getting random false signals

[kansas_roger]

I noticed last weekend that when I'd pinpoint a target and then lay my E-Trac off to the side, sometimes it would start registering a signal and bounce back and forth between a couple of different readings. I first thought I must have laid it directly over another target, but I moved the coil and it kept doing it. Then, later in the day, it would all of a sudden start hitting 14-01 to 12-01 no matter where I swung it, and changing to pinpointing or Quick Mask would not get it to stop. A couple of times I actually turned it all the way off, and then it was fine for awhile when I turned it back on. I really hate the idea of sending it in to Minelab and being without for several weeks, but it is still under warranty so I don't want to fool around too long. Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[khouse]

Noise cancel and/or reduce your sensitivity. Sometimes I have to run -2 not far from where I was running +3.

 

[kansas_roger]

Thanks, I'll give that a try. I thought it had something to do with my chair, but it is too random for that to be the case. It did it on both coils, so I know it is not a coil issue.

 

[LandOLincoln]

You may want to take the coil cover off and clean it out also.

 

[kansas_roger]

I actually just had the cover off a few weeks ago, but I might give that a try, too. I've been hunting in a lot of loose soil, so i'm sure there is a lot under the coil cover.

You may want to take the coil cover off and clean it out also.

 

[badjim]

a fast swing may also cause that and if your coil is bumping into things like bean stubble will also cause it

 

[Johnnyanglo]

"sometimes it would start registering a signal and bounce back and forth between a couple of different readings. "

Sometimes get that too. It is my guess that with the detector on the ground the coil is now vertical. This leaves the coil susceptible to greater interference from EMI, especially vertically polarized fields, such as is emanates from cell towers, motors, etc. The other problem is when the detector is left in AM pinpoint it tends to drift and begins to make irritating whining or chattering sound. Switching to QuickMask puts the signal back through filters and usually shuts the chatter up.

Next time it happens, try gently lifting the detector while keeping it oriented horizontal (with the coil vertical) and see if the chatter disappears. If it went away when it was off the ground then the coil was likely radiating something in the ground, either magnetic or non-ferrous, and it was reacting to the returned field. If it doesn't quiet down, try turning slowly around through 360 degrees when you have it off the ground and see if there are stronger directions - if it reacts at different radials it is probably sensing EMI.

 

[Stormrider51]

My E-trac did that the other day after performing flawlessly for a month or so. Then I remembered that I hadn't noise cancelled it. Once I did that it settled right down. Could that have been your problem?

Storm

 

[moonshine]

from what ive seen, EMI caused your first question, and an old degraded section of aluminum screen bits and pieces caused your second.

 

[Sooper Dave]

I had the same thing going on the other day. Thought it was a bad coil, changed it out still had the problem. Powered off, pulled the battery still there. Noise canceled multiple times and then did a factory reset. Nothing fixed the problem. I was at an old farm house and the owner had an electric fence running everywhere. He unplugged the fence and it fixed the problem. I was at least 60 yards from it but it still picked it up. An electric fence sends just a short burst of current every few seconds and it made the Etrac false different numbers every time. EMI can be tough on these machines, I have had lightning strike close by and make my Etrac chatter like crazy. I hope you get it solved.

 

[Rolladex]

If running a sun ray probe check the connection and the inter connection too. They do come loose sometimes. If running the sun ray probe make sure your cable is not shaking around by the coil this will cause false single too.

 

[kansas_roger]

I had wondered about this and about EMI. I remember looking all around to see if there were any powerlines directly overhead, and I could not spot anything. There are thick cables coming off of the roof that are grounds for the lightning rods, but those would not have any electrical current. The old degraded piece of screen could be partly to blame, as this is an old yard. I also hit an old metal pipe about a foot down, and that ran straight across the yard. I will make sure to check my inline probe connections. Thanks for all of the advice.

If running a sun ray probe check the connection and the inter connection too. They do come loose sometimes. If running the sun ray probe make sure your cable is not shaking around by the coil this will cause false single too.

 

[saltersnatch]

u may have a short where the wire meets the coil. wiggle it and see if that affects it. i had to send my coil in for that and they sent me a new one.

 

[OCDfinder]

If coil cover is clean, response is still erratic (uncontollable beeps) with auto +3, return for repair. I was unsure about sending back until Minelab repair tech sent back saying it was full of demons. 2 weeks excellent Customer service and no more wondering...