DFX 300 Metal Detector

[Jim Walker]

Hello Everyone,
I just got a Whites DFX 300. I have watched the video that came with it. An it all looks good. I have read the book. It all kind of falls in place while I am inside. I go outside to use it, and in several locations I have taken it too, it just does not seam to work according to the plan. I end up digging up aluminum cans. The meter shows right, and I am in the coin mode. I think one thing that might be throwing me off a little is the 12in coil. Well I went out today. I dug up 6 cans that showed up as coins. An it just seamed like it did not work as well in any sort of discrimination like some of the older Whites M/D did. So I ( to be honest ) I got sort of confused in stumbling threw trying to sort out the programming to tune out the trash. An reject the hot rocks and mineralized soil. So does any one have a simple way to work around the soil, hot rock, and aluminum can issue ? There should be a way to ground balance the detector, which it just will not do. It does ok in the air, but when you go to the ground, it just switches to ( best data ) with out making the right sound. I guess what I am asking is does anyone have a cheat sheet ? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Jim

 

[therover]

Jim,

Sounds like you are hunting or testing it out in a trashy area. That big coil will drive you nuts in those areas. Need the smaller 5.3 inch coil for working areas like that.

If you end up ground balancing over metal ( ie, that aluminum can ) the detector will not ground balance correctly. You have to make sure you are over a clean spot of dirt. Check the spot in all metal ( pull the trigger back) and if there isn't anything there, ground balance to that spot.

Sometimes when there isn't enough minerals in the ground to balance to, the DFX will sound off with that hi to lo pitched tune and then tell you it's unable to ground balance and it's using the pre-set settings, which is fine.

An easy way to tell if you are over a big can, is to raise the coil a few inches above the target and continue sweeping. If the sound is still loud and the depth reading while pin pointing is still shallow, it's a big target. Also, try practicing sizing the target in all metal. In addition, try sweeping the coil a bit faster and watch the Signagraph. Coils will stay a solid bar and not 'smear' while pieces of can and shards of aluminum will have a few bars and 'smear' the Signagraph. In addition, the VDI's will bounce a lot more.

Practice using the DFX, but you have to practice in a less trashy environment with that big coil. Take it in a field you know that is not too trashy ( possibly a football or soccer field..just make sure you can hunt there) or maybe a beach if you are near one.

JC

 

[Larry (IL)]

All good advise given by JC and don't expect to learn the DFX overnight, it is a very advanced detector. Chances are that you will not feel comfortable using it until you have logged at least 100 hours of hunting with it and if you have it mastered within a year, you are somewhat a genius. When you go out hunting, just enjoy yourself and dig all targets that you know for sure are not junk. The first junk target you will learn to avoid is the can and JC is right on and as you get more experience, you not even have to raise the coil up, you will just know by the sound. For lots of information on the DFX, go to the DFX Classroom Forum.

 

[Jim Walker]

Thanks for the info. What I was looking for is a place like the DFX Classroom Forum. I looked in today and yes the answers I am looking for are their. I just need to read threw and work with it. Thanks JIm

 

[Dan-Pa.]

Simply when you pinpoint a can covers a lot more ground because of its size while a coin cover a small area...All part of the learning period and do use your preset modes until you get the feel for the detector before you start tweaking or it will be on the classifieds in short order...

 

[nw1886]

It took me a while to start getting great performance out of my DFX. I was so in tune with my XLT that I started going back to it more than I should have. (Once it even just began to "click", never went back.) The only thing that I'd adjust (at first) is to up the pre-amp gain to 3. (Only if it is still stable though.) That box punches deep and has fast response. VCO and Tone I.D. is a must.

 

[Hunt4Fun]

Hi Jim,

I teach detecting classes for my club. My observations are that changing 2 settings make a huge difference for most new and intermediate DFX users. The settings are turning Ratchet Pinpointing OFF and turning VCO pinpointing ON. While changing these two settings, I usually advise turning on Tone ID also.

The following are the steps to make the changes:

1. Make sure the trigger is in the center position.
2. Click the ON/OFF button. The detector will go through a number of startup screens ending at the MAIN MENU with an arrow pointing left beside PRESET PROGRAMS.
3. Click ENTER. You will jump to the PROGRAMS menu with an arrow pointing left beside the COINS program.
4. If necessary, use the DOWN ARROW KEY till the arrow pointing left is beside the preset program you want to use.
5. Click ENTER and the preset program will load and you will be asked to raise the coil.
6. Click ENTER and you will hear a beep and then be asked to lower the coil to the ground.
7. Click ENTER and you will hear a beep and you will now see the Live Search Screen.
8. Click MENU and you will go back at the MAIN MENU.
9. Click the DOWN ARROW KEY maybe twice till the arrow pointing left is beside PRO OPTIONS.
10. Click ENTER and you will see the PRO OPTIONS MENU with the arrow pointing left beside AUDIO.
11. Click ENTER and you will see the RATCHET PINPOINTING screen.
12. If necessary, press ENTER till the check mark is in the OFF box.
13. Click the DOWN ARROW KEY and you will see the S.A.T. SPEED screen.
14. Click the DOWN ARROW KEY and you will see the Tone I.D. screen.
15. If necessary, press ENTER till the check mark is in the ON box.
16. Click the DOWN ARROW KEY and you will see the V.C.O. screen.
17. If necessary, press ENTER till the check mark is in the ON box.
18. Pull and release the trigger and start hunting.

You should now be hunting in the preset program you chose with Ratchet Pinpointing OFF, Tone ID ON and VCO ON.

Lastly, if you are hunting parks, schools or any other trash laden sites, I strongly suggest getting an Eclipse 5.3 coil and an extra lower rod and hardware. It is actually a 6 1/2 inch round coil with good depth for its size and it pinpoints dead on. Plus, in pinpoint mode, you can walk the edge of this coil around a detected target and, before digging, have a very good idea of the size and shape of the target.

Good luck. You are in for a great ride.
Bob

By the way, the features I have written about are on pages 27 & 28 in your manual.

 

[mrowdy]

I always use the beach and jewelry mode, so cans are easy to discriminate by the size of the target. It'll show a quarter icon, but target will be immense. Takes some time, but you'll master it. Good luck. Not a bad idea to dig the cans anyway just to get rid of it.