CZ20 / DFX / SE Threshold

[DFXer]

To all,
Thanks for the help with previous posts related to CZ20/DFX/SE issues.

Another question!

With both the CZ20 and DFX in all metal mode, the audio is very sensitive and varies with deep targets and ground minerals. With the SE the audio appears to need a significantly stronger signal in order to give a change in response. I get the feeling the SE is too quiet at times and this bothers me. Should I be concerned?

I'm asking this question because many posts say that I should be a careful listener with the SE but there appears to be "less" to listen to.

Paul

 

[Mike Bearden]

That's a WIDE OPEN question Paul, hope I can give you some things to consider.
First off, the audio on the Explorer is processed through a real stereo card made onto the board much like a home computer and UNLIKE any other detector I know of.
Most successful Explorer users hunt by sound first and foremost. Once the brain is trained or tuned in with the sounds, the user is stopped in their tracks to investigate and then looks at the screen for information. At least that's how I hunt anyway.
Those small, iffy or quieter sounds can usually be "worked-up" by doing what is known a the Minelab Wiggle over the target in question, Sovereigns are well known for this too.
It's those kind of targets that really get my attention, especially when I'm hunting an area where targets are few and far between and known to be deep. This works very well in trashy areas too with a small coil and extremely slow coil movement.
Should you be concerned ? Not if you're in a area where the targets just aren't that deep to begin with.
Rest assured that the SE will indeed give those soft lesser audio sounds on good deep targets when your coil goes over them, unless you're hunting with to FAST of a swing speed that is ... then it will usually MISS them.
I like to put my coil on the ground and kind of steer it along the surface whenever possible, the Explorer simply doesn't like air between the coil & soil and was designed to be hunted slooooooow for best results.
Hope this helps

Mike

 

[Mike in Dana Point Ca]

hi paul,

mike bearden gave you a great answer. "Most successful Explorer users hunt by sound first and foremost. Once the brain is trained or tuned in with the sounds, the user is stopped in their tracks to investigate and then looks at the screen for information." i agree with this wholeheartedly. i swing slow, filter all of the sounds i'm hearing, and listen for the high pitches. i generally investigate most high pitches, unless they give me a bouble beep, which means they're close to the surface. by investigate, i mean when i hear a high pitched signal i'll look down at the screen, do a small wiggle on the target, check the depth, etc. if it's too shallow i move on. if the depth is more than halfway down the depth meter, i'll dig. this is based on california parks depth...the deeper, older coins seem to always be 5" and deeper.

paul, what are your settings on your machine?

Mike

 

[DFXer]

Mike,
Thanks, I'm starting to get the idea. This is a very different machine from a DFX.

Paul

 

[DFXer]

Mike,
With only a week on the machine I don't have fixed settings. I have an all metal program that I've used on Maine beaches with a sensitivity of 32 and it runs well. For dry land detecting I pick a preset like "coins" and add "jewelry" and possibly even "foil". Sensitivity is usually between 22 and 30. Everything else is stock SE at this point although I experiment with audio settings.

I'm finding coins but this machine is so different from Fishers, Whites and Garretts that I have to relearn my approach to detecting. I thought that "mixed mode" on a DFX was an earful but the SE beats it.

Any suggestions on programs for relic hunting and wet/dry salt beaches?

Thanks,
Paul