Erratic Tones

[DaytonaGold]

So far I've only hunted the beach and decided to try a cleared out field next to my mom-in-law's house today. I tried a few different programs such as coins, high trash, and Doc's coin program, all have produced very erratic sounds over most targets. It seems like it wouldn't "lock on" very well and the number read differently at every sweep. Not sure what I'm doing wrong but I can tell you I got a bit discouraged and stopped digging. Mostly everything I did dig up was garbage, even in the silver program.

 

[destructo]

I think i had the same problem til i turned on target trace and target pinpoint trace. after using ctx for 3 3hour hunts and a couple of 2 hour hunts i am getting used to the machine. found several clad quarters and dimes today and my first silver dime with the ctx and also a 1944 french 2 franc coin. D

 

[Digger]

Doesn't sound like you are doing anything wrong. If none of the targets locked on, with numbers reading differently with each sweep, and most everything you dug was garbage, sounds to me everything is working properly. You just didn't put the coil over any good targets. Contrary to what the "title" of each Search mode suggests, you're not guaranteed silver when running the Silver Search mode. Those programs are just "conceptions" of what someone might find useful in given situations. My recommendation is to build your own programs, based on the sounds you want to hear for the types of targets you're looking for, in the sites you hunt. The main thing is, don't get discouraged. Just keep digging targets until you gain enough confidence in your abilities to pass up on the garbage. With more experience, you'll learn to decipher the sounds of "good stuff", and be able to confirm a target's metallic properties with the visual TID. JMHO HH Randy

 

[markincypress]

I am not a super experienced CTX user but have found that the following settings made my machine very stable. I am quoting the CTX manual here:

LOW TRASH- "provides very stable target ID-s in areas with low trash and low to medium levels of mineralization". (this works well for me)

In the manual it states "When High Trash is used, the target ID is less stable". (page 41)

FERROUS COIN- "improves the target ID stability of coin type targets amongst ferrous targets in areas with low mineralization" (also works well for me) Look at Ground-Coin if you have high ground mineralization (as per the manual page 41).

Check your sensitivity settings (I use auto +3) some use a manual setting.

 

[DaytonaGold]

Thank you again everyone. You're help is greatly appreciated and I will take note of all advice

 

[jas415]

The first thing I would do is do a test bed, using the factory stock coin program and settings, to see what it is doing. If it is still erratic, turn the sensitivity down, noise cancel and even ground balance on the test bed. If everything is still erratic, then see if you can swap coils with another CTX for another test bed run. My stock coil was very erratic and it near drove me nuts then finally just gave a message, "coil not detected". Swapped the coil with my buddys machine and it ran great. My dealer gave me his coil and shipped the bad coil back.

Do the test bed to ensure it is

 

[Larry (IL)]

Test gardens are good but if you put a coin on the ground and swing your coil about 6 inches above the coin, you will quickly learn what a good target sounds like and looks like on the screen. If your targets sound like trash, that is usually what it is.

 

[Big Boys Hobbies]

Test gardens are good but if you put a coin on the ground and swing your coil about 6 inches above the coin, you will quickly learn what a good target sounds like and looks like on the screen. If your targets sound like trash, that is usually what it is.

Great post! Test gardens are invaluable!

 

[Sand Scoop]

Maybe overhead or underground power lines or radio interference ??