"Dr.Tones"
New member
I was wondering if any one could put into simple terms what combined mode is doing? Had another great one hour hunt today! Pics to come.
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Help understanding combined mode
- Thread starter "Dr.Tones"
- Start date
Combined audio allows the user to hear different target signals, based on either ferrous or conductive properties. You set the ferrous line (horizontal line) where you want ferrous targets to provide the audio response. If, for example, you set it at 21, then any target with a ferrous reading of 21 or higher (larger number), you will hear the audio tone that you program for ferrous targets. On the other hand, if the target has a ferrous reading that is less than 21, the target response will be based on it's conductive properties. And in Combined audio, you have four "bins" representing conductive groups. With conductive numbers running from 01 - 50, you simply move the lines to represent different target groups, then assign a tone for each group. For example, you could set bin one with the lines at 01 and 14. Any target with a ferrous value less than 21, and a conductive value of 14 or less would "fall" into this bin and provide the audio tone you associated with it via programming. Bin two, for example, could represent targets between 15 and 28. Bin three could represent targets from 29 - 40. And bin four could be the remainder of conductive targets, with CO values of 41 - 50. So with the numbers used in these examples, if you passed over a target with a FE value of 12 and a CO value of 44, it would provide a conductive tone that you assigned to conductive bin space four. If you passed over a target that read 11/22, it would provide a tone based on conductive bin two. If the target read 24/29, it would give you the tone you programmed for the ferrous value (below the horizontal line). Again, the user can resize and assign tones to each target group (bin). For the folks who enjoyed hunting in Two Tone Ferrous on their E-TRACs, this is like TTF on steroids in that you can adjust the FE line, and break down the CO targets into four separate groups. HH Randy
fsdigital12
New member
That's a great explanation. This should be a Sticky.
Can we build a FAQ and add explanations like this to a sticky?
Can we build a FAQ and add explanations like this to a sticky?
"Dr.Tones"
New member
Awesom! Thanks digger! Are those some of the settings that you use? If so what coins are falling into those sections? Thanks!
My bin parameters are site specific, depending on the targets I'm looking for, the amount and "date" of the trash, and the Separation mode I am using. The main thing to remember when setting them up is, if you are using any discrimination, make sure your ferrous line is not "below" the discrimination line. If it is, you'll never hear a ferrous target because you've rejected everything in that "bin". Break the conductive targets into groups that represent specific targets. I have a couple of mine posted on the CTX 3030 classroom, along with several other member's programs, under DOWNLOADABLE CTX 3030 Search Mode Programs. http://www.findmall.com/read.php?87,1737486,1737486#msg-1737486
HH Randy
HH Randy
"Dr.Tones"
New member
Thanks!
Buried Crap NJ
New member
That is a great way to put it. After reading Gary Drayton Book on the CTX 3030 for Beach hunting I realized I jump both feet into a dirt program with the combined mode. I liked how it was working but I think I should be using the 50 tones on the beach, along with some different settings. I did stumble onto the fast recovery mode for beach hunting and it works well for target separation on the beach. The 50 tones pre set are based on Minelabs other machines. Now should I run over a gold ring I will/should be able to tell by the tones I am so use to hearing, backed up with FE-CO numbers and target placement on the screen.
BCNJ
BCNJ
Hope to get my dream 3030 in a few weeks, so doing my homework, studying, so much to learn. First time with a detector, I know some would recommend starting off with a more simple machine, but I thought it best to dive right in.
This site has to be the most informative and "easiest" to understand for dummies like me................
Of course some things on here are not relevant to me, living in Eíre (US Coin numbers) for example, but the way people have took the time to explain a lot of things is great.
I want to thank all you guys for sharing.
Níall
This site has to be the most informative and "easiest" to understand for dummies like me................
Of course some things on here are not relevant to me, living in Eíre (US Coin numbers) for example, but the way people have took the time to explain a lot of things is great.
I want to thank all you guys for sharing.
Níall
doesn't matter really where you live in regards to a metal detector, where it does matter is understanding your prey , we call it going for a "hunt" and it is hunting and our prey if it is coins understanding them and where they affect the detectors discrimination is pretty important.
having said all that understanding the bushes the prey is hiding in is important also , be it iron or modern trash or both and how they react with the detector.
I like the KISS keep it simple smarty principle as I can complicate tying my shoelaces.
it didn't take me long after getting my ctx to build a combined pattern that suited the coins I wanted to target and now 4 years latter I still use that same pattern with those same tones in those same bins with that same mode, some may say I am not using the full potential of my detector and maybe they are right and maybe they are wrong.
but what I have is 4 years of training my brain to those sounds and well you cant buy that !!
sure I have a fiddle every now and then cause I can, but when I am serious detecting I use what I have used for 4 years, people can buy the best metal detector but none of us can buy experience.
so well done and learn your prey and get out there and hunt some down and most of all have fun
AJ
having said all that understanding the bushes the prey is hiding in is important also , be it iron or modern trash or both and how they react with the detector.
I like the KISS keep it simple smarty principle as I can complicate tying my shoelaces.
it didn't take me long after getting my ctx to build a combined pattern that suited the coins I wanted to target and now 4 years latter I still use that same pattern with those same tones in those same bins with that same mode, some may say I am not using the full potential of my detector and maybe they are right and maybe they are wrong.
but what I have is 4 years of training my brain to those sounds and well you cant buy that !!
sure I have a fiddle every now and then cause I can, but when I am serious detecting I use what I have used for 4 years, people can buy the best metal detector but none of us can buy experience.
so well done and learn your prey and get out there and hunt some down and most of all have fun
AJ
Champ Ferguson
New member
Hi Niall- first, Welcome to the boards.
If you haven't already, acquire a copy of Andy Sabisch's CTX book and study it. It will go a long way in flattening your CTX learning curve.
If you haven't already, acquire a copy of Andy Sabisch's CTX book and study it. It will go a long way in flattening your CTX learning curve.
only thing I ever learned out of any of those books and it was one of Clive's , "sorry guys who write and sell books" was a simple phase "trash tolerance" and its all I ever needed to know and learn about metal detecting if you can learn this simple thing everything else will fall in to place for you. 
AJ
AJ
Champ Ferguson
New member
My hat's off to you aj re not needing supplemental information on the CTX. While I agree many books are written just to make money and contain little of value, there are some that have a lot of valuable info in them. Especially if you aren't a Minelab developer and already know the machine in question.
Even as an experienced detectorist and FBS user, I found the Minelab manual sorely lacking in describing how the CTX works and why it responds as it does under different conditions and settings. (Even with all the info on the boards, theres endless debates on some things.) Conversely, I learned exactly these things + some helpful tips from Andy's book and bootcamp. For someone new to the machine, I'm willing to bet that person will learn a lot too. But then again, if he's Totally brilliant and an experienced detectorist, he can just pick it all up quickly on the fly.
Even as an experienced detectorist and FBS user, I found the Minelab manual sorely lacking in describing how the CTX works and why it responds as it does under different conditions and settings. (Even with all the info on the boards, theres endless debates on some things.) Conversely, I learned exactly these things + some helpful tips from Andy's book and bootcamp. For someone new to the machine, I'm willing to bet that person will learn a lot too. But then again, if he's Totally brilliant and an experienced detectorist, he can just pick it all up quickly on the fly.
hey Champ Ferguson I can assure you I am not a brilliant detectorist
yes I agree some might need some pointers and I know I had a heap of questions still do and I used to look on here for answers and some times still do but as you suggested getting 3 answers to confer as say in a science experiment to say yes that's the right answer , was about as easy as juggling cats
I went back to what has proven the best way to learn anything I have learnt in my life is too do and sure I have had to learn the basics when I fist started I didn't know that silver was a high conductor and iron low etc.. so we all need basics to understand the tool we are using and then the prey we hunt and its environment, so yes books can be of great help I am sure.
but for me its been and will continue to be hard work where I learn and on the scale I am just starting to learn there is so much more to learn digging and that's why detecting will always be fun how ever you chose to navigate it
not saying don't read I have read heaps and a lot of it has been crap but every now and then there is a little diamond in there so I continue to read even if sometimes it bores me to tears like I said everyone has something to offer even if they don't know it.
so 99.9% of this post is probably crap to someone else but its that little .01% er that when the time is right makes all the difference so yes read everything you can and then dig like hell or its worthless is my point
AJ
yes I agree some might need some pointers and I know I had a heap of questions still do and I used to look on here for answers and some times still do but as you suggested getting 3 answers to confer as say in a science experiment to say yes that's the right answer , was about as easy as juggling cats
I went back to what has proven the best way to learn anything I have learnt in my life is too do and sure I have had to learn the basics when I fist started I didn't know that silver was a high conductor and iron low etc.. so we all need basics to understand the tool we are using and then the prey we hunt and its environment, so yes books can be of great help I am sure.
but for me its been and will continue to be hard work where I learn and on the scale I am just starting to learn there is so much more to learn digging and that's why detecting will always be fun how ever you chose to navigate it
not saying don't read I have read heaps and a lot of it has been crap but every now and then there is a little diamond in there so I continue to read even if sometimes it bores me to tears like I said everyone has something to offer even if they don't know it.
so 99.9% of this post is probably crap to someone else but its that little .01% er that when the time is right makes all the difference so yes read everything you can and then dig like hell or its worthless is my point
AJ
Champ Ferguson
New member
Just kidding around a bit, aj. Absolutely no disagreement that hard work and experience are the best teachers. But it don't hurt to start on those with as much knowledge as you can comprehend. From all available sources. I was kinda surprised with your first post in that everyone else that has studied Andy's book (that I have read or spoken with anyway) thought its a good idea for CTX users, new and experienced. But one thing I always preach is that there is no one answer for everyone.
I read a lot CF not saying don't read saying why pay for it ? its all on here somewhere !!
I was 1st person in Australia with the CTX other than testers why don't people give a sh$t what I think and my findings??
I tell you why cause I am nobody , and people like up in lights stuff and that's kool , but I hunt at night the bright lights don't do it for me
but really if your new to detecting its good to get all the info in one spot so buy away I don't care
but there's no magic in there.
AJ
I was 1st person in Australia with the CTX other than testers why don't people give a sh$t what I think and my findings??
I tell you why cause I am nobody , and people like up in lights stuff and that's kool , but I hunt at night the bright lights don't do it for me
but really if your new to detecting its good to get all the info in one spot so buy away I don't care
but there's no magic in there.AJ
Champ Ferguson
New member
Agree completely re magic. No magic detector, no magic book, no magic anything. Work, scholarship and experience are the best way to success in most anything imo.
But some detectors are better than others and the trick is to choose one that maximizes what the individual can afford and use effectively. And some folks do have knowledge that others don't possess and are willing to share that. Free on the Internet, at a some cost in books. It is up to each person to decide if its worth it. For me, there are less than a handful that post on the boards that I read avidly and digest their every word. + maybe a couple of handfuls of folks who are worth listening to and critically inspecting what they have to say on a topic. Same for authors, tho VERY few of them since the pool is so small to begin with. And depending on where an individual is on the learning curve, he can learn a LOT from a good book.
No one knows it all and I appreciate everyone who offers their reasoned thoughts (hawg-law spouters are a waste of bandwidth) on the boards. You can learn something from everyone- even if all you can learn from an individual is how not to do something.
But some detectors are better than others and the trick is to choose one that maximizes what the individual can afford and use effectively. And some folks do have knowledge that others don't possess and are willing to share that. Free on the Internet, at a some cost in books. It is up to each person to decide if its worth it. For me, there are less than a handful that post on the boards that I read avidly and digest their every word. + maybe a couple of handfuls of folks who are worth listening to and critically inspecting what they have to say on a topic. Same for authors, tho VERY few of them since the pool is so small to begin with. And depending on where an individual is on the learning curve, he can learn a LOT from a good book.
No one knows it all and I appreciate everyone who offers their reasoned thoughts (hawg-law spouters are a waste of bandwidth) on the boards. You can learn something from everyone- even if all you can learn from an individual is how not to do something.
When you have made every possible mistake--some of them over and over, you think: "no one should ever have to go though that!" and a book is born...
(For example...)
Ever seen a circuit board on fire? I have. Lesson: never hair dryer dry a pulse then bang in 14.7 volts of fresh lithium juice before its cooled down enough.
Only made that one once though..
sorry we're way off topic here...wanted to read about combined mode...
cjc
(For example...)
Ever seen a circuit board on fire? I have. Lesson: never hair dryer dry a pulse then bang in 14.7 volts of fresh lithium juice before its cooled down enough.
Only made that one once though..
sorry we're way off topic here...wanted to read about combined mode...
cjc
thanks I will remember that one on the PI dunk dry
yeah bit of topic I would also like to know any quirks people find in combined mode.
one that I have learnt for my hunting in Australia is the bleeding of some tones has given me a lot of info about what and what not to dig. and that's just how I have set up my tones in their bins and guess there is a million ways to do that.
but if you want to know more your gunna have to buy the book
AJ
yeah bit of topic I would also like to know any quirks people find in combined mode.
one that I have learnt for my hunting in Australia is the bleeding of some tones has given me a lot of info about what and what not to dig. and that's just how I have set up my tones in their bins and guess there is a million ways to do that.
but if you want to know more your gunna have to buy the book
AJ