D2 First Impressions

[Gandorf]

Finally got to take the D2 for a walk in the park today for about an hour. I have had it for about 4 months and just now got to try it out. In all the years of detecting I have never owned a dd. I took it to an area that I have hunted numerous times with many different detectors and I was amazed at how many coins I was able to find in short order. This area has been used for carnivals and fairs since the 20's and I have dug lots good targets and they still keep coming. What I noticed right away with the D2 was a lot of EMI from a nearby radio tower (I assume). Never was an issue with the concentrics. I used frequency shift to minimize it and finally ended up running the rx down to 5, am 60 and disc at 75. Although these are lower than I usually run at this sight, I was still digging coins and the usual light bulb bases left by the carnies at 4 to 6 inches. Nothing old though this time. One target read a very loud and solid 85 at 5 inches in the lower frequency but it seemed to big to be a coin. At 5 inches I found a pull tab, at 14 inches I actually did find a hub cap. I think this coil can really go deep but it will be a challenge to use on a trashy site. I will probably stick to the 9.5 or the 5.3 Eclipse in the park, the D2 in cleaner areas. All the targets seemed larger than they actually were compared to the concentrics, so I didn't quite get the pinpointing down, but that will come with practice. All in all I am glad I have it and am looking forward to putting it through the paces.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Howdy Gandorf--

The D-2 will get the deep targets - even without high gain settings. I've sure dug my share of deep cans hahah. If you relic hunt, that's where you will have the chance to really open her up! In East Texas you might get a CSA Plate! Best of luck and...

Happy Hunting!
Blind Squirrel

 

[texjim]

The d2 coil is awesome but if your going to go to trashy sites i would recommend a 4x6 or the 6x10 dd coils. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Gandorf]

Thanks. I have the 5.3 which I really like and have had good success with but the 4x6 will probably be my next coil.

 

[daddyflea]

Did you hunt that old Park in Palestine? I always wanted to hunt that but never got the chance.

I really did not like my 10" DD. Traded it for a 4X6 shooter and felt like I robbed the guy I traded with. I really like the 4X6 and the 6X10. I like the 9" Spyder as well but Concentrics don't do very well here. I just got a 10X12 SEF and tried to hunt with it today only to be rained out.

 

[Gandorf]

I haven't hunted the park in Palestine but it is on my radar.

I like the D2 so far, but I don't think it will be my "go to" coil. Most of my sites are just to trashy. I am not familiar with it enough to determine the size of the target yet. Like Blind Squirrel, I have dug a ton of deep cans with it, and even small targets appear to be larger than they really are. I guess my brain is thinking concentric and the detector is thinking DD. But I have only had a few hours with it. Still would like to get with you for a hunt.

 

[Gandorf]

I may change my mind about the D2 not being my "go to" coil. Used it for about an hour and a half today at the same park. Found several lincolns among trash and then within 6 inches of each other a 1941 Jefferson nickel, a 1930 Buffalo and a 1947 silver Washington quarter. Also found an interesting pot pipe a few feet away. Pinpointing today was not an issue at all. One of the pennies was in a hole with a large iron threaded nut but still rang up at 75 at 3 inches. The silver quarter jumped around from 85 to 90 east and west and 19 to 90 north and south at 5 inches. After digging it up I kept getting mixed signals from 19 to 30 just a few inches away. After digging the 1941 nickel, I was still getting the same mixed signal. After digging the buffalo I was then getting a deep iron signal. I dug about 15 inches and gave up on that one. This patch of ground has been pounded again and again not just by me but by many other experienced detectorists over the years yet many targets have been left behind. I quess that is one advantage of working a trashy site. I thought the D2 wasn't suited for such a site but today it proved me wrong.

 

[daddyflea]

I haven't hunted the park in Palestine but it is on my radar.

I like the D2 so far, but I don't think it will be my "go to" coil. Most of my sites are just to trashy. I am not familiar with it enough to determine the size of the target yet. Like Blind Squirrel, I have dug a ton of deep cans with it, and even small targets appear to be larger than they really are. I guess my brain is thinking concentric and the detector is thinking DD. But I have only had a few hours with it. Still would like to get with you for a hunt.

I still want to go. Our problem is that the rain has been so unpredictable lately. I have been hunting with a guy out of Waco and our last two planned hunts fell through. I would hate for you to drive that far and not get to hunt.

I have been hunting that old fairgrounds and have permission to bring someone with me but the grass is getting high and the last two hunts only netted two coins. The one prior got skunked.

I have been finding a lot lately but it is just by pure luck and persistence. I have gained a lot of weight and hunting gets good exercise. I may not get but 30 minutes to hunt but I go every chance I get. I found that 1846 French coin behind the newest Church in town. Who knows how it got there.

I really did not like the 10 DD at all. May be I was not very experienced with my V3i. Just not sure. I just traded my SEF 15X12 for a SEF 10X12 and so far it is great. Only thing is that I have to run my setting really low. I am going to try the Fox method of radically reducing the RX and the Disc. Then come up on Discr until I get falsifying then back off and raise my RX to find a sweet spot.