Ground Tracking

[Anonymous]

Hi all
I always run my MXT in relic mode and am generally happy with the set up i use. However, I'm never sure whether its best to set the ground tracking to GROUND or to LOCK it for best results.
I'm interested to see which setting other users prefer and also whether anyone thinks one is better than the other performance wise ??

 

[Anonymous]

Paul,
I too like to run the relic mode and find I do much better with this mode of operation. I like to run the trac mode myself in most areas, I see where some prefere the lock positon. I think I too would run the lock position if I was in a lot of rusty nails or trash. The reason is that with alot of the nails the detector will start tracking them as I have seen with the trac mode on some of the deeper iffy signal when you go over them several times to try to get a better signal you will lose them. I find that in the trac mode and get a deep iffy one I have to just dig it, or mark the spot I hear the target, move over to a clean area and ground balance, lock it then go back to my target if I want to work it a bit, if I dont I will trac the target so I get no signal. I like the trac most of the time as i know I am getting max performance and depth unless I am in a lot of iron or a lot of the same type of trash.
Rick

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the info Rick.
I always lock the machine in iron infested ground or the machine is just too unstable. Must admit I've recently also used LOCK in better conditions...but will have to rethink this if, as you suggest, depth and performance are affected..

 

[Anonymous]

Paul, in my area I almost always run tracking. I do have very limited mineralzation though - ground reading of 45-55 in prospecting mode.
If I were trying to answer your question I think I would isolate a new (unsearched by me) piece of land, search the entire area closely in tracking mode then go back over it in lock.
If you find enough more in lock to justify using it you've answered your question. Course, you could also reverse the process on the next piece of land and then decide.... <img src="/metal/html/grin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":grin">
Best of luck!

 

[Anonymous]

It all depends on the type of Ground you are hunting, and what you are willing to dig. Ground tracking attempts to block out common mineralization associated with the ground you are attempting to hunt. If it didnt in certain areas you could be plagued with false signals. To the best of my knowledge the ground tracking is controlled by a computer that is constantly reading the ground you are hunting for changes in the mineralization. In ground with lower ground readings or in areas that are not littered with buried metal trash or hot rocks, I prefer to leave the ground tracking on. It eliminates missed targets that may have been tracked out by the MXT if the machine was locked on one ground reading. You can eliminate certain metals by ground balancing your mxt over a certain target such as a nail and then locking your mxt on the resulting ground reading. I remember a post by Monte that taught you can turn on your mxt when it is set to the lock position and it will automatically lock your mxt at a ground reading in the 80's( I think it is 80 or 81. Search back in the posts. There is also a way to lock it in lower in the 50's. I hope this helps you. Monte and others have written some posts that delve deep into this subject. They have been very helpful to me. HH Jason