gets tilted to the side of detector. One more thing I have to send mine 17" for warranty replacement it become unstable by water line after using it for about 11 months.
Porschephile
Member
I fully understand your frustration with this coil. I had a long steep learning curve with it. As others have noted the depths read too deep so you have to mentally correct that at the moment. I usually subtract 2in or so and it will be about right for decently old targets. It is not fun to use in trashy areas so I dont. When you get a target hit, you must be very diligent to pinpoint it completely. Move the coil back and forth to find the true center of the signal. Then pull off 90 degrees and do the same. I find very little frustration if I employ that method. Still I feel that this is a specialty coil for certain conditions and should not be left on the machine all the time unless you only hunt those conditions. The balance issue is a problem, but I found if I swung it long enough my arm would eventually bulk up so it was not so uncomfortable. I have found dimes at 12-13in and larger coins even deeper. If I find a real honey hole, I will clean out the shallower targets and trash with the stock or 6in coil and then come in an finish with the large coil.
I am wondering if my 17" has an manufacturing issue. I bought it used but in new condition. When I compare it with the 11" the 11" does noticeably better. The 11" detects with more sensitivity - like I'd have to drop the gain to match the 17".
I did air tests first but many are saying air tests are bogus for some reason - so - I went to the local park and just tried it on existing in-ground targets. The same story. The 17" would actually miss some targets without me focusing on where they were. On one I'd say it still misses it 90% of the time. For kicks I took my XLT there (I have zilch experience with it). I used the default coil and relic patterns and it would totally miss some targets - perhaps they are default masked, but they were either good or iron wrap possibles with the CTX. Then I found a custom pattern called "Relic T" and boy that is one hot pattern. Found things that the CTX missed and the targets were definite hard hits that you'd dig. Makes me think the CTX programming could be better. I was running Auto+3, maybe it needs boosting/manual setting? A very good exercise for those who have the time. Oh, a surf PI found everything too. My preliminary tests with the XLT at the beach with wet sand were disappointing - but maybe someone who really knows it could make it work. I can see why guys keep their XLT - but default programs might mislead you and I'm not sure it will ever work at the beach like the other two.
I did air tests first but many are saying air tests are bogus for some reason - so - I went to the local park and just tried it on existing in-ground targets. The same story. The 17" would actually miss some targets without me focusing on where they were. On one I'd say it still misses it 90% of the time. For kicks I took my XLT there (I have zilch experience with it). I used the default coil and relic patterns and it would totally miss some targets - perhaps they are default masked, but they were either good or iron wrap possibles with the CTX. Then I found a custom pattern called "Relic T" and boy that is one hot pattern. Found things that the CTX missed and the targets were definite hard hits that you'd dig. Makes me think the CTX programming could be better. I was running Auto+3, maybe it needs boosting/manual setting? A very good exercise for those who have the time. Oh, a surf PI found everything too. My preliminary tests with the XLT at the beach with wet sand were disappointing - but maybe someone who really knows it could make it work. I can see why guys keep their XLT - but default programs might mislead you and I'm not sure it will ever work at the beach like the other two.
metalpopper
New member
Hi there Lensman !
Can you show us a screen-shot of the pattern you're hunting with?
What is your sensitivity level?
What 's your audio setting ..... Conductivity or Ferrous?
I suspect you are using Conductivity, for a starter......???
Matt
Can you show us a screen-shot of the pattern you're hunting with?
What is your sensitivity level?
What 's your audio setting ..... Conductivity or Ferrous?
I suspect you are using Conductivity, for a starter......???
Matt
Hi metalpopper
I don't have the detector with me right now, but yes, I have been using conductivity for the most part. I'll take some pictures of the various modes I've been using and post them here. As things stand now, I'm killing it with the 6", and have been moderately successful with the 11". The 17" is another matter entirely. Even when reducing the sensitivity to around 12 and under, it's still either signaling all over the map, on what usually amounts to trash after digging, or it's missing targets completely. I'll take the 17 off, and put the 6 on, and then go over the same area, and the 6 will start nailing coins almost immediately -- I found a gorgeous condition 1883 Morgan in a Marin creek with the 6. I understand that the 17 isn't designed for high trash areas like the city parks in San Francisco, but it would seem to me that there should be some way of dialing in the settings much better than I have so far. But I've only had the CTX for about nine months now, so I still have a lot more to learn and a lot more hours in the field to do. The soil here is only moderately mineralized, so maybe someone on this forum might have some settings for the 17 that they've successfully used on similar kinds of park ground that I could try. Honestly, I think I've dug maybe a half dozen clad at the most with the 17 so far, and the rest was all trash.
I don't have the detector with me right now, but yes, I have been using conductivity for the most part. I'll take some pictures of the various modes I've been using and post them here. As things stand now, I'm killing it with the 6", and have been moderately successful with the 11". The 17" is another matter entirely. Even when reducing the sensitivity to around 12 and under, it's still either signaling all over the map, on what usually amounts to trash after digging, or it's missing targets completely. I'll take the 17 off, and put the 6 on, and then go over the same area, and the 6 will start nailing coins almost immediately -- I found a gorgeous condition 1883 Morgan in a Marin creek with the 6. I understand that the 17 isn't designed for high trash areas like the city parks in San Francisco, but it would seem to me that there should be some way of dialing in the settings much better than I have so far. But I've only had the CTX for about nine months now, so I still have a lot more to learn and a lot more hours in the field to do. The soil here is only moderately mineralized, so maybe someone on this forum might have some settings for the 17 that they've successfully used on similar kinds of park ground that I could try. Honestly, I think I've dug maybe a half dozen clad at the most with the 17 so far, and the rest was all trash.
thE-TRACker
Member
Hi Lensman, I believe you have a faulty 17" coil as I have no "drop-off" when changing from the11" to the 17.The only difference I see in performance is the 17" definitely covers more ground and goes noticeably deeper. I detect mainly SW Fla. beaches and only will use the 17" .I think it's great !
Wow. I hope that's not the case. Before I send it back to Minelab, I just want to make sure that it's NOT simply the way I'm using it.
And yes, to the question above about switching between the 11 and the 17 before digging. I was able to detect coins in the same spot with both the 11 and then the 17, but for some reason, it just wasn't as easy with the 17.
And yes, to the question above about switching between the 11 and the 17 before digging. I was able to detect coins in the same spot with both the 11 and then the 17, but for some reason, it just wasn't as easy with the 17.
After spending the hard earned cash on my 17", It's definitely NOT my go to coil.
It almost acts like my faulty 11" did. In parks that my 6" worked great in, my 11" would be a noise and light show on the display without ever moving the coil.
Drop it to Auto+3 and it would kick my sens down to single digits and kill any depth I could have had.
Once that was replaced, I was able to run Auto +3 in the same areas as above, with sens above 23, find deeper coins.
I could finally run hotter manual sens near powerlines, or other EMI.
I recently thought my CTX w/11 coil was in a sweet spot in its life as I could run in manual sens at 30, zero disc and find 7" coins loud and clear. So, I swapped to my 17" thinking I could gain an inch or two. Nada!
Had to run Auto to get it to calm down, as it acted as if I had EMI coming from my pocket or something. Auto +3 kicked down to 12 or lower.
Fed up and switched back to my 11" and all was back to running manual 30 smoothly.
Might need to chat with Darrin at Minelab about this.
It almost acts like my faulty 11" did. In parks that my 6" worked great in, my 11" would be a noise and light show on the display without ever moving the coil.
Drop it to Auto+3 and it would kick my sens down to single digits and kill any depth I could have had.
Once that was replaced, I was able to run Auto +3 in the same areas as above, with sens above 23, find deeper coins.
I could finally run hotter manual sens near powerlines, or other EMI.
I recently thought my CTX w/11 coil was in a sweet spot in its life as I could run in manual sens at 30, zero disc and find 7" coins loud and clear. So, I swapped to my 17" thinking I could gain an inch or two. Nada!
Had to run Auto to get it to calm down, as it acted as if I had EMI coming from my pocket or something. Auto +3 kicked down to 12 or lower.
Fed up and switched back to my 11" and all was back to running manual 30 smoothly.
Might need to chat with Darrin at Minelab about this.
That is similar to my experience. This weekend I went to the beach to first try the 17" then the 11". The seas were stormy with a lot of fluffy new sand with few targets to begin with. Thus I wanted to use the 17". I found very little. Then tried the 11" and I'd have to say I found more. I also have a problem with my CTX gps not staying engaged so I am sending everything back for analysis - the CTX, the 17", the 11"(which is good), and a 6" which why not when no charge to check it out...