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Having Some Trouble Pin Pointing

Bell-Two

Bell-Two

Active member
I am having some trouble pinpointing, using the pin point button where does the target normally reside in relation to the center shaft? On the E-Trac it generally was very much under the shaft, I am not finding that the case as much with the CTX. I used the wiggle method on the E-Trac generally but again seem to be having trouble trying do that with the CTX. What are your experiences. I wonder if there is a video showing methods of pinpointing that could help me.
 
I have the same trouble coming from the E-trac to the CTX. I have hit more coins digging plugs then I ever did with the E-trac. It seems no matter how hard I try the coin is generally always on the side of the plug or the hole. This is supposed to be an improvement over the E-trac. There are times that I'm not so sure.
 
I thought I was the only one having this problem with the CTX 3030. I have owned various DD Minelab metal detectors for years and used both the pinpoint button/feature and the wiggle method. The earlier minelabs (i.e Ex II, Ex SE) were not that accurate using the pinpoint button/feature so I preferred the wiggle method. The Pinpoint button/feature on the E-Trac is a big improvement over the previous models in terms of accuracy and I use it often as well as the wiggle method. I find however that with the CTX3030 the accuracy is off quite a bit using both methods (Pinpoint button or wiggle method) and as DukeOBass mentioned, after pinpointing the target is always off center and in the side of the hole, very frustrating! I'm wondering if this is just a problem with some CTX 3030s?
 
I have noticed that the pinpoint is way off as well. The method that I use on every target is X marks the spot. Here's how. Once you have found a repeatable signal, swing your coil from North to south paying attention where the strongest signal is coming from (the sweet spot is the RED Minelab sticker on your coil). Now turn 90 degrees and swing East to West to where the signal intersects The North to South signal. The target will be in the center of the plug every time. If it does not intersect at the same spot and you notice the target is off several inches, it is a nail.
 
I have always pinpointed that way, but I usually swing while I pull the coil back toward me and see where the signal ends. The target had always been right at the front of the coil where you lose the signal on the E-trac.
 
I didn't have any problems with the stock coil, but the seventeen incher has been a bit testy.... I am getting better with it.

Altama, I could meet you at the park someday and we could compare some pinpoints....
 
Mine is also off. seems the harder I try the worse I get even using the north south east west method. the deep coins do seem to pinpoint a little better?
 
Coins pinpointed off to the side of the plug could also be due to the coin being tipped or on edge. I'm not saying that is always the case, but maybe the CTX is locating coins on edge better than some of the other detectors, which could result with the "inaccurate" pinpoint location...........
 
Most off center coins that I have dug (using the pinpoint button and the X method) have been somewhat on edge. I usually do more than the X and completely circle the spot several times before digging. This came from a spot that has 10 to 13 inch coins and it rock hard. You really don't want to waste 15 to 20 minutes digging cement like soil and have it in the side of your hole only to gouge it with your digger. I usually call it "circling the wagons". LOL My detecting partner knows when I am on my third or forth "circle" I will be digging soon or moving on. If I can't get a consistent pinpoint in four circles I know it is probably a nail or iron of some kind.
 
I have been having the same problem pinpointing. I assumed the center of the coil was the hot spot. I too have much better luck on deeper targets, as far as accuracy. It would be nice if we had instructions in the manual on pinpointing. Maybe an instructional video is in order. Does the 'hot spot' change with depth?
 
Well, for whatever reason I dont seem to have that problem. I'm up to about 9,000 coins dug (with the exception of that wheelbarrow full) after 15 months with the CTX and I have scraped maybe 10 total, and most of those were bottom of the hole scrapes in hard dirt. I use the 6" coil, get a repeatable audio target, maybe just a sweep of 2 to 3 inches either way, then move about 90 degrees (giving me an X) and get the repeatable audio again, then hit the pin point and do the same thing. If the target moves over several inches it is almost always some sort of iron or rusty metal. What I do not put any faith in at all, is the numbers displayed on a sweep. I almost always use audio first, then target location on the screen, then in pin point the numbers seem to be better and the depth also.
 
I am using the standard coil, I would assume it is easier to pinpoint with a 6" coil from experience with E-Trac, my concerns were with the standard coil. I hope to get a 6" for it in the near future.
 
GateKeeper said:
I have noticed that the pinpoint is way off as well. The method that I use on every target is X marks the spot. Here's how. Once you have found a repeatable signal, swing your coil from North to south paying attention where the strongest signal is coming from (the sweet spot is the RED Minelab sticker on your coil). Now turn 90 degrees and swing East to West to where the signal intersects The North to South signal. The target will be in the center of the plug every time. If it does not intersect at the same spot and you notice the target is off several inches, it is a nail.
Click to expand...

BINGO DEAD CENTER ON!

Gatekeeper's method worked perfect for me tonight made some great finds will post them in the morning!

Thanks so much for the help! :please:
 
You're welcome Tony.
 
Of the people who are having the pinpointing problem it would be nice to know which coil you are using. Jas415 and GKMan have said that they are using the 6 inch and standard coils respectively without the problem. Bell-Two and myself have experienced the problem with the standard coil. The point is, I am wondering if there might be a problem (i.e. the windings) with some of the standard coils. GKMan since you have not experienced the problem with your standard coil, where as I have, it would be nice to get together as you suggested and compare some pinpoints and maybe even switch our coils and see what the results are.
 
Hi Altamaha
Sounds good, I sold my six inch, but hadn't noticed any problems with it. If we can't get out together for a bit your welcome to borrow my stock coil for a couple days since I have been using the seventeen inch.
 
I'm using the stock coil.
 
Has anyone reached out to Minelab concerning these issues? I don't own a CTX but have heard of similar pinpointing problems from buddies that I know that do. Maybe it can/will be addressed in the future with an update, if that is even possible. Unless it only affects a small percentage of units, it's hard to imagine that it wasn't discovered during early testing, but who knows.
 
I really don't think the CTX has a problem pinpointing, sure there might be some isolated incidents but for the most part, it seems to be technique and knowledge related, especially for someone new to the CTX. I think this is a pretty common hurdle for someone learning how a new coil or detector works.....:shrug:

I don't recommend the toe pinpoint method because it is inconsistent with the depth of the target but using pinpoint with the center of the coil is spot on for me regardless of depth. As others have said, if the target seems to move from search mode to pinpoint mode, it has always been a rusty nail, wire or some pointed piece of iron, the eddy currents seem to concentrate off the pointed end. Most iron targets seem to disappear or give a trashy audio when going over your target at 90 degrees in search mode as well........ practice, practice, practice.

Practice pinpointing with a dime on the surface and hold the coil several inches above the dime, it won't take long to learn the sweet spot and get your technique down pat.
 
ML said:
Has anyone reached out to Minelab concerning these issues? I don't own a CTX but have heard of similar pinpointing problems from buddies that I know that do. Maybe it can/will be addressed in the future with an update, if that is even possible. Unless it only affects a small percentage of units, it's hard to imagine that it wasn't discovered during early testing, but who knows.
Click to expand...

I do not think it is a problem with the equipment, just with the "loose nut" behind the control box...ME! :laugh: I was trying to use the methods that I learned on the E-Trac and it has been stated many times the CTX is not just a waterproof E-Trac. The RED Minelab logo on the coil seems to be the "sweet spot" using Gatekeepers method I was dead on on virtually every target last night.
 
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