Explorer screen

[Anonymous]

Does anybody use the larger screen when detecting? By pushing the middle button on the right side of the screen, it makes the display full screen. Of course, this takes away the extra information such as the depth guage but I've found that with just a push of the button I can flip back and forth. Then I made a clear overlay and taped it to the screen. Using good targets, (coins, rings, etc.) I made a red dot in the center of the crosshairs, for bad targets (pulltabs, bottlecaps, etc.) a black dot. Since I hunt mainly parks and not old ones, it seems like I dig a lot less trash. Just wondering if anyone else has tried this?

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Losing the depth robs you of lots of info. Unless you have bad vision would not recommend it. Many have made screens to tape over with success, but with gold rings for one thing they can be anyhere and even your coins can be influenced by target masking. Everyone seems to forget the digital screen and is content to watch a bouncing site. Indeed as Gilly says secret of an explorer is the tone. Use all 3 aspects to determine a target and for gosh sakes depth influences my decision to dig or not to dig. Never saw a unit that produces with so many settings and if you continue to use the screen overlay its just a ball park ID at best. Again whatever works and I feel after you use an Explorer you will learn its language and the smooth round tone of a good target will make you stop in your tracks...After that the other aspects will fall into place and you will be digging good targets...

 

[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Larry,
I agree with all the comments below. I am one of those that put an overlay on the smart screen. While using the large screen I then put dots where the nickel (common ones), penny (a separate dot for 1981 and earlier and 1982 and later), dime and quarter fall. This was very helpful while I moved up the learning curve (I am still far from the top of the curve).
After gaining more experience, I now use the small smart screen so I can see the depth gauge (The expert hunters don't even bother to look at the gauge). You will find that as the deeper targets begin to deviate from the expected cursor position by quite a bit (depending upon ground mineralization and junk that may be close by).
I have now reached the point where I am concentrating on deeper coins I mostly just go by the tones. When I get a tone that sounds good, then I look at the screen only to correlate the sound and cursor position against the target that I dig.
Most everyone will tell you there is no single best way to use the Explorer. So, just keep an open mind and listen to suggestions until you are comfortable with a given technique.
HH, Glenn

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone for your input. I do use the depth guage by toggling back and forth, but haven't really tried the digital screen. That is something I will start checking. I did dig my first ring using this method, a high school class ring that I am in the process of trying to track down the owner. The problem though is that there is no name of the school on the ring. Apparently the person was home schooled because that is what is written on the ring. If I can track down the manufaturer hopefully they can help.

 

[Anonymous]

Screen overlays give a ballpark idea( ever consider the digital screen) according to this forum most underused facet of an Explorer..Tones will stop me in my tracks, digital number will give more info and last but not least the gunsite screen will further validate. Sort of a threefold way to dig or not to dig. Again do what works but utilize all facets to the utmost to become more proficient with an Explorer..

 

[Anonymous]

Dan,
When I first started using the Explorer II, I liked the digital screen. I still like it, but it seems that the digital screen does not update as frequently as the smart screen (I may not be correct about this).
I hunt in an iron infested area with the Iron Mask set between -12 and -14 (Conductive mode). As a result, the detector spends quite a bit of time nulling, but with frequent breaking out of the null. When the target breaks out of the null, then I just look at the smart screen to see how far to the right the cursor goes (and how far down from the top) to get an idea of whether or not to dig. As I gain more experience I find myself looking at the screen less and less.
HH,
Glenn