Ground Balance Numbers

[Historical Prospector]

In Eastern Washington State, our ground has alot of minerals. I have always hunted with Minelab machines, so ground balancing is a new part of metal detecting for me. Reading the manual states that running in auto tracking is the best. I can't manual ground balance in the areas I hunt, because I like demo lots which are loaded with nails, (20-30) hits in all metal in one swing. Therefore, I set the machine in auto tracking and hunt. When I check my ground balance numbers, I am always in the 70-85 range. So, my question is this, are the ground balance numbers equal in quality to "0" or am I losing depth with higher numbers?

 

[pacer]

n/t

 

[filternozzle]

With manual ground balance detectors (single frequency), the difference between low and high numbers does have an affect on target recognition and depth, depending on size and conductivity.

With the Equinox in Multi mode operating on a number of different frequencies at the same time I am not quite sure what the outcome is between high and low GB settings on any given target.

Interesting question.

 

[laplander]

I hunt a lot of sites that are solid with iron like yours and I tried tracking as well with similar results in the 80's where it is in the teens on clean ground. The long of the short is I think the GB function is tracking the iron instead of the ground as intended because there is more iron/oxide than clean soil. My solution has become find a clean patch to do a grab or auto or leave it at 0 {default}.

I am getting excellent target depth/seperation with 0.
What are anyone elses tought's ??

 

[Coin Rescue Inc]

Rumor is
When in Multi mode Ground Balance should be zero

 

[Jason in Enid]

Rumor is
When in Multi mode Ground Balance should be zero

Its not a rumor, its what the manual states. The water gets muddied because of the vague nature of when to begin using GB.

 

[Historical Prospector]

Have you ever tried using a -5 or something in the minus ground balance? Curious in iron infested ground, that it may work better!

 

[Historical Prospector]

Thank you everyone for your response to this question.

 

[Jason in Enid]

Have you ever tried using a -5 or something in the minus ground balance? Curious in iron infested ground, that it may work better!

No, it won't. The GB scale has a slight negative side for dealing with conductive salt beaches. If you are in normal to mineralized ground and you move the GB negative, you are making the detector respond to ALL the ground as if it was metal. at the least it would make rusty iron hit much harder as a solid target.

 

[Historical Prospector]

Thank you, wasn't really aware of why there were negative ground balance numbers. Now I know.

 

[Kapok]

Rumor is
When in Multi mode Ground Balance should be zero

Its not a rumor, its what the manual states.

I can't find that quote in the manual. Can you give me the page number? Maybe I have an old version of the manual.

 

[Coin Rescue Inc]

Page 40 - see Blue Box

I admit it is a vague statement - Thus I described it as a "rumor"

text

The default Ground Balance setting of 0 is
recommended for Park, Field and Beach Modes
because these locations typically have less
mineralisation than goldfields.
However, if the ground is generating many noise signals (and/
or the Sensitivity level is set very low), then using Auto Ground
Balance is recommended.
If the Auto Ground Balance process does not greatly reduce
ground noise (due to highly mineralised ground or high salt
levels), then repeat the Auto Ground Balance process by
sweeping the coil from side-to-side, rather than the standard
up-and-down motion.

 

[halfstep]

I think the reason why Minelab suggest leaving the GB at 0 is because GB is a local setting. It only applies to the mode you are on. If you go to another mode, then the GB does not carry over to that mode. You would then have to GB that mode as well. This would defeat going from mode to mode quickly. By leaving them all on 0, all the modes will have a common GB setting making using another mode as a checker easier and faster.

I find the using the auto GB with tracking helps to reduce noise in my ground. The GB numbers will range 50 to 60 around here and sometimes in the better ground, it will read around the 30 range. So I think everyone should try it and see where they stand. It may not be necessary for some and maybe a better option for others. It may help to give better ID tones and numbers.

 

[Kapok]

So if I understand this correctly, set the GB to 0, turn tracking on and then the GB will adjust to whatever it needs to be? Or will it stay at zero? I'm trying to remember the last detector I had that didn't need to be ground balanced... Maybe my old DTex Coin King

 

[trojdor]

I hunt a lot of sites that are solid with iron like yours and I tried tracking as well with similar results in the 80's where it is in the teens on clean ground. The long of the short is I think the GB function is tracking the iron instead of the ground as intended because there is more iron/oxide than clean soil. My solution has become find a clean patch to do a grab or auto or leave it at 0 {default}.

I am getting excellent target depth/seperation with 0.
What are anyone elses tought's ??

I tend to agree...
I'm noticing that experimenting/using auto tracking in ground with a lot of dense/close iron signals, the non-ferrous signals sounded less distinct to me...slightly blurred, kind of 'muddy' on the edges of the signal.
It makes it a little harder to determine if it's a target worth digging...especially if it's a 'co-locate' type of signal.
It's a crisper signal to me, if I leave tracking off.

OTOH, I'm finding it hard to notice much (any?) difference between doing a grab, and just leaving it fixed at 0.

I've also tested the GB using a ferrite sample, and GB only shows a grab value of 1.
I would have expected a much different number.
The EQs are obviously not 'traditional' VLFs.

Keep in mind, this is from Minelab...and neither of the other 2 multi-freq 'flagship' machines require GB.
Although the CTX CAN GB, it isn't usually necessary...and has unfortunately caused a lot of confusion about its use and misuse.
The ET doesn't even have the option to GB.

 

[trojdor]

In Eastern Washington State, our ground has alot of minerals. I have always hunted with Minelab machines, so ground balancing is a new part of metal detecting for me. Reading the manual states that running in auto tracking is the best. I can't manual ground balance in the areas I hunt, because I like demo lots which are loaded with nails, (20-30) hits in all metal in one swing. Therefore, I set the machine in auto tracking and hunt. When I check my ground balance numbers, I am always in the 70-85 range. So, my question is this, are the ground balance numbers equal in quality to "0" or am I losing depth with higher numbers?

I think you're a little confused with terminology there, partner. The manual only recommends the 'Tracking' GB mode as default for the gold modes.
It recommends a fixed 0, or 'Auto' for the other modes.
Technically, there is no 'Auto Tracking' mode...at least in Minelab EQ terminology.

The 3 GB modes from the manual:
There's Manual, where you listen and manually change the GB numbers as you pump the coil over clean ground.
There's Auto, where you find a clean patch of ground and 'pump' until the numbers stabilize on their own...automatically.
Then there's Tracking, that you just turn on and go...and it adjusts/changes the GB numbers dynamically, as the ground changes during the hunt.

I think the confusion comes from the term ML chose, "Auto". It's not an Auto GB in the sens of say, a White's machine.
It just means it automatically chooses the number for you while pumping...in that one spot. (As opposed to Manually choosing that number.)
That number will then stay the same regardless of how the ground changes as you hunt.

The only mode that will actually change the GB in real time, is the Tracking option.

I think Tracking mode is only for the most severe of mineralized ground, and not recommended for normal coin hunting.
Also, as stated above by others, the manual clearly states:
"The default Ground Balance setting of 0 is recommended for Park, Field and Beach Modes"
"However, if the ground is generating many noise signals (and/or the Sensitivity level is set very low), then using Auto Ground Balance is recommended."

Note (once again) that Auto Ground Balance is NOT Tracking. (Per the manual, they are two separate GB options.)

Hope this is of some benefit.
Good luck, and HH,

mike

 

[laplander]

I hunt a lot of sites that are solid with iron like yours and I tried tracking as well with similar results in the 80's where it is in the teens on clean ground. The long of the short is I think the GB function is tracking the iron instead of the ground as intended because there is more iron/oxide than clean soil. My solution has become find a clean patch to do a grab or auto or leave it at 0 {default}.

I am getting excellent target depth/seperation with 0.
What are anyone elses tought's ??

I tend to agree...
I'm noticing that experimenting/using auto tracking in ground with a lot of dense/close iron signals, the non-ferrous signals sounded less distinct to me...slightly blurred, kind of 'muddy' on the edges of the signal.
It makes it a little harder to determine if it's a target worth digging...especially if it's a 'co-locate' type of signal.
It's a crisper signal to me, if I leave tracking off.

OTOH, I'm finding it hard to notice much (any?) difference between doing a grab, and just leaving it fixed at 0.

It's very impressive to me you came up with a value of one with Ferrite as true balance would be zero, very close. Not many people would give it that much thought or go to the trouble to test. Very impressed!!

Laplander

I've also tested the GB using a ferrite sample, and GB only shows a grab value of 1.
I would have expected a much different number.
The EQs are obviously not 'traditional' VLFs.

Keep in mind, this is from Minelab...and neither of the other 2 multi-freq 'flagship' machines require GB.
Although the CTX CAN GB, it isn't usually necessary...and has unfortunately caused a lot of confusion about its use and misuse.
The ET doesn't even have the option to GB.

 

[Kapok]

So the recommended approach in Park/Field is to set it to zero and turn tracking off so it stays at zero? This just seems wrong to me. Why wouldn't you want your detector to be as finely ground balanced as possible?

 

[Jason in Enid]

So the recommended approach in Park/Field is to set it to zero and turn tracking off so it stays at zero? This just seems wrong to me. Why wouldn't you want your detector to be as finely ground balanced as possible?

Please do some searching on this. I've explained it so many times I dont want to repeat myself again. Minelab FBS and MIQ is nothing like any other VLF detectors